Arrive Delhi by International Flight. Meeting & assistance on arrival and transfer to the Hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Delhi has seen the rise and fall of many empires, which have left behind a plethora of monuments that commemorate the grandeur and glory of bygone ages. Very few cities in the world can display such a profusion of architectural styles. At least seven cities still survive in Delhi, a city that traces its history to the Mahabharata.
Crafts create mirror images of society. Any change in the lifestyle of its people affects their craft. So when the Mughal emperors decided to withdraw the royal patronage during Delhi's declining years, many crafts went through a period of lull. Some survived, others lost in the mists of time.
Morning visit the Crafts & National Museum
Afternoon combined city tour of Old & New Delhi visiting the Chandni Chowk, the most popular of old Delhi. What makes this old market place so interesting, are its colour, sounds and fragrances. Red Fort from outside, Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, the builder of Taj Mahal, built Delhi's most magnificent monument, in 1648. Jama Masjid, close to the Red Fort is one of the finest and biggest mosques in India built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Visit the Qutab Minar, the 72.5 mtr high tower dates back to the 13th century and is one of the greatest bequests of Islamic culture. Later drive past the Parliament House, this circular shaped colonnaded building houses the two houses of Parliament. Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India. India Gate, a majestic high arch, 42 mtrs high, built as a memorial to the Indian soldiers killed in World War I. Beneath the arch burns an eternal flame. Overnight on board train.

Transfer to railway station to board train to Agra. Leave Delhi for Agra by the flagship of Indian rail, the Shatabdi express [0600/0810 hrs]. Meeting on arrival and transfer to hotel.
Morning visit the Agra fort & Taj Mahal.
Agra Fort built by Emperor Akbar over the years 1565 - 1573 with its maze of courtyards, mosques, and private chambers. Most of the buildings originally built by Akbar were destroyed and were replaced by his grandson Shah Jehan. The only surviving structure from Akbar's period apart from the solid sand stone ramparts and the gateway is the Jehangir Mahal. It is the biggest private residence in the complex and its architecture indicates strong influences from Hindu overtones. Nearby are the various buildings, which were built by Shah Jehan, Including the Khas Mahal, The Jasmine Towers, the Octagonal Tower, the Sheesh Mahal, and the Hamam's. Ironically it was within these apartments that Shah Jehan spent his last years when his son Aurangzeb imprisoned him.
Taj Mahal the inimitable poem in white marble. Built over a period of 22 years, by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan in 1630, for his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. It is one of the seven modern wonders of the World.
Afternoon visit a Stone Carving workshop.
Agra's long association with the fabulous Mughal Court gave rise to many arts and crafts including stone carving. Replicas of Taj Mahal, marble boxes, wall plates, table tops, coasters, and ashtrays inlaid with semi-precious stones and mother of pearl in pleasing pietra dura designs taken from Mughal monuments and paintings are very popular purchases. The simpler Gurara stone carvings, paperweights, and Rubic cube like candleholders, which take four different sizes, make excellent gifts and mementoes. Overnight at the hotel.

Leave Agra for Jaipur by surface (246 kms/6 hrs) visiting Fatehpur Sikri enroute.
On arrival check-in at the hotel.
The capital of Rajasthan, popularly known as the Pink City, was founded in 1727 AD by one of the greatest rulers of the Kachhawaha clan, the astronomer king Sawai Jai Singh. The pink color was used at the time of making to create an impression of red sandstone buildings of Mughal cities - and repainted in 1876, during the visit of the Prince of Wales. The city is best explored on foot and the adventurous visitor willing to go into the inner lanes can discover a whole new world not visible to the tourist in a hurry.
Afternoon Visit Sanganer to see hand block printing - is not only a traditional form of imparting motifs and colour on fabric, mostly cotton, but is also an eco-friendly form of printing on textiles. Metre upon metre of fabric is printed meticulously by hand using wooden blocks and vegetable dyes. The hand block printing is widely practiced all over Sanganer and the nearby village Bagru. Sanganeri is famous for its delicate floral sprigs, Bagru for its linear and zigzag stripes in earth colours.
Apart from hand block printed fabrics, Sanganer is also famous for producing handmade paper and blue pottery. Sawai Ram Singh II, though originally from Persia, brought the art of making glazed blue pottery, to Jaipur. This unique art of pottery that does not use clay but resorts to crushed quartz instead went into decline with the withdrawal of royal patronage. It was given a fresh lease of life by renowned artist Kripal Singh Shekhawat. Overnight at the hotel.

Morning Excursion to Amber fort. Drive past the Hawa Mahal, known popularly as the palace of winds, which is just a façade built for the ladies of the royal household in the 19th century. The Amber Fort, the capital of the erstwhile state of Jaipur until 1728 is perched on a hill. It has halls of public & private audience, a Sheesh Mahal (hall of mirrors) various marble palaces, which are marvelous examples of ancient Rajput architecture. Ride an Elephant to ascend the hill on which the fort is situated.
Afternoon City tour of Jaipur. Visit the city Palace - the former Royal residence built in a blend of the Rajasthani and Mughal style. It now houses a museum with a superb collection of Rajasthani costumes, an armoury of the Mughals and Rajputs with weapons of arms, an art gallery with an excellent collection of miniature paintings, carpets royal paraphernalia and rare astronomical works in Arabic, Persian, Latin and Sanskrit. Visit the Jantar Mantar - an astrological and astronomical observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh in the 18th century, which is remarkable for its accuracy of the instruments even in the present times.
Evening: Visit to Jaipur Bazaar - Johari Bazaar or Jeweller's mart has row upon row of shops selling handcrafted jewellery. Loose precious and semi-precious stones are crafted all together into an excellent range of the country's most dramatic settings in gold. Kundan, a style of inlay setting of unpolished diamonds and other stones and Meenakari or the art of enamelled gold jewellery, are exclusive to Jaipur.
Jaipur is the world's largest gem cutting centre and the best place to pick up strings of garnets, amethysts or quartz, stones includes rubies, emeralds and diamonds.
Also visit the shops dealing in tie-and-dye fabrics and saris. Almost no shopping expedition to Rajasthan is complete without buying at least one feather-soft and feather-light Jaipuri razai as these quilts are called. Though these quilts are available all over the state, it is in Jaipur that they have reached a degree of perfection. Available in beautiful colours with Sanganeri prints, bright tie-dyed materials, marble prints on cotton or in brightly hued velvet, they weigh very little yet are comfortingly warm. Overnight at the hotel.

Leave Jaipur for Udaipur by CD 7471 [0710/0900 hrs]. Meeting on arrival and transfer to hotel.
Morning City tour of Udaipur
Later vworkshop on paintings, which are special as many Indian homes patronise Rajasthani painters. Pichwais are the least expensive, unless they are painted by a master artist and finished in gold. Miniature paintings re-enact historical episodes or mythical tales in Schools that have come to be identified with the different kingdoms that merged in Rajasthan. Udaipur miniatures can be recognised by their fine brush strokes. Miniature Paintings were a classical art form practised in India at the time of the Mughals and before them. It still thrives, but in a more commercialized version in Rajasthan as a souvenir craft. The colors used are vibrant and the themes range from the times of kings and rulers to the Gods and Goddesses. Most of these paintings are intricate with clarity in the minutest detail. Visit Shilpgram, which has a wealth of terracotta panels and figures. Overnight at the hotel.

Morning Excursion to the awesome cliff top fortress of Chittorgarh, historical site of some of Rajasthan's most heroic and romantic episodes.
Evening: Take a boat ride on Pichola Lake. Overnight at the hotel.

Leave Udaipur for Jodhpur visiting Ranakpur enroute. As you proceed westward, the clothing and jewellery of the locals become more vibrant. The wonderfully ornate Jain temple complex nestling in the forest at Ranakpur proves another fascinating highlight.
On arrival check-in at the hotel.
Rest of the day free. Overnight at the hotel.

Morning City tour of Jodhpur visiting the majestic Mehrangarh fort. Explore and marvel at the riches contained in its labyrinth of rooms.
Afternoon Visit the workshop of woodcarving - Jodhpur is an important centre of woodcarving. Intricately carved doors, windows, dowry chests, picture, and mirror frames are produced on the same lines as craftsmen produced centuries ago. To make them look aged, these reproductions are acid washed, left out in the open under the sun, chipped and marked. Furniture making formed an integral part of woodwork, and found its pride of place in the havelis and palaces in the medieval period. Even today, the furniture made in the state is quite popular throughout the country. Rajasthan is the only state where the latticework on wood is done. At Jodhpur one comes across the painted furniture that consists of screens, doors, caskets and chairs.
Rajasthani furniture is available in various designs, patterns and styles, some of which are distinct to particular regions. Jodhpur produce the finest carved furniture in the state, which includes windows, tables, beds, dining tables and chairs, sofa sets with centre tables, couches, cabinets, dressing tables, screens, bars, trolleys and other items of domestic use. Overnight at the hotel.

Leave Jodhpur for Jaisalmer. Your drive westward ends when the fabled cliff top citadel of Jaisalmer suddenly looms from the desert. This ancient crossroad to camel caravans still exudes an aura of romance, mystery and lucrative exotic trade. On arrival check-in the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

This morning visit the golden fort the local bazaar and various ornate havelies (merchant's mansions).
Afternoon excursion to Sam Sand dunes with a short camel ride at Sunset. Overnight at the hotel.

Leave Jaisalmer for Bikaner enroute visiting the famous Rat Temple at Deshnok; yes even rats can be sacred in India!
Deshnok temple, the miracle temple of Karni Mata presiding Deity of the Royal House of Bikaner. An interesting feature rats are the worshiper of Karni Mata in the forms of Bards and are present in large numbers within the precincts of the temple, thus also know as rats temple.
On arrival check-in at the hotel.
Bikaner city is bolstered by imposing walls and has a 16th century fort housing old palaces, temples and a mosque. Founded by Raja Rai Singh, the fort is distinguished by its long range of pavilions, a line of balconies and aerial windows of varying designs. An enormous arched doorway leads to the Joramal Temple. The royal chapel is Har mandir where royal weddings and births were once celebrated. Bikaner is famous for using the inner hide of the camel in an extraordinary fashion. The hide is scraped till it becomes translucent and then moulded into lampshades, vases, perfume vials and photo frames. Bikaner is also famous for its hand-knotted woollen carpets. Overnight at the hotel.

Morning City tour of Bikaner visiting the cenotaphs situated 8 K.M. from Bikaner at Devi Kund with innumerable ornamentals Chhatris of the Royal House of Bikaner. Proceed to Camel breeding farm set within the Sand Dunes, the only farm of its kind in whole Asia watch the return of the Camel at the Sun-set.
Leave Bikaner for Nawalgarh.
On arrival check-in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Explore the local village by horse safari in the morning and visit local mansions to view famous frescoes in the Afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.

Depart by surface to Delhi travelling through the Shekawati region en route to Delhi.
On arrival check-in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

In time departure to the airport to board flight back home.