Delhi / Day 1 - 2
Arrive in Delhi.
In its 3000 years of existence, seven cities have risen where the present capital of India stands. Here you’ll encounter a fascinating blend of the ancient and the contemporary. Landmark monuments fill the day for sightseeing. The 17th century imposing fortress, Red Fort, followed by Jama Masjid, the mosque that can house 20,000 kneeling devotees in prayer and Raj Ghat, Gandhi’s memorial are some of the key highlights on this day. We also take you through the slim lanes of Old Delhi on a Heritage Walk, which gives you a perspective of history and current culture of the area. Food, living culture and historical sights in this area are the highlights. On the way back, we drive through other important buildings and monuments like Raj Ghat, India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Agra / Day 3
Today we visit the famous Taj Mahal, a poignant poetry in marble that stands serene and awesome on a raised marble platform, by the banks of the Yamuna. The most extravagant monument ever built for love is a tribute to the timelessness of art and love. Also visit the Agra Fort, situated on the west bank of the river Yamuna, made by the Mughal King Akbar in the 16th century and completed by his grandson Shah Jahan, who was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb for 8 years in this fort.
Jaipur / Day 4 - 5
Drive to Jaipur on this day. Later in the evening enjoy an interesting walk of around ½ Km, where one can see the colorful local market. This walk will start from Chhoti Chopad and continue through the narrow by-lanes to reach at Chandpole bazaar and Khajanewalo ka Rasta, to finish at the Marble statue market. The Royal city of Jaipur offers world-class quality of marble work with intricate carvings. Jaipur is the biggest manufacturing center for marble statues of Hindu and Jain deities. After breakfast enjoy a short trip which takes you to Amber fort on jeep/elephants. The city fort is 130m high with the Aravalli Hills encasing it in a valley that lies 11 km north of Jaipur. It was the ancient capital of the Kachhawaha Rajputs till 1037. En route, make a photo stop at the Palace of Winds (Hawa Mahal). It is a 5-storied 18 century building with 953 windows and niches made for the ladies of the royal family. In the afternoon visit the “Pink City” of Jaipur. You will visit City Palace, which houses the Royal residence and museums with collections of textiles and costumes, armory, manuscripts, paintings etc. We also make a quick stop at Jantar Mantar. Enjoy a rickshaw ride in the evening to maneuver past the lanes of the market.
Deogarh / Day 6 - 7
The main attraction of Deogarh is Deogarh Mahal which is a heritage hotel, originally built in the 17th century and now converted into a heritage hotel offering an unforgettable experience. The highlight of the day is the local train ride through a wooded hill section (Phulad to Kamblighat or vice versa). A ride on the local meter gauge train, down a mountainous ghat section is interesting for its panoramic views and for the scrub jungle, hills, tunnels, 100-foot high bridges and remote one-man stations. In the afternoon, enjoy the visit to Deogarh Village and watch villagers performing their day to day activities. Watch women around a community well fetching water buckets, washing clothes and carrying water in beautiful matkas (clay pot) on their heads. Feel free to join the group of people sitting under some shady trees or in open courtyards discussing everything from the world of politics to the local domestic issues. We will also have a round of the village market where we will see various small shops of sweets, grocery, vegetables, fruits and other utility items. Also, watch different artisans like potters, cobblers, textile workers, carpenter, jewelers, etc. at their work.
Ranakpur / Day 8 - 9
After a nature walk in the morning, come back to the hotel to leave for Ranakpur. Afternoon is reserved to visit beautifully sculpted Jain temples that mark the glory of this renowned place. Considered as one of the five holy places for the Jain community, the temples here were created in the 15th century AD during the reign of Rana Kumbha and enclosed within a wall. The central Chaumukha (four-faced temple) is dedicated to Adinathji. The temple is an astounding creation of architectural splendour with 29 halls and 1,444 pillars all distinctly carved, with no two pillars being alike. Next morning after breakfast, drive straight to the starting point of our walk – a temple called Muchhala Mahavir. Arrive Muchhala Mahavir. The distinctive feature of this temple is the statue of Lord Mahavira with a moustache. The two statues of elephants guarding the gateways are splendid examples of temple decoration. After the visit of the temple, start the walk towards Thandi Beri. About 10 minutes into our walk, we come across the village of a tribe called ‘Garasiya’, the shepherds. See their life at close quarters. We reach Thandi Beri in the middle of a thicket in the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary. This area is rich with migratory birds, which fly from Siberia to South Asia during the winters. The walk ends at the Forest Rest House, from where we will drive in jeeps back to the hotel.
Udaipur / Day 10 - 11
After breakfast drive to Udaipur. In the evening enjoy the walk from Dhudh Talai to Maachla Magra. It is a very exciting 45- minute walk to the top of Maachla Magra. It is an easy uphill walk, with a cemented path.
From the top, one can see the three lakes clearly i.e Lake Pichola, Fateh Sagar and Swaroop Sagar. A city sprinkled with lakes, gardens, temples and palaces, Udaipur is an oasis in the Thar Desert. Mirror flat reflective lakes give it an aura of a romance, especially Lake Pichola. The 17th century Jagadish Temple with its intricate carvings and Sahelion ki Bari an ornamental pleasure garden complete the day of sightseeing after spending atleast two-three hours at City Palace, the impressive complex of several palaces that is a blend of Rajput and Mughal influences.
Mumbai / Day 12 - 13
After breakfast transfer to the airport to board the flight to Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai and transfer to the hotel. Later enjoy the interesting half day walk of Mumbai. Start from the Gateway of India designed by Scotland-born architect, George Wittet. Sporting exquisite Mughal-style design elements, this imposing basalt arch overlooks the Mumbai Harbor. Walk up Shivaji Marg past the members-only colonial relic Royal Bombay Yacht Club on one side and the Art Deco residential-commercial complex Dhanraj Mahal on the other. Dodge the traffic to reach the car park in the middle of the circle for the best view of the surrounding buildings, including the old Sailors Home which dates from 1876 and is now the Maharashtra Police Headquarters and the Art Deco cinema Regal. Continue up MG Road, past the beautifully restored façade of the Institute of Science. From SP Mukherji Chowk, beyond Madame Cama Road (to your left), is the National Gallery of Modern Art. Cross back over to Forbes Street to visit the Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue before returning to MG Road and continuing north along the left-hand side so you can admire the vertical art deco stylings of the New India Assurance Company Building. In a traffic island ahead lies the pretty Flora Fountain, named after the Roman goddess of abundance. Turn east down Veer Nariman Road walking towards St Thomas’ Cathedral. Retrace your steps back to Flora Fountain and continue west past the Venetian Gothic-style State Public Works Department. Turn south onto Bhaurao Patil Marg to see the August High Court (22) and the equally venerable and ornately decorated University of Mumbai. The façades of both buildings are best observed from within the Oval Maidan. Turn around to compare the colonial edifices with the row of art deco beauties lining Maharshi Karve (MK) Road, culminating in the wedding cake tower of the Eros Cinema. End your walk at Churchgate station. Onward flight from Mumbai.
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