Visions of India Itinerary
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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 Visions of India Create your very own memory of India as your travel onboard the luxurious Palace on Wheels and go on this tour that starts in Delhi. On the way you will get to ride elephants in the city of Jaipur, go on a safari to spot tigers in Ranthambore National Park and visit Chittaurgarh Fort to hear stories of love and valor. After you have visited the water bound palaces of Udaipur and dined in one you will come away with a unique understand of Indian royalty before you head to the Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur. Finally the icing on this trip is a visit to the Taj Mahal and the erotic sculptures of Khajuraho. Itinerary The Visions of India - Palace on Wheels, Varanasi and Khajuraho package departs every Wednesday, September through April. Day 1 - Delhi sightseeing, then board Palace on Wheels Wednesday: Join us on a group sightseeing tour of Delhi via air-conditioned coach 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 this afternoon to embark on the journey of a lifetime... a week- long luxury cruise through fascinating Rajasthan on board the Palace on Wheels. *Please check with us for departing locations for the Delhi 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 storied 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. 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. 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 Visions of India(© www.palacetours.com) 1/12 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 Bharatpur and the Taj Mahal 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. You will 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 - Disembark Palace on Wheels and transfer to Khajuraho Wednesday: After a good night’s sleep, arrive at Safdarjang railway 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. Your private car is waiting to transfer to you to IGI Airport for your domestic flight to Khajuraho. Upon arrival, you are met by our representative and transferred to your luxury hotel for check-in. This afternoon, tour the ancient Jain and Tantric Temples and prepare to be amazed by the erotic, intricately-carved poses sculpted by the religious devotees which cover the shrines. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Day 9 - Travel to the holy city of Varanasi Thursday: After breakfast at your hotel in Khajuraho, you are met by our representative and transferred to the airport for your flight to Varanasi. Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to your next sumptuous hotel. In the afternoon, enjoy a tour of Sarnath, where Lord Buddha revealed his enlightenment to Nirvana. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Day 10 - Sightseeing of Varanasi and return to Delhi Friday: Early this morning, take a boat tour on the Ganges River, whose holy waters draw thousands of pilgrims each year. This remarkable tour shows the cleansing baths and burning cremation ghats of Hindu funerals. Return to the hotel for breakfast before touring the Hindu temples to which this ancient town is dedicated. Among the most famous is Hanuman Mandir, which you have the opportunity to see today. Later, transfer to the airport for your afternoon flight to Delhi. Upon arrival, receive a transfer to the International terminals for your departing flight home or to another beautiful hotel for one more night in Northern India. Destination Information Agra Visions of India(© www.palacetours.com) 2/12 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.