Itinerary Expand all Day 1 Arrive in Delhi Welcome to Delhi! Upon arrival you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel. Accommodation: Taj Princess Hotel Day 2 Sightseeing in Old Delhi. Overnight train to Jodhpur We arrive in Delhi in the morning where we will transfer to our hotel. We delve into the hustle and bustle of Delhi with our tour guide. Today we have a morning sightseeing in Old Delhi including the famous Red Fort and Jama Masjid (India's largest mosque). In New Delhi we see the fine colonial buildings, as we drive through the area, built by the British Raj in the early years of the 20th century and set in spa-cious tree-lined boulevards; these now house various Indian governmental departments. Later in evening transfer to railway station to catch train to Jodhpur by Mewar Exp Dep: 21:15Hrs Arr: 07:50Hrs. Accommodation: Overnight Train (1st Class) Day 3 Jodhpur In the morning, we reach Jodhpur and drive to the hotel for check-in. In afternoon, we visit Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada. Mehrangarh, located in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, is one of the largest forts in India. Built around 1460 by Rao Jodha, the fort is situated 410 feet above the city and is enclosed by imposing thick walls. The Jaswant Thada is a cenotaph built by Maharaja Sardar Singh of Jodhpur State in 1899 in memory of his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Accommodation: Sri Ram International Day 4 Udaipur We drive to Udaipur in the morning and visit Ranakpur on route. Known as 'The Pearl of Rajasthan', the 'City of Sunrise' and 'Venice of the East', Udaipur is a beautiful place regarded by both Indians and travellers as the most ro-mantic city in India.A free evening to enjoy the sights of the city. Accommodation: Paras Mahal Day 5 Udaipur Sightseeing We spend the morning visiting the City Palace and Jagdish Temple, with a huge black stone image of Jagannath, an aspect of Lord Vish-nu. If time allows it may be possible to visit the gardens of Gulab Bag or take a boat trip on the lake. The afternoon is free to enjoy this evocative city. Accommodation: Paras Mahal Day 6 Drive to Jaipur We drive to the capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur (approx. 5‐6 hrs). Rajah Jai Singh decided to abandon his nearby fortress and palace at Amber in 1727 and laid out a planned city of broad avenues, built of sandstone and painted pink at a later stage. The 'Pink City of Jaipur' is one of the most attractive andcolourful cities in India. We check into the hotel for the evening. Accommodation: Heritage Palace Day 7 Jaipur Sightseeing Today we explore Jaipur, returning to the hotel after lunch. In the centre of Jaipur is one of the most intriguing sights of India, the observatory of Jai Singh. This is an assembly of immense astronomical instruments, including the world's largest sundial at 27m tall and just two seconds out! Others are made of marble and brass and all provide some fantastic photo opportunities. A few miles from the main city is the splendid Amber Palace, rising above a lake. The imposing hilltop fort contains large courtyards and interiors with fine decoration. The rest of the day is free for relaxing, exploring or shopping. Jaipur is a centre of many handicrafts, such as wooden and cloth puppets, carved wooden camels, silver trinkets, durries (woven rugs), carpets, printed cloth, semi‐precious stones, leatherwear etc.; it will be difficult to leave a workshop without buying anything! Brightly coloured Indian clothing, bangles and bindis can be found at the markets, as well as turbans for boys (people will happily show you how to put one on!) There is also the option to visit Chokhi Dhani later in the afternoon; a purpose‐ built village that captures the vibrant spirit of Rajasthan, with folk music, dancing, puppet shows, fire acts, magic shows, camel rides and a traditional Rajasthani dinner. Accommodation: Heritage Palace Day 8 Drive to Agra In the morning, we drive to Agra which is approximately 4 hours, 240km. We visit Fatehpur Sikri en-route and have an afternoon free to relax in the city. Once the capital of Mughal India, Agra is well known for its architecture, most famously the exquisite Taj Mahal. As we enter Agra we will visit Sikandra, the emperor Akbar's mausoleum and, if time, the Itimad-ud-Daulah. These are both early Mughal monuments that allow us to see the developing skills and techniques that eventually produced the incomparable Taj. Accommodation: Taj Villas Day 9 Taj Mahal Sunrise and the Red Fort Rising early, we will finally make our long awaited visit to the Taj, undoubtedly the jewel in the crown of the Mughal dynasty. The Taj was built by Shah Jahan as a memorial to enshrine the body of his favourite wife, Mumtaz. Seen in the gentle early morning light it is at its best, and the gardens are quiet and free of the crowds who will arrive later in the day. We visit Red Fort in the afternoon. Agra Fort is a historical fort in the city of Agra in India. It was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty till 1638, when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi. The Agra fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The evening is free to enjoy the Pink City. Accommodation: Taj Villas Day 10 Train to Haridwar In the morning, we catch a train from Agra to Haridwar by Ujjain Exp Dep: 10:52Hrs Arr: 21:00Hr. Transfer to hotel in Haridwar. Accommodation: Ganga Lahari Hotel Day 11 Day trip to Rishikesh Ram Morning day trip to visit Rishikesh Ram. Laxman Julla is an iron suspension bridge across the river Ganges, located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) north-east from the town Rishikesh in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The bridge connects the Sivananda Nagar area of Muni Ki Reti in Tehri Garhwal district to Swargashram in Pauri Garhwal district crossing the river from west to east. Built in the year 1986, the bridge is one of the iconic landmarks of Rishikesh. In afternoon, visit Jar Ki Pauri and witness the Aarti ceremony on the Ganges. Accommodation: Ganga Lahari Hotel Day 12 Train to Delhi In the early morning, we catch a train to Delhi by NDLS Shatabdi Dep: 06:22Hrs Arr: 11:15Hrs. We transfer to Taj Princess Hotel upon arrival in Delhi. It is a free afternoon to enjoy the city. Accommodation: Taj Princess Hotel Day 13 Free day in Delhi A free day in Delhi. An optional sightseeing trip to Qutab Minar and Himmayun tomb can be arranged. Qutub Minar is a minaret that forms part of the Qutb complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Mehrauli area of Delhi. Humayun's tomb is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun in Delhi. The tomb was commissioned by Humayun's first wife and chief consort, Empress Bega Begum, in 1569-70, and designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, a Persian architect chosen by her. Accommodation: Taj Princess Hotel Day 14 Depart Delhi. Arrive in UK Your trip ends today. You will be transferred to Delhi Airport for your international flight home.
India Visas are required if you are British and for most other nationalities. For UK residents full details of the visa process can be found here. Other nationalities should check with their travel agent or the relevant embassies. If your trip visits Ladakh, in the very north of India, or Sikkim in the northeast, do not mention this on your Indian visa application. This can sometimes slow down or even cause the embassy to reject your visa. When you reach immigration, you are required to pick up an immigration form. If you have an e-visa, ensure you stand in the correct queue - please follow the signs to the e-visa booth (in Delhi this is at the back of the immigration hall). You will need to fill out an additional form at the booth - please make sure that you have the details of your start hotel ready (these details can be found on your Final Joining Instructions).
India There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. Some of our India trips spend time at altitude. In regions over approx. 2000m, there is low to no risk of mosquito-borne diseases. For trips going to altitudes of over 3000m there is a risk of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. Our itineraries are designed to enable everyone to acclimatise to these altitudes, but you should be aware that it is still possible for you to be affected. Please see the TRIP NOTES for further information.
Tailormade Accommodation Whether the destination is more important than the accommodation, or you would like to overnight in comfort, our Tailormade team can offer a wide variety of accommodation options from camping and village houses, to some of the finest hotels around. We do this so we can offer accommodation to suit every budget. The team will listen to your requirements to insure we find the right accommodation to suit you.
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