India Heritage Tour of Gujarat and Rajasthan

Day01 Arrive Mumbai:
Upon arrival in Mumbai (Bombay) Morning at leisure to rest and relax. This afternoon proceed on a guided tour of the city, which is distinctly tropical. Its weathered Victorian mansions, some still privately owned, and grand public buildings, many of them beautifully lit at night, stand as lingering reminder of the days of the British Raj. First visit the Gateway of India, hastily created as a symbol of welcome to Queen Mary and King George V of England on their to India in 1911. Next visit the Hanging Gardens, perched at the top of Malabar Hill, which provide lovely views over the Arabian Sea.
Overnight at Hotel.

Day02 Bombay - Ahmedabad by Flight:
After breakfast an excursion on motorized boats across the Arabian Sea to the Elephanta Caves, which houses several sculptures of different faiths. Of special mention among this cluster of sculptures are images sacred to the Hindus, the sculpture of the Holy Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - the Creator, Preserver and the Destroyer. Afternoon we are transferred to the domestic airport to board flight for Ahmedabad. Upon arrival we are met and transferred to our pre booked Hotel. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day03 Ahmedabad - Lothal - Bhavnagar:
Morning visit the Calico Museum, numerous mosque and mausoleum complexes and other attractions of Ahmedabad. Afternoon we continue our drive for Bhavnagar enroute visiting the archaeological Indus Valley site of Lothal. Upon arrival in Bhavnagar check into the Nilambagh Palace. Overnight at the Palace.

Day04 Bhavnagar - Palitana - Gondal:
After breakfast we go for a morning trip to the famous Jain Temples covered on the Shetrunjaya Hills with its splendid cluster of more than 850 temples on the summit. These temples were built some 900 years back. On a moonlit night these ivory coloured temples conjure up the vision of a fantasyland. The ornate temples have deities studded with gems and jewels. After the visit to these famous Palitana Temples we continue our journey to Gondal. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day05 Gondal - Excursion to Junagarh:
After breakfast we visit the vintage and classic car collection, the 1748 AD Naulakha Palace, the Ayurvedic pharmacy and the lakes of Gondal. After visiting these sites of Gondal we drive to Junagarh to visit the famous Uparkot Fort, Durbar hall Palace Museum, Royal Mausoleum and Hill Views. Evening we return back to Gondal for an overnight at the hotel.

Day06 Gondal - Dasada:
After breakfast we drive towards Dasada. Afternoon we take an excursion by jeeps to the little Rann of Kutch sanctuary and nearby villages. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day07 Dasada:
Today we visit the village around Dasada of more than nine pastoral and agricultural communities. Here we visit hamlets along the Little Rann of Kutch and the salt gatherers. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day08 Dasada - Poshina:
After breakfast we start our drive towards Poshina were we visit the Bhil and Garasia tribal hamlets. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day09 Poshina - Mount Abu:
After breakfast we start our drive towards Mount Abu. Close to the Gujarat border, Mt Abu is Rajasthan's only hill station. Sprawling along a 1200 m high plateau, Mt Abu stretches for about 22 Kms. For years the Maharajas and the Princes escaped to this hill resort to escape the scorching summers of the dusty desert. Here we also visit the famous Dilwara group of Jain temples - one of the finest examples of Jain architecture in India. Overnight at the hotel.

Day10 Mount Abu - Udaipur:
After breakfast we start our drive towards Udaipur. Upon arrival at Udaipur we check into our pre booked Hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day11 Udaipur:
Built along three lakes and ringed by green hills, Udaipur (pop, 366.000) is known as the '’The City of Lakes’. The City's palaces, gardens, ghats, temples and painted houses match the beauty of the picturesque setting. Morning we'll visit the towering City Palace, the largest in Rajasthan, and the Saheliyon ki Bari (Garden of the Maidens). Once forbidden to all but for the queen and her women companions. From here we visit the superb Jagdish Temple noted for its elephant-motif carvings. Evening we take a boat ride on the Lake Pichola.
Day12 Udaipur - Ranakpur - Jodhpur:
After breakfast we leave to Jodhpur enroute we visit Ranakpur, which is situated, between Jodhpur, Mount Abu and Udaipur. Here we visit the famous Ranakpur Temple Complex, one of the biggest and most important clusters of Jain Temple in India nestled in the Aravali Rang. The Chaumukha temple, or Four Faced Temple is the main temple in the complex and dates back to the 15th century. Built in marble, the temple has 29 halls supported by more than 1400 pillars; no two of them are alike. After visiting Ranakpur we continue our drive to Jodhpur. Upon arrival in Jodhpur we checking at our pre booked hotel.

Day13 Jodhpur:
This morning's tour begins at the massive Mehrangarh Fort where we will explore the intricate living quarters, corridors and palaces within the complex. Proceed into the heart of the bazaars for a view of local artisans at work as well as locals shopping of their wares. Late morning, we set out on a fascinating drive to Rohetgarh, a neighboring royal village. On our drive back to the hotel we visit the famous Jaswant Thada - a memorial built in pure white marble, which has been used by Royals as crematorium, the old fort museum and the Mandore gardens. Overnight at the hotel.

Day14 Jodhpur - Pushkar:
After an early breakfast we drive towards Pushkar - a quiet little town, on the edge of a small and beautiful lake by the same name in eastern Rajasthan. It is a city of 500 temples and 52 bathing ghats. Pushkar prides itself on being the site of the only temple of the Hindu God of Creation, Brahma and is therefore believed to be the center of the creation of the world. Afternoon is spent visiting the ghats and the temples. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day15 Pushkar - Jaipur:
Check in at hotel. After a relaxed breakfast we start our journey for Jaipur popularly known as the Pink City, was built in 1727 AD by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. Designed in accordance with Shilp Shastra - an ancient Hindu treatise on architecture on ‘nine square grid system. Upon arrival check in your pre booked Hotel.

Afternoon - tour of City Palace and Observatory (Jantar Mantar). The City Palace in the heart of the old city is a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. The Palace of winds (Hawa Mahal) - a five-storied structure of pink sandstone has semi-octagonal and delicately honeycombed windows overlooking the main street of the old city. It was originally built to enable the ladies of the royal household to watch everyday life.

Day16 Jaipur:
The capital of Rajasthan is the most colourful city of India. Morning we would visit the Amber Fort in the Aravali Hills, which is a superb example of Rajput (Medieval Hindu) style architecture. A slow elephant ride takes us to the top of the Fort, which houses several graceful buildings. Afternoon is spent in visiting the local bazaar. In the evening, we visit Chokhi Dhani where an ethnic village atmosphere is recreated each evening with thousands of oil lamps, folk dancers, acrobats, snake charmers, puppeteers etc. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day17 Jaipur - Bharatpur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra:
Morning travel to Bharatpur for a tour of the world famous bird sanctuary here. The reserve boasts of 300 species of resident and exotic migratory birds. From here we drive to the ancient city of Fatehpur Sikri (ghost capital) for a tour of the magnificent and world heritage buildings still in a state of perfect preservation. We continue our journey for Agra and upon arrival check into Hotel.

Day18 Agra - Delhi:
Agra was the capital of India under the Moguls in the 16th and 17th centuries. This morning we see the exquisite tomb of the emperor Jehangir's chief minister and father-in - law, often called the 'Baby Taj’ because its design foreshadows the Taj Mahal. Then we tour Agra's Red Fort, built over three generations by the Mogul emperors.

Following an afternoon free, we go at sunset to see the Taj Mahal, the mausoleum built by a sorrowing Shah Jahan in memory of his young wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The building's stupendous scale, flawless symmetry, translucent white marble and shimmering reflection in the water channel are truly breathtaking. After visiting the Agra city we leave for Delhi. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day19 Delhi:
This morning we visit Old Delhi, built in the 17th century by Shah Jahan the Magnificent (who also built the Taj Mahal). First we will be visiting the famous Jama Masjid mosque with its 9,000 sq. ft. courtyard, three domes and two minarets, and then proceed to the massive complex known as the Red Fort.
Afternoon we'll visit Laxmi Narayan Temple, a spectacular structure that's just 60 years old, and then proceed via India Gate and the Governmental building to Qutub Minar, the 240 foot tower built in 1190 A.D. to commemorate the arrival of Islam in India, the Bahai or Lotus Temple with its nine pools on an elevated platform, and the Crafts Museum, which replicates and Indian street with over 50 artists and craftspeople at work. Evening we go for a farewell dinner in Haus Khas Village complex. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day20 Leave Delhi:
After what will have been a majestic way to see and experience royal India, we bid farewell as we are transferred to the airport for our flight back home.