Thar desert Trip

Duration: 15 Nights / 16 Days
Places Covered: Delhi - Agra - Bharatpur - Jaipur - Udaipur - Ranakpur - Kumbhalgarh - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer - Bikaner - Mandawa - Delhi

Day - 1 -- Delhi
Arrive Delhi & transfer to Agra the city of Taj. Evening before sunset we take a visit to Taj.

Day - 2 -- Agra
Half day sight seeing at Agra visiting the Fort where Emperor Shahjehan the builder of Taj was kept in captivity by his son Aurangzeb, we also take a visit to Sikandra the mausoleum of the greatest emperor of India Akbar. After lunch drive to Bharatpur to arrive at such a time so that we can catch the birds before they go nesting in the wonderful bird sanctuary of Kaladeo.

Day - 3 -- Bharatpur
Early morning we take a rickshaw ride into the bird sanctuary return to hotel for breakfast. After breakfast visit the fort & leave for Jaipur the pink city of the Kachawa dynasty enroute stopping at the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri built as the capital in 1571 and abandoned 15 years later when the wells went dry. Evening check in to the hotel at Jaipur.

Day - 4 -- Jaipur
A tour of the city palace, the palace of winds and then proceed to Amber fort the ancient capital of Jaipur built in the 16th century by Raja Man Singh in red sandstone and marble. It has some very interesting apartments like the Sheesh Mahal the glass canopy apartments and Jai Mandir, Sukh Niwas Baodi etc. The highlight of this trip is the elephant ride up the ramparts of the fort just like the maharajas did. After this we visit the Jaigarh fort the armoury of the erstwhile state which houses the biggest cannon on wheels in the world. Overnight at hotel.

Day - 5 -- Udaipur
Early morning drive to Udaipur (Venice of the East) which was founded in 1568 by Maharana Udai Singh the scion of the most valorous rajput clan of sisodias. Udaipur is replete with fanastic hilltop fortresses exotic fairytale palaces & gripping legends of medieval chivalry & heroism. Overnight at the hotel.

Day - 6 -- Udaipur
Full day sight seeing in and around Udaipur.

Day - 7 -- Ranakpur
Early morning we drive to Ranakpur a distance of 90 km to see the most exquisite of Jain temples in India. The temple built in 1439 has the most beautifully carved 1444 pillars of marbles supporting 29 halls, no two pillars are alike but the carving on them can be said to be the most exquisite work of craftsmanship that one can see in marble.

After the tour of Ranakpur we proceed to Ghanerao which is just 18km from Ranakpur for an overnight stay at the castle which is associated with another legendary figure of Indian history MEERA BAI the princess who devoted her life singing paeans of Lord Krishna.

Day - 8 -- Kumbhalgarh
Take a drive or horse safari to Kumbhalgarh a 15th century fort & game sanctuary. This fort was so impregnable that it took the might of entire army of the Mughals combined with that of Amber & Marwar to breach its defences. The game reserve here has a crocodile farm & the possibility of sighting the four horn deer are good. Overnight at Ghanerao castle.

Day - 9 -- Jodhpur
Drive of to the heart of Thar desert i.e. Jodhpur the former capital of Marwar state which was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha. The massive fort of Meharangarh came first & around it grew the city of Jodhpur the blue city. Check in to the hotel. After lunch visit the famous Mehrangarh fort evening at leisure.

Day - 10 -- Jodhpur
Full day sight seeing in & around Jodhpur.

Day - 11 -- Jaisalmer
Drive to Jaisalmer a distance of 285 km to the city of the desert. Very few cities can boast of the magnificence which Jaiselmer can. The fort just seems to rise out of the desert haze its yellow sandstone walls & bastions take on a golden hue in the afternoon sun straight out of the Tales of the Arabian nights. As Jaiselmer was once on the lucrative trade route its merchants built magnificent havelis with beautiful sculptured filigree screen windows, delicate pavilions & balconies. These buildings are a veritable art museum. Check in to the hotel evening at leisure.

Day - 12 -- Jaisalmer
Morning roam the city streets after breakfast we drive to Desert National Park which is just 40 km away the breeding ground of the great Indian Bustard,you can also see the Indian Gazelle CHINKARA & many other wild animals. Evening we take a camel safari to the sand dunes of SAM to see the setting sun. Later on a dance performance by the gypsies on the dunes overnight at hotel.

Day - 13 -- Bikaner
On the edge of the desert is Bikaner a drive of 335 km from Jaisalmer. Check in to the hotel evening at leisure.

Day - 14 -- Mandawa
We drive of to Mandawa a distance of 250 km. Mandawa is famous world over for its frescos on the mansions of its old merchants. Check into the castle. Evening at leisure to explore the streets of Mandawa. At night a traditional dinner is served in the castle with torch bearers & drums as it was done during the by gone days for visiting kings & their entourage.

Day - 15 -- Mandawa - Delhi
Early morning some more exploration of Mandawa streets then leave for Delhi. Evening check into the hotel at Delhi rest of the day at leisure.

Day - 16 -- Delhi / Departure
Sight seeing of Delhi till its time to catch the flight back home.