Golden Triangle Camel & Jeep Safari

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Duration of Trip -::- 8 Days
Key Places covered -::- Delhi, Jodhpur, Manwar, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Agra, Delhi

Taste the arid charms of the desert life at Rajasthan with the Golden Triangle with Camel & Jeep Safari Tour. Agra and later, Delhi became the grand theatre of the Mughals. The royal love, the death of the Kings or a beloved family member, the grace and compassion, and the refined aesthetics of Mughals find expression in numerous grand forts and monuments they built- ranging from abandoned red sandstone city of Fatehpur Sikri to the Agra Fort and the Red Fort - where Mughals lived. Their master stroke was certainly the Taj Mahal, highlight of all India tours today. Besides camel and jeep safaris to the sand dunes, Rajasthan has a fair share of forts and palaces too that exude subdued opulence.

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Day 01 Delhi: Arrival at Delhi
You will be met on arrival at the International airport. Transfer to your hotel. Relax.
DELHI, the capital of kingdoms and empires is now a sprawling metropolis with a fascinating blend of the past and the present. Delhi is a perfect introduction to the composite culture of an ancient land and a window to the kaleidoscope - that is India.

Overnight will be at Delhi.

Day 02 Delhi:
After breakfast proceed for a day sightseeing tour of the city.

Start with the sightseeing of Old Delhi. The tour will begin with a visit to Raj Ghat, a simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi; drive past the Red Fort continuing to the Jama Masjid by bicycle rickshaws, one of Asia's largest mosques. The magnificent Red Fort, overlooking the river Jamuna was built during the years 1638 - 48 when the Moghul Empire was at its peak. The tour continues to Jama Masjid, one of Asia's largest mosques and which is viewed from the outside.

People stream in and out of the mosque continuously and the presence of a nearby bazaar means that the area is rarely quiet.

Enjoy the rickshaw ride at Old Delhi.

After visiting Old Delhi, you will be driven to New Delhi, which reflects the legacy the British left behind. The division between New and Old Delhi is the division between the capitals of the British and the Mughals respectively. The division in the walled city and New Delhi also marks the division in the life-styles. The walled city is all tradition where one will be able to glean a past life-style in all its facets, colours and spells. New Delhi in contrast, is a city trying to live up to the best of 21st century standards.

Imperial Delhi will include the Qutub Minar, the tallest stone tower in India. The tour also includes a drive past the imposing India Gate, the Parliament building and the Rastrapathi Bhawan, the President's residence.

Overnight will be at Delhi.

Day 03 Delhi - Jodhpur: By Air Flight : CD 7471
Airline : Indian Airlines
Departure : 1100 hr
Arrival : 1250 hr
Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Take flight to Jodhpur.

Set at the edge of the THAR Desert, the imperial city of Jodhpur echoes with tales of antiquity in the emptiness of the desert. Once the capital of the Marwar state, it was founded in 1459 AD by Rao Jodha-chief of the RATHORE clan of Rajputs who claimed to be descendants of Rama - the epic hero of the RAMAYANA. The massive 15th century AD Mehrangarh Fort looms on the top of a rocky hill, soaring 125 Mts. Above the plains. The city is encompassed by a high wall -10 km long with 8 gates and innumerable bastions.

Check in at hotel.

Start sightseeing tour of Jodhpur - gateway to the desert beyond, home of the Rathors of Marwar, visit the Mehrangarh Fort, rising up a hilly scarp, built on the advice of a hermit, overlooking the city in the image of a long sentinel. Inside the Fort are a number of palaces added by successive rulers. In this palace you would see different miniature paintings & cradle room. After this you would visit Jaswant Thada Memorial.

Overnight will be at Jodhpur.

Day 04 Jodhpur - Manwar: By Road 130 km/3 hr
Breakfast will be at hotel.

Drive to Manwar - the camel camp.

In the late afternoon / early evening take a short camel trek and dinner will be at the dunes.

Overnight will be in the camp.

Day 05 Manwar - Jodhpur: By Road 130 km/3 hr
Jodhpur - Jaipur:
By Air Flight : CD 7472
Airline : Indian Airlines
Departure : 1750 hr
Arrival : 1830 hr
Breakfast will be at the camp.

Enjoy a jeep ride in the desert through the villages.

Start for Jodhpur after lunch and reach by early evening. Take flight to Jaipur.

Jaipur is the capital of the state of Rajasthan a romantic realm of resplendent palaces, mighty fortresses and regal Maharajahs that lies in the western deserts and is an utterly unique part of India. Proudly belonging to the KSHATRIYA warrior caste and fiercely independent, the Rajput princes made fearsome foes. However, many of them realized that to maintain their wealth and authority locally, it was expedient to proclaim allegiance to the central power. Thus, many enjoyed a privileged position under the Mughal emperors and also the British Raj that followed.

The bustling Rajasthan capital of Jaipur takes its name from its venerated founder Jai Singh II, who was given the title Sawai Maharaja by the Mughal. Literally translated this would mean 'one and a quarter', suggesting that the Mughal thought this emperor to be more valuable than just 'one'. Jaipur is known as the 'Pink City' on account of the distinctive colour of its buildings. This did not, however, form part of the original plan, but dates back to 1856, when the city was given a wash of pink in honor of a State Visit from Prince Albert.

Overnight will be in Jaipur.

Day 06 Jaipur:
Proceed for morning excursion will be taken to the Amber Fort. Ride to the Fort on elephant back in a royal manner.

AMBER FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Its construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent Jai Singh I. Its forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds its ultimate expression.

Afternoon sightseeing tour of Jaipur visiting...

CITY PALACE - A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.

JANTAR MANTAR - This is the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.

HAWA MAHAL - The ornamental facade of this "Palace of Winds" is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. It is a five-storey structure of sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women.

This evening, visit the Birla Temple to learn more about the fascinating religious life of Jaipur. The marble structure, built as recently as 1985, houses ornate statues including one of Lakshmi (goddess of Wealth and Beauty) and Narayan dressed in gaudy robes, representing a Hindu vision of heavenly luxury. Carvings in the temple and on pillars supporting the covered walkways include images of the Hindu pantheon, as well as Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Francis of Assisi. Your visit will coincide with the AARTI Ceremony, which involves oil lamps being lit and waved, in order to awake and invoke the deity.

Enjoy the experience and spend night at Jaipur.

Day 07 Jaipur - Agra: By Road 221 km/6 hr
Drive to Agra visiting Fatehpur Sikri en-route after breakfast.

The deserted, red Sandstone City, Emperor Akbar built that as his capital and palace in the late 16th century is an exhilarating experience. It a veritable fairytale city and its "ruins" are in pristine condition ... it's not hard to imagine what the court life must have been like in the days of its grandeur. Also visit the Bulund Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world.

Continue your drive to Agra and on arrival check-in at Hotel.

AGRA: Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed the little village of Agra into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire - giving it the name Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the Emperor}. Today a visitor to Agra is caught up in a world of contrasting edifices, of red sandstone and white marble, narrow galleys and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm that this favorite city of the Mughals still retains. It is not surprising, that modern Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage most conspicuously.

Overnight will be at Agra.

Day 08 Agra - Delhi: -By Road 201 km/46 hr
Proceed for sightseeing of Agra after breakfast.

TAJ MAHAL: Little needs to be said about this architectural wonder which is always the soul raison-de-etre for every tourist's visit to Agra. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed, and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from its stunning design balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best inlay work ever seen.

AGRA FORT - Built by the famed Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 AD, the fort is predominantly of red sandstone. Ensconced within is the picture perfect Pearl Mosque, which is a major tourist attraction. It lies on the bend of the river Yamuna, almost in the heart of the town. Akbar built it as his citadel over the years 1563-73 in the finest architectural style. It has imposing gates and walls of red sandstone and a moat.

After Agra Fort we will visit BABY TAJ - The interiors of which are considered better than the Taj.

Drive to Delhi after lunch and reach by evening. Reach Delhi and take connecting flight home with sweet memories of India.

TOUR ENDS

THE TOUR INCLUDES:
a) ACCOMMODATION AT MENTIONED HOTELS,
b) ONE CHILD BELOW 12 COMPLIMENTARY WITH BED AND BREAKFAST,
c) SIGHTSEEING TOURS AS MENTIONED IN THE ITINERARY,
d) ALL TRANSFERS AT AIRPORTS,
e) ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE FOR ALL MENTIONED TOURS,
f) ASSISTANCE AT THE AIRPORTS ON ARRIVAL / DEPARTURE,
g) ASSISTANCE AT STATIONS ON DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL,
h) ALL APPLICABLE TAXES AND SERVICE CHARGES,
i) ALL ROAD TAXES, GOVERNMENT TAXES AND DRIVER ALLOWANCES,
j) ELEPHANT RIDE AT AMER FORT - JAIPUR,
k) CAMEL TREK AT MANWAR CAMP,
l) JEEP SAFARI OF VILLAGES AT MANWAR,
m) ALL MEALS AT MANWAR AND
n) RECONFIRMATION OF RETURN INTERNATIONAL AIR TICKETS.

Hotels:

City	1st Class Hotels	Deluxe Hotels	Nights
Delhi	Oberoi Maidens	Claridges / Shangri La	02
Jodhpur	Ajit Bhawan	Taj Hari Mahal	01
Manwar	Manwar Desert Camp	Manwar Desert Camp	01
Jaipur	Park Plaza	aj Jai Mahal Palace	02
Agra	Howard Park Plaza	Taj View	01

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