Palace on Wheels
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Palace Tours 12000 Biscayne Blvd. #107 Miami FL 33181 USA 800-724-5120 / 786-408-0610 Call Us 1-800-724-5120 Palace on Wheels: A Week in Wonderland Framed around the award winning Palace on Wheels luxury train, this tour allows you to enjoy the splendors of ancient and modern India. As soon as you step onboard the train in Delhi, and travel towards the former princely city of Jaipur you can visit palaces, forts and ride on elephants like a maharaja. Then in the “City Of Lakes” Udaipur, you can lunch in a palace hall, before you head to Jaisalmer to bask in the raw beauty of the Thar Desert and ride camel carts. This lovely journey above all else, will allow you to create a indelible memory as you view tigers in the wild, or gaze at the beauty of the Taj Mahal. Itinerary The Palace on Wheels departs every Wednesday, September through April. Day 1 - Board the Palace on Wheels after a sightseeing tour of Delhi Wednesday: Join us on a sightseeing tour of Delhi via air-conditioned vehicle beginning at 9:00 a.m.* You may visit sights such as Humayun's Tomb and the impressive Qutub Minar built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibek in 1199 from sandstone and marble. Drive past India Gate (War Memorial Arch), the President's House and Parliament House. Enjoy visits to Birla Temple and Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, the largest Sikh house of worship in Delhi. Later you are dropped off at Safdarjang train station around 4:30 in the afternoon to embark on the journey of a lifetime... a week-long luxury cruise through fascinating Rajasthan on board the Palace on Wheels. *A complimentary hotel pick up within Delhi city limits is provided prior to the sightseeing tour. Day 2 - Explore the Pink City - Jaipur Thursday: The first stop of Palace on Wheels is Jaipur, one of the most well planned cities of the world in its time. This capital city of Rajasthan, popularly known as the Pink City, was founded by Maharaja Swai Jai Singh II in 1727 A.D. To explore the city, an air-conditioned coach takes you to Hawa Mahal, also known as the Palace of Winds, which is a remarkable five story building along the main street of the old city in pink splendor with semi-octagonal and delicate honeycombed sandstone windows. This is followed by a visit to Amber Fort, eight kms. away, where rides on caparisoned elephants add to the ambiance. Later, you may enjoy shopping for Jaipur’s famous jewelry, 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 City Palace is the Jantar Mantar, the largest observatory built by the Sawai Jai Singh II. The luxury coaches take you back to Palace on Wheels where dinner is served on board. Day 3 - In search of the tiger at Ranthambore National Park Friday: One can almost sense a life of the wilderness as the Palace on Wheels arrives in Sawai Madhopur, a city named after its founder Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I. After breakfast, visit the Ranthambore National Park, where the ruins of a 10th century fort are located. This wildlife sanctuary is considered to be the country’s best for observing and photographing the activities of the tiger. The park, covering an area of 392 sq.kms. is also 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. (Please note that the Ranthambore National Park is closed during the month of September, instead guests will be taken to Mansigh Sanctuary.) Upon return to the Palace on Wheels, depart for Chittaurgarh, where you have the opportunity to watch the colorful countryside passing by in the daylight. Palace on Wheels: A Week in Wonderland(© www.palacetours.com) 1/10 After lunch on board you are in Chittaurgarh. Images of love and valor, scars of battles won and lost, the thrice-beseiged Chittaurgarh Fort is all this and more. Let the legends of honor and pride echo in your mind as you proceed to Udaipur. Day 4 - Beauty and romance are in the air in Udaipur Saturday: Arrive this morning in Udaipur, the Lake City, which was founded by Maharana Udai Singh of Mewar in 1559 A.D. after the Sisodia dynasty was driven away by the Mughals. Perhaps the two most beautiful sites of Udaipur are the dream-like marble palaces - the Jag Niwas (Lake Palace) and the Jag Mandir, which appear to rise from the blue waters of Lake Pichola. After lunch at one of the fine hotels, take an exhilirating visit to City Palace. In the evening, visit the crystal gallery and later proceed to Jaisalmer on board Palace on Wheels. Day 5 - Jaisalmer, a jewel in the Thar Desert Sunday: In the heart of the Thar Desert lies Jaisalmer, founded by Rawal Jaisal in 1156 A.D. Here the yellow sandstone fort is an imposing sight, towering magnificently over the city. Discover the painstakingly latticed havelis 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 at Rajasthali, the only Rajasthan Govt. Emporium, for fine pattu shawls, mirror work, embroidered articles, wooden boxes, trinkets, silver jewelry 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 dinner and the cultural programs at a hotel in Jaisalmer before the train leaves tonight for Jodhpur. Day 6 - Explore the history of the Rajputana Empire in Jodhpur Monday: This morning, the Palace on Wheels arrives in Jodhpur, 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 a royal Palace hotel, return to the Palace on Wheels. While in Jodhpur, shop for exquisite handcrafted articles including the famous breeches, embroidered shoes, metal curios, silverware, paintings and tie dyed fabrics. Day 7 - Visit the Taj Mahal and Bharatpur bird sanctuary Tuesday: Early this morning, the train arrives in Bharatpur, the capital of Maharaja Suraj Mal. After breakfast, pay a visit to the world famous bird sanctuary, Keoladeo Ghana National Park, the nesting place of thousands of egrets, Siberian cranes, migratory water fowl and other species of birds. From Bharatpur you board the train again and arrive at the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world. This pristine monument of undying love was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal. Also visit Agra Fort and see other monuments and tombs about town. Agra is known for its splendid marble inlay work like the Pietra Dura work on the Taj, leather goods and jewelry. Enjoy dinner on board as the train departs for Delhi. Day 8 - Your journey ends in Delhi Wednesday: After a good night’s sleep, arrive at the Safdarjang train station at 6:00 a.m. and let the pleasant memories of the past week linger on your mind for a long, long time. Enjoy breakfast on board. Disembark the train by 7:30 a.m. Destination Information Agra Agra, which lies on the west bank of river Jamuna, became one of the principal cities of the Mughal Empire, as the capital of the Emperor Shah Jahan and his beautiful Queen Mumtaz Mahal. Its beautiful monuments and the rich presence of color and harmony make it a place worth visiting at least once. But the most important of Agra's tourist attractions and its main claim to fame is the magnificent Taj Mahal, the pride of India. Taj Mahal is considered as one of the eight wonders of the world. The architecture alone has inspired reams of rapture over the years. Other tourist attractions in Agra include the Rambagh and Dayalbagh Gardens, Chini ka Rauza, and Jama Masjid. Agra Red Fort, an elegant military structure constructed by Akbar (but partially converted into a palace by Shah Jahan), gives you a feel of Agra's rich past. Bharatpur Palace on Wheels: A Week in Wonderland(© www.palacetours.com) 2/10 Just 176 kms from Delhi, at Bharatpur, is a very special wilderness - the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, one of the finest water-bird sanctuaries in the world. Keoladeo Ghana's name signifies the location of the temple of Lord Shiva (Keoladeo) in the center of the Park. Over 300 bird species, including the common, demoiselle and rare Siberian cranes, are found here. It is also an excellent place to watch mammals like the golden jackal, striped hyena, jungle cat, nilgai, sambar, blackbuck and wild boar. The Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary provides unlimited opportunities for the bird watcher, wildlife photographer, nature writer, or tourist. Chittorgarh Chittaurgarh is located about 112 km from Udaipur in a country strewn with rocky cliffs, monsoon streams, and pleasant fields. The fort is studded with several historical monuments and memorials, the most important being Vijay Stambh, Kirti Stambh, Rana Kumbha's Palace, Padmini Palace, Meera and Kumbha Shyam Temple etc.