Heritage Meets Color

Arrival Note: Welcome to New Delhi! At the Indira Gandhi International Airport, you will be greeted by our representative and invited to take a chauffeur’s escort to a downtown hotel in our well-prepared private car.

Activities & Dinner Suggestion:
The remainder of the day is free for you to rest in the hotel and recover from the jet lag. We offer you a choice of 4 and 5-star hotels to suit different budgets and needs. Both hotels have restaurants inside and are easy to shop and eat around. If you’re not tired, you can go for a walk by yourself.

Sightseeing Activities: We will start the day from the Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques of India in the Mughal architectural style. Next, a photo stop will be arranged at the Red Fort (drive pass), for you to appreciate this massive red sandstone masterpiece. Afterwards, we will offer you a special rickshaw ride through the crowded and oldest market of Delhi, the Chandni Chowk. This would be an interesting way to experience and engage with the local life.

In the afternoon, the guide will lead you to visit the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the best Sikh shrine in India. Next up will be the highlights of today, two World Heritage sites in Delhi – the antique Humayun's Tomb, India’s first garden mausoleum, as well as the Qutub Minar, a soaring sandstone minaret built in 1192. Our final stop will be the India Gate, a huge arch commemorating the Indian soldiers who died in the First World War. On the way back to the hotel, we’ll drive past the Parliament House, President’s House, and other government buildings.

Do You Know What the World’s Tallest Brick Tower Is? - Qutub Minar Tower
The Qutub Minar Tower in Delhi is the tallest brick minaret in the world. The towering structure was built in 1193, with a height of 72.5 meters (238 ft.) and the base diameter is 14.32 meters (47 ft.). Tapering from bottom to top, the diameter of its narrowest point keeps only about 2.75 meters (9 ft.). No one knows exactly why it was built but a saying goes that it was constructed in memory of the wide spread of Islam in Delhi at that time. You can see some intricate patterns and designs about Islam. However, the typical Indian architectural style can also be observed in this structure, making it an unsolved mystery.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we will begin a long drive to Mandawa, a picturesque town in Shekhawati Region. It will be a long way taking up to 7 hours, but don't worry, as we have arranged a spacious and comfortable air-conditioned car exclusive for you. Our driver, with more than 10 years of experience, will make your journey easy and smooth. There are some primitive villages along the way, where we can have a rest, or if you see any scenic places that interest you, you can ask the driver to stop anytime for you to take photos. This is the biggest advantage of our private tour. Upon arrival in Mandawa, check into a heritage hotel and recover from the fatigue of the long ride.

★  Bonus for Our Guests:
Upon arrival in Mandawa, check into a heritage hotel and recover from the fatigue of the long ride. Today we specially arrange the Vivaana Culture hotel for you, which is an ancient Haveli hotel equipped with exquisite decorations and murals, and modern game room, spa center and swimming pool are also available. After several days of travel, it is perfect to treat yourself here. Dinner in the courtyard is very sumptuous with different performances every day. We recommend dinner at the hotel to enjoy delicacy and relaxation.

Meals: Breakfast

Morning Activities: After breakfast, our guide will take you through the quiet town of Mandawa to see the painted Havelis, the ornately decorated local residences with elaborate frescos, some of which have been converted into hotels or resorts, while some dilapidated in a state of ruin. This antique tone is a favorite of art-loving archaeologist type of people.

Afternoon Car Ride: It will take us 4 hours to drive 234 km to Bikaner and check into a local heritage hotel.

►  Mandawa - The Outdoor Gallery
Before the rise of Kolkata and Mumbai, the caravans traveling from northern India to the Middle East and even Europe had to cross the vast Thar Desert. Before entering the desert, they needed to replenish water and food in Shekhawati, and Mandawa was one of the important towns in that area. Due to its superior location, the merchants here had accumulated large amount of wealth and they built magnificent palaces, which we call Haveli now. At that time, not only were the interior decorations luxurious and magnificent, but even the exterior walls were painted with exquisite paintings of various themes.
The dry climate of the desert has enabled these paintings on the wall to be maintained for a long time. After centuries’ vicissitudes, although they has been weathered, still vaguely distinguishable. Follow our guide to explore the palace, castle, and ancient residences built in 1755 that integrates traditional Hindu and Islamic culture, and to learn about the glorious history of this small town.

One more thing, Mandawa is home to many gypsies who often beg in the market during the day. Please take good care of your belongings when take a stroll along the street.

Meals: Breakfast

Morning Activities: We’ll visit Bikaner’s most famous attraction, the Junagarh Fort, a well-preserved 16th-century forts complex, and one of the few forts in Rajasthan that is not built on top of a hill. Featuring different architectural styles, it contains many palaces, temples and pavilions. The guide will take you to some of the grandest buildings in it, such as the Har Mandir, a temple where the royal family used to perform important ceremonies.

Camel Festival in Bikaner Is Celebrated in January
Bikaner is known as “the Land of Camel”. If you happened to visit the area in January, our guide will show you a bustling and alive camel festival. The celebration generally lasts for 2 days, including parades, contests, beauty pageants, and firework shows. 

The festival is always held in Bikaner’s most famous architecture, the Junagarh Fort. Bikaner's two-day camel festival offers varied activities: camels dressed in colorful blankets, reins and accessories parade from Junagarh Fort to Dr. Karni Singh Stadium; the pelts of some camels may be shaved into intricate patterns to echo the decorations of the fort as they are ready for the beauty contests and sometimes even dance competitions.

Foreign visitors may also have a chance to take part in the turban-tying competition and help to dress up camels. Various delicious food made of camel milk can also be tasted during the festival, like tea, candy, and ice cream. This is a very good time to experience local culture.

Afternoon Car Ride: We will take a 5-hour private car ride to complete the 300 km road journey to Jaisalmer, where we’ll spent the night.

Meals: Breakfast

Sightseeing Activities: We have a full day to explore Jaisalmer. First, our guide will take you to the landmark Jaisalmer Fort, a majestic 12th-century fort in the desert. Unlike many forts around the world that have been converted into museums, the Jaisalmer Fort is still inhabited by ordinary people, bringing life to the area. In and around the fort, there are many Havelis, which are large houses once built by some wealthy merchants. The guide will show you the best ones like the Salim Ji Ki Haveli, Patwon Ki Haveli, and Nathmalji Ke Haveli.

Next, we will drop by the Manak Chowk, a busy market replete with local textiles, handicrafts, leather items and jewelry. Afterwards, we’ll pay a visit to the Gadisar Lake, a beautiful reservoir that once provided water for people in the Middle Ages. Late in the afternoon, you will have some spare time to visit the local bazaars before heading to the Sam Sand Dunes.

★ Sam Sand Dunes Safari: Towards evening, we’ll take you to the Sam Sand Dunes on the edge of the Thar Desert, where you can enjoy the stunning desert sunset that will brighten up your trip to India. Take a stroll around the camp to admire the scenery, or you can try some self-paid activities as you like, such as camel ride, desert dinner, and paragliding.

Why Not Staying Overnight at Desert?
1. Lack of relevant facilities for accommodation, the tent is very basic and sometimes only simple ones made of tarpaulin and tree branches.
2. Lack of clean water, some cook even clean pots with sand, which is really perfunctory.
3. Most importantly, there are black little beetles in this desert at night.

Meals: Breakfast

Morning Car Ride: Today will begin with a 285 km car ride to Jodhpur, taking 5 hours.

Afternoon Sightseeing in Jodhpur: Our guide will lead you to the Mehrangarh Fort, a massive historic fort built on a hilltop. We will visit a lot of splendid palaces such as the Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace) and Phool Mahal (Palace of Flowers), as well as the nearby funerary monument Jaswant Thada.

★ What makes us different:
1. Our guide will take you to the highest point of the fort for a panoramic view of Jodhpur with blue roofs.
2. We will provide you with an audio guide device in the fort for free.

Afterwards, we will visit the Umain Bhawan Museum, a royal palace with excellent display of weapons, artistic murals, and vintage cars. Finally, we’ll go to the clock tower area, where you can stroll around the Sardar Market.

Meals: Breakfast

Sightseeing Activities: We will head to Udaipur after breakfast. The 255 km drive will take 5 to 6 hours. During the drive we will stop at Ranakpur for visiting the 15th-century Jain Temple, which is a sacred site with clusters of pagodas and intricate domes. The guide will lead you to see the main temple, the Chamukha Temple, featuring 1,444 pillars with ornate carvings. After the visit, we’ll continue our journey to Udaipur and check into a local hotel.

Who Built the Chaumukh Temple? 
With a history of more than 500 years, the Chaumukh Temple was first built by a Jain merchant and it is dedicated to Adinath, the first Jain Tirthankara. The successful merchant is named Seth Dharna Shah. One day, he dreamed of the celestial craft Lalinigulm which is described in the Jain texts. It inspired him to build a craft-shaped temple and carry out the vision of his dream. He asked help from then king Rana Kumbha and the king promised to support him on the condition that the temple be named after the king. As a result, the temple is also known as Ranakpur Jain Temple. The best craftsmen and a lot of workers were employed to construct the wonderful temple for nearly over 60 years. Follow our guide and explore more Jain wonders in the temple.

Meals: Breakfast

Sightseeing Activities: In the morning, our guide will first take you to the City Palace. The 400-year-old royal palace stands on the shores of the Lake Pichola, with ornate rooms and a collection of ancient armor and paintings. Next, we’ll go to the Jagdish Temple, an Indo-Aryan style temple complex worshipping Lord Vishunu. Then we will enjoy a leisurely cruise on the Fatehsagar Lake. In the afternoon, we will visit the Bhartiya Lok Kala Museum featuring Rajasthani folk art and culture. Later, we’ll explore a special garden, the Sahelion-Ki-Bari, aka the Garden of the Maidens, which was built in the 18th century for the royal ladies. If time permits, you can visit the local bazaar.

Dinner Suggestion: Ambrai Restaurant for Perfect Lake Views & Indian Cuisine
Dubbed the best lake view restaurant in Udaipur, you can try some authentic Indian cuisine in Ambrai Restaurant. This stunning restaurant is located by Lake Pichola, overlooking the Lake Palace Hotel, Lal Ghat and City Palace, offering beautiful sunset views befitting its privileged location. The cuisines are also excellent. One of the signature dishes is Tandoori Chicken, a famous royal dish in North India. The whole chicken is marinated with yogurt and spices and roasted in a clay oven, totally different from the baked chicken or roast chicken in Western countries. After roasting, the chicken turns red and tastes spicy, and is delicious when eaten with green sauce and onions.

Meals: Breakfast

Let's move on to Jaipur, one of the top destinations for tourists visiting India. The road is long and the driver would make stops for you when passing by some villages or coffee breaks. If you see some interesting places along the way and want to take a picture, you can also ask the driver to stop and stretch yourself. Check in at the hotel and we suggest you have dinner at the hotel to revive from the long transfers.

Meals: Breakfast

Sightseeing Activities: The highlight of our visit today is the Amber Fort, a hilltop fort and palace built in the 16th century. The driver will take you to the parking lot and then you can hike up to the fort entrance or hire a jeep on site to take you there. Besides viewing the elaborately decorated halls, you can also have a bird's-eye-view of Jaipur at the fort. Next, we’ll take a short car ride, and the guide will accompany you to visit a group of nearby attractions, including the magnificent Maharaja City Palace displaying royal objects, the 18th-century heritage site Jantar Mantar with ancient astronomical observation instruments, and then the Hawa Mahal with an iconic high wall in pink. Finally, we’ll end the day with a visit to the Birla Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Why Is There No Need to Enter the Hawa Mahal?
Hawa Mahal features a beautiful pink wall and hundreds of windows with exquisite carvings. The wind can blow up into every corner of the palace thanks to various windows. And that’s also why it is known as the Place of Wind. Though called a palace, the extraordinary outer appearance is the biggest draw and there is not much to see in the palace. So there is no need to explore inside and just enjoy the spectacular architecture outside.

In addition to making the wind blow through the palace, the windows also have another function, which is they offered a chance for the royal females to see the city life and watch the bustling market scenes in the ancient time but their faces could not be seen from the outside. They can even overlook some scenes of festival celebrations. Want to learn more hidden stories? Just follow your guide!

Meals: Breakfast

Sightseeing Activities: Today, our driver will serve you with a comfortable ride by private car to Agra. En route, you’ll have a chance to visit the Fatehpur Sikri, also known as the Victory City. This is a large palatial complex founded by a 16th-century Mughal emperor. Entering from the main gate Buland Darwaza, we’ll visit the Jama Masjid, the Tomb of Salim Chishti, and some other valuable sites. Upon arrival in Agra, check in at the hotel and have a rest.

Meals: Breakfast

Sunrise at Tai Mahal: The final day of the tour comes India’s No. 1 attraction, the Taj Mahal, famous not only for its elegant architecture but also for the legendary love story between Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife. Our guide will give you a morning call, as we need to arrive before the first light hits the Taj Mahal. After visit, you will be transferred back to hotel for a hearty breakfast. Our guide and the driver will meet you again at the hotel lobby to take you to the landmark Agra Fort, a 450-year-old red sandstone fortress from the Mughal Dynasty.

★ Why visit the Taj Mahal in the early morning:
1. For the stunning sunrise over the ivory-white marble building.
2. To avoid the crowd and get a better experience and great photos.

How Much Would the Taj Mahal Cost to Build Today? Over 1 Billion USD!
We all know how great and magnificent the famous Taj Mahal is. However, do you know how much money did it cost to construct at that time and how much would it cost to build today. The legendary tomb was built one year after the death of Shah Jahan’s wife, Mumtaz Mahal, and it was finished in 1653, taking around 21 years. As for the cost, it took around Rs 32 million in the 17th century. Calculated on inflation and exchange rates, it would cost more than 1 billion USD today! The gorgeous white marble mausoleum is definitely the largest highlight of today’s itinerary and our guide will show you around the stunning world wonder to learn more legends.

Meals: Breakfast

Departure Note: Today you will leave for your next destination. Based on your flight departure time, our driver will meet you at the agreed time and will transfer you to the Delhi Airport in about 4 hours. Hope you’ve enjoyed our service! If you want to explore other parts of India or extend your trip to other countries, we are more than willing to help.

Meals: Breakfast