The colors of Rajasthan and the Taj Mahal tour
2024
This rich and complete tour reveals all the aspects and includes the essential elements to discover North India. The program will allow you to share a little of the daily life of its inhabitants and to participate in activities off the beaten track. Rajasthan, with its rich cultural history, will dazzle you with the colors of its people's dress and the splendor of their jewelry. Its cuisine will awaken your olfactory sense. The visits of the impressive forts and sumptuous palaces of the Maharajas will make you share their past and will mark forever your spirit with extraordinary sites and unforgettable moments.
Highlights of the trip
During your stay you can enjoy the following highlights: Culture / Heritage, Faune and flora, Discovery, Luxury Travel, Multi-destination stay.
Best months to go
The best time(s) to go is/are : Janvier, Février, Mars, Avril, Mai, Juin, Juillet, Août, Septembre, Octobre, Novembre, Décembre.
You can go all year round.
How to get there?
You can get there by , Car.
SHIVALIK HOLIDAYS (NEW DELHI)
From 1350€ à 1550€ / person
Travel suitable for :
Detail of the stay : The colors of Rajasthan and the Taj Mahal tour - 15 days
day 1: Paris - Delhi
Steps: Delhi
Traditional welcome by your driver/guide at the airport. Transfer to your hotel. (Depending on flight schedule)
Departure for a tour of the capital of the republic. Delhi has a population of about 25 million and is divided into old and new cities (New Delhi and Old Delhi). Chandni Chowk the old style commercial district, the jama masjid mosque, a look at the red fort, India gate (triumphal arch), Rajpath (presidential palace), visit to the famous SIKH temple etc. Overnight stay at the hotel.
day 2: Delhi-Shekhawati (6h drive)
Steps: Nawalgarh
Departure towards the region of Shekhawati which is characterized by small villages surrounded by sand dunes, sheltering the havelis, houses of the rich merchants who lived formerly of the trade camel between India and Central Asia: true small palaces with the walls decorated with frescos painted "the gallery with open sky".
On the road visit Nawalgarh (walk and overview). Arrival at the end of the afternoon, night at the hotel.
3e Jour : Shekhawati-Fatehpur-Bikaner (4h de route)
Steps: Bikaner
After the breakfast discovery of the famous village of Mandawa.
On the way to Bikaner, stroll in the village of Fatehpur, then visit the beautiful fort of Junagarh dating from the 16th century. It is one of the best preserved in Rajasthan. Stroll in tuk-tuk in the lanes of the old city where you will be able to discover there also beautiful havelis. Excursion to the temple of the rats Deshnok. Overnight at the hotel.
4th Jour : Bikaner-Jaisalmer (6h30 de route)
Steps: Jaisalmer
Departure to Jaisalmer. Jaisalmer, a fortified city emerging from the desert, used to be a passage for spice, opium and indigo caravans between the Indus Valley and Central Asia. Visit of Bara Bagh, former garden of the sovereigns of Jaisalmer to discover the cenotaphs (chhatris) of the sovereigns, built on a hill, in a very beautiful setting. Overnight at the hotel.
5e Jour :Jaisalmer
Steps: Jaisalmer
Visit Jaisalmer called "the golden city" because of the color of the stones at sunset. Impressive citadel with its walls and massive towers that testify to its past splendor by sumptuous residences (Havelis) of merchants, with facades of ocher sandstone richly chiseled. Visit of the fortress: its beautifully sculpted Jain temples. Walk in the city. In the afternoon
camel ride in the desert at Sam. Overnight at the hotel.
day 6: Jaisalmer-Jodhpur (5h drive)
Steps: Jodhpur
Direction Jodhpur, on the way visit a desert school*, continue to the blue city of the desert. Visit of the Mehrangarh fort: it dominates the landscape and shelters palaces decorated with mural frescoes and stone lace, stroll in the city. Overnight at the hotel.
day 7: Jodhpur-Ranakpur- Udaipur (3h+1h30 drive)
Steps: Udaipur
Early in the morning, after the breakfast departure in 4x4 for excursion of Bishnois villages. (They are environmentalists, protectors of nature and animals of the desert, village of the potters and stop in a Brahman village where you will attend the ceremony of the opium. Continuation towards Ranakpur and visit of the temple of Adinath dating from XVth century. This important sanctuary beautifully crafted is one of the jewels of Jain architecture.
Continue to Udaipur the romantic white city which will seduce you by its luminosity and its romanticism. Overnight stay at the hotel.
day 8 : Udaipur
Steps: Udaipur
Overlooking the city of Udaipur and Lake Pichola, the Maharana's palace, City Palace, houses interesting collections of weapons and miniatures, as well as a veritable maze of courtyards and gardens, rooms and salons decorated with mirrors, ceramics and paintings....
Nearby, visit the Jagdish temple (17th century), which houses a black stone statue of Vishnu as Jagannath, the lord of the universe.
Walk in the small lanes of the old city swarming with merchants and small stores.
Boat trip on Lake Pichola. Overnight stay at the hotel.
day 9: Udaipur-Chittorgarh-Bundi (2h+3h30 drive)
Steps: Bundi
Departure for Bundi, on the road visit of the fortress of Chittorgarh (the most beautiful of Rajasthan) which rises imposingly above the plain. Chittorgarh is an exceptional site, 150 m high; a dark mass where everything breathes the tragedy of those who, sword in hand, threw themselves in front of a certain death, rather than succumb to their attackers. You will discover in the citadel many vestiges of temples and palaces. Continuation, visit of Menal with vestiges of the Hindu temples dating from XIIth century. Arrival in Bundi in the late afternoon. Walk and overnight at the hotel.
10th Jour : Bundi-Pushkar (3h30 de route)
Steps: Pushkar
Discovery of the princely city of Bundi dominated by the rajpoute palace (suspended) decorated with beautiful paintings of the XVIIIth century. Very picturesque city, very beautiful panoramic view from the palace. Discovery of the well of the Rani, abundantly decorated with sculptures. Departure by road to Pushkar. Overnight stay at the hotel.
day 11: Pushkar-Jaipur (2h drive)
Steps: Jaipur
After breakfast visit the temples of Pushkar and walk around the ghats that descend to the lake. Around a vast basin accessible by monumental stairs visit the temple of Brahma and stroll in the very animated bazaar.
In the afternoon, drive to Jaipur the capital of Rajasthan "the pink city" the city of Jaipur is founded in 1728 by the warrior astronomer, Maharaja Jai Singh II.
Walk in rickshaw in the city, Overnight at the hotel.
12e Jour : Jaipur - Amber - Jaipur
Steps: Jaipur
After breakfast departure for an excursion to Amber Fort, 10 km north of the city. On the way we will see the Hawa Mahal or "Palace of the Winds", an extraordinary section of wall of an ancient baroque palace which is considered one of the wonders of Rajput architecture. The many windows that adorn its facade are built to allow the women of the royal harem to see outside without being seen in return.
Amber Fort in the time of the Mughals, it was the former residence of the Maharajas. Elephant ride to the ramparts of the fort. Amber is the ancient capital of the state founded by the Minas and then abandoned a few centuries later when its Maharaja Jai Singh went to settle in Jaipur. Visit of the palace with its rooms set with mirrors and the old harem.
Visit of the city palace, palace of the Mahraja, a part of which is still inhabited by him and which houses Mughal miniatures.
The astronomical observatory, Jantar-Mantar, built by Jai Singh II between 1728 and 1734, there is the most accurate sundial in the world.
In the afternoon, walk in the bazaar and free time. Overnight at the hotel.
day 13: Jaipur - Ranthambore (4h drive)
After breakfast departure for Ranthambore.
Afternoon safari in the park by shared jeep which starts around 2pm and ends around 6pm. Overnight at the hotel.
14e Jour : Ranthambore - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra (4h30 de route)
Today you have 1 safari in the park.
1st Safari starts around 06h in the morning and ends around 10h.
Departure for Agra, on the road visit the famous city of Fatehpur Sikri founded by Akbar the greatest Mughal leader. Magnificent site registered with the heritage of Unesco. Continue to Agra and overnight at the hotel.
day 15: Agra-Delhi (3h30 drive)
Steps: Agra
Visit of Agra, one of the high places of Mughal art and architecture: the Taj Mahal, the most famous monument of the country, considered as the eighth wonder of the world. This luminous mausoleum of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal; the Red Fort whose high red sandstone walls overlook the Yamuna River. "Note: the Taj Mahal is officially closed every Friday.
Arrival in Delhi late afternoon. Dinner and departure for the airport.
