Royal Rajasthan Retreat

Arrive by flight at Delhi. Welcome to the capital of India and the second most populous city of India - Delhi. The city’s importance lies not just in its past glory as the seat of empires and magnificent monuments but also in the rich and diverse cultures.

A private car will pick you up from Delhi Airport and transfer you to the hotel for check-in. After refreshing, head out for Delhi sightseeing. Drive past Rashtrapati Bhavan (the residence of the President of India), and visit India Gate (it is a memorial to 82,000 soldiers of the Indian Army who died in the period 1914–21 in the First World War).

 Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Delhi.

Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn New Delhi/Saket

Meals: None

After breakfast, set out for Delhi sightseeing. Stop off at the UNESCO World Heritage site, Humayun’s Tomb. Built in 1570, it is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden tomb on the Indian subcontinent. Then visit the breathtaking Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India, and the bustling Chandni Chowk – one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi. Enjoy a rickshaw ride at Chandni Chowk.

Have lunch at a nice restaurant. After that, visit the towering Qutub Minar (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), a 73-metre (239.5 feet) tall tapering tower of five storeys. Qutb ud Din Aibak, the founder of the Delhi Sultanate, started construction of the Qutb Minar's first storey around 1192. 

After that, visit Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, one of the most prominent Sikh temples, or Sikh house of worship in Delhi, and known for its association with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan, as well as the pool inside its complex, known as the "Sarovar."

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Delhi.

Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn New Delhi/Saket

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

After breakfast check out from hotel, and head towards the Pink City - Jaipur, famous for its broad avenues, massive forts, magnificent palaces, exquisite temples and royal culture.  

Reach Jaipur by Afternoon. Check-in at the hotel and relax. In the evening enjoy a guided walk tour of the famous Pink City markets. Jaipur is also known as the shopper’s paradise. Jaipur's colorful markets offer a great break to stop and shop on your tour. Take in the glint and sparkle of the rows of shops selling hand-crafted bangles and other decoration items. While moving through the markets, you will come across the vivacious culture of this region. 

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Jaipur.

Hotel: Alsisar Haveli

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, set out for some local sightseeing; Visit the historic heritage sites of Jaipur - Hawa Mahal ("Palace of Winds" - a high screen wall built so the women of the royal household could observe street festivals while unseen from the outside); Jantar Mantar (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), It is a collection of nineteen architectural astronomical instruments, built by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh, and completed in 1738 CE.

 Afterwards, visit the City Palace. A complex of courtyards, gardens and buildings, the impressive City Palace is right in the centre of the Old City. 

Then visit Jal Mahal (the palace in the middle of lake). It was built in the 17th century.  Visit the grand Amer Fort (or Amber Fort) (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). It is the principal tourist attraction in the Jaipur and the current structure was built during the late 16th century by Rajput Kings. 

In the evening visit Nahargarh Fort, which provides a beautiful bird's eye view of entire Jaipur city. 

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Jaipur.

Hotel: Alsisar Havelir

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, check-out and head towards Mandawa, known for its fort and havelis. This town has been referred to as the "open art gallery" of Rajasthan state because the entire region is dotted with fascinating mansions (havelis) that have lavishly painted walls.

Reach Mandawa by afternoon. Check-in at the hotel on arrival. In the late afternoon set out for local sightseeing. Visit Madawa Fort & some of the most popular havelis of Mandawa. 

Dinner & overnight stay will be at the hotel in Mandawa.

Hotel: Mandawa Kothi

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast, check-out and head towards Bikaner. Bikaner is a vibrant, dust-swirling desert town with a fabulous fort and an energizing outpost feel. It’s less dominated by tourism than many other Rajasthan cities, though it has plenty of hotels and a busy camel-safari scene.

Reach Bikaner by noon. Check-in at the hotel. In the evening, visit Junagarh Fort, built by Maharaja Ganga Singh in 1902 in the memory of his father Maharaja Lal Singh. It is a stunning redstone building and is a perfect fusion of Mughal, European and Rajput architecture and has a superb collection of paintings and hunting trophies. Afterwards, visit Camel Breeding Farm (National Research Centre on Camel).

Reach back at the hotel. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Bikaner.

Hotel: Brij Gaj Kesri, Bikaner

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, check-out and head towards Jaisalmer. A city that has come back almost from the dead in the past half-century, Jaisalmer may be remote but it’s certainly not forgotten – indeed it’s one of Rajasthan’s biggest tourist destinations, and few people come here without climbing onto a camel in the surrounding Thar Desert.

Reach Jaisalmer by late afternoon. Check-in at the hotel. The evening is at your leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel in Jaisalmer.

­ 

Hotel: WelcomHeritage Mandir Palace

Meals: Breakfast 

After breakfast head out to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site – Jaisalmer Fort. Jaisalmer’s unique fort is a living urban center, with about 3000 people residing within its walls. It’s honeycombed with narrow, winding lanes, lined with houses and temples, handicraft shops, guesthouses, and restaurants. It is the second oldest fort in Rajasthan, built-in 1156 AD by the Rajput Rawal (ruler) Jaisal.

Afterward, visit Patwon ki Haveli ('mansion of brocade merchants'), a cluster of 5 small Havelis, is an interesting piece of architecture and is the most important among the Havelis in Jaisalmer. The first among these havelis was commissioned and constructed in the year 1805 by Guman Chand Patwa and is the biggest and the most ostentatious.

In the evening head out to visit the Sam Sand Dunes, for a genuine Thar Desert experience. The sunset view at the sand dunes is a lifetime experience. Reach back at the hotel by evening. Overnight stay at the hotel in Jaisalmer.

Hotel: WelcomHeritage Mandir Palace

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast check-out from the hotel and head towards Jodhpur. Welcome to the land of legendary kings, gladiators, and royalty. Also known as the "The Blue City", "The Sun City" and "The Gateway to Thar", Jodhpur is famous for its beautiful Mehrangarh Fort, vivid blue houses, temples, sweets, and snacks. Seen in the backdrop of the movie, The Dark Knight Rises, Jodhpur attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the globe.

Check-in at the hotel on arrival. The evening is at your leisure. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Jodhpur.

Hotel: Ratan Vilas Jodhpur

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, set out for local sightseeing tour of Jodhpur. Visit the majestic Mehrangarh Fort, regally set on a sandstone hill built by Rao Jodha in 1459. Rising perpendicular and impregnable from a rocky hill that itself stands 120m above Jodhpur’s skyline, Mehrangarh is one of the most magnificent forts in India. 

Afterwards visit Jaswant Thada – the milky-white marble memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, sitting above a small lake 1km northeast of Mehrangarh, is an array of whimsical domes. The cenotaph is built out of intricately carved sheets of marble. These sheets are extremely thin and polished so that they emit a warm glow when illuminated by the sun. 

Then visit the lavish Umaid Bhawan Palace, one of the world's largest private residences. A part of the palace is managed by Taj Hotels. After that visit Jodhpur market. 

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Jodhpur. 

Hotel: Ratan Vilas Jodhpur

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and head towards Udaipur - the “City of Lakes”. A fusion of nature, Rajasthani culture & architecture, the picturesque view of the city shouts the story of its past glory. Often referred to as the 'Venice of the East', the city of lakes Udaipur is located around azure water lakes and is surrounded by lush green hills of Aravalli Ranges.

On the way visit one of the most significant and extensive Jain temple complexes that can be found in the country, the Ranakpur Jain Temple. It holds immense importance for all Jains. Spread over an area of 4,500 square yards and consisting of 29 halls, the temple is one of the most important of the five major pilgrimage centres of Jainism. The Ranakpur Temple is distinguished all across the globe for its brilliant architecture and was voted amongst the top 77 wonders of the world.

Reach Udaipur by evening. Check-in at hotel and relax. Evening is at your leisure. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Udaipur.

Hotel: Lake Pichola Hotel, Udaipur

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast head out for local sightseeing. Visit Fateh Sagar Lake (one of the most beautiful lakes in Udaipur). Then visit the Sahelion ki Badi, which was laid for a group of forty-eight young women attendants who accompanied a princess to Udaipur as part of her dowry.

Afterward, visit City Palace Complex.  It was built over a period of nearly 400 years, atop a hill, in a fusion of the Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles, providing a panoramic view of the city and its surroundings. Also, visit the beautiful Jagdish Temple close to the City Palace Complex.

In the early evening enjoy the sunset Boat cruise at lake Pichola (Shared). After that visit Bagore-ki-Haveli. This gracious 18th-century haveli, set on the water’s edge in the Gangaur Ghat area, was built by a Mewar prime minister and has since been carefully restored. In the evening enjoy the Dharohar Folk Dance Show at Bagore-ki-Haveli. Reach back to the hotel. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Udaipur.

Hotel: Lake Pichola Hotel, Udaipur

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast check out from the hotel.  The private car will drop you at the Udaipur Airport. 

Bid farewell with the memories of amazing fun-filled 13 days of Royal Rajasthan Retreat, worth remembering for a lifetime!

­ 

Meal: Breakfast