
APPRECIATION LETTERS
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Enchanting Rajasthan
Duration : 10 Days / 9 Nights
Destination Covered : Delhi - Udaipur - Ranakpur - Rohet - Manvar -
Jodhpur - Jaipur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra
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Day 01: Arrival / Delhi
 Late
night arrival. Meeting and assistance upon arrival as our
representatives welcome you and escort you to your car.
Whilst the room keys and check-in is organized, our
representative would introduce the tour to you and hand over the
documents to you.
Welcome to India, or as we say 'atithi devo bhava' (the guest
is an incarnation of God). Thank you for giving us the
opportunity to serve you!
Overnight at The Imperial - a 5* Downtown Hotel
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Day 02: Delhi
 Your
morning activity begins with the historical part of the city
also known as Old Delhi starting with `Shah Jehanabad' which has
some dramatic remnants of the Mughal Empire in the imposing Red
Fort and Jama Masjid India's largest mosque, built by Emperor
Shah Jehan, creator of the Taj Mahal. You ride rickshaws through
its principal street.
Chandni Chowk, originally renowned throughout the Asia with its
tree-lined canal flowing down its center. These days it's a
bustling jumble of shops, temples, mosques and craftsmen's
workshops of goldsmiths, silversmiths, silk traders and
embroiderers.
Explore the hustling and bustling of Old Delhi and streets of
Chandni Chowk sitting in a cycle rickshaw.
Culminate the Old Delhi tour with a photo stop at Raj Ghat the
site of Mahatma Gandhi's cremation. Built on the banks of the
Yamuna River, is a simple memorial that marks the spot where
Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948. A pretty park has been
created around the memorial.
Continue on to Explore New Delhi drive through the boulevards
of New Delhi and pass India Gate which is a memorial built to
the 85000 soldiers who died in World War I and the Afghan
battles of 1919.
 At
the other end of Rajpath stands the official residence of
India's president, the Rashtrapati Bhavan, a complex of
buildings that mix Mughal and Western architectural styles.
Prior to independence, this was the home of India's last
viceroy, Lord Mountbatten. Close by is Sansad Bhavan, the large
though less imposing parliament building.
Lunch will be arranged at 'The Lodi' located next to Lodi
Garden.
After lunch proceed to visit Qutab Minar, a tower of victory
begun by the Slave Dynasty's founder, Qutb-ud-din-Aybak, in A.D.
1193 and completed by Feroz Shah Tughlaq in 1368. At its base is
India's first mosque, the Might of Islam Mosque, built on the
foundation of a Hindu temple. It was completed in A.D. 1300.
Like the nearly contemporary slave, or Marmeluke, rulers of
Egypt, slave kings of Delhi were anything but servile. The term
simply indicates that they had once been held captives. In a
court awash with intrigue and opportunity, India's Turkish
conquistadors regarded a slave's loyalty as more dependable than
that of their own kin. Purchased, rapidly promoted, eventually
freed, and forever trusted, the erstwhile slave of a royal
patron was ideally placed to act as either power broker or
pretender. His elevated status was equally proclaimed with
monuments. The Qutb Mosque boasts a tower of victory that
doubles as India's, and perhaps Islam's, most massive minaret.
As the afternoon sun recedes, visit the Tomb of the second
Mughal Emperor Humayun, which was commissioned by his senior
wife Haji Begum, in the 16th century. This is an early example
of Mughal architecture. The design elements of this tomb - a
squat building lighted by high arched entrances topped by a
protuberant dome and surrounded by formal gardens, were to be
refined over the years to the magnificence of the Taj Mahal.
Overnight at The Imperial - a 5* Downtown Hotel
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Day 02: Delhi / Udaipur (9W 3401 - 0545 / 0810 Hrs)
 Early
morning transfer to the airport to board your flight to Udaipur
Welcome to Udaipur, the famed "City of sunrise".
Founded in 1567 by Maharana Udai Singh, from the lineage of the
legendary Sisodias of Mewar - the decedents of the sun God. A
city where the sun truly never set, where tradition and a strict
code of heroism were happily united with a love of fine living.
A city that has come to be an oasis of romance in the warrior
state of Rajasthan
Meeting and assistance upon arrival check into the hotel Lake
Palace, which is a palace on an island girdled by hills. Built
on a rocky island over lake Pichola over two and a half
centuries ago, once it was the summer palace of the rulers of
Mewar. Today the pleasure palace is a luxury hotel like no other
in the world. To stay here is an un missable privilege,
affording as it does a glimpse of pleasure that once were the
sole preserve of princes. The Lake Palaces Hotel amazes and
delights you at every turn. It is pure white marble, every
ancient inch of it - slender carved columns, fountains,
filigreed screens, marble from the pinnacles of its domed
Chatris to the bottom of its swimming pool, created for the
private frolics of a princess.
 Following
rest and relaxation, we proceed on a tour of this "Lake
City". Udaipur is a cool oasis in the dry heart of
Rajasthan. It is probably the most romantic city in a state
where every city has some romantic or exotic tale to tell. The
huge city palace towering over the Lake Pichola is the largest
palace complex in Rajasthan. Though it is a conglomeration of
buildings built by successive rulers, it manages to retain a
surprising uniformity of design and affords very fine view of
the lake and the city from the upper terraces. The Jagadish
temple next to the city palace enshrines a black stone image of
Lord Vishnu and his vehicle- a mighty bird called garuda - in a
brass image. The temple is a very fine example of Indo-Aryan
Art.
Evening we enjoy a boat cruise on the serene and beautiful Lake
Pichola. The island palace on the Lake called Jagmandir Palace
is quite fascinating. The Palace provided inspirations and ideas
to the builder of the Taj Mahal. The banks of the lake provide
interesting glimpses of the daily bathing and the laundry that
takes place here. Looking across the lake, with the city and its
great palace rising up behind the island palace, is a scene of
rare beauty.
Overnight at Lake Palace - a 5* Taj Group Hotel
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Day 04: Udaipur / Ranakpur / Rohet (240 Kms)
 This
morning we drive to Rohet en route we will visit Ranakpur.
The Ranakpur Jain Temple was built during the reign of the
liberal and gifted monarch Rana Kumbha in the 15th century. The
basement is of 48, 000 sq. feet area that covers the whole
complex. There are four subsidiary shrines, twenty-four pillared
halls and eligibly domes supported by over four hundred columns.
The total number of columns is 1,444 all of which are
intricately carved with no two being alike. The artistically
carved nymphs playing the flute in various dance postures at a
height of 45 feet are an engrossing sight. In the assembly hall,
there are two big bells weighing 108 kg whose sound echoes in
the entire complex. The main temple is of Chaumukh or four-faces
temple dedicated to Adinath
Following the tour of Ranakpur we continue our drive to Rohet
Upon arrival check into Rohetgarh
 At
Rohet, one is transported in to a world of the past, a world of
honour and of chivalry, of glory and of pride; a world of
vibrant colours and spectacular magnificence. Past centuries
come to life at the historic boundary walls of Rohet- the 16th
century fortified deserted home of a Rajput clan. Within the
precincts of these time weathered walls is our hotel, the
impressive Rohetgarh Fort- a bastion of proud Rajput traditions
bathed in the ambience of unmistakable Rajasthani culture where
one can, even today experience the famed warm and courteous
Rajput hospitality. Frescoes on the tall gateway, brightly
painted in the traditional style, using traditional motifs and
colour schemes herald your entry to this charmed world the
bygone era. The gateway leads to a compound where a profusion of
flowers frame the archways in welcome. The portico is a warm
and informal place decorated with the artifacts and trophies of
many years. Exquisitely carved furniture, delicate hand block
prints, original paintings and photographs decorate your rooms,
which though redolent with the romance of a bygone era, provide
all the modern amenities. Antique hunting riffles, shields &
spearheads, daggers and original paintings form the backdrop of
the dinning room. The swimming pool here is in beautiful
settings and is an oasis in a dessert.
 The
food at Rohetgarh is special; each recipe is both traditional
and typical, handed down the generations and jealously guarded
to retain its pristine flavours. You savour only the very best
of Rajasthani cuisine's, food favoured by the Royalty. The 16th
century descendants of the Rathore ruling family still live here
and host the guests. The members of the Royal family interact
with the guests and interesting stories and anecdotes are
narrated.
We would also explore Rohet, which is a fascinating small
feudal town, which seems to be straight out of the Arabian
Nights. There is no proper road here - only one main dust trail.
On either side are typical thatched houses and shops of all
kinds - colourful bangles, silver jewellery, potters, fruit
vendors on carts, dress shops, tailors etc.
Evening we enjoy jeep safaris to visit the heart of Rajasthan
villages where traditions centuries old still permeate life
styles. One can witness the 'opium ceremony' - a ritual by which
guests are welcomed. Gaily attired men and women carry on their
chores and one can catch a glimpse of their norms and customs.
The smoothened mud floors of the village huts remind one of the
simple and traditional living here.
As evening descends upon our hotel, the darkness of the night
is lit up by the flickering flames of fire around which the
rhythmic movements of the folk dancers assumes shape in
brilliant colours; truly an electrifying experience.
Overnight at Rohetgarh
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Day 05: Rohet / Manvar
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Morning we drive to
Manvar
Upon arrival, check into Tented Camps
Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the Desert
Overnight at Tented Camps
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Day 06: Manvar / Jodhpur (75 Kms)
 Early
morning excursion to Khichan. The tiny village of Khichan has
assumed a popular appeal with the bird watching community. The
local people offer large amounts of grain to birds every morning
and this has attracted large numbers of Demoiselle Cranes to
usurp this food supply. It is great spectacle to watch these
Cranes swoop down to a especially created rectangular enclosure,
for their early breakfast. The feeding session lasts for an hour
and a half, one group takes off as another settles. Their flight
across the backdrop of the traditional mansions of the village,
presents wonderful opportunities for photography, as do the
feeding birds on the ground. We are very close by and can be
offered vantage positions over the terraces, by the local people
who feel proud of their visitors.
Later we will drive to Jodhpur
Upon arrival check into your hotel Umaid Bhawan Palace. The
only palace built in 20th century conceived by Maharaja Umaid
Singh as a centerpiece of his massive famine-relief scheme,
giving employment to hundreds of people for nearly 16 years.
This opulent edifice in sandstone is still the residence of the
former rulers with a part of it running as hotel and remaining
part as a museum. The palace captures the imagination of a
visitor by its sculpted lawns with sandstone pavements and
bouquets of bougainvillea bushes. The name of the palace has
been derived from the sandstones being used in its construction.
These rocks do not wear out how harsh the weather might be. It
took 25 years and 3000 men to give shape to this stupendous
expression. The Palace was designed as a smooth combination of
European classical elements interlaced with oriental ones.
Massive sandstone boulders were cut from a quarry at Surasagar
near Jodhpur and transported by a special narrow-gauge train to
the construction sites. Master masons chiseled these rough
stones into blocks of five and seven tons. The blocks were then
fitted into an interlocking fashion with no mortar or cement
being used in the construction. Furnished with fashionable Art
Deco interiors by the Polish artist and decorator, S. Norblin,
the palace consumed one million square feet of the finest
marble. The world of Umaid Bhawan Palace contained everything
that the royalty required - a private cinema hall, a luxurious
swimming pool inlaid with tiles depicting the zodiac, gigantic
royal suites, a soaring rotunda, fancy ball rooms, a majestic
durbar hall, billiards room, ballrooms, banquet halls,
libraries, staff quarters, servant quarters. In 1977, Umaid
Bhawan opened as one of India's grandest luxury hotels.
After rest and relaxation, proceed on a guided tour of Jodhpur.
Our tour includes the massive fort. In olden days this must have
been impregnable since its rocky base is scraped straight down
making it nearly impossible to ascend. Once inside, royal
palaces abound with fascinating history and priceless jewels, on
to the armoury and Jaswant Tara - the Royal Crematorium.
Evening, we would ride horse carriages to the Clock Tower
Bazaar. This is one of India's largest and most colourful
wholesale markets especially with respect to clothes, fabrics,
spices, vegetables etc. It is a fantastic experience to walk
through the place observing and photographing this incredible
spectacle of vibrant lifestyles and incredible colours.
Overnight at Umaid Bhawan Palace - a 5* Taj Group Hotel
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Day 08: Jaipur
 After
breakfast, we proceed on a guided tour of the Amber Fort. Set on
the dry wrinkled Aravali Hills, the Fort is a superb example of
Rajput (Medieval Hindu) style of architecture. A slow elephant
taxi takes us to the top of the Fort, which houses several
graceful buildings.
We will ride up to this hilltop palace on a caparisoned,
painted elephant, passing through the ancient main gate where
Maharajas of Jaipur have entered for four hundred years. Our
guide will elaborate on the history of this architectural
masterpiece with its mirror-studded alcoves, dazzling mosaics
and water-cooled swings that delight today's visitors as they
did their former royal residents.
We shall visit the Hawa Mahal or Palace of the Winds, a
five-storied structure of pink sandstone with semi-octagonal and
delicately honeycombed windows overlooking the main street of
the old city. It was built in 1799 so that veiled royal women
could peer down unseen by the world through its 593 stone
screens.
Later we proceed for a guided tour of the City Palace &
Observatory. The City Palace in the heart of the old city is a
blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. The center of the
palace is a seven storied building called Chandra Palace, with
fine views over the gardens and the city. Next stop the City
Palace is the Solar Observatory - an astronomical treasure
house, with solar device that gives accurate predictions till
date.
Overnight at Rambagh Palace - a 5* Taj Group Hotel
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END OF SERVICES
We do hope the flavor of India will
remain on your taste buds for all times to come and hopefully would
kindle an indelible fondness for the country and her people; Thank you
for being our guest, and as we say in India 'Please Come back Soon"
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