Day 1 : - Wed. / Dep. Delhi at 1745 hrs
Arrive
at Delhi Cantt Railway Station at 1600 hrs. Welcome and boarding.
Dinner and overnight on Board.
Day 2 : - Thu. /Arr. Jaipur at 0001 hours/Dep. At
1730 hrs
Breakfast on Board. Arrival Jaipur. The first stop of
the Palace on Wheels is Jaipur, one of the most well planned
cities of the world of its time. This capital city of
Rajasthan, popularly known as the Pink City was founded by
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, in 1727 A.D. To explore the city,
an air-conditioned coach takes you to Hawa Mahal
/the Palace of Winds , which is a remarkable five storied
building along the main street of the old city in pink splendour
with semi-octagonal and delicately honey combed sandstone
windows. This is followed by a visit to Amber
Fort , eight kms away, where rides on caparisoned
elephants add to the ambience. Shop for Jaipur's famous
jewellery, handicrafts, carpets, blue pottery and textiles.
After lunch at a Palace Hotel, you are off to the City
Palace , home of the erstwhile royal family. Right
across the road from the palace is the Jantar Mantar,
the largest observatory built by Sawai Jai Singh II. After
dinner and a cultural program at Palace Hotel, the coach takes
you back to the Palace on Wheels. Departure for Jaisalmer
is at 1730 hrs.
Day 3 : - Fri. /Arr. Jaisalmer 0615 hrs/Dep. Jaisalmer
at 2300 hrs
Arrive Jaisalmer at 0615 hours. Breakfast on Board. Jaisalmer
lies in the heart of the Thar desert, founded by Rawal Jaisal
in 1156 A.D. Here the yellow sandstone Jaisalmer Fort
, is an imposing sight, towering magnificently over
the city. Disover the painstakingly latticed Haveli or mansions
with their grand facades. The Nathmalji-ki-haveli, Patwon-ki-haveli
and Salim Singh-ki-haveli are fine examples
of the stone carver's skill. Shop for fine pattu shawls, mirror
work & embroidered articles, wooden boxes, trinkets, silver
jewellery and curios. After lunch on board, go for an
exciting camel ride on the sand dunes of Sam, before sipping
a refreshing cup of tea. Enjoy the dinner and the cultural
program at Sam Sand dunes / Hotel Moomal and depart for Jodhpur
at 23.30 hrs.
Day 4 : - Sat. / Arr. Jodhpur at 0800 hrs/Dep. Jodhpur
at 1530 hrs
Next morning the Palace-on-Wheels is in Jodhpur at 0800 hrs
- a city ringed by a high stone wall with seven gates and
several bastions. This second largest city of Rajasthan,
founded by Rao Jodha in 1459 A.D. is known for its rock-solid
Mehrangarh Fort. The grand palaces within
- Moti Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Phool Mahal, Sileh Khana and Daulat
Khana are impressive examples of architectural excellence.
Near the fort complex lies Jaswant Thada
and a group of royal cenotaphs made of white marble. After
lunch at Umaid Bhawan Palace, return to the Palace on Wheels.
While in Jodhpur shop for exquisite handicrafted articles
including the famous breeches, embroidered shoes, metal curios,
silverware, paintings and tie and dye fabrics. Departure for
Sawai Madhopur at 1530 hrs.
.
Day 5 :- Sun. / Arr. Sawai Madhopur 0400 hrs/Dep.
1100 hrs
One can almost sense a life of the wilderness, as the Palace
on Wheels arrives in Sawai Madhopur at 0400 hrs - a city named
after its founder, Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I. After
breakfast, a visit is arranged to the Ranthambore
National Park, where in are located the ruins of
a 10th century fort. This wildlife sanctuary is considered
the country's best for observing and photographing the activities
of the tiger. The park, covering an area of 392 sq kms is
home to more than 300 species of birds. The tiger, hyena,
ratel, jackal and fox are among those constituting the carnivorous
population here. Sawai Madhopur is known for its exclusive
toys, ethnic ornaments and costumes. Upon return to the
Palace-on-Wheels, you leave for Chittaurgarh at 11.00 hrs.
you arrive Chittaurgarh at 15.30 hrs. The day begins with
a visit to the Chittaurgarh Fort, lauded
in legends of valour and chivalry. History has it that Bappa
Rawal, the founder of the Sisodia dynasty, conquered Chittaur
was besieged and plundered thrice, and the womenfolk performed
"jauhar ", in a sacred fire to protect their honour
everytime. Shop for the tie & dye sarees, leather
& embroidered shoes, lac work articles and bangles.
Day 6 : - Mon. / Chittaurgarh/Udaipur/Chittaurgarh
- Dep. 2000 hrs
Next morning you arrive Udaipur.
It was founded by Maharana Udai Singh of Mewar, after the
Sisodia dynasty was driven away by the Mughals in 1559 A.D. Perhaps
the two most beautiful sites of Udaipur are the dream like
marble palaces-the Jag Niwas (Lake Palace) and the Jagmandir,
which appear to rise from the blue waters of Lake Pichola. After
lunch at Lake Palace Hotel, visit to the City Palace
and Saheliyon Ki Bari. After evening tea,
departure for Bharatpur at 2000 hrs.
Day 7 : - Tue. / Arr. Bharatpur 0600 hrs/Dep. Agra
2300 hrs
Early next morning, the Palace arrives in Bharatpur the capital
of Maharaja Suraj Mal at 0600 hrs. Pay a visit to the world
famous bird sanctuary, Keoladeo Ghana National Park, the nesting
place for thousands of egrets, siberian cranes, migratory
water Fowl and other species of birds. After breakfast,
arrive at Fatehpur Sikri -the red sandstone
Mughal palacial complex. Within the enclosure is a mosque
built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar and dedicated to Sheikh
Salim Chishti, a muslim Sufi saint who blessed him with a
son. After lunch move on from the Red Fort and arrive
at the Taj Mahal , one of the seven wonders
of the world. A pristine monument of undying love, it was
built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved queen
Mumataz Mahal. Agra is known for its splendid marble
inlay work like the "pietra dura" work on
the Taj, leather goods and jewellery. After dinner on board
departure for Delhi at 0800 hrs. Sightseeing tour of Agra.
Dinner on Board. Departure Agra at 2300 hrs for Delhi.
Day 8 : - Wed. / Arr. Delhi at 0600 hrs
Breakfast on Board, Tour Ends.
|