Footprints of Maharaja
Footsteps Duration : 15 Days
Destinations :
Delhi - Varanasi - Agra - Jaipur - Ranthambore National Park - Jodhpur -
Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Deogarh - Udaipur - Delhi
Day 01:
Arrive in Delhi After clearing customs and immigration formalities
you are met in the arrival hall and transferred to our centrally located
hotel.
Day 02: New Delhi 
This morning is free to
rest and relax following your flights to India. In the afternoon we begin to
explore the sights of New Delhi, a city that is a blend of ancient and pre
independence India. These include the Qutb Minar, the tapering monument
begun in 1199 that was built to symbolize the supremacy of Islam, and
Humayun's tomb, built by his senior wife and the mother of Emperor Akbar. It
is the believed that it was this mausoleum that inspired Shah Jahan to build
the Taj Mahal. We'll also see the elegant government buildings designed by
Lutyen and Baker, where the architecture is a blend of Indian and European
styles in celebration of the British rule in India. The most outstanding of
this collection is the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace. We'll
finish the afternoon with a stroll in the lovely Lodi Gardens. The gardens
are a favorite meeting place for illicit lovers, joggers and a picnic spot
for families. Housed in the gardens are the tombs of the Sayd and Lodi
rulers, predecessors of the Mughals.
Overnight in New Delhi.
Day 03: Delhi - VaranasiThis morning we fly to the famous
city of Varanasi (or Benares). Dating back to the days of Nineveh and
Thebes, Varanasi is the oldest living city in the world. One of India's most
sacred cities, a devout Hindu believes to die and be cremated in Varanasi is
to gain "moksha" or release from the eternal cycle of rebirth. A
visit to the old city is a fascinating insight into the rituals of Hinduism,
where every temple is well attended and every street corner has roadside
shrines and vendors selling garlands, incense sticks and other items used in
worship. We walk through the narrow alleys where we share space with cows,
scooters, cycle rickshaws, shops and people to the banks of the Ganges. Here
we board a boat, which takes us mid stream to witness the evening "aarti"
ceremony. This is the evening service performed by a priest on the banks of
the river. Accompanied by the hypnotic beat of drums and bells and the
chanting of prayers, the whole ceremony is mesmerizing ending with the
release of hundreds of lamps into the waters of the river. Overnight in
Varanasi.
Day 04: Varanasi - Agra Varanasi
reveals the spiritual heart of India, and the best way to experience this is
to tour the Ganges in a country boat at sunrise. Pilgrims, yogis and mystics
flock to the ghats (steps) which lie along the banks of the Ganges, to take
a cleansing dip in India's holiest river, practice yoga, meditate, or to
complete mundane earthly chores such as washing clothes and vessels. Early
morning life in this city revolves around the ghats.
Varanasi is
sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists, and Sarnath, a short distance from the
city, is the spot where the Buddha gave his first sermon after attaining
enlightenment in 500 BC. The place is marked by the Dhamekha Stupa, and
while visiting the archeological site at Sarnath you can stop at the Stupa
and walk the path the Buddha followed during his meditations. Close to the
sight is a temple where a Japanese artist has painted the significant events
in the Life of the Buddha on the walls and there is also a museum with many
relics excavated from the site.
From Sarnath we transfer to the
airport for the flight to Agra. Overnight in Agra.
Day 05: Agra - Jaipur 
You may like to rise early today to visit the Taj
Mahal at sunrise.
Once the capital of the great Mughal Empire,
Agra is home to some of their finest architectural creations. The Agra Fort
reveals the Mughal talent for combining defensive architecture with beauty
and design. This fort palace was begun by Akbar as a purely defensive
citadel and was subsequently completed by two successive generations who
added the delicate mosaic and magnificent marble palaces. The fort is the
history of Mughal life in Agra and offers a magical view of the Taj Mahal.
The Taj Mahal itself has been described as "a tear on the face of
eternity" and built by a grieving Shah Jahan in memory of his wife,
exists as an enduring monument to love. Constructed from glistening marble,
and fabulously decorated in a mosaic of semi precious stones, the 'Taj' is a
stunning mausoleum.
This afternoon we drive to Rajasthan, stopping
on the way at the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri. This one of the world's
most perfect ghost cities and a marvel of design and construction. It was
built in the 16th century by Emperor Akbar, and is a synthesis of the
flourishing styles of the Persian courts and the prevailing Hindu Islamic
trends. Today its pristine red sandstone buildings are as perfect as when
they were first chiseled, and none is more impressive than the Jewel House
of the Diwan-I-Khas. Architecturally extraordinary, the four doorways lead
into a single storey room where a huge, richly carved central pillar,
supports a seat reached by mid air walkways. Overnight in Jaipur.
Day 06: Jaipur Hill forts were always important to the
Rajput rulers. Belonging to the Hindu "Kshatriya" or warrior
class, they believed that "a fort is the strength of a king". And
so they built a number of such forts all over the state of Rajasthan, some
made for purely defensive purposes, but most built as fort palaces. In the
morning we visit Amber, one of the finest examples of a fort palace in all
Rajasthan.
In the afternoon we stop at the city palace, a series
of open courtyards, simple stables and buildings leading to the richly
decorated royal rooms of the Chandra Mahal. The museum within the palace
house a fabulous collection of textiles, carpets, manuscripts and costumes
from the personal collection of the royal family. We also visit the ancient
observatory, the Jantar Mantar, literally meaning "Instruments for
measuring the harmony of the heavens". We end our day at the colorful
market dominated by the elegant tapering Hawa Mahal or Palace of the Winds.
Nine stories high, decorated with delicately carved niches and balconies,
this pink sandstone façade served as a concrete "purdah" or
screen for ladies of the royal harem, who would watch the activities of the
city from a position of privacy. Overnight in Jaipur.
Day
07: Jaipur - Ranthambore National Park (B,L,D)
Following breakfast, we depart on a three hour drive to Ranthambore National
Park. This 420 sq km park was at one time the hunting grounds for the Maharaja
of Jaipur and his court, before being declared a reserve forest within Project
Tiger. Dominated by the massive ramparts of Ranthambore Fort, the varied vegetation
of the park is the home to a wide variety of wild life and birds, and is regarded
as the best spot in India to catch a glimpse of the elusive tiger. (Even Bill
Clinton managed to see a tiger when he visitedRanthambore a few years ago!)
We will arrive in time for an evening visit to the park.
Day 08: Ranthambore National Park - Jodhpur (B,L,D)Rising
early, we visit the park at sunrise, returning to the lodge in time for
breakfast.
Later, a visit to the Ranthambore Fort offers marvelous views of the reserve
forest.
Then, following an early lunch we
drive to Jaipur in time to board our train to Jodhpur that departs in the
late afternoon. We arrive in Jodhpur later this evening and transfer to our
hotel for the night.
Day 09: Jodhpur - Jaisalmer
Our drive to the desert citadel of Jaisalmer is a photographer's delight. On
the way we pass camel carts, vibrant and colorful Rajasthani women carrying
produce to the market, and men sporting brightly colored turbans usually sitting
groups just passing the time of the day. Before reaching Jaisalmer, we'll stop
at the sand dunes of Samm, a spot of an awesome beauty with spectacular sunsets.
(Camel rides are also available here for the adventurous.) Overnight in Jaisalmer.
Day 10: Jaisalmer
Almost 900 years old, Jaisalmer was a major post on the trade route
across the forbidding Thar Desert, and still today, one's first glimpse of
the honey colored walls of the fort, rising out of the hot and barren desert
is magical. Untouched by time, Jaisalmer, with its golden crenellated walls
and narrow streets lined with exquisite havelies, has a medieval ambience.
The fort encloses palaces decorated with delicate jali or lattice worked
screens, carved doors and flora carvings, and elaborately carved 12th to
16th century Jain temples. The havelies in both the fort and the town are
exceptional. Similar in style to the homes of Venetian merchants, the
havelies were the mansions of wealthy traders. The houses are decorated with
beautifully carved facades, jali screens and oriel windows, each with an
inner courtyard surrounded by richly decorated apartments.
Outside
the walls of the fortified town is the small oasis of Gadi Sagar, which led
Prince Jaisal to found his city. Many shrines surround the oasis, and it is
a favorite spot for many migratory birds. Beautiful sunsets can be seen from
the Chattris or royal memorials, where you may be besieged by children
chattering in different languages - Spanish, Italian, German and English -
all overlaid with an American accent. Overnight in Jaisalmer.
Day 11: Jaisalmer - Jodhpur After breakfast we return to
explore the city of Jodhpur.
The best way to trace the history of
Jodhpur is to visit the majestic Meherangarh Fort, which dominates the
skyline. The main gates bear the evocative handprints of the "Sati"
queens - the women of the royal harem, who took their own lives when their
men were defeated in battle. The fort has a series of spectacular palaces,
each decorated with exquisite engravings, lattice and mirror work. We also
have a chance to browse in the bazaars of the old city for Jodhpur's famous
glass bangles, rugged "mojri" slippers and vivid tie and dye
fabric. The area around the bazaars is a wonderful example of 19th century
town planning, blending Rajasthani concepts with more contemporary styles.
Overnight in Jodhpur.
Day 12: Jodhpur - Deogarh Just
two hours from Jodhpur is little known Deogarh, a medieval fortress town and
the home of Rawat Nahar Singhji, a knowledgeable art connoisseur, and his
wife, the Ranisahiba. Here we are their guest as we have the opportunity to
stay in a classic Rajasthani castle - the Deogarh Mahal. Built in 1670 AD as
a family residence, it is the hub of village activity and towers over the
town below. Each of the restored rooms in this castle has been decorated in
a unique traditional fashion and original frescoes from the Rajasthani
School of miniature paintings adorn the walls. While there, we can explore
the town, visiting the market and the craftspeople, and take a boat on
Raghosagar Lake cross from the palace, to see the ruins of an old fort on
the opposite side. For those who wish, there are also wonderful hikes in the
surrounding hills. In the evening we can enjoy the sunset from the
magnificent terraces overlooking the countryside. Overnight at Deogarh
Mahal.
Day 13: Deogarh - Udaipur In the morning
you may like to take a short ride on the narrow gauge train from the tiny
Deogarh station. It is a charming one-hour trip through the countryside,
passing villages, lakes and the forested hills of the Aravali Hills. Later
we depart for Udaipur stopping on the way at Ranakpur, one of the
architectural gems of the area.
Surrounded by tangled forests and
lots of monkeys playing in the courtyard, Ranakpur is one of the most
important pilgrim centers for the Jain community. Built on an incredibly
grandiose scale with elaborate ornamentation, it is fascinating to explore
the 700 year old temple with its almost 1200 pillars, each carved in detail
and distinct from one another. Overnight in Udaipur.
Day 14: Udaipur 
Udaipur with its lakes and palaces, cradled in the hills of
the Aravali range is a very romantic city and an oasis in the stark
surroundings. The name itself "The City of sunrise" evokes a sense
of romance. In the old city, immerse yourself in the experience of a walk
where you share space with cows, elephants, people and the ubiquitous Indian
"two wheeler". We'll pass houses displaying wonderful examples of
folk art, shops selling clothes, art, utensils, shoes and groceries - if you
decide to shop here, bargaining is very much part of the Indian shopping
experience. There are numerous cafes with lake views and a cooling lassi or
reviving cup of Chai, and if you need even more entertainment, you can
always stop and watch the James Bond video, Octupussy. Since a portion of
the film was shot here, he has become Udaipur's favorite son and every
street corner advertises the film.
Other sightseeing can include
the City Palace, the former home of the Maharanas of Udaipur, that features
a feast of marble and vibrant mosaics. Nearby, the Gardens of the Maids of
Honor, is a small ornamental pleasure garden decorated with elegant lotus
pools, gushing fountains and black marble kiosks. In the evening, we tour
Lake Pichola in a private motorboat. In the center of the lake is Jag Mandir
Island, which commands a magnificent view of the City Palace. The palace and
pavilion is built of yellow sandstone inlaid with marble and dedicated to
the Lord of the Universe.
Day 15: Udaipur - Delhi In
the morning we transfer to the airport in Udaipur for our flight to Delhi,
and after checking into our hotel, are able to spend the afternoon exploring
the 'Old Delhi', the city that came into prominence when Shah Jahan moved
his capital from Agra to Delhi.
The Red Fort is the landmark in
this part of the city, and from there we reach the 300 year old Chandni
Chowk market. A maze of lanes crowded with shops selling an extraordinary
variety of items and food, the noise and crowds are a quintessential part of
any Indian market. Walking through the market you find lanes each dedicated
to a particular item, like a department store. Leather wear, clothes, bridal
wear, jewelry, and of course the aromatic popular street food ranging from
syrupy deep fried sweet meats to Paranthas - bread stuffed with a variety of
vegetables. We end the afternoon in complete contrast to the noise and
crowds of Old Delhi, at Raj Ghat, a simple and stunning memorial to Mahatma
Gandhi, the main architect of India's independence. Late in the evening we
transfer to the international airport for departing flights.
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