18 - Days - Golden- Triangle - Tour

OVERVIEW

Golden Triangle:

Well known Golden Triangle of India covers three most beautiful and captivating cities of the country Delhi (the capital of India), Agra (the city of Taj) and Jaipur (the land of Rajput kings). It is a kaleidoscope that presents the Indian pageantry in its most colorful forms and offers you a dazzling vista of stately and grandiose architectural buildings, forts and palaces with a legendary heritage and a fertile and affluent tradition of art and culture. These cities are undoubtedly, the epitomes of Indian cultural, historical and architectural heritage and have all been the capitals of the princely states at least in the past. The blessed experience of viewing the world-famous monument of Shahjahan’s love – Taj Mahal, the imperial, elegant and imposing buildings of Lutyan’s’ New Delhi and the regal splendor of the desert city of Jaipur, will certainly leave an indelible expression in the deepest recesses of your heart.

Each city has its own unique identity made up of a combination of different sights, sounds and experiences. Delhi is as modern as any big cosmopolitan city with a degree of sophistication that comes from being the ruling capital of a nation and modernity that comes from being frequented people of all nationalities and cultures. Agra showcases the opulence of the Mughal Empire while a royal elephant ride and warm welcome in the city of Jaipur reminiscent of to the city’s medieval Rajput culture. This Golden Triangle is one of the hot-picks and has beckoned tourists for long and no city is more than 250 km away from another of the triangle and is connected well by roads.

Rajasthan: Rajasthan is the land of Rajput Kings, a group of worrier clans, who have controlled this part of India for 1000 years. It is a colorful state with stunning and elegant Palaces, Forts, Lakes, Sand dunes, Wild Life Sanctuaries and Beautiful Temples. The state is diagonally divided as the hilly and rugged south-east region and dry and barren north-east Thar Desert. Rajasthan also have many festival and fairs. Some of the popular fairs are Pushkar Camel and Cattle fair held annually in November, Camel Festival Bikaner held annually in January, Desert Festival Jaisalmer held annually between end January to mid February etc. The exact dates of the fair are determined by the Indian Lunar Calendar.

Bottled Water and Drinks: Every day 1000 ml of bottled water is provided by your Odyssey Manager throughout your stay. We request all our guests to use bottled water especially when brushing teeth to make sure they stay healthy during their stay in India. Beside bottled water all other drinks provided includes all the drinks provided during breakfast at your hotel. Extra soft or hard drinks, bottled water ordered in Restaurants or at your hotel are not included in the cost and need to be paid by the guest.

Tipping/Rewarding: We believe tipping is rewarding the service staff and it is part of the culture in India. Everyone in service industry expects to be rewarded. We encourage rewards for good services by guest. We believe fixed tips become the part of wages and even those who do not perform receives the same reward. Guest needs to be ready to pay petty rewards to hotel staff and city guides and finally be ready to reward your long term service provider like driver and Odyssey Manager and their assistant in case of big group. All rewards need to hand over directly either by the foreign tour leader or by one of the guest on behalf of the group based on performance and courteous services. You can always check with your Odyssey Manager about the tipping or discuss with your agent before flying to India.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day: 01. Arrival – Delhi

Fly to Delhi. On arrival met with your Odyssey Manager and proceed with the transfer to hotel for overnight stay on arrival.

Day: 02. Delhi – Nawalgarh – Mandawa (297km around 6-7 hours)

After breakfast proceed with your road journey to the first destination of Nawalgarh. You will be able to make the distance of 270 km in the time period of 4-5 hours. Visit the village and proceed further to Mandawa. On arrival check in to the hotel for overnight stay.

Day: 03. Mandawa – Bikaner (195km, around 5 hours)

After breakfast visit the abandoned trade centre of Mandawa by witnessing the intricate buildings and havelis. Carry on further to Bikaner. On arrival check into your hotel for a comfortable overnight stay.

Exploration day to the desert city of Bikaner – founded by Rao Bikaji (1465-1504 AD) in the year 1488 AD, Bikaner was once on the ancient trading route of caravans and has many forts, palaces and temples all created with unusual delicacy in red sandstone and a bustling bazaar. After Lunch visit Junagarh Fort, Built in 1593 by Raja Rai Singh, a general in the army of Emperor Akbar. The fort reflects the impact of the Gujarati and Mughal architectural designs. Next we visit 14th century Karni Mata Temple (also known as Rats Temple) at Deshnok and Camel Breading Farm. (If it gets too hectic for the day you may leave one of the places for tomorrow). On completion transfer to the hotel for a nice stay at Bikaner.

Day: 05. Bikaner – Kolayat – Osian (241km 4huors)
After a relaxed morning check out your hotel and drive to Kolayat, further to reach Osian Desert village. Overnight at the Resort or Desert Camp at Osian. There are some extra activities organized in the desert, you can opt to go for any of them as per your interests.

Day: 06. Osian – Jaisalmer (240km 4hpurs)

You can have a relaxed morning at the desert camp all about to admire the dune and the vast desert. After a gourmet breakfast proceed with your road journey to your next destination of Jaisalmer. Also known as Golden City, declared as a UNESCO world heritage site. Today’s drive provides change in nature from semi barren Jodhpur town to the arid landscape with colourfully dressed local women working in the field or grazing flocks of sheep and goats along the route. Upon arrival, check into your hotel. Centuries ago, Jaisalmer was on the camel trading route between India and Central Asia. Jaisalmer is a visual delight, it is a city that rises from the desert like a golden mirage. Dominating the view is the awesome citadel on the hilltop fort built with the golden yellow stone.

Day: 07. Jaisalmer

After breakfast, we walk around Jaisalmer Fort, the monolith of stone, built in 1156 atop the 80m high Trikuta Hill. We will meander through alley ways lined with Havelis sporting great intricate hand-carved sand stone latticed balconies and archways. On completion visit Silver ornaments and Embroidery workshops in town. Afternoon drive 50 km to Sam sand dunes to enjoy a short camel ride on the sand dunes and witness the magnificent sun set among the local musicians and bunch of tourists. On completion drive back to Jaisalmer.

Day: 08. Jaisalmer – Jodhpur (307km, 5 hours)

After breakfast check out and proceed with the road journey to your next destination of Jodhpur. Another princely state well known as Blue city or Sun City. Blue because of the blue colored houses of Brahmins and the Sun because Jodhpur gets the maximum Sun in a year in whole Rajasthan. Evening visit the impressive Mehrangarh fort overlooking the Blue city of Rajasthan and the Jaswant Thada Cenotaphs, the royal cremation centre. Among Rajasthan’s many princely settlements, Jodhpur is one of the most distinctive. This five hundred year old settlement was the headquarters of the Rathore Rajput’s. Overnight stay at Jodhpur.

Day: 09. Jodhpur – Ranakpur – Udaipur (264km, 5 hours)
After a relaxed morning check out your hotel and drive to Udaipur visiting Jain temples of Ranakpur, known for their intricate friezes and sculptures, dating back to the 15th century. This temple’s 29 halls are supported by 1444 pillars, none of which are similar. After lunch proceed further with your land journey to Udaipur. On arrival transfer to the hotel for overnight stay.

Day: 10. Udaipur

After breakfast drive to visit temple complex of Eklingji & Nagda, enshrining the deity of the Mahranas of Mewar. Built in 734 AD, Eklingji, a form of Lord Shiva is believed to be the Ruling deity of Princely State Mewar and the Ruler Maharana rules as his Minister. On completion drive back to Udaipur and spend rest of the day exploring the lake city. Visit the City Palace Museum. The entire palace is a delight, but highlights include the large peacock mosaics in the 17th-century Mor (Peacock) Chowk, mirror-encrusted Moti Mahal, the glass and porcelain figures of Manak (Ruby) Mahal, which has a central garden; the collection of miniatures featuring Krishna legends in Krishna Vilas (dedicated to a 16-year-old princess who committed suicide here); exquisite Zenana Mahal (Palace of the Queens); and the Chinese and Dutch ceramics of Chini Mahal.

Day: 11. Udaipur – Chittorgarh – Kota (289km, 6 hours)

After breakfast check out and proceed with the road journey to your next destination of Chittorgarh. After visiting the impressive fort, carry on further to reach Kota. Overnight stay at Kota.

Day: 12. Kota – Ajmer – Pushkar (266km, 5 hours)

After a relaxed morning check out your hotel and drive to Ajmer, visit the famous town and the Mosque. On completion drive over Hanuman parvat to reach the holy city of Pushkar. Overnight at Hotel.

Day: 13. Pushkar (Exploration)

A Hindu town strictly following the mythology and the town enshrine only one temple of Lord Brahma on this earth. You can opt to go for a refreshing hike up to the hillock, well known for the Goddess Saraswati Temple, consort of Lord Brahma. The Goddess has chosen to be on top of the town to show her powers over Lord Brahama, after she felt neglected during a ritual. Also a good way to make your heart beat faster and throbbing by the time you arrive at the top. It provides a bird eye view of the whole town of Pushkar and panorama is worth the walk uphill. Evening at leisure and to explore the little town of Pushkar.

Day: 14. Pushkar – Jaipur (150km, 3 hours)

After an easy morning, enjoy your breakfast and start your journey to the next destination of Jaipur. The journey today will be less than 3 hours in making of 150 km travel. On arrival check in to your hotel and proceed with the sightseeing and exploration of Jaipur Town.

Day: 15. Jaipur (Exploration)

After breakfast visit Amber Fort with Jeep ride. Amber is a classic, romantic Rajasthani Fort Palace. The rugged, time-ravaged walls of the Fort may not look beautiful from the outside, but the interior is a virtual paradise. Miniatures painted on the walls depict hunting and war scenes, apart from festivals. Precious stones and mirrors are embedded into the plaster. After lunch city tour of Jaipur. Visit to the Maharaja’s City Palace, the former Royal residence, part of it converted into a museum. A small portion is still used by the Royal family of Jaipur. Built in the style of a fortified campus, the palace covers almost one-seventh in area of the city. Evening at leisure and overnight stay at Hotel.

Day: 16. Jaipur – Chand Baori – Alwar – Delhi (337km, 6/7 hours)

After a relaxed morning check out your hotel and drive to Chand Baori, further to the place called Alwar and on completion drive further to reach the Indian capital city of Delhi. Overnight at Delhi.

Day: 17. Delhi (Exploration)

In the morning after breakfast drive around Delhi providing deeper understanding of Indian ancient and contemporary history. New Delhi, the capital and the third largest city of India is a fusion of the ancient and the modern. In the morning visit Rajghat, which is place where the father of nation Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. On completion drive past Red Fort with its striking massive red sandstone walls above the clamor of ‘Old’ Delhi as a reminder of the magnificent power and pomp of the Mughal emperors, and Jama Masjid – the Great Mosque which is the largest in India. We end the day after walk through the streets of Old Delhi around Jama Masjid. After lunch visit famous Qutub Minar. Tower of Victory this tower was built in 12th century. This is 72 meters tall. On completion visit Lotus Temple, one of the most beautiful temple of Bahai Faith. On completion shopping or own activities.

Day: 18. Fly (Home)

(As per your flight timings) You have another full day at the Capital of India to spend and explore. Delhi is as modern as any big cosmopolitan city with a degree of sophistication that comes from being the ruling capital of a nation and modernity that comes from being frequented people of all nationalities and cultures. It has plenty of places of interest and it does attract all sorts of visitors. It has huge Red Fort, elegantly designed monument of India Gate, the Indian parliament house called Sansad Bhawan and alike. You can opt to visit few of the local shopping areas if you are interested to buy something from Delhi. On time transfer to the airport to board your scheduled flight home.

Include/ Exclude

INCLUSIONS

Airport transfers at Delhi on arrival and departure in chartered transport.
5 passengers per MPV from Chandigarh train station to Amritsar train station.
Seats in air conditioned chair car class from Delhi to Chandigarh and Amritsar to Delhi.
Hotels as indicated or similar in the itinerary with dinner and breakfast.

EXCLUSIONS

All expenses of personal nature like drinks, tips, telephone calls etc.
And any other expenses paid due to any change in dates and itinerary.
Travel, medical & evacuation insurance or any expenses associated with medical and evacuation expenses if any.