Honeymoon Tour: Romancing Rajasthan - 13 Nights & 14 Days

Welcomed by GTC representative at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Relax and unwind. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle for transfer only)

After breakfast visit Delhi. As the capital city of India, its former rulers always prized Delhi for its strategic location. A visit to Old Delhi is always an experience. Walk through the ancient bustling, twisting alleyways of Chandni Chowk, the bazaar area and the Red Fort (Closed on Monday) as well as the Jama Masjid (India's biggest Mosque). For those who want to see more, there is the Raj Ghat where Gandhi was cremated and which today is a peaceful and popular park. The British built New Delhi, carefully planning the city and main metropolitan area, when they moved their capital here from Calcutta in 1911. With many interesting museums and art galleries, besides monuments constructed by the mighty Mughal Empire, such as Humayun's Tomb and the Qutab Minar, there is plenty to explore. Drive past Rastrapati Bhawan (the Presidential Palace) & India Gate. Delhi is also a shopper's paradise, being one big emporium for all of India's handicrafts, and home to some of the best contemporary designers India has to offer. This energetic city now has good dining and nightlife options to complement its considerable historical and architectural interest. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

This morning you will be transferred to railway station to board train to Agra. Upon arrival at Agra you will be taken to visit the Agra Fort. Agra Fort is situated two kilometers west of the Taj Mahal on the banks of the river Yamuna. It was built by the third Mughal Emperor, Akbar and added to by his son Jehangir and grandson Shahjahan. Agra Fort is an imposing structure with walls of red sandstone, almost 3 kilometers (two miles) long. The eastern part of the fort (the only part open to visitors) contains palaces, audience halls and mosques built by all the three emperors. The fort presents a good sampling of their favoured architectural styles. Akbar drew on Islamic and Hindu traditions and the result is eclectic. By Shahjahan's time, the style had become so homogenized that it is impossible to separate the Hindu and Muslim strands. The Diwan-i-am (public audience hall) once housed the fabled peacock throne, which incorporated virtually all the important gems of the imperial treasury. The beautiful Diwan-i-khas (private audience hall) and the magnificent Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) are other attractions within the fort. Later on check-in at the hotel. Post lunch visit Agra city and Taj Mahal. With its incredible lacy white grandeur the Taj Mahal is perhaps the most perfect and romantic architectural monument in the world. Emperor Shahjahan constructed this most famous and incomparable Mughal monument in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal and it is the most extravagant monument ever built for love. The Taj Mahal is amazingly graceful from almost any angle and it is the close up detail, which is really astounding. Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle for transfer and at disposal)

After breakfast drive to Jaipur en-route visiting Fatehpur Sikri (approximately 40 Kms. from Agra) a world heritage site built by the Mughal emperor Akbar during 1564 A.D. Surrounded by mighty Rajasthani forts and the rugged Aravalli Hills, Jaipur is one of the most enticing places in India. Every aspect of this majestic city, known as the pink city due to the colour of its houses, was meticulously planned. The street width, pavements, building height and the division of blocks are all based on ancient geometric harmony and sound environmental and climatic considerations. Founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, it is steeped in colourful and romantic Rajput history. This can be explored at the City Palace, the Hawa Mahal and the beautiful Amber Fort. Timeless bazaars full of vibrant textiles and trinkets form an integral part of the city center. Immerse yourself in the sensory whirl of streets packed with camel carts and cycle-rickshaws, which make Jaipur a dazzling, spirited city like no other. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

Morning proceed straight to Amber Fort for the excursion, Within the fort lies Jai "Mandir" (Temple) with its world renowned Sheesh Mahal, a hall full of mirrors. The walls and the ceiling of the Mahal are covered with a beautiful array of mirrors, which reflects any streak of light, so as to illuminate the entire room. Post-lunch visit includes the City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar etc. In the heart of the old city is the former Royal residence built in a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal style. The palace houses a Museum with a superb collection of Rajasthani costumes and armoury of Mughals and Rajputs including swords of different shapes and sizes with ornamental handles, some of them inlaid with enamel and embellished with jewels and encased in magnificent scabbards. The palace also has an art gallery with an excellent collection of miniature paintings, carpets, royal paraphernalia and rare astronomical works. Adjacent to the City palace is Jantar Mantar, the largest of Jai Singh's five remarkable observatories. Also visit the Hawa Mahal. Built in 1799, the Hawa Mahal or Palace of the Winds is one of the major landmarks of Jaipur. This five-storey building, which looks out over the main street of the old city, is a stunning example of Rajput artistry, with its pink semi octagonal and delicately honey-combed sandstone windows. It was originally built to enable ladies of the royal household, to watch the everyday life and processions of the city without being seen. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

After breakfast drive to Nimaj. Situated just 2hrs East of Jodhpur and 3hrs north of Deogarh, Nimaj, is an idyllic rural haven. Formerly the hunting reserve of the local royal family, today it attracts migratory birds during the winter months to the reservoir. Rustic farmsland, rolling hillocks and small villages surround it, a stay here allows you to experience rural Rajasthan in a way that few other places do. Overnight at the hotel/Camp (operational from Oct till June). (Vehicle at disposal)

Today after breakfast visit the village by jeep. The village tour includes a walk through the farms and the settlement of the farmers, and drive to the shepherd's village. After a brief walk around the various lanes of the village, drive back to the camp/hotel through the grazing area. Overnight at the hotel/Camp (operational from Oct till June). (Vehicle at disposal)

After breakfast drive to Jodhpur. The Meherangarh Fort, perhaps one of the best preserved in Rajasthan and the encircling city walls, stand watchful over the famed "Blue City" of Jodhpur. Named after its 15th century founder, Rao Jodha, this city, strewn at the base of a sandstone ridge, is the second largest in Rajasthan, and was capital of the Marwar kingdom for five centuries. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

After breakfast, visit Jodhpur city. Walk through the majestic Meherangarh Fort, visit the Jaswant Thada memorial, stroll around the royal gardens at Mandore, and the wonderful bazaars of the old city. Another fascinating sight is the Umaid Bhawan Palace, an incredible art-deco palace, built between 1929 and 1942 as a famine relief project to generate employment for the Maharaja's impoverished subjects. Today although a portion of the palace remains the regal residence of Jodhpur's Royal Family, the rest has opened its door to be one of Rajasthan's most sought after luxurious heritage hotels. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

After breakfast, drive to Narlai. Narlai village is ideally situated exactly halfway between Jodhpur and Udaipur. It is little visited but beautiful Rajasthani village shadowed by an imposing granite rock from which there are stunning views. On arrival check-in at the hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

After breakfast drive to Udaipur. On arrival check in at the hotel and rest of the day at leisure. Set amongst rolling hills, with its shimmering lakes, beautiful views and large open spaces, Udaipur is considered by many as the most beautiful and romantic city in Rajasthan. Founded in 1567 by Maharana Udai Singh, it is surprisingly quiet and traffic-free. It has the atmosphere of a small town, with winding alleyways and tree-lined streets leading to the impressive City Palace, which overlooks the legendary "floating" Lake Palace. Udaipur is also one of Rajasthan's great centers of contemporary art, as well as of miniature paintings. On little islands in the lake, from the water's edge, rise marble palaces of pure white that glisten like fairy castles. Udaipur rivals any of the world's famous creations of the Moghuls with the Rajput love of the whimsical and it's superbly crafted elegance. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

Visit the City Palace complex, the entrance is through Hathi Pol (elephant gate) along the main street of the old city, past the Jagdish Temple. The paintings, mosaics, intricately carved 'chhatries' and of course the architecturally brilliant façade all contribute in making a visit to the City Palace a truly memorable experience. Also visit the lovely Sahelion-ki-Bari; the Garden of the Maids of Honour which was constructed for forty-eight young ladies in waiting who were sent to the royal house as a part of the lavish dowry. Later enjoy a motor launch cruise on the placid waters of Lake Pichola (subject to water levels). From the beautifully decorated boat you will be able to view the city of Udaipur as it rises majestically above the lake in the middle of the Rajasthan desert. Also visit the Jag Mandir Palace - the other lovely island palace in the middle of the lake. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly to Mumbai. On arrival transfer to the hotel. The western state of Maharashtra is home to Bombay, India's greatest port, financial capital and trend-setting East-West nexus. Perched on the Arabian Sea on an island and separated from the rest of India by a winding creek, Bombay, now known as Mumbai, is a world unto itself, with a unique intensity that hits you the moment you land. Its culture is contemporary and vibrant and reflects both the affluence and poverty of more than 15 million people crowded onto this island. Restaurants, bars, museums and shops intermingle with shining new skyscrapers, congested streets, bright neon lights, poverty-stricken slums, and the glamorous film industry of Bollywood. Post lunch visit Gateway of India, the principal landmark of Mumbai. A major landmark of this vibrant city is the VT or Victoria Terminus, which was designed in Italian Gothic style by F. W. Stevens. Stop at Mani Bhawan, a small museum dedicated to the life and works of Mahatma Gandhi and the bustling Crawford Market, before returning your hotel. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal).

Departure Departure transfer to the airport for your return flight. (Vehicle for transfer)