Day 1
Arrive in afternoon at Delhi airport. On arrival you will be met by drive, who will accompany you to transfer the hotel. Rest and relax at your hotel followed dinner and night stay.
Day 2
Breakfast followed by a tour of Humuyuns Tomb and the Qutab Minar complex. Besides the famous tower the complex also has the finest metallurgy pillar made in the ancient world, created by the Guptas. After the Qutab Minar lunch followed by a tour Jama Masjid followed by exploring the old Delhi bazaar. In the evening dinner at Kareems, the 5th generation Mughal restaurant, followed by returning to hotel for night stay.
Day 3
Breakfast followed start with the citadel of Lutyens' Delhi, the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Persident house). Spread over 330 acres, the structure was designed by renowned architect Lutyens as the official residence of the Viceroy of India during the British rule. Next stop on this art-filled journey is the National Gallery of Modern Art. The gallery showcases the changing Indian art forms through the passage of more than 150 years. Standing in front of National Gallery of Modern Art, you can see India Gate, the 42-metre-high monument erected as a memorial in honour of the Indian and British soldiers martyred at the North-West Frontier during World War I and Afghan Wars in 1919. Lunch in Connaught Place, this area is a hub for specialty and multi-cuisine restaurants and fast-food joints. Dinner and night stay at hotel.
Day 4
Breakfast followed transfer to the Nizamudin (New Delhi) railway station to board your high speed train to Agra that departs at 8 am. Arrive in Agra just after 9:50 am. After arrival proceed to your stay in hotel situated near west gate of Tajmahal. Rest and relex before visit After the Agra Red Fort. The Agra Red Fort has wonderful architecture. Lunch in local reaustaurent followed by a tour of the Itmad-ud-Daula (the first marble tomb to be made in India as well as being the resting place of Noor Jehan’s father). In evening explore the Sadar bazaar of Agra where you will try different type of Indian street food. Night stay at hotel.
Day 5
Early light Breakfast followed by sunrise at the Taj Mahal for a 2-3 hour tour of the Taj Mahal and the surrounding buildings, museum and gardens. You will appreciate the incredible and detail petra dura (inlay work) craftsmanship is every ware on Tajmahal. Lunch near Fatehpur Sikari (one hour drive). Fatehpur Sikri is the magnificent 16th Century Mughal capital city (40 minutes from Bharatpur). There is both the royal palace complex as well as the mosque complex that also has the wonderful Buland Darwaza which is the main gate into the city as well as the tallest gate in the world. The mausoleum of Salim Chisti which has some of the finest carved latticed marble screens in India is inside the main square. Return to hotel in the late evening for dinner and night stay.
Day 6
Late breakfast following leaving by road to Bharatpur (1 and half hour) . Arrived at Bharatpur in the early afternoon. Your accommodation here is a small lodge dedicated to wildlife and birding at the edge of the Keoladao National Park. The Keoladao National Park is also a World Heritage site. The National Park has forest, a bit of savannah and much wetland where over 400 different resident and migratory birds are present. It is a special place and for a few years it was of concern as many species were not present as they were for many years until 2013 when many returned bringing this wetland jungle back to its former glory. Besides the many birds other commonly seen species include Chital (spotted deer), wild boar, and jungle cats. The fishing cat is now rarely seen outside of Eastern India where it is now present only in a few places. Keoladao National Park has a small population which is the only known fishing cat population in western India. Your first safari Just after lunch by bicycle rickshaw into the Keoladao National Park for a 3 hour wildlife safari with your guide as well as with a local naturalist. This wildlife safari will be partly by bicycle rickshaw, walking and row boats. Dinner and night stay at hotel.
Day 7
Breakfast followed your second safari (2 hours) by bicycle rickshaw. After safari check-out the hotel and leaving by road to Ranthambore (3 hour drive). Ranthanbore National Park is a beautiful jungle where the last remaining indigenous population of tiger still exists in Rajasthan. Your stay in erstwhile hunting lodge (converted into the hotel) of the Royal family of Jaipur. The hunting lodge sets on a rocky outcrop surrounded by indigenous forest that borders the National Park with many species of animals including herds of Spotted Dear (Chital), and the occasional leopard that roam here. your first tiger wildlife safari in the early evening by jeep in the jungle (2 hours). Return to hotel in the late evening for dinner and night stay.
Day 8
Early morning breakfast followed by your second tiger wildlife safari in the jungle (2 to 2 and half hours). Return for brunch at hotel and leaving by road to Jaipur. (2 hour drive). After arrive in Jaipur lunch followed visit the glorious 16th Century Amber Fort for a tour (the original Jaipur State capital) (2 hours). After Amer Fort visit the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). Drinks and dinner at the reaustaurent in city area. Night stay at hotel.
Day 9
After breakfast explore block print textile market. Jaipur is also famous for colour stone jwelary. Lunch followed leaving by road to 16 century Roopangarh Fort palace (2 hours) lunch on arrival. The Fort Palace is in a village setting and is the only royal palace in India where guests can stay inside the authentic 16th Century Princess Room. This is unchanged from this period except for the addition of electricity and the bathroom. The Princess room is large and lovely. The architecture of the Fort is also very fine.Arrive in early afternoon for lunch, relaxing, exploring the fort palace village to see bazaar, local crafts, tribal jewelry making, Sesame seeds oil making at home and children public school where you will get chance to interact with students and teachers. In evening if you would like to wear traditional clothing. Dinner and night stay.
Day 10
Late breakfast followed by leaving by road to Pushkar (1 and half hour drive). Arrive at Pushkar in early evening. Pushkar is one of the most ancient cities of India. Located in Rajasthan’s Ajmer district in midst of Aravali range, Pushkar is often called tirtha-raj, which literally means the king of pilgrim sites. It is also among the five pilgrim sites or dhams for people following Hinduism. There are several temples in Pushkar and the most famous temple is the Brahma temple, which is one of the few temples dedicated to Brahma in the world. Pushkar is also famous for the Pushkar Lake, which has 52 ghats (stone staircases). Pilgrims from across the country visit the lake to take a dip in its holy water. The sacred Pushkar Lake resounds with the chants and hymns from the 400 blue colored temples located on its banks. Dinner in local roof top reaustaurent with nice view of towan. Night stay at the hotel.
Day 11
Breakfast followed by leaving by road to Jodhpur (2 and half hour drive). Arrived at Jodhpur in early afternoon. Lunch in local reaustaurent. In evening explore old city Markets like Spices, Grains, fresh vegetable, Bamboo craft. A casual traditional dinner and night stay in hotel situated in old city area.
Day 12
Breakfast followed by a tour of the 15th-18th Century Jodhpur Meherangarh (Majestic) Fort. I believe you will want to have at least 2 to 3 hours here as there is much to see and a beautiful setting. After Fort visit Umed Bhawan Palace, a royal family residency. The royal family converted part of their residence in the museum. Lunch followed by leaving by road to the Jagnath Wildlife Safari (Sanctuary 2 and a half hours) Before arrival at the Jagnath Wildlife Sanctuary in the early afternoon lunch at Landlords home in Kaniwara village, after lunch procced to Safari camp site by Jeep.. The Jagnath Wildlife Sanctuary is India’s only family owned and operated wildlife sanctuary. It is the last semi-arid eco system left in India intact and an abundance of rare and endangered species are present. We offer two wildlife safaris per day; the first would be at night an hour after dark by jeep. This is for 3 hours for you to view the nocturnal species of the sanctuary. These include the endangered Asian Steppe Wildcat (the sanctuary has the highest number of this rare cat of any protected area), Jungle Cat, Leopard, The Great Eurasian Eagle Owl, Desert Hare, the endangered Desert Fox, Indian Porcupine, and at risk Striped Hyena. Following your night safari drinks and dinner by a sustainable campfire at our permanent campsite. You will stay in a private cottage with attached bath. The sanctuary has no villages inside and the atmosphere quite relaxing and beautiful with Savannah grasslands, foothills and Granite Mountains covered in deciduous forests surrounding the permanent safari campsite. Dinner after your night safari followed by night stay in your private bungalow in the safari campsite.
Day 13
Late breakfast followed by your second safari is in the morning by foot for three hours in the Savannah and foothills to view herds of Gazelle, Blue-Bull Antelope (Asia’s largest Antelope), Zird (similar to a Gerbil but more timid), troops of Hanuman Langoor and up to 200 different bird species including the Tawny Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Eurasian Vulture, and the critically endangered Long-Billed Vulture. Return to the campsite and departing by road (3 hours) to Sena Leopard conservation zone situated at the border of Kumbhalgarh wildlife Sanctuary. This area is near the village of Sena and the highest chance to see great sightings of Leopard in the wild in India is here. Almost every wildlife safari in the evening Leopard is present. Arrival for lunch at your privet cottage (With en suite bath) for guests in the village area. A late afternoon wildlife safari by jeep to first a small wetland area in the foothills of Aravali mountain range, where local and migratory birds are present along with muggermuch (mugger crocodile) followed by 2 hours Leopard safari where you will see Leopard up close, other species that are possible to see include Rufous-tailed Hare and jackal. Late evening barbeque dinner followed by night stay.
Day 14
Breakfast followed by an early morning safari to an area that has many muggermuch crocodile and birding possibilities. Lunch at our campsite followed by a relaxing early afternoon before your second evening wildlife safari for Leopard. Late evening dinner and night stay.
Day 15
Breakfast followed by leaving by road to Udaipur (via Ranikpur) 4 and half hours. Arrive at Ranikpur for lunch followed by exploring the 15th Century Jain Temple complexes for a couple of hours after lunch. There are also a few older temples that are Hindu that are worthwhile to see as well. Arrived at Udaipur in evening and transfer to hotel for dinner and night stay.
Day 16
Morning breakfast followed the visit of City Palace (one hour drive). Udaipur City Palace spans many different Rajput as well as Islamic architectural styles and is located on the banks of Lake Pichola. Part of the Mewar (Udaipur) royal family’s art collection and objects are on display. I believe you will want at least 2 hours here. Lunch at small island restaurant, I would suggest you should spent 3 to 4 hours here, from this island great view of City palace and Lake. In evening explore the narrow street of old city area. Dinner and night stay at hotel.
Day 17
Morning breakfast and followed by leaving by road to Nathdwara. This town is just one hour from Udaipur and is rarely visited with a traditional bazaar still operating as well as the pilgrimage site for followers of Sri Nath ji (a local Hindu Sect). You will be able to see the Pilgrims as well as the temple and since Nathdwara is almost unchanged it’s a wonderful place to experience. Nathdwara is also one of the main centers for tie and dye cotton hand-fabrication as well as enamel works on silver objects and jewelry and you can see the artisans and their works here as well. Late lunch in Nathdwara and proceed to Raj Mahal Bhinder. Those who have interests in culture, history, architecture and wildlife this would be the perfect place for them to experience. We are close friends with Princess who would be your hostess at her family’s 16th Century Fort. She opened part of the palace for guests to stay in six years ago. It is also the gateway to one of the least well known but very special jungles of India, the Sita Mata. Arrive at Fort in the early evening for relaxing and exploring the palace. If you wish the palace has fine Marwari Horses nearby at their stables and 60 acres for riding. Princess has also just put in a lovely swimming pool if you like to swim. Dinner at the Fort.
Day 18
Late breakfast followed by transfer to Udaipur airport for domestic flight to Mumbai depar at 12:15 and arrived at 13:35. After arrival check into your hotel in Colaba area. Rest and relaxing in hotel. My earlier suggestion for you to have dinner at Indigo, Bademiya and drinks and snacks at Gokul would be best on the evenings of the 25th and 26th. Indigo, this fusion restaurant has exceptional cuisine. More European but has amazing fusions of soufflés as well as eggs Benedict and such but of a quality hard to find now. You might wish for some western cuisine by now of high quality. If not then I would suggest Bademiya this evening or if not to for sure eat here on the 26th evening. This 3rdgeneration Persian as well as Islamic South Asian cuisine exceptional. It is a very small restaurant in Colaba as well as a street stall nearby where many tables are set outside. The best watering hole in the area is known as Gokul Bar. The snacks here are also exceptionally well done to have with a drink.
Day 19
Breakfast followed by walking down to the Gateway of India to take a boat to Elephanta Island (35 minutes by boat). Elephanta Island is named by the Portuguese in the 16th Century though is a cave temple complex dating between the 5th and 8th Centuries, very worthwhile to see and now also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return to Mumbai through the gateway of India. Lunch followed by seeing the Prince of Wales Museum. A very fine collection of South Asian fine and decorative as well as religious art spanning 3000 years. After the Prince of Wales museum you could wander the main bazaar area or if modern art may be of interest there is the Jehangir Art Gallery that rotates different exceptional contemporary artists.
Dinner followed night stay at hotel.
Day 20
Early breakfast followed transfer to domestic airport for board on Aurangabad flight. After arrival the tour of Ajanta caves (one hours Drive). Ajanta and Ellora are the master piece of artisans. The rock-cut caves of both these sites are world famous and illustrate the degree of skill and artistry that Indian craftsmen had achieved several hundred years ago. Ajanta dates from 100 B.C. while Ellora is younger by some 600 years. The village of Ajanta is in the Sahyadri hills, A few miles away in a mammoth horseshoe-formed rock, are 30 caves overlooking a gorge, `each forming a room in the hill and some with inner rooms. All these have been carved out of solid rock with little more than a hammer and chisel and the faith and inspiration of Buddhism. Here, for the Buddhist monks, the artisans excavated Chaityas (chapels) for prayer and Viharas (monasteries) where they lived and taught. Many of the caves have the most exquisite detailed carvings on the walls, pillars and entrances as well as magnificent wall paintings. Lunch followed the tour of Ellora. The cave temples and monasteries at Ellora, excavated out of the vertical face of an escarpment, are 26 km north of Aurangabad. Extending in a linear arrangement, the 34 caves contain Buddhist Chaityas or halls of worship, and Viharas, or monasteries, Hindu and Jain temples. Spanning a period of about 600 years between the 5th and 11th century AD, the earliest excavation here is of the Dhumar Lena (Cave 29).The most imposing excavation is, without doubt, that of the magnificent Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) which is the largest monolithic structure in the world. Interestingly, Ellora, unlike the site of Ajanta, was never 'rediscovered'. Known as Verul in ancient times, it has continuously attracted pilgrims through the
centuries to the present .Early dinner at local restaurants and transfer to airport for your return flight to Mumbai.
Day 21
This day would be organized according to your return international flight schedule.
