Rajasthan Rail Vacation - LTT-20

Duration : 17 Nights / 18 Days
Destinations Covered : Delhi, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaipur, Agra, Varanasi, Kathmandu, Delhi.

Day01 : Arrival in Delhi
Arrive Delhi. Transfer to hotel. Overnight Delhi.

Day02 : Delhi - Jodhpur
Morning tour of Old Delhi visiting Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana - the cremation sites of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, Jama Masjid and drive past Red Fort and Chandni Chowk. Check-out from the hotel at 1200 hrs. Afternoon visit Qutub Minar built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibek in 1199, Humayun's Tomb, India Gate (War Memorial Arch ), Lakshminarayan Temple - a modern Hindu Temple. Also drive past President's House, Parliament House, Government Secretariat Buildings and Connaught Place shopping centre. Later transfer to rail-station for Jodhpur night train. Night on board. (Mandore Express 2100/0755 hrs)

Day03 : Jodhpur
Morning arrive Jodhpur. Transfer to hotel. Later visit the Meharangarh Fort, situated on a low sandstone Hill, including Moti-Mahal and Phool Mahal. Also visit Jaswant Thada, an imposing Marble Memorium built in 1899 and the museum located in the Umaid Public Gardens. Overnight Jodhpur.

Day04 : Jodhpur - Jaisalmer
Day free in Jodhpur. Checkout from the hotel at 1200 hrs. Late evening transfer to rail-station for Jaisalmer night train. (4810 Express 2330/0600 hrs) Night on board.

Day05 : Jaisalmer
Morning arrive Jaisalmer. Transfer to hotel. Later visit the Fort, bazzars & the old mansions known as "havelis".People still live in these ancient buildings dating from 12th to 15th century. Every house has exquisite carvings and filigreed work. Overnight Jaisalmer.

Day06 : Jaisalmer - Jodhpur
Day free in Jaisalmer. Checkout from the hotel at 1200 hrs. Late evening transfer to rail-station for Jodhpur night train. (4809 Express 2230/0525 hrs) Night on board.

Day07 : Jodhpur - Ranakpur- Udaipur
Morning arrive to Jodhpur and drive to Udaipur visiting Ranakpur Temples enroute. Ranakpur - 98 kms from Udaipur, the Jain Temples built in the 15th century are situated in the lovely valley of the Aravali. Its surrounding is quiet and picturesque. Ranakpur has grand structures and beautiful sculpture. There are 1444 pillars in the temple and none of them are similar. The magic of light & shade is really awe inspiring. Surya Temple and other Jain Temples are side attractions. Overnight Udaipur.

Day08 : Udaipur
Morning tour of Udaipur. Visit the city palace, Jagdish Temple, drive around Fatehsagar Lake, Sahelion ki bari (Queen's resort for her friends) and Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir (Folk art museum ). Afternoon free. Overnight Udaipur.

Day09 : Udaipur - Jaipur
Morning free. Checkout at 1200 hrs. Evening transfer to rail-station for Jaipur night train. (Chetak Express 1820/0610 hrs). Night on board.

Day10 : Jaipur
Morning arrive Jaipur. Transfer to hotel. Later visit Amber Fort. Amber Fort was the ancient capital of the State. Visit the Sheesh Mahal or the Hall of Victory glittering with mirrors. Ascend the Fort on Elephant back. Afternoon tour of Jaipur. Jaipur - the capital of Rajasthan was given a colour coat of pink a century ago in honour of a visiting Prince. Built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the notable astronomer, this city is 260 years old. Visit Maharaja's City Palace, the Observatory & Ram Niwas Gardens. Drive past Hawa Mahal & through the pink rose residential & business areas. Overnight Jaipur.

Day11 : Jaipur - Agra
Morning free. Later transfer to rail-station for Agra train. Late evening arrive Agra. Transfer to hotel. Overnight Agra.

Day12 : Agra - Varanasi
Morning visit the world famous Taj Mahal built by the Moghul Emperor Shahjehan in 1630 for his Queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. Later visit the Agra Fort containing the Pearl Mosque, the Halls of Public and Private Audience. Also visit the Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daullah built by Empress Noorjehan in memory of her father. Check-out at 1200 hrs. Evening transfer to Tundla rail-station for Varanasi night train. Night on board.

Day13 : Varanasi
Morning arrive Mughalsarai (Varanasi) & and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight Varanasi.

Day14 : Varanasi
Early morning boat excursion on the river Ganges, a ferry pilgrimage from ghat to ghat. People bathe early in the morning to offer the prayers to the rising sun. The two cremation ghats are Manikarnika & Harishchandra where funeral pyre burns day and night. Every pious Hindu believes that to die in Kashi and to be cremated on banks of the Ganges is to attain release from the cycle of birth and death. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight Varanasi.

Day15 : Kathmandu
Transfer to airport for Kathmandu flight. Arrive Kathmandu & transfer to hotel. Afternoon free. Overnight Kathmandu.

Day16 : Kathmandu
Morning visit the Durbar Square, Hanuman Dhoka, the ancient royal residential quarter, Mahadev and Parvati Temple and other temples. Afternoon free. Overnight Kathmandu.

Day17 : Kathmandu
Day free in Kathmandu. Overnight Kathmandu.

Day18 : Kathmandu - Departure
Morning free. Afternoon transfer to airport for Delhi flight. Arrive & transfer to the city centre. Later in the evening transfer to airport for return flight.