Land Of Princess Tribes Warriors

Detailed Itinerary

This trip highlights the best of Rajasthan driving across the Thar Desert landscape dotted with mini palaces, havelies and forts. You will stay in former palaces now converted into royal hotels. An encounter with the numerous ethnic tribes of north-western India and erstwhile feudal clans. The life of the people living at lesser-explored destinations has not changed much. Meet the Lohars, bhils, Bishnois and the adivasis. Discover simple people, benign to nature and living the same routine of rituals and life style over generations. Camp over night in deluxe accommodation at the Chattra Sagar Lake. Stay at heritage properties- homes of former chiftens, prince and Thakurs. Visit the Jain temple at Ranakpur, popular for intricate carvings on its marble pillars and ceiling. A tour of Udaipur- famous for the Lake Palace, and a visit to Mumbai complete the novel itinerary.

Day 01 : Arrive in Delhi
Transfer to your downtown hotel. Check into rooms. Rest and relax till 0900 hrs. (Most flights arrive into Delhi around or past midnight and rooms will be held from the previous day as extra night). Full day city sightseeing tour to include Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate, Humayun’s Tomb, Bahai temple and Qutab Minar.

(Optional lunch : At the interesting rooftop Bistro restaurant at Hauz Khas overlooking the ruins and the lake. Local musicians will be in attendance). Post lunch tour of Old Delhi to include Rajghat, Jama Masjid and a cycle rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk (the silver street). Overnight Delhi.

Day 02 : Delhi – Jaipur
After breakfast, drive to Jaipur. Jaipur - the city capital in the tone of an autumnal. Sunset, literally blushed pink when Prince Albert, the consort of queen Victoria, stepped on its soil in 1833. Interspersing the plan of red and pink were white borders and motifs, painstakingly outlining the architectural highlights of Jaipur’s buildings. This is the only city in the world symbolizing the nine divisions of the universe through nine rectangular sectors subdividing it. The palaces and the forts of yesteryears that were witness to royal processions and splendor are now living monuments, accepted quite naturally into the lifestyles of the people of the Pink City. Post lunch tour of the City Palace of Winds and the observatory. Overnight Jaipur.

Day 03 : Jaipur
Jaipur is noted for its craftsmen skilled in the art of cutting precious stones and famed for its garnets and rubies. It is equally well known for brass inlay work, lacquer work and the printing on muslins.

The City Palace which now houses a museum containing rare manuscripts, painting and an armory; the Observatory – built in the 17th century by Jai Singh – with a sundial 90 ft. high; the Museum amidst the Ram Niwas Palace Gardens founded in 1876 with a large collection of antiques; the Palace of Winds, a landmark of Jaipur made of pink sandstone and a unique design. Drive around the Pink City.

After that visit Amer Fort 12 kms (7 miles) from Jaipur, lies Amber with an old palace overlooking the lake at the entrance to a rocky mountain grove. Built in the 17th century, the palace is a distinguished specimen of Rajput architecture. The Jai Mandir (Hall of Victory) is so delicately commented with fine inlay work that glows. The fort of Jaigarh, crowning the summit of a peak is of amazing beauty and grandeur, (Amber Palace and Observatory will remain closed on 26 the January, 15th Aught, 2nd October and the day following the Festival of Holi in March). Take a joy ride on elephant back to Amber Fort. Overnight Stay at hotel.

Day 04 : Jaipur – Nimaj
After early breakfast drive to Nimaj to enjoy the deluxe camp at Lake Chattra Sagar.

Day 05 : Nimaj – Bassi
After breakfast depart for Bassi a small charming village with its old fort as the main attraction. It has beautiful temples and a kund (reservoir). The exquisite sculptures and woodcraft of Bassi are also very famous. On arrival check into the hotel. Overnight at Bassi.

Day 06 : Bassi
Full day at leisure. Meet with Ethnic tribes of Bassi. Stay overnight at hotel.

Day 07 : Bassi – Khempur (via Chittorgarh)
This morning after early breakfast drive through Chittorgarh to reach at Khempur, Chittorgarh has Rajasthan’s mightiest fort, which was the target of successive invaders. Chittorgarh’s ruined palaces, temples and towers bear witness to its illustrious and turbulent past, when it was the capital of Sisodia rulers of Mewar. On arrival transfer to the hotel. Stay Overnight at Khempur.

Day 08 : Khempur
Full day at leisure in Khempur. Overnight in the hotel

Day 9 : Khempur – Deogarh
Post breakfast drive to Deogarh, this 16th century fort, near Pratapgarh, is famous for the palaces with their ornate murals and the Jain temples. Stay overnight at the hotel in Deogarh.

Day 10 : Deogarh – Narlai (via Ranakpur)
Morning drive to Narlai, enroute sightseeing of Ranakpur, in a quiet isolated glen, is a remarkable complex of Jain Temple of Ranakpur. Built during the reign of the liberal and gifted monarch Rana Kumbha, these temples, though belonging to a late period (15th Century), when the peak of the classical age was already past, are a unique example of Jain ecclesiastical architecture. A wall encircles the entire enclosure. One temple consists of 29 halls and 426 pillars full of sculptural decoration. No two pillars are alike here. On arrival in Narlai transfer to hotel. Stay Overnight.

Day 11 : Narlai – Kumbalgarh – Ahodi
After breakfast drive to Ahodi enrooting Kumbalgarh. Like a GIGNATIC brown snake, the great ramparts of Kumbalgarh Fort wind along the rugged contours of the Aravalli Hills. This massive Fort, strategically located at a height along the border between Mewar (Jodhpur) and Mewar (Udaipur), was known as “The Eye of Mewar”, because it offered a commanding view of the countryside for miles around. Stay Overnight at Ahodi in hotel.

Day 12 : Ahodi – Delwara – Devigarh
This morning after early breakfast drive towards Devigarh enrooting Delwara, which is recognized the world over for its magnificent Jain temples. These temples sober exterior belies the wealth of its interior ornamentation. The Delwara temples enshrine the images of various Jain “Tirthankaras” or saints. Overnight at Devigarh in hotel.

Day 13 : Devigarh – Udaipur – Devigarh
After early breakfast drive towards Udaipur for a day trip, in the evening comes back to Devigarh, Overnight stay in hotel at Devigarh.

Day 14 : Devigarh – Udaipur – Mumbai (Internal flight)
Morning drive to Udaipur. On arrival transfer to the airport to fly to Mumbai. On arrival transfer to the hotel. Overnight Stay in Mumbai.

Day 15 : Mumbai
Full day at leisure. Farewell dinner in the evening, later transfer to the airport for your international flight home.