The highlights of Rajasthan with palace hotels, exclusive cooking experiences, a delightful train ride to Deogarh, sunrise at the Taj Mahal, a joyride in a vintage car, a private visit to the Mehrangarh Fort and much more.
The bright colors of the saris, the exotic spices of the food, the hustle and bustle on the streets and the indescribable splendor of the palaces and forts guarantee varied, inspiring travel days. On this trip you will experience the Taj Mahal – particularly beautiful at sunrise! the Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, the Palace of Winds in Jaipur and Lake Pichola in Udaipur are the highlights of Rajasthan. Exclusive experiences in a small group alongside a passionate India connoisseur with overnight stays in the most beautiful palace hotels, exclusive cooking experiences, insights into miniature painting and a charming train journey to Deogarh. The sunrise at the Taj Mahal is particularly romantic with exclusive access. With us you will also meet a member of the royal family, go on a joyride in a vintage car through Udaipur, do a yoga session in Jaipur in the morning, experience the mighty Mehrangarh Fort exclusively and all alone in the evening with the museum curator, learn how to tie saris and Turbanen know and enjoy Indian cuisine in a beautiful ambience.
Day 1: Arrival Delhi
Arrive in Delhi in the morning. Your guide will meet you at the airport and take you to the hotel, The rooms are immediately available for you to freshen up. After breakfast and a break at the hotel, we set off to explore the city. Today’s Delhi is a mixture of two different cultural lineages: Old Delhi, once the capital of Islamic India, is a labyrinthine network of alleys with crumbling havelis and impressive mosques. The stately government buildings from the colonial era are located in New Delhi. You go straight into the colorful life of Old Delhi: you take a rickshaw through the narrow streets of the old town. Back on the bus we go to the quieter, more spacious New Delhi, including India Gate, a triumphal arch on a busy intersection. Similar to its French counterpart, it commemorates 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army in the First World War.
We continue to south Delhi for a cooking class followed by lunch with a local Indian family. You will receive a brief introduction to traditional Indian cooking methods and the use of Indian herbs and spices.
You will then visit the Humayun Tomb, a stunningly beautiful building and the first significant example of Mughal architecture in India. Stroll along the water canals to the centrally located, well-proportioned mausoleum with a large dome.
You end the eventful day with a short Kathak performance, a traditional Indian dance form, and buffet dinner in your atmospheric Haveli Hotel, a palatial home of rich traders that has been converted into a hotel.
1 night in the 4★ Haveli Dharampura, Diwan-E-Khas Room including half board.
Day 2: DELHI – AGRA
After breakfast we head to Agra. The city on the Yamuna River is best known as the home of the Taj Mahal. Agra is also famous for its superb marble and soapstone inlay work. After arriving, we first go to the hotel.
After a short break, you will first visit the Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Agra Fort was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal dynasty until 1638, when the capital was moved from Agra to Delhi. Behind the mighty walls made of red sandstone lies a playful paradise of halls, palaces, watercourses and fountains. In the late afternoon you’re all set: have a classic high tea at the Hotel Taj Khema – with cucumber sandwiches, scones and, above all, the mesmerizing view of the Taj Mahal, just 500 m away. Dinner is served at the hotel.
1 night in the 5★ ITC Mughal, A Luxury Collection, Mughal Chambers including half board.
Day 3: AGRA – JAIPUR
The atmosphere at the Taj Mahal is particularly magical at sunrise. With the first light of the sun, the white marble shines in all its glory. You visit the wonderfully beautiful building before breakfast. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal – to this day it is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. You will be back at the hotel for a late breakfast. On the way to Jaipur, you’ll stop in a village where you’ll take a little joyride in a Jugaad, an original hybrid of motorcycle and van, called The Village Mercedes by the locals. It is the most popular means of transporting villagers, fodder, livestock and goods. You drive in a jugaad through the wide pastures, through wheat, mustard, coriander and chili fields to the village of Gothdi. Here you are invited to visit the villagers’ houses and watch the farmers, shepherds and silversmiths at work. At an organic resort, you will not only have lunch, but also learn about the techniques used in organic farming. Choose your favorite vegetables, which the chef will prepare exclusively for you. We then continue to the pink city of Jaipur, the capital of the state of Rajasthan. It was built in 1727 using a grid system, making it the only planned city of its time. In the city center, many houses have pink facades. Dinner at the hotel, an atmospheric haveli with lavish Indian decor.
2 nights in the 4★ Samode Haveli, Deluxe Suite including half board.
Day 4: JAIPUR SIGHTSEEING
After breakfast, experience the highlights of Jaipur and its surroundings. First stop is the famous Hawa Mahal, the Palace of the Winds, the city’s well-known landmark and a fascinating example of pink sandstone Rajput architecture and craftsmanship with its 953 honeycomb-shaped windows. Then we go to Amber Fort, just outside Jaipur. The remarkable fusion of Hindu and Mughal architecture is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The interior walls of the palace show expressive paintings as well as carvings, gemstones and mirror settings. In the afternoon, visit Jantar Mantar, a collection of architectural astronomical instruments, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site as an “expression of the astronomical prowess and cosmological concepts of the court of a learned prince at the end of the Mughal period.” There is then a short introduction to tying saris and turbans: men are given instructions on how to wrap a turban, while the ladies learn how to transform 6 meters of silk into a deceptively simple-looking sari. You might want to try wearing a turban or sari yourself when you get there. For dinner we go to the rural surroundings of Dera Amer. A barbecue dinner with cocktails and folk dancing awaits you here. Sit back in front of a roaring campfire with a drink in hand and the smell of a delicious barbecue in the air.
Day 5: JAIPUR – JODHPUR
Early in the morning there is a yoga session for interested guests. After breakfast we continue to Jodhpur, which is also known as the “Blue City” because of the colored house walls. In the late evening you will experience an exclusive tour of the mighty Mehrangarh Fort with a museum curator who will talk about the fascinating history and present of the palace complex with a lot of leisure and expertise, while the other visitors have already left the fort. This excursion also includes dinner on the terrace of Chokelao Mahal: Experience the romance of Mehrangarh at the Chokhelao Mahal Terrace, located within the historic Mehrangarh Fort and its historic gardens. The evening restaurant offers you a fine dining experience inside the fort as you look down on the magnificent city of Jodhpur sparkling at night. The other guests have dinner at the hotel and visit the fort the following morning with their tour guide.
1 night in 5★ Raas Jodhpur, Luxury Room including half board.
Day 6: JODHPUR – DEOGARH
After breakfast you will drive together to Deogarh.
In the afternoon you will go on a tour of the village of Deogarh with a member of the royal family. For example, watch the women at the community well washing their laundry nearby and carrying the water on their heads in beautiful matkas (clay pots) to their homes. You will also have the opportunity to stroll through the village market, visit small shops and buy local jewelry. You can enjoy dinner in an atmospheric setting in your palace hotel.
1 night in the 4★ Dev Shree, Standard Room including half board
Day 7: DEOGARH – UDAIPUR
After a leisurely breakfast, take a rural train ride through a hilly area – a ride on the local narrow gauge train through the mountainous Ghats region, known for its panoramic views, jungles, hills, tunnels, bridges and remote entrances. man stations is known. The journey takes approximately 2 hours and covers a total distance of 21 km. Another attraction are the monkeys that descend from the trees in the forest and often receive gifts from the villagers. We continue by bus to Udaipur, the “city of lakes” on the eastern bank of Lake Pichola. The city’s rich cultural, social and natural beauty is reflected in the historical monuments and tranquil, green surroundings of the place. After a break at the hotel, enjoy dinner at the hotel’s Sunset Terrace Restaurant overlooking Lake Pichola. You’ll stay at Hotel Taj Fateh Prakash, a palatial hotel on the eastern shore of Lake Pichola and part of the iconic City Palace complex. Originally built as a venue for royal events, it is now a royal address for discerning guests. From miniature paintings and an armory to royal heirlooms and furniture straight from the royal storerooms, the palace hotel in Udaipur is full of stories of Rajput courage and adventure.
2 nights in the 5★ Taj Fateh Prakash Palace, Palace Room including half board.
Day 8: UDAIPUR
After an early breakfast, take a short spin in a vintage car – Udaipur is known for the luxury and extravagant lives of the former royal families. Later enjoy the city tour of Udaipur. First you will visit the majestic City Palace. The palace’s balconies, domes and towers offer a wonderful view of Lake Pichola. You’ll also admire the unique Crystal Gallery at Fateh Prakash Palace, the largest private crystal collection in the world. Exquisite crystal items include tables, sofas, dining tables, wash bowls, goblets, decanters, perfume bottles, candlesticks, tableware and even beds. The highlight of the gallery is a jeweled carpet. In the late afternoon you will take a boat to Lake Pichola, an artificial south-water lake bordered by large hills, gardens, havelis, ghats and temples. The boat takes you to the famous Jag Mandir Palace in the middle of the lake: the island has some impressive carvings, including a number of elephants that look like they are guarding the island. Later, enjoy a sumptuous four-course dinner at the island’s airy Darikhana Restaurant.
Day 9: UDAIPUR – DELHI & DEPARTURE
You still have some time before you head back home. After breakfast, a local artist invites you to a painting workshop – Udaipur is the city of miniature painting. Then fly to Delhi with Air India or another flight. There you have the opportunity to freshen up. After a farewell dinner, transfer to the airport and return flight to home.
The Highlights of Rajasthan by Delighted Journey
