Rajasthan Trip for 11 Nights 12 Days

After breakfast, we will go on a sightseeing tour to Amber Fort which is about 12 kms. from Jaipur. It was the ancient capital of the Kachwaha Rajput dynasty. This unique wonder is
It is a must-see on any Rajasthan tour. Maharaja Man Singh, a Rajput general of Akbar’s army, started the construction of the fort in 1592. It was later expanded by the Jai Singhs, before shifting their capital to Jaipur.

The fort is a beautiful example of Rajput architecture, situated on a hill and overlooking a lake. You will definitely enjoy the ascent to the Palace on the back of a magnificent elephant. We will visit many rooms and corridors of this Palace which are famous for their design and decoration.

In the afternoon, we proceed for a sightseeing tour of the city’s architecture. First up is Jantar Mantar, a magnificent stone monument, built in 1728 by Raja Jai ​​Singh, known for his keen interest in astronomy. The Jaipur observatory is the largest and most impressive of the five he built, the other four being in Delhi, Varanasi, Ujjain and Muthura.

We then visit the magnificent City Palace, the former royal residence, built in a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal styles. The palace houses a magnificent museum displaying a fine collection of miniature paintings, traditional costumes and weapons.

Later, we pass by the impressive Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds), one of the most famous landmarks in Jaipur. Built in 1799, this five-storeyed building is a magnificent example of Rajput architecture. It was originally built to allow the ladies of the royal family to observe the daily activities and processions of the city.

After breakfast, we drive to Bikaner and check into the hotel. The city of Bikaner was founded by Rao Bika in 1488. He was the eldest son of Maharaja Rao Jodha (of the Rathore Clan), who founded the Jodhpur Kingdom. Not wanting to inherit anything from his father or take any royal title, he decided to found his own kingdom in the vast and arid region of Jangladesh in northern Rajasthan. The founder’s name ‘Bika’ is found in the word ‘Bikaner’, which means ‘Bika’s Settlement’. Despite being located in the middle of the Thar Desert, Bikaner survived as an important stopover on the ancient trade routes between coastal Gujarat and Central Asia, due to its abundant water resources.

The most important sights to see in the city today are, of course, the magnificent original Bikaner fort, Junagarh Fort (a little outside the city), and the Lalgarh Palace. Bikaner is also a good place to visit the nearby “Karni Mata Temple”, where thousands of sacred rats are worshipped.

We start the day’s sightseeing by first visiting the Junagarh Fort, also known as the ‘Impregnable Fort’, as it holds the distinction of being the most impregnable fort in its history. It was built between 1588-1593 by Raja Rai Singh, who was the chief of the army of the Mughal Emperor, Akbar.

It is surrounded by a moat on all sides and within its precincts you can admire many beautiful palatial structures, pavilions and temples. Most of these buildings are built of marble or red sandstone and feature intricate carvings on the walls, windows and balconies.

The ‘Lalgarh Palace’ was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh (1881-1942). The architectural style of this palace is a masterpiece of art with intricate carvings on red stone. It also houses a fine collection of hunting trophies and rare photographs, which are well preserved and beautifully displayed.

After breakfast, we head towards Jaisalmer, located in the vast desert plains of western Rajasthan. On the way, we first stop at a camel farm, located just 8km outside the city of Bikaner. The farm is the remnants of the ‘Camel Corps’ and ‘Regiment Camp’ that were established during the British era. It was established as the National Camel Research & Breeding Farm in 1984 and is one of its kind in the whole of Asia, where you can see an impressive population of over 250 different species of camels.

We also recommend a visit to the Camel Museum which will be very worthwhile. Here, you can shop for a variety of camel skins, hair and bones, all of which are very valuable. The ‘must try’ here is the ice cream made from camel milk, something that is not available anywhere else in the country!!

The second part of the day’s program is a visit to the unique and world-famous Karni Mata Temple, in the village of Deshnok, about 30km south of Bikaner.

The dedication of this temple is linked to an interesting story involving Karni Mata, the goddess Durga, and Yama, the God of Death in Hindu mythology.

This temple has the distinction of being the only one dedicated exclusively to rats. As soon as you enter the temple, you are in the company of a small group of black rats. You can easily find about 20,000 of them, at any given time, roaming around the premises. They are well-fed, protected and worshipped as sacred creatures. Keep an eye out for the rare and rare white rats, as they are considered auspicious if you see one.

Fortunately, but interestingly, their numbers seem to remain more or less the same (never more than the population) and unlike other places with high population density, which can quickly trigger diseases, such as the dreaded plague, this temple has never seen any outbreak of disease in its history, arrived in Jaisalmer to check in at the hotel.

Jaisalmer is a city in the Indian state of Rajasthan, about 575 km west of the state capital, Jaipur. It was founded in 1156 AD by the Bhatti Rajput ruler, Rawal Jaisal. The city stands on Mount Meru, a mountain range of yellow-brown sandstone and is surrounded by the beautiful old city of Jaisalmer.

‘Jaisalmer’ means ‘Hill Fort of Jaisal’. The fort complex contains a royal palace and several beautiful and impressive Jain temples. Many of the buildings and temples, both inside the walls and in the city below, are made of yellow sandstone, often intricately carved. The picturesque landscape exudes a magical and colorful atmosphere, with golden and purple hues, constantly playing with the sunlight. For this reason, Jaisalmer is also called the ‘Golden City’ of India.

The city of Jaisalmer is located in the heart of the Great Indian Thar Desert and has a population (including the Fort) of about 80,000. It is also the administrative headquarters of Jaisalmer District.

The jewels of Jaisalmer, which we will visit today, are the following three ‘havelis’:

The large mansions built by the merchants of Jaisalmer are known as ‘havelis’, and many of these buildings, carved from fine sandstone, are still in good condition.

Nathmal-ki-Haveli:

A 19th-century haveli with a beautiful architecture, beautifully crafted. The left and right wings of the building were designed by two brothers, and although they are very similar in design, they are not identical. The interiors of this beautiful house are adorned with remarkable paintings and exquisite decorations. Incidentally, this late 19th-century building was also the residence of the ‘Prime Minister’ of the ancient Jaisalmer Kingdom.

Patwon-ki-Haveli:

This most elaborate and beautiful of Jaisalmer ‘havelis’ stands on a narrow lane. It was built between 1800 and 1860 by five Jain brothers who made their fortune in the trade of gold and fine brocades. It has a grand entrance hall with carved pillars and some well-appointed rooms. One of the five-roomed houses has beautiful paintings.

Salim Singh-ki-Haveli:

This fort (the oldest of the three) was built in secret about 300 years ago and parts of it still exist. Salim Singh was the chief minister when Jaisalmer was the capital of the princely state and his palace has a large, elegantly decorated building (in the form of a ‘cupola’ and painted in blue) with some carved brackets in the shape of a pin.

We will visit ‘Gadi Sagar’, located south of the city walls. This fort was originally built as a boat and a canal, which used to be the main source of water for the city. There are many small temples and shrines around it. Various species of waterfowl flock here during the winter months.

In the late afternoon, and until early evening, we will visit ‘Sam Dunes’, which is about 45km west of Jaisalmer.

Here, you will get to watch the breathtaking sunset from the sand dunes. You also have the option of camel rides or jeep rides to reach the sunset point which is not far away.

We have put together an evening program for you with captivating music, traditional dances and dances and traditional and delicious food of this region along with other Rajasthani delicacies.

After breakfast, we drive to Jodhpur and upon arrival, we check into the hotel. Later, we will proceed for a sightseeing tour of Jodhpur, the second largest city in Rajasthan. It is also known as the “Blue City” of India. It was the traditional capital of the great Marwar kingdom and especially the Jodhpur kingdom. It was founded by Rao Jodha in 1459. Jodhpur is located near the heart of Rajasthan and this makes it a convenient and central point for travel to other tourist destinations such as Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Jaipur.

After breakfast, we embark on a city tour of Jodhpur, first visiting Mehrangarh Fort, which is home to the magnificent Mehrangarh fort, which covers an area of ​​nearly 2000 acres. The fort is built of red sandstone and is adorned with beautiful carved panes and windows with intricate carvings. (Although the original fort was built in the mid-15th century, most of the current structures date back to the 17th century.)

The present-day city of Jodhpur is built around Mehrangarh Fort, which is surrounded by a strong wall with many gates. The city has many other popular attractions such as numerous small and large forts, palaces and temples, all set in the lush green landscape of the Thar Desert.
Another interesting place to visit is the “Jaswant Thada”, a beautiful marble Cenotaph built by Maharaja Sardar Singh in 1899 in memory of his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. This cenotaph has carved gazebos and a stilted courtyard (with a cold frame) built around a small pond. The grounds surrounding the cenotaph also served as a ceremonial ground for the Marwar royal family and rulers. It also houses a very interesting exhibition of portraits of the rulers and Maharajahs of Jodhpur.

We visit the magnificent Umaid Bhawan Palace. Built of pink marble, it is also called the ‘Chhittar Palace’, after the local Chhittar sandstone used. It was designed in 1929 by the President of the British Royal Institute of Architects for Maharaja Umaid Singh, and took 15 years to complete. It is considered one of the largest private residences in the world and has 347 rooms. A part of the palace still remains the main residence of the former Jodhpur royal family, although part of it has now been converted into a luxurious five-star hotel.

We also see the ‘Clock Tower’, a beautiful structure, as it was the only way for the locals to keep track of time in the past. You can get an amazing, panoramic view of the city from the top of this tower.

After breakfast, we drive to Udaipur, which is about 250 kms. south of Jodhpur. The day’s activities are divided into two parts, the first being a visit to Ranakpur in the first half of the day and the second, a visit and stopover at our overnight destination, the magical city of Udaipur.

The magnificent Ranakpur Complex, 60 km. north of Udaipur, is one of the largest and most important Jain temples in all of India. It is located in a remote valley of the Aravalli Mountain Range and is well worth a visit.

The main temple is the ‘Chaumukha’ Temple or the ‘Four Faces’ Temple, dedicated to Adinath, one of the 24 ‘Thirtankaras’, in the lineage of spiritual masters and teachers who laid the foundations of the Jain philosophy.

Built in 1439 AD, this magnificent and well-preserved temple has 29 halls supported by 1444 pillars, each of which is unique in its design and execution and no two pillars are alike! There are two other Jain temples within the complex as well as the ‘Sun Temple’ and a little further away, the ‘Amba Mata Temple’.

After lunch, we proceed to Udaipur and upon arrival, we check into the hotel. In the evening, you will take a boat ride on Lake Pichola, an unmissable and integral part of the Udaipur landscape. On the north side of the lake, and on the east side, you can see some interesting ‘ghats’ (= near a lake or river) used for bathing or washing clothes (= the ‘dhobi’ ghats; ‘dhobi’ = washerman or launderer). During the drive, we will see some beautiful views of the scintillating City Palace and the surrounding area from the balcony.

After breakfast at the hotel, we begin our day with a visit to this famous and beautiful palace, the most visited place in the whole of Udaipur. It is located on the eastern side of Lake Pichola.

This truly magnificent and awe-inspiring palace is also the largest palace in the entire state of Rajasthan and was built by Maharaja Udai Singh II, who founded the city of Udaipur (around 1568 AD).

Actually a conglomeration of buildings, (as well as other smaller palaces and luxurious mansions, added by successive rulers over the next 300 years), it still manages to retain a remarkable uniformity of design. The palace has beautiful balconies, towers and cupolas, and there are beautiful views over the lake and the city from the upper terrace.

A large part of the building is now preserved as a museum of art with a warm atmosphere of mosaics, glass and mirror work, ornamental tiles, miniature paintings, exquisite sculptures, and a section of armor, displaying many ancient weapons and armor of Rajput warriors.

Another unique and interesting part of the city is the ‘Lake Palace Hotel’, located on Jagniwas Island of Lake Pichola. This remarkable structure, with a great charm, seems to float on the water in the middle of the lake. It was built by Maharaja Jagat Singh II in 1754 AD, and it also served as the Summer Palace for the royal family of Udaipur. It was later converted into a luxurious holiday home, and is now considered one of the best hotels in the world.

In addition to the above attractions, we will also discover two other interesting places:

Saheliyon-ki-Bari, or the ‘Garden of the Maids of Honour’ located on the northern outskirts of the City. This small ornamental garden has fountains, kiosks, marble elephants and a beautiful lotus pond.

Jagadish Temple, located just 150m North of the City Palace, is a fine example of the Indo-Aryan style of architecture. It was built by Maharaja Jagat Singh in 1651 AD. It houses a black idol of Vishnu, as ‘Jagannath’, the Lord of the Universe.

(Traditional Indian mythology holds that the famous Mewar rulers are descended from what is believed to be the oldest dynasty in the world, spanning over 76 generations..!!)

A leisurely evening stroll is planned around Lake Pichola to enjoy the beautiful scenery and serene atmosphere of this beautiful city.

After breakfast, we first drive down to Pushkar en route to AJMER, which is just 11 km. from Pushkar city.

Ajmer, a thriving city on the banks of the Ana Sagar, has been a city of historical importance, from the time of Mohammad of Ghori who sacked it, at least once, during his time of plundering from Afghanistan. Much later, and from the time of Mughal Emperor Humayun, it became a favorite residence for the Mughal warriors.

It is worth noting that one of the first contacts between the Mughals and the British took place in Ajmer, when Sir Thomas Roe, the English ambassador, met Emperor Jehangir here in 1616.

Today, Ajmer is a world-famous pilgrimage site for Muslims (as well as for people of other faiths) who visit the shrine of Sufi Saint Moinuddin Chisti, who came to Ajmer from Persia in 1192 AD. He is also known as ‘Hazrat Khwaja Garib-e-Nawaz’ which is commonly seen in Muslim vehicles.

This ‘dargah’ (= mausoleum) has the distinction of being the most visited Muslim shrine in the world and it is recorded that the great Emperor Akbar used to make a pilgrimage to this place every year, during the ‘Urs’ which is held annually to commemorate the death anniversary of the saint.

Pushkar, a small, picturesque town, sits on the edge of the desert and is separated from Ajmer by the ‘Nag Pahar’ or ‘Snake Mountain’.

Perhaps the town is best known for its annual Camel Fair, a grand gathering of camels, cattle and livestock that takes place on the full moon night of the month of ‘Karthik’ of the Hindu calendar.

Another unique feature of this city is the ‘Brahma Temple’, said to be one of the largest temples in the world, dedicated to ‘Brahma’, the Creator and Lord of the Universe. It has a red spire, and above the gateway, is a ‘hans’, (= a swan, the symbol of Brahma), who is said to have personally chosen Pushkar as his site and location.

After breakfast, we proceed for Jaipur, At the end of this visit, we drop you off at Jaipur Airport/Railway Station to catch your flight back to your home.

We thank you very much for using our services and we hope that you are satisfied with our commitment to provide you with the best care and attention, our esteemed guests. We would like to believe that this visit was a wonderful vacation and we are sure that you will take back fond memories for the rest of your life.