The Desert Triangle
The triangle of the three desert kingdoms are Bikaner, Jodhpur and
Jaisalmer.
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Day 1: |
Arrive in Jaipur. Sightseeing at Amber and the Pink City,
including an elephant ride.
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Day 2: |
After breakfast, drive via Samode with its lovely palaces,
through the painted towns of Shekhwati to Mandawa for overnight at the castle.
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Day 3: |
Sightseeing at Mandawa, and then depart for Bikaner with
picnic lunch.
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Day 4: |
Sightseeing of fort and museums of Bikaner and depart for
Jaisalmer.
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Day 5: |
Sightseeing of Jaisalmer fort and temples. After lunch, drive
to Jodhpur.
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Day 6: |
Sightseeing at Jodhpur and nearby Mandore. Tour ends with
evening flight to Delhi/Mumbai (In a variation of this trip, you can eliminate
Bikaner. and replace it with the small desert village of Khimsar where the
fortified palace is a heritage hotel.)
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Quintessential
Rajasthan
Want to pack in as much of Rajasthan into a week. Here is a complete
reckoned on doing it the classic way.
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Day 1: |
Fly to Udaipur from Delhi/ Mumbai, Half day sightseeing plus
boat excursion on Lake Pichola.
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Day 2: |
Leave for Mount Abu. Post-lunch, visit Dilwara Jain temple,
Nakki Lake and Sunset Point.
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Day 3: |
Drive to Jodhpur, visiting the Ranakpur temples en route.
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Day 4: |
Spend morning at the fort of Jodhpur. After lunch, drive to
Jaisalmer.
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Day 5: |
Morning tour of Jaisalmer fort and havelis. After lunch, leave
for Khimsar.
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Day 6: |
Early morning visit to the village, and then leave for
Mandawa. Afternoon, sightseeing in Mandawa.
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Day 7: |
Drive to Jaipur. In the afternoon, take a tour of the City Palace, and other
attractions. |
Day 8: |
Sightseeing at Amber Fort, and then continue by road to Delhi. |
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The
Complete Rajasthan Tour
When you set out to visit all the principal kingdoms that now form the
state of Rajasthan, you'll find that you haven't even had time to miss the Taj
Mahal.
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Day 1: |
Arrive Jaipur by air, full day sightseeing at City Palace,
Amber, and other attractions.
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Day 2: |
By road to Bikaner. Late afternoon, visit the camel-breeding
farm.
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Day 3: |
Check out Bikaner's Junagarh Fort in the morning. After lunch,
drive to Jaisalmer
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Day 4: |
Spend an idyllic day in this romantic outpost, discovering the
wonderful architecture of this isolated city deep in the heart of the desert.
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Day 5: |
Drive to Jodhpur. Afternoon, tour its awesome Mehrangarh Fort
and Jaswant Thada Memorial.
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Day 6: |
Drive to Mount Abu, visiting the Ranakpur temples en route.
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Day 7: |
Relaxed day at Mt Abu, visiting its natural attractions and splendid temples, |
Day 8: |
Drive to Udaipur, spending time at Kumbhalgarh Fort en route. |
Day 9: |
Discover the lake city with its splendid palaces, and visit temples. Also, a
boat excursion on Lake Pichola. |
Day 10: |
Leave by flight for Delhi/ Mumbai. |
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Exotic
Rajputana
A comprehensive journey through some of Rajasthan's most popular
attractions, undertaken at leisure.
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Day 1: |
Begin journey at Delhi, driving to Agra, the city of the Taj
Mahal. See Sikandra, Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Itmaduddaulah
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Day 2: |
Relaxed morning, or visit Taj Mahal again. After lunch, leave
for Bharatpur visiting the abandoned Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri en route.
Your Rajasthan experience begins at Bharatpur.
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Day 3: |
Early morning, visit the bird sanctuary. After breakfast,
leave for Jaipur. Afternoon free in Jaipur.
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Day 4: |
Full day sightseeing of City Palace, Amber Fort, and other
attractions.
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Day 5: |
Drive to Nawalgarh, via Samode. Spend the rest of the day
sightseeing in Nawalgarh and other painted towns of Shekhwati.
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Day 6: |
Drive to Khimsar, a village with a feudal home as your abode
for the night.
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Day 7: |
Leave for Jaisalmer, visiting Osian en route. |
Day 8: |
Walk around Jaisalmer fort, discover its amazing havelis, visit the Jain
temples. A visit to Sunset Point at dusk is recommended. |
Day 9: |
Leave for Jodhpur. Afternoon free to relax. |
Day 10: |
Full day's sightseeing at Mehrangarh fort, Jaswant Thada, Mandore and the
bazars of the old city. |
Day 11: |
Drive to Kumbhalgarh, visiting the temples at Ranakpur en route. |
Day 12: |
Morning to be spent at Kumbhalgarh fort. Afternoon, drive to Udaipur, where a
boat ride awaits you. |
Day 13: |
Full day's sightseeing of Udaipur's City Palace, Lake Palaces, memorials and
other attractions, and excursions to Eklingji and Nagda Temples. |
Day 14: |
Drive to Chittorgarh and spent time till lunch exploring its ruined
attractions. Afternoon, leave for Ajmer |
Day 15: |
Morning, visit the ancient shrine of Moinuiddin chisti and then the short
excursion to the Hindu pilgrimage centre of Pushkar with its bathing Ghats. |
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The Aravalli Exploration
For
those in Udaipur, and looking for an option from their main trip, here is a
charming way to discover the scraggy hills where the armies of the Ranas once
battled, and where they perfected the art of guerilla warfare in exile from
their fort at Chittorgarh.
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Day 1: |
Leave Udaipur for Kumbhalgarh, journeying along a picturesque
road, Explore fort and environs. After dinner. a night drive along the road
could yield some wildlife surprises: leopard, grey wolf, wild boar.
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Day 2: |
After an early breakfast, drive through Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary
for deer spotting, seeing crocs sun themselves, and observing birdlife.
Continue onward to Ranakpur where you can see the magnificent cluster of Jain
temples.
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Day 3: |
Leave Ranakpur with picnic lunch to spend the day driving to
and through the thick forests of the Desuri range. Ample opportunity to spot
wildlife including sloth bear, Overnight again at Ranakpur.
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Day 4: |
Supplementary tour ends with your journey back to Udaipur or
onward to jodhpur/ mount Abu.
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Selected Itineraries Kite
Festival (January)
A
festival of colour with a different nuance - as kites take to the sky all over
Rajasthan. In the evening, kites with lights in them add to the twinkling skies
above. The main points of celebration are Jaipur and Jodhpur. The main
kite-flying day, Makar Sankranti, is on January 14.
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Day 1: |
Arrive in Jodhpur (by air from Delhi/Udaipur/Mumbai).
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Day 2: |
Morning, sightseeing; afternoon, watch the skies alive with
their soaring kites, from the stadium. Maybe you could try your hand at kite
flying too.
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Day 3: |
Drive to Jaisalmer, sightseeing.
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Day 4: |
Morning, sightseeing, afternoon, drive back to Jodhpur.
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Day 5: |
Morning train to Jaipur; sightseeing in the Pink City and
Amber.
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Day 6: |
Makar Sankranti day. Literally every rooftop is dotted with
kite-flyers. In the afternoon, there is an international kite flying
competition and related activities at Chaugan Stadium
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Pushkar Fair
(October-November)
Rajasthan's
most famous fair, it brings together camel traders, pilgrims, visitors, and
those who're here simply to participate in one of the season's most colourful
social events. Besides tented camps, there are hundreds of shops selling
everything from handicrafts to spices, foodstuff and jewellery. For visitors, a
number of activities are also arranged, but most simply wish to stay within the
fair grounds to watch the fascinating Rajasthani village metamorphose before
their eyes.
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Day 1: |
Arrive at Ajmer. and drive 11 km to Pushkar. Spend the day in
the fair grounds, overnight in tents.
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Day 2: |
Back to the fair, camel rides, visit the Brahma lake and
temples on its banks, and simply keep going with the flow of the people.
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Day 3: |
Proceed to next destination
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Dussehra (September-
October)
Dussehra
commemorates the killing, of the 10-headed Ravana by Rama, hero of the Indian
epic, Ramayana. An effigy of Ravana is lit, stuffed with firecrackers, creating
an exciting explosion. Dussehra also marks the beginning of the festive season
with Diwali, the festival of lights, only 20 days away.
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Day 1: |
Arrive in Udaipur; spend day sightseeing.
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Day 2: |
Drive to Teekhi Magri, arriving there for lunch. This, the
seventh day of Navratri (Dussehra is preceded by the nine days of fasting known
as Navratri), is celebration time for the Mina tribes who gather here to
celebrate with acrobatics, sword play dancing and singing. Bhopa priests
matchmake and cast horoscopes.
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Day 3: |
Drive to Bijaipur, visiting Chittorgarh en route. Stay at
heritage hotel.
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Day 4: |
Drive to Kota, stopping at Menal and Bundi for sightseeing.
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Day 5: |
Enjoy sightseeing in a town specially dressed up for Dussehra
festivities. In the early evening, at the Dussehra grounds, you can see
effigies of Ravana and his brothers being set to flame.
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Day 6: |
Proceed to next destination.
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Teej
(July-August)
The celebration of the monsoons is also the time to renew the ties of
fidelity for married couples in Rajasthan, and special sweetmeats, and swing
rides are characteristic of it.
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Day 1: |
Arrive in Jaipur; sightseeing.
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Day 2: |
Participate in the festivities -apply henna to your hands, sit
on swings. In the afternoon there is a procession led by the royal attendants
of City Palace through the city streets.
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Day 3: |
Proceed to next destination.
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Elephant
Safaris
(These itineraries are available by choice/demand only.)
These journeys on elephant-back, with two persons sharing each howdah, can
prove memorable.
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OPTION 1
Day 1: |
Begin in Jaipur with a royal visit to Amber Fort from where
proceeds to Aodhi Ramsagar for lunch. Thereafter, continue to Harmara for night
camp.
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Day 2: |
Wend your way past scenic Harmara lake, towards Chomu,
stopping en route for a picnic lunch, and then an early camp.
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Day 3: |
Wind your way through Chomu town, once an important thikana,
and into the sandy tracts that will be your camp for the evening.
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Day 4: |
The safari will continue towards Sam ode, another aristocratic
thikana where you can either choose to spend a few days at the historic Palace
Hotel, or continue towards Shekhwati, Jaipur or Delhi by car
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OPTION 2
Day 1: |
Drive from Jaipur to Savarda and ascend your elephant for what
will be a journey that will conclude at Pushkar
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Day 2&3: |
Traverse the open countryside on elephant-back, camping at
night.
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Day 4: |
Safari concludes with your arrival for lunch at Pushkar. If
this coincides with the annual fair, stay at a tented camp; if not, you can
explore this pilgrimage town before setting off towards the next venue on your
tour.
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OPTION 3
Day 1: |
Drive out from Jaipur on the Agra highway, and at a point some
15 km away, ascend your elephant as you head towards the thikana of Naila where
you will camp for the night.
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Day 2: |
Through Naila, and then you're out in the countryside again,
for an overnight at a camp away from civilisation.
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Day 3: |
Continue the safari to Kanoa another historical thikana. where
the tour concludes, You can stay here in a historical estate, or drive on to
Agra, or back to Jaipur.
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Shekhawati
Safaris
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OPTION 1
Day 1: |
Arrive Jaipur. Drive to Manoharpura on the Jaipur-Delhi
highway where your camels will await you. Proceed on camel-back to Sherpura
village with its ruins of a haveli. Lunch will be en route. and dinner at the
overnight camp. You will ride for three hours.
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Day 2: |
After breakfast, another three-hour ride will get you to
Shahpura for lunch at the Garden Palace. Safari terminates.
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OPTION 2
Day 1: |
Arrive at Nawalgarh town in Shekhwati. Check into Roop Niwas
Palace. Day free to explore the frescos on the havelis of the town.
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Day 2: |
After breakfast, set off on your carnel safari. The six-hour
journey will include a picnic lunch. Overnight at a farm complex in
Narsinghani.
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Day 3: |
Safari continues to Mandawa for dinner and overnight stay in
this heritage hotel. Safari terminates.
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Jeep Safaris
Remember
that on jeep safaris, you are unlikely to be driving on well-developed roads,
and may often venture into the open countryside. The driver is well versed on
the routes, and is adept at four-wheel drive to which he may need to resort on
different occasions. Some routes are simply outlined as suggested below:
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OPTION 1
A six-day trip beginning in Bikaner and halting at overnight camps at
Dhumpaliya. Samrau, Jamaniya-ki-Dhani, Jaisalmer town, and Bainsra village. En
route, you will see peacocks, deer, and demoiselle cranes in their hundreds at
Kheechan. Tour concludes at Chabha from where the highway connects with
Jodhpur.
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OPTION 2
A round trip from Jaisalmer, it includes setting out for Moolsagar, Khuri and
Devikot on the first day, and to Lodurva, Sam, Kanoi and Kuldhara on the
second, before returning to this desert citadel.
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OPTION 3
A three-day trip from Jodhpur via Bhadrajun, Daspan and Sirohi where
accommodation is arranged. The terrain changes from sandy tracts to green
hills, and the villages en route are picturesque. Tour culminates on the
highway connecting with Mount Abu or Udaipur.
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OPTION 4
Get out of Jaipur for a three-day safari beginning past Sanganer airport and
including in its range Kanota, Dhola
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Religious
Rajasthan Yatra
A wonderful way to see Rajasthan is to visit its many pilgrimage
centres and temples, many of them close to places of important tourist
interest.
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Day 1: |
Arrive Bikaner from Shekhawati Delhi. Visit its camel breeding
farm, and the Jain temple, one of the oldest in the state, as well as the
temples of Raj Ratan Bihari, and Rasik Shiromani.
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Day 2: |
Morning, visit Junagarh fort; afternoon, excursion to Desknoke
to Karni Mata's temple, extraordinary because it offers sanctuary to rats in
its shrine.
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Day 3: |
Drive to Jaisalrner, visiting Kolayat with its temples, and
Pokaran's Ramdevji shrine.
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Day 4: |
Sightseeing at Jaisalmer, including the Jain temples within
the fort, and at Lodurva.
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Day 5: |
Drive to Jodhpur, en route visiting the temples of Osian, and
sightseeing in the city.
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Day 6: |
Sightseeing at Mehrangarh, and then drive to Ranakpur with its
magnificently carved temples.
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Day 7: |
Drive to Udaipur, en route visiting the temples of Mahavira at
Ghanerao, and the shrines of Charbhuja, Nathdwara and Eklingji.
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Day 8: |
Sightseeing in Udaipur, including the Jagdish temple.
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Day 9: |
Drive to Pushkar, with its Brahma and hundreds of other
temples, and Ajmer with its popular dargah, the meeting point for Muslims from
all over the country.
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Day 10: |
Drive to Jaipur. Sightseeing in the city, and visits to the
temples of Govind Devji, Ganeshji, and Galtaji.
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Day 11: |
Sightseeing at Amber including the temple of Jagat Shiromani
afternoon, to karauli
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Day 12: |
Short excursion to Kaila Devi temple, a popular place of
pilgrimage for people from all over Rajasthan and the neighbouring states. Tour
ends with drive to Agra/ Bharatpur
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