The Best Exotic Marigold Tour Returns

Delhi stands as the capital of modern India. Here you can see the mingling of the old and new India, the ancient and the modern. Delhi is made up of seven ancient cities, spanning the period from the 11th to 20th centuries. Delhi has seen the rise and fall of many emperors who have left behind a plethora of monuments that commemorate the grandeur and glory of bygone ages. Very few cities in the world can express such a profusion of architectural styles.

Take a Special Cycle Rickshaw tour in Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi. You will be transported 400 years back and will ride on a cycle rickshaw through the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk known as the Moonlit Square of India.  Witness the architectural marvels, the multicolored facades, beautifully decorated shops, ethnically dressed men and women and be bombarded by the cries of hawkers and fragrances emanating from the potpourri of eateries that line these historical alleys.

The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (1592-1666) built the walled city of Delhi on the banks of the holy River Yamuna.  It had a magnificent palace known as the Red Fort, impressive mansions, enchanting bazaars, elegant shrines, royal gardens and fountains at every corner to romance one’s senses.  The Emperor’s beloved daughter, Jahanara, designed a major street called Chandni Chowk in front of the Red Fort with a canal running down the center and pools at major intersections reflecting the moonlight.

The total duration of the tour will be 3 hours – 3 hours 30 minutes. It is an extensive tour that covers 20 main sites that include palaces, mansions, elegant shrines and colorful bazaars. This is a detailed tour with several stops. The tour ends at an old Haveli (mansion) built in 1860 that has a photo gallery depicting the lifestyle of Mughals and a small lounge to relax and to enjoy some local snacks.

Drive through the city viewing the Diplomatic Enclave, government buildings, Central Secretariat, President’s House and Parliament.

Visit Humayun’s tomb built by the widow of the second Mughal Emperor, Humayun. It is an outstanding monument in the Indo-Persian style and is a precursor of the Taj Mahal. Visit Qutub Minar, the five-storied tower, with a 14.4meter base that tapers up to two and a half meters at the top and is visible for a long distance around.

Evening is reserved for dinner at Indian Accent which showcases Indian food for the 21st century with a path-breaking contemporary menu with a unique marriage of global ingredients and techniques with the flavors and traditions of India that is sure to excite the adventurous yet satisfy traditional palates.

Today assisted departure transfer to the station in time to board the train for Agra. (Shatabdi Express: 0600/0810 hours) Visit the massive Agra Fort that was originally started by Emperor Akbar in 1565, but his son, Jahangir, and grandson, Shah Jahan, later made valuable additions to it. It houses the Dewan-e-Khas and Dewan-e-Aam (Halls of Private and Public Audience). Its walls and palaces are a silent witness to the rise and fall of the Imperial Mughal Empire and feature a variety of ingenious Islamic inspired devices (some decorative, some more practical) within the fabric of the buildings. It’s a citadel with marble palaces, ornate alcoves, and terrace pavilions.

Late afternoon proceed for the Kachpura Heritage Walk. A narrow bridle path through agriculture fields near Mehtab Bagh takes you into the ancient village of Kachpura and Humayun’s Mosque. The walk ends in Mehtab Bagh from where you will have the opportunity to watch the Taj Mahal during sunset from across the river.

Visit the Taj Mahal by sunrise (closed on Fridays)The Mughal Emperor Shahjahan built the Taj Mahal in 1630 AD to enshrine the mortal remains of his beloved Queen Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal manifests the wealth and luxury of Mughal art as seen in architecture and garden designs, painting, and calligraphy. The 144 foot double dome of the Taj is capped with a finial and the four minarets each 131 ft high and crowned by an open octagonal pavilion highlight the perfect symmetry of the tomb.

Post breakfast drive to Jaipur (approx. 6 hours) and en-route visit Fatehpur Sikri.

Fatehpur Sikri is the deserted red sandstone city built by Emperor Akbar as his capital. Ponder the mysterious desertion of this capital city that was dramatically abandoned a few years after it was built. It was a veritable fairy tale city and its ‘ruins’ are still in a pristine condition.

Evening is reserved for special cooking demonstration/dinner with Thakur Durga Singh, the current custodian of Dera Mandawa, who is a keen observer of history, culture, religion, current affairs, and is a bank of knowledge so vast that he has a point of view on anything under the sun. He is what one could call a modern traditionalist, actively seeking the use of modern technology and methods to support the principles of traditional living. The inquisitive can have endless conversations with him on a number of his projects like rain – water harvesting, biogas plant, solar heating and even healthy cooking. He would be more than delighted to share his experiences with you.

Visit the magnificent Amber Fort. It was once the ancient capital of the Rajput Empire. From the road you can climb up to the fort in approximately 10 minutes but a jeep or elephant ride will spare you the trouble of walking up to the fortress. Once on the top, you will stroll with your guide through the sprawling complex of courtyards and halls. Many of the rooms have delightful wall paintings with precious stones and mirrors inlaid in the walls.Visit the City Palace which houses a museum containing rare manuscripts, paintings and an armory. Then, continue on to the Royal Observatory (Jantar Mantar) built in the 17th century by Jai Singh, a famous astronomer. The observatory has a 900-foot-high sundial. The Central museum founded in 1876 has a large collection of antiques. Later drive past the Hawa Mahal also known as the “Palace of Winds”. Hawa Mahal built in a unique design is the landmark of Jaipur and was used by the ladies of the court to watch the daily goings on in the street below. The pink sandstone carvings are extremely intricate and it is a great place to take pictures.

Today early morning experience the spiritual side of the locals by visiting colorful temples, interact with residents over a cup of tea in their homes and discover some of the architectural wonders of this fascinating area of Jaipur. The walk has been carefully designed to offer a rewarding and enriching experience. This walk uncovers some of the best – kept secrets of the walled city of Jaipur by meeting residents and gaining an insight into their lives.Early afternoon drive to Castle Kanota for lunch where the original movie was filmed that is also known as Kanota Ghar and was the Viceroy Club in the movie. The castle belongs to the Thakur of Kanota. It is a small town off the Jaipur-Agra highway about thirty minutes by road from Jaipur. Still the family’s residence, this heritage castle built in 1872 is set in on an eight acre estate. It offers 18 beautiful suites that open to the gardens and lawns.

On a fascinating late afternoon walk mingle and talk with the locals while learning about some of the regions culinary delights: pakoras, aloo tiki, samosa and sweets from some of the city’s most popular street food vendors. Observe local artisans in their workshops; jewelers and silversmiths, gold and silver foil makers. You also have the option of seeing and trying the art of Henna painting. This is a 2 ½ hour walk.

Post breakfast depart by surface for Shahpura Bagh (approx. 4 hours)This wonderful, garden estate is surrounded by glistening lakes seasonally teem with birds. Formerly the summer home of the rulers of Shahpura, the style and décor of Shahpura Bagh is very much a mixture of Rajasthani meets colonial with a quiet understated yet elegant air. The large, lofty rooms have been superbly decorated and the bathrooms are spacious with state of the art fittings.

Very much a family concern, they all reside here and greatly enjoy chatting with guests. However, by living in a separate residence, guests retain their privacy and may choose to dine privately should they wish to. The rural activities are great fun and offer guests a chance to really get under the skin of the area.

At the end of the day, visit the stunning step well and exquisite temple before heading out to the old fort for drinks at sundown. The cuisine is delicious Rajasthani home-cooking and limited continental.

Morning explore the area with your hosts visiting the farmlands owned and maintained by the Royal family. You will have the opportunity of visiting a local funded school as well.Afternoon is reserved for an interesting session with an expert who will demonstrate the art of Phad painting, a painting depicting mythology and history, come to life.

Late afternoon a short drive of 30 minutes from the Bagh brings you to Village Dhikhola, a quaint and rustic village where time has stood still. Here you can explore the village and the fort owned by the family. Enjoy the sundowners while listening to the stories of by gone era.

Post leisurely breakfast you will depart by surface for Jodhpur (approx. 5 hours)Johdpur is known as the ‘Blue City’. Rao Jodha, a chief of the Rathore clan of the Rajputs, found Johdpur on the edges of the Thar Desert in 1459AD. It was the capital of the Rathore Kingdom that was the largest in the Rajputana. Jodhpur is the second largest city in Rajasthan after Jaipur and is encircled by a high 10 km long wall.

In the afternoon visit the Clock Tower Market. In the old city, the clock tower is a prominent landmark. But the main attraction is the Sadar Market. The market has kept alive the old ‘haat bazaar’ culture. Sadar market is a lively, bustling, colorful market that runs from Sojati Gate to the Clock tower (which is late 19th century). In the distance you can see the vast bulk of the Meherangarh Fort that dominates the skyline for miles around.

Post breakfast you will be met by your guide for a guided tour of Jodhpur city. The Mehrangarh Fort is the most impressive fortress in Rajasthan. The 5 km long ramparts of the fort perched on a 125meter – high rocky cliff in the middle of the city has four gates that can be approached by a winding road.

The fort offers a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. Inside the fort, one can see magnificent palaces adorned with intricately carved panels and latticed windows. These palaces house a fabulous collection of trappings of Indian royalty: palanquins, elephant howdahs, miniature paintings of various schools, music instruments, costumes and furniture.
Visit Jaswant Thada memorial. This cluster of royal cenotaphs in white marble built in 1899 A.D. in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II also houses the portraits of various kings who ruled Jodhpur in the past.
Early afternoon proceed for lunch and jeep ride at Rohet village. Showcasing the best of the land, it is a complete cultural experience that encompasses all that this region has to offer. From the warm and hospitable people to the various customs and ceremonies and the abundant wildlife, you will have the rare privilege of being welcomed into people’s homes and interacting with them. Here you will meet the ‘Premier ecologists of the world’, the Bishnois, who have protected nature for more than 500 years and are responsible for the very survival of species like the Black Buck antelope (India’s most beautiful antelope and a rare and protected species today.

The drive today takes you across the Aravalli Hills, the oldest mountain range in the world. The scenery along the way is superb and you will see many vignettes of Rajasthani rural life. Among the sights you see are colorful villages, farms where an ancient system of irrigation using bullocks and a Persian wheel are still in practice, outdoor schools and the sartorially vibrant people who add a splash of color to the countryside. There are endless opportunities for photography.Your destination is one of the architectural gems of the area, The White Marble Jain Temples at Ranakpur. Ranakpur is one of the five important pilgrim centers for the Jain community. The whole including the extraordinary array of 1144 pillars each distinct in design, carved ceilings, and arches decorated with friezes depicting scenes from the lives of the Jain saints is fascinating.

Post lunch at Fatehbagh Palace, continue your drive to Udaipur.

Dotted with marble palaces, hibiscus – laden gardens and fountain pavilions, Udaipur appeals to the imagination of poets and painters, travellers and writers like no other city in the country. The city’s inherent romance and beauty and its remarkable past redolent with episodes of heroism and splendor continue to enthrall the visitor even today. Udaipur, the City of Dawn, looms up like a vision in white. It is a truly enchanting city.

Post breakfast visit Udaipur city starting at Jagdish Temple built in 1651. Notice the many heritage mansions that line the city boulevards, the art shops and boutiques that lead to the old bathing ghats that fringe the banks of Lake Pichola.Visit the City Palace (part of which has been converted into a museum housing the largest collection of crystal in the world) and see the gorgeous peacock mosaics, striking blue and white ceramics and Dutch inlaid tile work, glass and porcelain figures and miniature paintings.

Later enjoy a private boat ride on Lake Pichola.

Proceed for a guided heritage walk where you will have the opportunity to visit the famous ghats and historic temples on the banks of Lake Pichola. Visit an ancient step well which was used for drinking water by the locals. Join a family at their private residence for a cup of tea and snacks in their 150 year old residence decorated with fascinating fresco paintings and mirror work. From the clock tower move towards the lane where the silversmiths and gold making workers are busy making and selling the ornaments. Observe the traditional way of making clay pottery and water pitchers etc. On this interesting walk you will see the bustling markets of Udaipur city where you will come across the vegetable, oil and bamboo markets.

Evening is reserved dinner at UPRE 1559 AD restaurant which is set in beautifully landscaped gardens and lush green surroundings. There is a live performance every evening involving classical Indian instruments.

Today morning proceed for a half – day tour of Ravla Khempur, situated around 50 kms from Udaipur. Ravla Khempur was the Best Marigold Hotel in the movie. Ravla Khempur has a passionate history of true Mewari valour that dates back to 1628 AD. The title ‘Ravla’ in Rajasthan refers to the home of a village chieftain”. In earlier days, the Ravla was the focal point of the entire village.A visit to this place makes one understand how the impact of rural India really seduces a modern traveler: a loaded bullock cart, elegant clad women carrying water urns from the well, turbaned men working in fields, children playing and the smoke from cooking fires. You will be amazed to see how happy and content the locals are with whatever little they have. If you are open to the joy of light, space, color and smiles and are prepared to slow down and open your mind to a different way of life, Ravla Khempur is sure to charm you.

Return back to Udaipur by afternoon.

In the late afternoon, meet the rare textile artist. For centuries artisans of Udaipur have created woven, printed dyed and embroidered textiles. You will visit the home of a traditional artisan. It is a rare opportunity to experience the vibrant and diverse world of textiles up close and at your own pace. An expert will be on hand to answer your questions and help interact with the artist.

After breakfast, you will visit the Eklingi and Nagda Temples.The magnificent architecture of Eklingnath Temple is simply remarkable. The double-storied temple looks awesome with its pyramidal style of roof and distinctly carved tower. The outer walls of the temple are stretched with steps that descend touching the serene waters. Inside the complex, the main temple is a huge pillared hall or ‘mandap’ that is sheltered by hefty pyramidal roof. On entering this hall, you will be welcomed by a silver image of Nandi. In the temple, there are two other images of Nandi carved in black stone and brass respectively. You would find this temple full of mesmerizing fragrance.

Later assisted departure transfer to the airport to board flight for Delhi.

On arrival at Delhi, you will be met and transferred to the airport Holiday Inn until your late night assisted departure transfer to the International airport to board the flight for home.