Chaman Thakur

Rajasthan Desert and Festival Tour

Desert festival held annually in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India is a special three day event that the local people and the tourists look forward to with great excitement and anticipation. The quiet desert Jaisalmer springs to life every year during the month of February as the villagers from in and around Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India come together to celebrate the happening Desert festival.

Day 1 – Arrive Jaipur
Meeting and greetings on arrival at Jaipur airport and transfer to the hotel for check in. Rest of the afternoon / evening free to relax and enjoy the facilities available.

Day 2 - At Jaipur.
Morning after breakfast at the hotel visit Hawa Mahal - which was constructed in 1799, the Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds, is one of Jaipur’s major landmarks, although it is actually little more than a façade. This five storey building, which overlooks the main street of the bustling old city, is a stunning example of Rajput artistry with its pink, delicately honeycombed sandstone windows. Later proceed to Amber Fort - the ancient capital of the state until 1728. The fort is a superb example of Rajput architecture, stunningly situated on a hillside and overlooking a lake, which reflects its terraces and ramparts. Visit the Jagmandir of the Hall of Victory glittering with mirrors, Jai Mahal and the Temple of Kali. You ride up to the ramp of this 11th Century Bastion atop a gaily decorated elephant.

Afternoon City sightseeing tour includes Maharaja’s City Palace - which occupies a large area divided into a series of courtyards, gardens and buildings. The outer wall was built by Jai Singh, but other additions are much more recent, some dating from the start of this century. Today, the palace is a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. The palace now houses a museum containing rare manuscripts, fine specimens of Rajput and Mughal paintings and weapons. Also visit Jantar Mantar- an observatory, next to the entrance of the City Palace, begun by Jai Singh in 1728. Jai Singh’s passion for astronomy was even more notable than his prowess as warrior and before commencing construction, he sent scholars abroad to study foreign observatories. Jantar Mantar appears to be just a curious collection of sculptures but in fact each construction has a specific purpose, such as measuring the positions of stars, altitudes and azimuths and calculating eclipses.

Day 3 – Jaipur to Udaipur
Morning after relaxed breakfast at the hotel transfer to Jaipur airport to board flight for Udaipur.
Meeting on arrival at Udaipur airport and transfer to the hotel for overnight stay. Rest of the time free to relax. Evening proceed to Lake Pichila for a boat ride. Overnight at the hotel.

City tour of Udaipur  the romantic Lake City in Southern Rajasthan, famous for the stunning white marble Palace built on an island in the Lake Pichola. It was the former Palace of the Maharana and now converted to one of the most hotels in India.

Day 4 – At Udaipur
Morning tour of Udaipur city. The tour will cover the magnificent City Palace, the Jagdish temple, the pleasure gardens and a drive around the other nearby lakes. Afternoon explore this city of lakes on your own.  Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5 – Udaipur to Jodhpur – 5 hours
Morning after breakfast at the hotel proceed to Jodhpur. On the way stop to visit Ranakpur Jain Complex
Ranakpur - The Ranakpur Jain Temple was built during the reign of the liberal and gifted Rajput monarch Rana Kumbha in the 15th century. The basement is of 48,000 sq. feet area that covers the whole complex. There are four subsidiary shrines, twenty-four pillared halls and domes supported by over four hundred columns. The total number of columns is 1,444 all of which are intricately carved with no two being alike. The artistically carved nymphs playing the flute in various dance postures at a height of 45 feet are an interesting sight. In the assembly hall, there are two big bells weighing 108 kg whose sound echoes in the entire complex. The main temple is a Chaumukh or a four-faced temple dedicated to Adinath. The three other Jain temples in the same complex, including a temple of the Sun God, are all well worth a visit. One kilometer away from the temple complex is the temple of Amba Mata.

Check in at the hotel on arrival. Afternoon tour of Jodhpur which will include a visit to the Mehrangarh Fort set on the top of the hill, Jaswanth Thada and a visit to the local market. Overnight at the hotel.

Jodhpur : While the graceful palaces , forts and temples strewn throughout the city bring alive the historic grandeur, exquisite handicrafts , folk dances music and the brightly attired people lend a romantic aura to the city. The jumble of wide winding streets are flanked with pavement stalls. The lifestyle in jodhpur is unusually fascinating with folks wearing lovely multihued costumes, artistically designed. Women folk wear wide gathered skirts and a hip length jacket, with three quarter length sleeves , covering the front and back. The colorful turbans worn by the men folk add more color to the city . It was from here that the popularity worn baggy - tight, horse riding trousers - 'Jodhpurs', took their name.

Day 6 – Jodhpur / Jaisalmer to Sam – Drive 6 hours
Morning after breakfast at the hotel drive to Jaisalmer and visit to the Jaisal Fort with visit to various Mansions at leisure.

Jaisalmer : The life within the citadel conjures up images of medieval majesty visible in its narrow lanes stewn with magnificent palace, havelis, temples and of course skilled artisans and ubiquitous camels. Folk dances, exciting competitions an contests, especially the turban-tying contest. Mr. Desert contest and camel races enliven the festivities.. Rest of the time free to relax from long journey. Evening visit the Royal Cenotaphs famous for sunset view over entire Jaisalmer Town.

After touring Jaisalmer continue on to Sam (another one hour drive) and check into the tented camp.
Sand Dunes : No trip to Jaisalmer is complete without a trip to the most picturesque dunes of Sam. The ripples on the wind -caressed dunes, that create an enchanting mirage, are surely a delight for a trigger -happy photographer.

Your evening will be entertained by folk music, camp fire. Buffet dinner and overnight at the Camp. Overnight stay.

Day 7 –  At Sam Sand Dunes
Morning after breakfast proceed for a full day camel safari with boxed lunch visiting couple of village to see local life and desert national park.

Day 8 – Sam to Jodhpur – drive – 6 hours
Morning after an early breakfast drive to Jodhpur airport to board flight for Delhi at 2 PM. Meeting on arrival at Delhi airport and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the evening free. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 9 – Depart Delhi
Morning proceed for a combined tour of Old and New Delhi.

Tour of Delhi : Red Fort - The red sand stone walls of Lal Quila, the Red Fort extend for 2 km and vary in height from 18m on the river side to 33m on the city side. Shah Jahan started construction of the massive fort in 1638 and it was completed in 1648. The Red Fort dates from the peak of Mughal power. The Mughal reign from Delhi was a short one. Aurangzeb was the first and the last emperor to rule from here. Jama Masjid- the Great Mosque of Old Delhi was both the largest and the final architectural extravagance of Shah Jahan. Begun in 1644, the mosque was not completed until 1658. It has three gateways, four angle towers and two minarets standing 40m (133ft) high constructed of alternating vertical strips of red sandstone and white marble. The courtyard of the mosque can hold 25,000 people. Take a rickshaw ride to Chandni Chowk - the main street of Old Delhi - the colourful shopping bazaar just opposite the Red Fort and visit Raj Ghat - the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi after his assassination in 1948.

Sightseeing tour of New Delhi visiting Qutab Minar – 234 feet high tower. The Qutab Minar itself is a soaring tower of victory that was started in 1193, immediately after the defeat of the last Hindu kingdom in Delhi. It is nearly 73m(243ft) high and tapers from a 15m(50ft) diameter base to just 2.5m(9ft) at the top. The tower has five distinct storeys, each marked by a projecting balcony. The first three storeys are made of red sandstone, the fourth and the fifth of marble & sandstone. Also visit the Tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun. Built in the mid-16th century by Haji Begum, the Persian-born senior wife of Humayun, the second Mughal emperor, this is a wonderful early example of Mughal architecture. The elements in its design – a squat building, high arched entrances that let in light, topped by a bulbous dome and surrounded by formal gardens – were to be refined over the years to the magnificence of the Taj Mahal in Agra. Drive past India Gate (War Memorial), President’s House, which was once the Viceroy’s Palace, Parliament House and Secretariat buildings.

Later intime transfer to the airport in order to board flight for onward destination.

Bon Vyages

For more details please contact us at:

Chaman Thakur
DISCOVERY FULL CIRCLE TOURS
227, Plot No. 3, Vardhman Dwarka Deesh
Sector 10, Main Market
Dwarka,
New Delhi - 110 075 (India)
Phone :
Cell :
Telefax : + 91 11 28083543 (91 is code for India)
Email : mktg@discoveryfullcircle.com, tours@tourism4india.com

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