India - Pushkar Camel Fair

In the morning, visit the highlights of New and Old Delhi with a guide. Designed in 1911 by the British, New Delhi is one of the greenest capitals in the world. See the impressive Qutab Minar, a 234-foot-high red sandstone minaret. The buildings in this complex date from the onset of Muslim rule in India. Drive past the government buildings and the Rashtrapati Bhawan (Presidential Palace) along the broad and majestic Rajpath before continuing to Old Delhi.

Then drive by the Red Fort, a symbol of Mughal power. Take a rickshaw ride around Chandni Chowk (an old shopping street) to visit the Jama Masjid Mosque area,  the principal mosque of Old Delhi in India. Commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal, and completed in the year 1656 AD, it is the largest and best-known mosque in India. Also visit Raj Ghat, a memorial of the great Mahatma Gandhi, and time permitting the Bhai House of Worship a temple shaped in the form of a Lotus flower. Dinner & Overnight at the Hotel.

In the morning we travel south 3 1/2 hours to Agra along the Yamuna Expressway. The earliest reference to Agra is in the epic The Mahabharat. Ptolemy, Alexander the Great's geographer, also called it Agra. It was, however, in the medieval period that Agra earned prominence as a capital city under the Mughals. Its many wonderful monuments include the Taj Mahal, the greatest of them all. In the Afternoon visit the Taj Mahal with a guide. The Taj Mahal is simply beautiful—not just in design and technique but also in desire and intent. It was built as a monument to love, a manifestation of life's most powerful emotion. When his wife died unexpectedly, Emperor Shahjahan vowed to honor her with a memorial of unmatched beauty. He commissioned the world's best craftsmen and 20,000 workers to build this beautiful structure. The result is a delicately carved, white marble jewel that seems to float on a sea of red limestone. The Taj Mahal is generally considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements of Persian, Turkish, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. In 1983, the Taj became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also, visit the Agra fort. Near the gardens of the Taj Mahal stands the important 16th-century Mughal monument known as the Red Fort of Agra. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 2.5-km walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers, which comprises many fairy-tale palaces (Jehangir Mahal and Khas Mahal),, halls of public and private, an audience (Diwan-i-Khas and Diwan-i-Aam)) ; and two lovely mosques

Early in the morning we travel west about 1 1/2 hours to Fatehpur Sikri, the once-fabled Mogul capital that has taken on a sleeping beauty quality, lying quietly but wonderfully preserved. The Great Mughal Emperor Akbar built Fathepur Sikri (the City of Victory) during the second half of the 16th century as the capital of the Mughal Empire. A large number of masons and stone carvers worked hard on an area that was over two miles long and a mile wide. Using the locally available red sand stone, they created a complex of monuments and temples, all in a uniform architectural style, including one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid. Some fifteen years after the work was completed, it was realized that there was a lack of adequate water supply. The pristine complex was abandoned, and the capital shifted back to Agra. Continue to Rantanbhor, about 3 ½ hours south-west, arriving for lunch at the hotel. Ranthanbhor encompasses nearly 152 square miles of dry deciduous forest in southwestern Rajasthan, and in the heart of this forest, the Aravali and Vindhya ranges meet. The park derives its name from the fort of Ranthanbhor, which sits on a rocky outcrop in the forest. The landscape is dotted with ancient Banyan trees, Dhok and Pipal trees, clusters of mango trees, and crisscrossed with evergreen belts. The terrain is made up of massive rock formations, steep scarps, perennial lakes and streams, and forest that suddenly opens up into large areas of savannah. For a relatively small area, the park has a rich diversity of fauna and flora. The species list includes 300 trees, 50 aquatic plants, 272 birds, 12 reptiles (including the marsh crocodile), amphibians, and 30 mammals. Other than the tiger, for which the park is most famous, other predators found are leopards, striped hyenas, jackals, caracals, and jungle cats. Also seen are sloth bear, sambar deer, chital (spotted) deer, nilgai (blue bull) antelope, wild boar, chinkara (Indian) gazelle, Indian hare, mongoose, common langur, palm civet, palm squirrel, porcupine, and monitor lizard. In the afternoon, take a safari to the park to see wildlife in its natural habitat and to “hunt“ for the elusive tiger. inner.

Very early in the morning, revisit the park for another safari. After breakfast, we will travel south-west for about 5 hours to Bijaipur, with lunch en route. 

Check-in CASTLE BIJAIPUR, Located in the Vindhyanchal Hills at 600 meters above sea level, surrounded by graceful forests of Flame of the Forest & Jaracanda overlooking the farmlands in the valley, Castle Bijaipur is the ultimate place where history, nature and hospitality form unison. It is not just a retreat that will leave you breathless with the enchantment of its surroundings, but assists in redefining lifestyles to include the well-known Indian traditions of life and hospitality. The 16th century Castle, situated in fortified walls, was converted to a hotel in 1991 by the ruling family. The Castle is still home to the ruling family who run it not as a hotel but as a ‘HOME’ where people can come and experience traditional Rajput hospitality.

In the afternoon we will take a walk to the local village , OR spend the afternoon at the Castle with Tips on Yoga and meditation ( Please ask your escort make arrangements ). Dinner and Overnight at The Hotel

After breakfast, we will visit the 7th century city of Chittorgarh, also called Chittaur, which evokes memories of great heroism and sacrifice by Rajput men and women in the intermittent battles that they had to fight against Muslim invaders. Allaudin Khilji who coveted Queen Padmini of Chittaur, invaded the city in 1303 A.D. Queen Padmini and the women of the court sacrificed themselves in a pyre of fire rather than submit to anybody. This supreme sacrifice has been called 'Jauhar' and epitomizes the fiery spirit of the Rajputs of the day. The honey-colored Fort is built on a hilltop and within are the remains of many temples and monuments. The 15th-century, 9-story Vijay Stambh (Tower of Victory) is built from red sandstone and white marble. We will continue to travel west for about 2½ hours to Udaipur. Also known as the Venice of the East, Udaipur is an enchanting city. From the lakes in the midst of the sandy terrain to the green forested hills where wildlife still abounds, the surprises are endless. late afternoon, take a short boat ride and proceed to the old city for a walk around the bazaars, shops,shops and havelis (mansions) before arriving at Bagore Haveli for a performance of local dances and music. 

In the morning, we will visit the vast and exquisite City Palace of the Maharana, in which amber, jade, and colored glass give the palace a sparkling yet ethereal quality. The City Palace was built concurrently with the establishment of Udaipur city by Maharana Udai Singh II and his successor Maharanas over a period of the next 400 years. The Maharanas lived and administered their kingdom from this palace, thereby making the palace complex an important historic landmark. Also, we will visit Sahelion-ki-Bari, the garden of the maids of honor, and continue to the Crystal Gallery and the Vintage and Classic Car Museum, which have nearly two dozen of the Maharana's personal collections of exclusive cars. The rest of the day is free for independent activities and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, we will travel north for about 2 hours to Udaipur. to the historic fort at Kumbalgarh, Stopping en route at the Jain temple.  complex at Ranakpur. Note:The Temple is open to visitors 12.00 noon to 4.00 pm and visitors are requested not to wear shorts or any dark colour clothing , blue , black etc.The Jain temple of Ranakpur, unique in its architectural elegance, is a 15th-century temple built in white marble with exquisitely intricate carvings. The entire complex, built on over 40,000 sq ft, comprises 29 halls, 5 spires, 20 domes, and 420 pillars. The temple is enclosed on all four sides by a row of 86 chapels. All the architectural elements are covered with carvings that are so delicate that they look like lacework. It is amazing to find that among hundreds of pillars, no two are alike. Continue to Kumbalgarh, one hour north-east, and after lunch at the hotel, visit the Kumbalgarh Fort, a fascinating  place built in the 15th century by Maharana Kumbha on top of the Aravalli range at 1100 meters. The Fort contains palaces and is encircled by enormous walls reminiscing of the Great Wall of China. Dinner and overnight at the hotel 

After breakfast, we will travel north for about 5 hours to the holy city of Pushkar. One of Hinduism’s holy cities associated with Lord Brahma, Pushkar, is in the center-east part of Rajasthan, on the western side of the Aravalli mountains, and is centuries old, having been mentioned in ancient texts like the Ramanaya, Mahabharata,Mahabharat and Puranas, as well as in many other texts dated to the 1st millennium.  Pushkar comes alive during the month of Kartik of the Hindu calendar (corresponding to October or November), when the full moon night is celebrated in honor of the day when God incarnated as the fish form to save humanity from destruction by a deluge.  For about 10 days prior to the full moon, thousands gather around the lake at Pushkar in a dazzling display of colors and a frenzied burst of activity. Most people associate the Pushkar Fair with the world's largest camel fair, but it is much more than that; it is an unparalleled experience of the vibrancy of the entire state of Rajasthan in one place.A staggering number of camels travel their way across the golden sands of Rajasthan to collect at Pushkar for the week-long fair devoted to them. Numerous cows and sheep also come to the animal fair, and completing the scene are thousands of men, women, and children who come with their beasts, suddenly inhabiting the barren plain, with the camel providing the backdrop, proving a scene right in Biblical Times. The contrast to the dull desert landscape is the riot of colors: the large gaudy turbans of the males and the loud hues of the pleated ghagaras (ankle-length skirts) of the women, with bangles by the armful, bejeweled from head to toe, add charm and zest to occasion. Lunch at the hotel, and in the evening, walk through the colorful area and experience the joie de vivre of the occasion. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

On our day in Pushkar, we will visit the campsites, take a camel ride, walk through the colorful bazaars, and see and participate in the festivities.In the afternoon, we will continue north-east for 3 hours to Jaipur. The rose-pink capital of Rajasthan, aptly called the'pink city’, is surrounded on all sides by rugged hills. The city was founded in 1727 by the astronomer-king, Sawai Jai Singh II, and built according to the Shilpa Shastra, the ancient Hindu treatise on architecture and sculpture. It is a walled city of seven rectangular blocks, with the Maharajah's palace located in the center amidst lovely gardens. In the evening, take an e-rickshaw ride through the old city bazaars and markets. See the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of Winds, a major Rajput landmark built in 1799. This five-story building in the old city is a pink sandstone masterpiece with semi-octagonal and delicately honeycombed windows. The monument was originally conceived to enable ladies of the royal household to watch the city’s daily life and special events in absolute privacy. 

In the morning, we will visit Jantar Mantar, an observatory that is equipped with instruments of astonishing size and precision, including a 90-foot-high sundial. Also, we will visit the City Palace, which is the royal residence of the erstwhile King of Jaipur. It houses a museum with a superb collection of Rajasthani costumes, armory from the Mughal and Rajput eras, weaponry, and swords of different shapes and sizes, some with ornamental handles inlaid with enamel, embellished with jewels, and encased in magnificent scabbards. Drive past Moti-Doongri Palace, a privately owned hilltop fort built like a Scottish castle, to Ram Niwas Gardens and the architecturally impressive Albert Hall before returning to the hotel with the afternoon free for independent activities.In the late afternoon, take a walk in the walled city’s bazaars before going to the Birla Temple at dusk for the Aarti ceremony with an overnight stay at the hotel.

Late in the morning, at 11 a.m., we will visit the Fort of Amber, a superb example of Rajput architecture. Located high on a hill with large ramparts and a series of gates and cobbled paths,. The Fort’s construction started in 1592 by Raja Man Singh, the Rajput Commander of Akbar’s army. It was later extended and completed by Jai Singh. Laid out on four levels, the buildings inside are constructed of red sandstone and marble and include the Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors) and the Sukh Niwas, which was “air-conditioned“ by making wind blow over a water cascade.Note: The approach to Amber is best on Elephant Back, but that can mean queuing up and a wait of more than an hour; we suggest taking Jeeps. Lunch at a local restaurant and continue north-east to Delhi, about 3 and a half hours to connect the flight home with rooms for washing and changing and dinner included at a hotel near the airport.