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Day 01
 Delhi |
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You
will arrive at New Delhi’s International Airport. Following customs,
immigration formalities and baggage collection, a our representative
will meet you as you EXIT the ARRIVALS TERMINAL building after which
you would be transferred to your hotel.
DELHI
India’s capital and a major gateway to the country, contemporary
Delhi is a bustling metropolis, which successfully combines in its
folds - the ancient with the modern. Amidst the fast spiraling
skyscrapers the remnants of a bygone time in the form of its many
monuments stand as silent reminders to the region’s ancient legacy.
The first impressions for any visitor traveling in from the airport
are of a specious, garden city, tree-lined with a number of
beautiful parks.
Upon arrival at the hotel, you will be accorded with a Traditional
Welcome. Welcoming guest is an age-old tradition. ‘Atithi Devobhava’
- treat your guest as if he were God. Indian hospitality can be
savored immediately as one arrives at the hotel. The guest’s
forehead is anointed with the traditional red ‘tika’ which is
considered auspicious along with garlanding. Relax with a
non-alcoholic welcome drink following which proceed to check in at
your hotel.
Overnight at the hotel. |
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Day 02
Delhi |
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 After
leisurely buffet breakfast at the hotel, you will proceed for a full
day combined city tour of Old & New Delhi.
You will first visit Old Delhi. The tour will begin with a visit to
Raj Ghat, a simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi; drive past the Red
Fort continuing to the Jama Masjid, one of Asia’s largest mosques
and which is viewed from the outside. People stream in and out of
the mosque continuously and the presence of a nearby bazaar means
that the area is rarely quiet. After visiting Old Delhi, you will be
driven to New Delhi, which reflects the legacy the British left
behind. The division between New and Old Delhi is the division
between the capitals of the British and the Mughals respectively.
The division in the walled city and New Delhi also marks the
division in the life-styles. The walled city is all tradition where
one will be able to glean a past life-style in all its facets,
colours and spells. New Delhi in contrast, is a city trying to live
up to the best of 21st century standards.
The tour to Imperial Delhi will include a visit to the Qutub Minar,
the tallest stone tower in India. Qutub-ud-din Aibak started it in
1199. Pulling down 27 Hindu and Jain temples and using their columns
erected the attached Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque also built by him. Then
visit Humayun’s tomb, built by the widow of the second Mughal
Emperor, Humayun, it is an outstanding monument in the Indo-Persian
style, a precursor of the Taj Mahal. The tour also includes a drive
past the imposing India Gate, the Parliament building and the
Rastrapathi Bhawan, the President’s residence.
Overnight at the hotel. |
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Day 03
Delhi -
Agra |
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After
buffet breakfast in the hotel you will be driven from Delhi to Agra
(204 KMS/ 4.30 HRS).
AGRA
Agra in terms of ambiance is still associated with its Mughal
period. The Mughals besides being great rulers were also great
builders and they preserved their best architectural wonders for
Agra & its neighbourhood.
It has many wonderful monuments and the Taj Mahal, the greatest of
them all, is a masterpiece of Mughal architecture at its best. The
massive but elegant Agra Fort, the delicate artistry of
Itimad-ud-daulah’s tomb, the magnificent Taj and Akbar’s deserted
capital, Fatehpur Sikri, are each unique and outstanding. Their
architectural genius can also be seen in the forts, palaces and
aesthetically laid out gardens - each one a silent witness to a
grand style of a golden era.
Upon arrival proceed to check in at your hotel.
Later visit the Agra Fort, an outstanding example of Mughal
architecture. Agra Fort - the seat and the stronghold of the Mughal
Empire under successive generations. This was the seat of Mughal
rule and administration and the present structure owes its origins
to Akbar who erected the walls and gates and the first buildings on
the eastern banks of Yamuna River. Shah Jehan added the impressive
quarters and the mosque while Aurangzeb added the outer ramparts.
Visit its Hall of Public Audience and its Royal Pavilions.
Overnight at the hotel. |
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Day 04
Agra -
Bharatpur |
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Today
early in the morning you will proceed for a sunrise tour of the Taj
Mahal (closed on Fridays). Midway Tonga’s “horse carriages” would be
waiting for you and will drop you at the gates of the Taj Mahal.
The Taj Mahal is everything that has been said about it and more.
Taking 22 years and 20,000 men to build, the white marble was
quarried 200 miles away and was transported to the site by a fleet
of 1000 elephants. Built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as an
expression of his love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, in mid 17th
century, the Taj Mahal is truly one of the wonders of the world.
Though the Taj appears to be amazingly perfect from almost any
angle, it is the close-up marble inlay work, which is really
astounding. You will have ample time to view and be mesmerized by
this outstanding piece of architecture.
Later drive to Bharatpur, enroute visit Fatehpur Sikri.
Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted red sandstone city, built by the Great
Mughal Emperor Akbar as his capital and palace in the late 16th
century. It was abandoned soon after it was built when the local
wells went dry and it remains today in much the same condition that
it was over 300 years ago. It is complete with palaces and mosques
and used to be a town larger than London when it was originally
constructed. Now it is an extraordinary place to wander around with
its buildings in near perfect condition.
On arrival in Bharatpur, check in at the hotel.
BHARATPUR
This tiny bird sanctuary located on the Delhi-Jaipur highway has an
interesting history. This area used to be the royal hunting preserve
of the erstwhile Bharatpur royalty. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. Come
and watch exotic birds like the spoonbills and Siberian cranes that
visit the 40 square kilometer swampy Bharatpur bird sanctuary during
the winter months. Luxury Indian Vacations offers to take you to the
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary that is popularly known as the Keoladeo
Ghana National Park. Keoladeo is an ancient temple that is situated
at the center of the Bharatpur bird sanctuary. This tiny bird
sanctuary located on the Delhi-Jaipur highway has an interesting
history. This area used to be the royal hunting preserve of the
erstwhile Bharatpur royalty. The rulers of Bharatpur held annual
duck shoots in the area every year and in fact the bird shooting
exploits of the visiting guests and dignitaries have been recorded
on engraved stone plaques near the ancient Keoladeo temple. This
wildlife park was notified as a bird sanctuary in the post
independence
period and was declared as a national park in the year 1982.
The beat way to spot exotic bird species at the Bharatpur Bird
Sanctuary is to carry a set of binoculars and course the well
defined wooded trails on foot or on bicycles. Take boat rides on the
lakes located within the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary and spot colorful
bird species such as cranes, hawks, geese, pelicans, buntings,
flycatchers, pipits, wagtails, larks, eagles, stints, shanks, ducks
and warblers, spoonbills. Apart from the more than 300 bird species
that make the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary their home this national park
is home to quite a few wild animals such as the Sambar, Chital,
Nilgai and others.
Visit the park in the evening.
Overnight at the hotel. |
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Day 05
Bharatpur - Jaipur |
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Morning one more visit to the national park.
After buffet breakfast, drive to Jaipur. Upon arrival at Jaipur
proceed for check in at your hotel.
JAIPUR
Jaipur's past is never too far from hand. The city of victory,
Jaipur presides over the fascinating desert state and its people:
surrounded by rugged hills, each crowned by a formidable fort; and
beautiful palaces, mansions and gardens dotted throughout its
precincts. The palaces and forts of yesteryear that were witness to
royal processions and splendour are now living monuments, accepted
quite naturally into the lifestyles of the people of the "pink
city". There is a timeless quality to Jaipur's bazaars and its
people. With its historical past, Jaipur revives legends of the
ancient Rajputs. The dresses of the women and the turbans of the
men add colour to this fascinating city.
Overnight at the hotel. |
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Day 06
Jaipur |
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After
buffet breakfast at the hotel, you will be driven just outside
Jaipur to the ancient capital of Amber to see the fabulous Amber
Fort.
Maharaja Mansingh, Mughal Emperor Akbar’s most successful General,
started the construction of Amber Fort in the 17th century. Before
the City Palace was constructed in Jaipur, Amber was the seat of
power. The fort is surrounded by fortified battlements and overlooks
the Moat Lake. Ruins and remains are spread over the Aravalli hills
and sprawling crenulated walls lattice the surrounding area.
An elephant will spare you the trouble of reaching up to the
fortress (Subject to availability). Once on top, stroll through the
sprawling complex of courtyards and halls. Many of the rooms have
delightful wall paintings, with precious stones and mirrors inlaid
in the walls. Most fascinating, perhaps, is the Sheesh Mahal (hall
of mirrors) where a single lamplight is reflected in the many
mirrors, lighting up the room. Come back to your hotel after your
visit.
In the afternoon, you will proceed to the city tour of Jaipur. Among
the highlights to be seen while touring Jaipur include the City
Palace, which is an overwhelming complex of exquisite palaces,
gardens and courtyards, decorative art and carved doorways. The
palace museum houses collections of rare manuscripts, armoury,
costumes, carpets and miniature paintings. Walk to the adjacent
Jantar Mantar or Astronomical Observatory made by the Maharaja of
Jaipur, built in 1726 and is one of the five such astronomical
wonders built by Sawai Jai Singh and makes accurate predictions even
to this day.
Your next stop will be ‘ Palace of Winds’, otherwise known as Hawa
Mahal. It is really an elaborate facade behind which the ladies of
the court used to watch the daily goings on in the street below. It
is extremely intricate in its pink sandstone carving. The cool wind
blows through its facade of windows and latticed screens through
which the queens of the court once viewed the streets of the city.
Come back to your hotel after your visit.
Overnight at the hotel. |
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Day 07
Jaipur -
Ranthambore |
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After
buffet breakfast at the hotel, you will be driven from Jaipur to
Ranthambore
RANTHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK
Luxury Indian Vacations offers to take you wildlife safaris to the
Ranthambore National Park located in Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan,
India that is situated at a distance of 145 kilometers from Jaipur,
Rajasthan, India that was once the hunting ground of the Maharaja of
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Luxury Indian Vacations offers you tailor
made tour packages that take you to Ranthambore that has the
distinction of being one of the largest Tiger reserves in India. The
main reason that led to the establishment of this wildlife national
park was to protect the dying tiger population in India. The
Ranthambore forest was declared as a wildlife park in the year 1955
and was accorded the status of a Tiger reserve in the year 1984. A
luxury wildlife vacation to the Ranthambore National Park opens up
an enchanting wilderness covered with dense forests, bushes, scrubs
and dotted with ancient ruins where you can spot wild animals and
grazers. Dhok trees dominate the Ranthambore vegetation and are
integral to the lifestyle of the local tribes as these trees provide
fodder for the domestic animals. The other trees that dominate the
Ranthambore forests include peepal, mango and banyan trees. Certain
banyan trees in these parts are more than 700 years old. While on
your Ranthambore tours with Luxury Indian Vacations you get an
opportunity to visit the scenic waterholes, gurgling streams that
flow over stunted bushes. Some of the popular animals found at the
Ranthambore National Park include tiger, elephants, sambhar,
leopards, nilgai, langur, Asiatic deer, jungle cat, caracal and
other animals. You can easily spot rare migratory, woodland and
water birds at the Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary. Some of the
popularly sighted birds at the Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary
include spoonbills, parakeets, quail, storks, kingfishers, Indian
horned owl, partridges, geese, ducks, owls and other birds. There
are a large number of peacocks at the Ranthambore National Park in
Madhya Pradesh, India.
Visit to the park on
Jeep / Canter in the evening
Overnight at the hotel. |
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Day 08
Ranthambore - Delhi & Depart Delhi |
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Morning visit to the park
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Later drive to the Delhi.
On arrival proceed to straight transfer to the airport to connect
flight to back home. |
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If
one explores the wildlife in India, he or she will find a
fascinating diversity of wildlife. India has many biosphere reserves
and wildlife sanctuaries, each of which has a unique and mysterious
diverse variety of geographical terrains which are veritable
treasure-house for animals and birds.