Last updated: 2011-07-08

Itinerary

Day 1

At the hotel your tourleader will receive you.. The hotel is situated off a main street in a bustling part of the city on the border between New and Old Delhi. You will not have to walk many meters to encounter rickshaws, vendors and busy citypeople. The British built New Delhi, as the imperial capital, while Old Delhi was the capital of Muslim India between the 17th and 19th centuries. Have a look around in Old Delhi; visit the Red Fort and the Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Do make use of the top modern Metro and get familiar how to manage. rom the airport you should go by the new express train. From the terminus it is only one station by metro to your hotel.

Day 2

Travel by train called Shatabadi Express (the fastest train in India) from New Delhi to Agra Cantt. Departure around lunchtime. Arrive Agra Cantt., where you will be taken by a hired coach to visit Taj Mahal, one of the most famous buildings in the world. "The Taj", a spectacular white marble mausoleum, has been described as the most extravagant momument ever built for love. You will also visit Agra Fort. Later that day you continue by the same coach to Keoladeo Ghana National park. You will be in time to make a short walk before sunset. After that you take a cycle rickshaw to your hotel where the bus has taken your luggage.

Day 3

You spend the day in Keoladeo Ghana National Park, located just three kilometers outside the city and one kilometer from your hotel. It has one of the biggest concentrations of wading birds and the peak nesting season is in November/ December. The easiest way to get to the park is by bicycle or rickshaw. Use your time carefully, birds and mammals are mostly active in the morning and in the evening. Around 354 species of birds have been identified at the Keoladeo. Most are water birds such as ducks, herons, storks and kingfishers. But there are also other animals to see; like different species of deer, blackbuck (besoarantilop), wild boar (vildsvin), otter and python. There are no tigers and leopards in the park. An excellent way to see the park is to hire a bicycle.

Day 4-5

By hired bus to Jaipur, the capital of the state of Rajasthan and its biggest city. It was founded in 1727 AD by the warrior, astronomer and astrologer Maharaja Swai Jai Singh. Jaipur is known as "the Pink city", due to the fact that all the buildings of the walled city are made out of the local pink sandstone. The city's most famous building Hawa Mahal - "Palace of Winds", is actually just a facade. Jaipur is a big handicraft and jewellery center. It is known for its skillfulness in cutting & polishing of precious stones, which are mostly exported. It is fascinating to visit the colorful bazaars and to buy jewellery. You may also take a local bus to Amber Fort outside Jaipur (at your expense). Amber was the ancient capital of the Jaipur state and the fort is an excellent example of Rajput architecture. At Amber you can ride an elephant up to the fort.

Day 6

In the morning you go by local bus to Fatehpur and than jeeps to Mahansar, in the region of Shekhawati. This is a semidesert region famous for its beautiful havelis - mansions constructed by the wealthy merchants of the region. Havelis are colourfully decorated residences, often with frescoe paintings depicting stories from the Hindu mythology. The outer walls and inner courtyards of the havelis are decorated with frescoes that date from 18th to early 20th centuries and the area has been called the open air art gallery of Rajasthan. In the afternoon you visit two famous villages of Shekhawati - Mandawa and Dundlod by jeep. Here you find some of the best examples of painted havelis of Shekhawati.

Day 7

After breakfast, visit havelies at Fatehpur and Ramgarh. After lunch start for next destination Thelasar , where you stay with families. The group will be split into smaller groups of 3-4 persons and each will stay with one family, together with one interpreter. The houses are simple but clean and pittoresque.

Day 8

After breakfast, you go by jeeps to Bikaner, a desert town with an impressive old fort - Junagarh, built by the end of 16th century. The city has an interesting old part with a number of old Havelis and Jain temples to visit. Bikaner is known for its miniature paintings. While you visit the town the tour leader will prepare for the next day's camel trek.

Day 9

After breakfast you go by jeeps to the starting point of the camel trek at Raisar , where you change transport from jeeps to camels. Continue the journey on camels. Those who get tired of riding can sit on a cart pulled by a camel. Camel cart is the most common way to get around in this area. Lunch will be served nearly one hour after starting the trek. Continue camel ride after lunch till you arrive the camp. After tea you can visit the Dhanis of farmers living near the camp. Food will be prepared by cooks and served in the camp. Over night in tents at Napasar.

Day 10

Camel trek from Napasar to Surdhana, passing through undulating sand dunes. Lunch will be served on the way. Arrive camp and stay in tents. Meals will be served at the camp. There will be no interpreters today. Overnight in tents at Surdhana.

Day 11

Breakfast will be served at the camp. Camel ride from Surdhana to Deshnok Here you can visit Rat Temple. Lunch will be served on the way. Arrive camp and stay in tents. Overnight in tents.

Day 12

After breakfast at the camp near Deshnok you go to Jaisalmer by jeep on small village routes and not the Highway. Jaisalmer-The Golden City. It is a long drive through the desert ending in Jaisalmer. Jaisalmer is an enchanting city in the desert in the western most part of Rajasthan. The city, with a population of 50 000 people, brings your thoughts to the story of "The Thousand and One Nights". Arrive Jaisalmer in the evening.

Day 13

Next morning after breakfast you have full day to visit Jaisalmer. Until not very long ago Jaisalmer was an important centre for caravans crossing the Thar Desert. With the creation of Pakistan and a growing seaport in Bombay this trade came to an end. Here you will find a fantastic fort, palaces and beautifully elaborated homes of the rich merchants. Most of the buildings were built during the 12th-15th century. The original old town is built on a high cliff, completely surrounded by a wall and below the cliff the town has spread out with closely built houses. The citadel dominates the town. The main building material used is yellow sand stone, therefore, when sun light falls on these buildings, the whole city looks golden. Stroll around in the old town along the narrow alleys and visit the still inhabited havelis or rent a bicycle for excursions outside the town. Over night in the hotel.

Day 14

Larger part of the day in Jaisalmer. Evening train from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur. The train departs Jaisalmer at 04.00 PM and arrives Jodhpur at 10.45 PM. Arrive Jodhpur and check in the hotel.

Day 15

After breakfast visit Jodhpur, which is known for its impressive and gigantic Mehrangarh Fort, situated on a rocky ridge right in the middle of the town. The old city surrounds the fort and nearby the fort you can visit a cenotaph (tom grav, minnesgravvård) Jaswant Thada, which is a white marble memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II that was built in 1899 AD. The bazaars around Sardar Market in Jodhpur are also interesting to visit. Jodhpur is known for its spices, brass and wooden handicrafts. The villages around Jodhpur are known for weaving of durris. These villages may be visited in the afternoon by jeep. (at your expense). The jeep tour goes to the villages of Bishnoi people, where one can see the black buck. Bishnois are a tribe of people who worship nature and antelopes are held as holy animals by these people. You can take the help of your tour leader to arrange this trip by telling him in advance to arrange a jeep and a guide for you.

Day 16

Early morning hired bus from Jodhpur to Ranakpur situated in the Aravali range. The trip takes around five hours. This range is supposed to be the oldest range of mountains in the world. Ranakpur is one of the many centres for pilgrimage in India and one of the biggest and most important Jain temples can be found here. Jainism is a religion founded by a group, which broke away from Hinduism and is particularly strong in Rajasthan. The strict followers of Jainism are known for their asceticism and follow the doctrine of non-violence (ahimsa) to any living creature. After seeing the temples the bus will continue to Udaipur.

Day 17

Udaipur is beautifully situated amidst the Aravali range and known as the city of lakes. Placed in a romantic setting around the Lake Pichola it has massive citadels that break the skyline. In Udaipur it is interesting to just stroll around and discover the small streets, marketplace and food stalls. The Folklore Museum Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal is interesting to visit with its dolls, masks, musical instruments and puppets. Visit Shilp-Gram, the living museum, just outside the city. It's an ethnic village (something like the Skansen) with houses, culture and handicraft from Rajasthan but also other parts of India. During the day people working with arts and crafts occupy the place. In the evening you can visit dance and music performances. Like so many other places the old palace of Udaipur has been turned into a deluxe hotel, operated by the Maharaja.

Day 18

Full day in Udaipur and in the evening you take a night train to Delhi where you arrive early next morning. The train departs Udaipur city at 18:35 pm and arrives H. Nizamuddin, another railway station in Delhi, next morning at 06:20 AM. During the night sleep in a AC Class Sleeper coach.

Day 19

One last day in Delhi. Those who want can do last minute shopping or some sight seeing.

Day 20

Tour ends