Day 4 Raja Tours Shekhawati – Nawalgarh –

After early breakfast we will travel the short distance to Nawalgarh, which is known for its narrow streets and huge number of . On many of the walls here you will notice paintings depicting the story of Dhola & Maru, the local answer to Romeo and Juliet. Continuing to the heart of the . Arriving around midday. Bikaner is the fifth largest city in and is renowned for its sweets and home to the largest camel farm in the country. En route, we stop at some of the ancient settlements of Shekhawati. Founded at the close of the 15th century, Bikaner stands on high ground, surrounded by fine embattled walls. The 16th century fort contains palaces, temples and a mosque, mostly made of red and yellow sandstone. The marble images are considered to be the finest specimens of Hindu art. Within the massive edifice of the fort, the entrance of which is flanked by two life-size effigies of elephants, are housed some of the rarest gems of Rajput civilisation. The Durbar Hall is in Mughal style, lavishly decorated with paintings. Gilt reliefs, glass mosaics and lace- like mirrors adorn the intimate and graceful Zenana -- the women's wing, separated from the main palace by a broad courtyard with panelled niches.

Day 5 Raja Tours Bikaner – Nagaur – Khimsar

Turning south this morning to Khimsar en-route stop at Deshnok the Rat Temple, visit the 600 years ancient shrine of Goddess Karni. You will be astonished to see that besides the Goddess the other deity of the temple are rats. The people have a strong notion that these rodents will be reincarnated as divine human. Continue we visit the unique town of Nagaur, one of the most picturesque of Rajput townships resounds with life during the Nagaur Fair. This cattle fair is the second largest in Rajasthan and is held every year during the Hindu month of Magh (Jan-Feb). By afternoon you will be reaching to Khimsar, visiting Khimsar Fort. This fort architecture offers great discrepancy. Initially, the fort walls, minarets and stables were built solely for war but later on when the royal family shifted to the fort in 18th century the fort was restructured.

Day 6 Raja Tours Khimsar – Thar Desert Manvar

Our journey continues today as we head towards our camp at Manvar, offering an authentic experience in the midst of the Thar Desert. This is a region steeped in the culture and history of the Rajputs, a people who have long been renowned for their courage and military prowess. Our drive this morning takes us west past the town and out into the rolling dunes beyond. In the afternoon we’ll head out into the desert on camels to arrive at camp in true imperial style. Here we will spend the evening camped beneath the stars, enjoying the unique luxury of our tented camp in a manner that harks back to the battlefield encampments of the Mughal emperors of the 17th century.

Day 7 Raja Tours Manvar – Jaisalmer

After spending the morning enjoying the serene tranquillity of our desert camp, we will drive to the remote westernmost corner of Rajasthan, to visit a city that has long been considered one of India’s most treasured settings. Jaisalmer is the very embodiment of a desert city and even the onset of commercialism has failed to detract from its towering sand coloured ramparts and its exotic mix of palaces, temples and exquisitely adorned havelis. Founded in 1156, the city grew rich on trade, lying as it did along the old silk and opium route that ran between Delhi and Central Asia and this ‘Golden City’, as it is dubbed, still evokes echoes of a time when this fortress town was an eclectic confusion of camels, spices, chaos and colour.

Day 8 Raja Tours Jaisalmer

We have a full day to make the most of this enigmatic city, offering ample opportunity to lose ourselves among the winding backstreets of the old city and explore the temples and havelis that make up its historic centre. The city is dominated by its 12th century fortress, whose Jurassic sandstone walls rise up to protect the palaces and temples within. During our time here we will visit the Gadi Sagar Tank and the Folklore Museum, as well as the fort and some of the city’s elaborately carved Jain temples. One of Jaisalmer’s most remarkable legacies are its havelis, built by the wealthy merchants of the 18th and 19th centuries. These stunning buildings, with their latticework and floral designs are the city’s real showpiece and the finest of them all is considered to be the Patwon-ki- .

Day 9 Raja Tours Jaisalmer – Jodhpur

Turning east today, we head next for the ‘Blue City’ of Jodhpur, home to the magnificent Meherangarh Fort and once one of the wealthiest cities in Rajasthan. The powerful capital of (‘land of death’), Jodhpur was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodhaji, the chieftain of the Rathore Rajputs. Rising up believed that the city’s more important citizens at the time painted their homes blue to align themselves with the region’s ruling classes. Arriving in Jodhpur this afternoon we should have time to enjoy something of the city’s colourful bazaar and rambling backstreets from the arid landscapes that lie along the eastern edge of the Thar Desert, the city’s distinctive blue hue comes from the colour-washed buildings of its old town, which was once the preserve of the high cast Brahmins. In India, blue is a colour commonly associated with power and royalty and it is believed that the city’s more important citizens at the time painted their homes blue to align themselves with the region’s ruling classes. Arriving in Jodhpur this afternoon we should have time to enjoy something of the city’s colourful bazaar and rambling backstreets.

Day 10 Raja Tours In Jodhpur

This morning we visit Jodhpur’s famous citadel. Dominating the city from the top of a dramatic rocky escarpment, Meherangarh Fort is one of the largest in India and it occupies a stunning location some 120 metres above the city below. Accessed by no fewer than five gates, its towering walls protect a dazzling array of palaces, gardens, courtyards and temples. Within the walls themselves we can find the Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace) and the sumptuous Sheeshe Mahal (Hall of Mirrors). After our visit, the rest of the day is free to continue exploring this captivating city at your leisure.

Day 11 Raja Tours Jodhpur – Varanasi

This morning we’ll visit the white marble Jaswant Thada, beautifully located above a lake just north of the city and built as a memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. From here we’ll head to the airport for our afternoon flight to Varanasi. On arrival we’ll transfer to hotel.

Day 12 Raja Tours Varanasi Varanasi, the city is a large and sprawling place, and a pilgrimage centre for adherents of the Hindu faith. Said to be one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, it sprawls along the banks of the sacred River Ganges; indeed the heart of the city is down at the Ghats along the river bank where pilgrims come from all over the world to cleanse themselves in the holy river. We start our day with an early morning transfer by coach or jeeps, to the Ganges, where we take a cruise dawn along part of the river, slowly rowing past the Ghats, giving a chance to observe life along the river, when pilgrims are usually performing their morning puja ceremony, and to watch life at some of the over 80 Ghats. Dashashwamedh Ghat is Varanasi’s most popular and accessible Ghat with rows of pandals sitting on wooden platforms with bamboo umbrellas, masseurs plying their trade and boatmen jostling for custom. We may see cremations taking place at some of the Ghats; such ceremonies are of course not suitable for photographs. Return to hotel for breakfast. In the afternoon we take a guided walking tour through the twisting narrow streets of the old part of the city, full of colour and noise, markets and temples. In the evening we take a trip by cycle rickshaw through the narrow streets and back to the Ganges to see the evening ‘aarti’ ceremonies performed by thousands of devout Hindus, listen to the chanted prayers as the rhythmic drumming fills the air and bells ring from temples across the Holy Ganges.

Day 13 Raja Tours Varanasi - Village tour

Today our guided village tour takes us on to Lamhi and Jagannathpuri two villages. Here we’ll experience the life of the villagers, how they live, how they cook, how they farm, and what they do for their survival. Lamhi Village is just like any other Indian village but the most important thing about the village is it is the birthplace of the renowned Hindi-Urdu writer Munshi Premchand. During our village tour we will visit village school where you witness how the kids study, you can see how the women of the village cook food and how they dressed up, how the villagers do the farming, and much more. After exploring the Lamhi Village, we will visit the Jagganathpuri village where you can visit several cattle farms, primary school, and agricultural fields. We’ll experience the daily routine activity of the villagers. After the village excursion, we return to Varanasi.

Day 14 Raja Tours Varanasi – Delhi

After leisurely breakfast, we head out of town a short distance to visit Sarnath which is the centre of Buddhist learning and the buried Buddhist city where Buddha preached his first sermon. After attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, the Buddha went to Sarnath and it was here that he preached his first discourse in the deer park and set in motion the ‘Wheel of the Dharma’. It is one of the holiest sites as it is believed that in this place the stream of the Buddha’s teaching first flowed. Sarnath was a renowned school of learning from the 16th century BC to the 12th century AD. Visit the ruins, the stupa, the Buddhist temple and the museum. At the museum is the Ashok Pillar with its four guardian lions, used as independent India’s national emblem. Afterwards transfer to Varanasi airport and fly to Delhi. Arrive and transfer to your hotel for check.

Day 15 Raja Tours Departure

After breakfast your tour concludes here.