SPLENDOURS OF MUGHALS & RAJPUTS
DAY 01 DELHI Fly from your home country.
DAY
02 DELHI Arrive Delhi, assistance with garland welcome and transfer
to your pre-booked hotel. Morning free. Afternoon tour of Old Delhi,
including the Red Fort, The plan of Shah Jahan's new city symbolized the
link between religious authority enshrined in the Jama Masjid to the west,
and political authority represented by the Diwan-I-Am in the Front, joined
by the Chandni Chowk, the route used by the Emperor. And the Jama Masjid , a
flawless piece of architecture, is situated on a nautral elevation southwest
of the Red Fort. Later visit India Gate, the 42 metres high, free-standing
arch, designed by Lutyens, built in 1931, is dedicated to those 90,000
soldiers of the Indian Army who died in World War I. O/n Hotel.
DAY
03 DELHI TO AGRA Morning after breakfast drive (about 210 / 5hrs)
to the city of Taj - Agra, enroute visit to the Tomb of the Great Mughal
Emperor Akbar at Sikandra following the Timurid tradition, Akbar had started
to build his own tomb at Sikandra. He died during its construction and his
son Jahangir completed it in 1613. Arrive and transfer to hotel. Evening at
sunset visit to Taj Mahal (a love story in marble), set within the paradise
gardens. The whole of Taj complex measures 580 by 300 m and the garden 300
by 300 m. The guiding principle is one of symmetry. The four minarets (41.6
m high) at each corner of the plinth provide balance to the tomb. Rest of
the day free to relax. O/n Hotel.
DAY 04 AGRA TO
JAIPUR After breakfast visit to Agra Fort, On the west end of the
Yamuna River, Akbar's magnificent fort dominates the centre of the city. The
outer walls, just over 20 m high and faced with red sandstone, tower above
the outer moat. The fort is crescent-shaped with a long nearly straight wall
facing the river. Proceed to Jaipur (about 237kms/05 hrs), enroute visit to
the deserted sandstone city of Fatehpur Sikri (Emperor Akbar's capital),
built by the emperor Akbar. Upon arrival in Jaipur, check into the hotel.
Evening stroll around the colourful Rajasthan bazaar. O/n Hotel.
DAY
05 JAIPUR After breakfast we start our day by ascending to the 16th
century fortress at Amber by painted elephants. The ride can be somewhat
unnerving when the elephant comes close to the edge of the road. Amber was
the site of a Hindu temple built by the Mina tribes. Afternoon visit to the
home to Jaipur's Royal family (City Palace), the City Palace accupies the
centre of Jaipur, covers one seventh of its area and is surrounded by a high
wall - the Sarahad. In contrast the Jaipur Palace has much more in common
with Mughal models, with its main buildings scattered in a fortified campus,
and the Jantar Mantar or astrological observatory. Literally 'Instruments
for measuring the harmony of the heavens', the Jantar Mantar was built
between 1728 and 1734. Jai singh wanted things on a grand scale and chose
stone with a marble facing on the important planes. Each instruments serves
a particular function and each gives an accurate reading. Rest of the day
free to relax. O/n Hotel.
Morning after breakfast drive to Neemrana (about 135 kms/04hrs), sited on a
majestic plateau, concealed in a horseshoe formation of the billion year old
Aravalli ranges. Check into the hotel built since 1464 AD, Neemrana Fort -
Palace is among India's oldest heritage resorts.
Check
into our hotel which covers 25 acres/10 hectares and the stepped palaces of
this architectural jewel cut into the hillside to sprawl over 3 acres/1.2
hectares and rises to 10 levels commanding the most splendid views.
Including a vista pool to the horizon. From 1986, the ruins of this
Fort-Palace have been sensitively restored and reconstructed. The rooms are
furnished with an eclectic mix of traditional Indian and colonial furniture,
antiques and objets d'art.
Rest of the day free to relax and to
experience Ayurveda. O/n Hotel
DAY 07 NEEMRANA
The day at leisure or ayurvedic massages. O/n Hotel.
DAY
08 NEEMRANA TO DELHI Morning free to relax, evening transfer to
Delhi int'l airport (about 110kms/03hrs) to board your int'l flight.
DAY
09 DELHI Early morning board the flight to your home country.
India