DESERT CIRCUIT TOUR
Duration:
10 Nights / 11 Days(Jaipur - Ajmer - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer -
Bikaner)Day 1: Jaipur Breakfast at hotel.
JAIPUR
- Jaipur today, epitomizes the spirit of Rajputana. In-spite of growing into
a bustling metropolis, it still retains it's character and history -
Popularly known as the Pink City because of the extensive use of the locally
abundant pink plastered stone Jaipur thrills the soul with its massive
forts, magnificent palaces, exquisite temples and lush gardens.
Overnight
at Jaipur.
Day 2: Jaipur Breakfast at hotel.
Proceed
for morning excursion to Amber Fort. Elephant ride ascent to the fort.
AMBER
FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace.
It's forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion
of Mughal and Hindu styles finds it's ultimate expression.
Proceed
for morning sight-seeing of Jaipur covering the important palaces and
monuments.
CITY PALACE - A delightful
blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture, the City Palace
sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. It houses the
Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.
JANTAR
MANTAR - This is the largest and the best preserved of the five
observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This
observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.
HAWA MAHAL - The ornamental facade
of this "Palace of Winds" is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. Its
five-storey structure of sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine
trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows.
Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the
palace women.
Shopping in the city. Overnight at Jaipur.
Day
3: Jaipur - Ajmer - By road covering 132 km in 3hr.
Breakfast
at hotel. Proceed to Ajmer. Reach and check in at hotel.
Ajmer
situated in the green oasis wrapped in the barren hills has been a witness
to an interesting past.
Today, Ajmer is a popular pilgrimage center
for the Hindus as well as Muslims. Especially famous is the Dargah Sharif
Tomb of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, which is equally revered by
the Hindus and Muslims.
Ajmer
is also the base for visiting Pushkar (11 km), the abode of Lord Brahma,
lying to its west with a temple and a picturesque lake. The Pushkar Lake is
a sacred spot for Hindus.
Proceed for afternoon sight-seeing of
Ajmer and Pushkar. Overnight at Ajmer.
Day 4: Ajmer - Jodhpur -
By road covering 208 km in 4hr
Breakfast at hotel. Proceed for
Jodhpur. Reach and check in at hotel.
Set at the edge of the Thar
Desert, the imperial city of Jodhpur echoes with tales of antiquity in the
emptiness of the desert. The massive 15th century AD Mehrangarh Fort looms
on the top of a rocky hill, soaring 125 Mts. Above the plains. The city is
encompassed by a high wall -10 km long with 8 gates and innumerable
bastions.
Relax in the evening or proceed for shopping. Overnight
at Jodhpur.
Day 5: Jodhpur: Morning
go for a village safari in the jeep and have a rare glimpse into the rich
culture and true essence of India. Abundant wildlife (game) and memorable
moments of the great desert landscape fascinates one while driving along the
countryside.
Afternoon sight-seeing tour of Jodhpur - gateway to
the desert beyond, home of the Rathors of Marwar, visit the Mehrangarh Fort,
rising up a hilly scarp, built on the advice of a hermit, overlooking the
city in the image of a long sentinel. Inside the Fort are a number of
palaces added by successive rulers. In this palace you would see different
miniature paintings & cradle room. After this you would visit Jaswant
Thada Memorial. Proceed to visit the UMAID BHAWAN PALACE.
Overnight
at Jodhpur.
Day 6: Jodhpur - Jaisalmer: By road covering 330 km in
6hr.
Breakfast at hotel.
Proceed for Jaisalmer. Rising
from the heart of the Thar Desert like a golden mirage is the city of
Jaisalmer. A commanding fort etched in yellow sandstone stands, with its
awesome splendor, dominating the amber-hued city.
Reach
and check in at hotel. Overnight at Jaisalmer.
Day 7:
Jaisalmer: After a relaxed breakfast proceed for full day
sight-seeing tour of The Golden City - Jaisalmer. It is in the heart of the
Great Indian Desert. Its temple, fort and palaces are all built of yellow
stone. The city is a mass of intricately carved buildings, facades and
elaborate balconies. Visit the JAISALMER FORT - The oldest living Fort in
the world. (This is the highlight of the tour) .
See the
Patwon-Ki-Havelies, Salim-Singh-Ki-Haveli and Gandhi Sagar Tank. Also visit
Barabagh Hill.
Overnight at Jaisalmer.
Day 8:
Jaisalmer: Breakfast at hotel.
Day will be free to
explore the culture of this unique city.
In the afternoon, visit
the Khuri Sand Dunes and the typical Rajasthani Desert Village. Take a camel
ride to view the sunset from the dunes, as the sky is set on fire. It can be
an unforgettable experience.
Return to the village to drive back
to Jaisalmer after a Rajasthani dinner served in the village amidst
Rajasthani musicians playing haunting tunes.
Overnight at
Jaisalmer.
Day 9: Jaisalmer - Bikaner: By road covering
340 km in 6hr.
Proceed to Bikaner after breakfast. Reach Bikaner
and check in at hotel.
The royal fortified city with a timeless
appeal. Lying in the north of the Desert State, the city is dotted with many
sand dunes. Bikaner retains the medieval splendor that pervades the city's
life-style.
The wells of Bikaner - an important source of water are
other attractions of the city. These are built on high plinths with slender
minareted towers on each of the Four Corners and can be noticed even from a
distance.
Relax in the evening. Overnight at Bikaner.
Day
10: Bikaner Breakfast at hotel. Proceed for sight-seeing tour
of Bikaner.
Visit the Junagarh Fort, constructed between 1588 and
1593 by Raja Jai Singh, a general in the Mughal Emperor Akbar's army. The
city is also called the "Camel Country". Visit the camel-breeding
farm - the only one in Asia. Also visit Gajner Palace - the palace on the
lake.
Overnight at Bikaner.
Day 11: Bikaner: Departure
Breakfast at hotel. Day
will be at leisure and time for last minute shopping. Could just explore
city.
Transfer to airport or station in time for flight or train
or leave by surface for the next destination.
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