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North India Highlights (15 days)

A diverse exploration including Taj Mahal, Rajasthan and the ancient holy city Varanasi

November 12-26, 2020 with Pushkar Fair

Post-tour Extension to Ellora & Ajanta Caves

November 26-28, 2020

Nov12Day1ArriveDelhi/HotelTheMetropolitanOurrepresentativewillmeetyouonarrivalandtransfertothehotel.NOTE:Arrivalafter12noon.Earlymorningarrivalsonthestatedtourdate(1-6am)willincurtheexpenseofanextrahotelnightifyouwantimmediatecheck-inonarrival.Thiswillthenalsoincludebreakfastonthisday.Nov13Day2Delhi/HotelTheMetropolitan(B,L,D)FulldaytourofOldandNewDelhiincludingtheJamaMasjidMosque&arickshawridethroughthemarketinOldDelhiandIndiaGate,RajGhat/GandhiMemorialMuseum,LakshmiNarayanTemple(BirlaMandir)andQutabMinarinNewDelhi.StartthetourwithavisittothegreatJamaMasjid-theprincipalmosqueofOldDelhi.Builtintheyear1656ADbytheMughalEmperorShahJahan,itisthelargest&best-knownmosqueinIndia.Thecourtyardofthemosquecanholduptotwenty-fivethousandworshippers.Themosquealsohousesseveralrelicsinaclosetinthenorthgate,includinganantiquecopyoftheQur'anwrittenondeerskin.ItlaysattheoriginofaverybusycentralstreetofOldDelhi,ChandniChowk.NexttakeanexcitingrickshawridethroughChandiChowk,theoldmarketplaceofShahJahanabadnowacolorfulbazaar.Wecontinueourtour,nowdrivingtoNewDelhi.ThefirststopisatRajGhat,memorialtotheFatheroftheNation,MahatmaGandhi.Itisasimpleblackmarbleplatformthatmarksthespotofhiscremationon31January1948.Aneternalflameislit.AndthenavisittotheGandhiMemorialMuseum,oppositeRajGhat.WewillstopforlunchatPindi,awonderfultraditionalNorthIndianrestaurant.AfterwardsdrivepastIndiaGate,memorialbuiltintheyear1931tocommemoratetheIndiansoldierswhodiedintheWorldWarI&theAfghanWars.President'sHousebuiltintheyear1931.Until1950itwasknownasViceroy'sHouse&servedastheresidenceoftheGovernor-GeneralofBritishIndia.Next,aquickstoptoseeLotusTemplefromtheoutside-oneoftheremarkablearchitecturesofBahaifaith.Builtintheshapeofalotusflowerofpurewhilemarble,cement,dolomiteandsanditwasdesignedbythePersianarchitectFariborzSahbaandcompletedin1986.ThesymbolofthelotusfloweriscommontoHinduism,Buddhism,JainismandIslam.Thetempleisopentopeopleofallreligionsandprovidesanenvironmentformeditationandprayer.Aroundthepetalsareninepoolsofwater,whichlightupatdusk.Thetemplehasreceivedrecognitionfromallovertheworldforitssplendidarchitectureanddesign.OnwardtoQutubMinar,builtintheyear1206byQutub-ud-dinAibek.Itisthetallest(72m)brickminaretintheworld,animportantexampleofIndo-IslamicArchitecture.Culminatingtheday,wedrive1.5kmwestofConnaughtPlacetoLakshmiNarayanTemple.ThesoaringspireoftheLakshmiNarayanTemple(alsocalledBirlaMandir)dominatestheurbaneskylineofCentralDelhi.Thisgarish,modern,OrissanstyletemplewaserectedbyindustrialistB.D.Birlain1938andwasinauguratedbyMahatmaGandhiontheconditionthatpeopleofallcastesespeciallyuntouchableswouldbeallowedin.ThetempleenshrinesalmostallthedeitiesoftheHinduPantheon,thepresidingdeitybeingNarayan(Vishnu,thepreserverinHindutrinity)andhisconsortLakshmi,theGoddessofprosperityandgoodfortune.Thereveredshrine,nestlingintheheartofthecity,isasfamousforitssanctityasforitsarchitecture.Portrayinganalluringblendofcreamandred,thesacredshrinealsoaffordsacuriousmedleyofHindumythologyandancientIndianarchitecture.Theexteriorisofwhitemarbleandredsandstonewithtallcurvedtowers.Visitinghoursarefrom7amto12noonand2to9pm.Justnorthofthemaintemple,wevisitGeetaBhawan(Hall)wherepaintingsdepictingscenesfromIndianmythologyaredisplayed.Aartis(pujaceremony)areperformedeveryevening,6:30-7pm.Otherattractionsarethegardensandfountainsinsidethepremises.WelcomedinneratChoreBizareRestaurant.Nov14Day3Delhi–Varanasi/GatewayGanges(B)

TransfertoairportforflighttoVaranasi9W723dep.1025/arr.1150.Uponarrival,transfertohotel.Lunchonyourown(paydirect).ThisafternoonweshallvisitSarnathwhere,in500BC,LordBuddhapreachedhisfirstsermon'Maha-Dharma-ChakraPravartanSutta'(inBuddhistterminology,‘turnthewheelofthelaw’)afterhisenlightenment.TheveryspotismarkedbytheDhamekhStupa,adornedwithdelicatefloralcarvings.SarnathisoneoftherichestinBuddhistantiquitiesrangingindatefromthetimesofAshokatothe12thcenturyA.D.AshokabuiltheretheDharmarajikaStupaanderectedapillarsurmountedbythemagnificentcapitaloffourLions,whichtodayformthenationalemblemofIndia.Wecanwalkthepath,locatedinthemidstofthearcheologicalpark,toseetheruinsofthesmallbrickmonasterywhereBuddhalivedduringhisvisits.About600metersbeforetheArcheologicalMuseum,wewillseetheChaukhandiStupa.ItwasoriginallybuiltduringtheGuptaPeriod(4-6thcAD)asatempletomarkBuddha’sfirstmeetingwithhisdiscipleswhiletravelingfromBodhGayatoSarnath.AnoctagonaltowerwasaddedatthetopduringtheMughalPeriod(1588).TheexcellentArcheologicalMuseumcontainsanextremelyrichcollectionofBuddhistsculpturesofnumerousBuddhaandBodhisatvaimages.Aftervisitingthemuseum,wecontinuetoMahabodhiSociety’sMulgandhaKutiViharTemple.AmajorplaceofworshipfortheBuddhistcommunityoftheworld,itwasconstructedbyBodhisatvaAnagarikaDharmapala(1864-1933)fromSriLankaattheverysitewhereShakyamuniBuddhapreachedhisfirstsermon.ThetemplecontainsexcellentfrescoespaintedbyJapaneseartistKosetsuNotsu.Hesinglehandedlycompletedthesepaintingsinafouryearspan(1932-36).ItalsohousesalifesizestatueofBuddhainitssanctumandGautamBuddha'sholyrelicsarekeptondisplayintheshrine.ThemonarchyofJapanhasgiftedalargebronzebellthatdominatestheentranceoftheVihar.ThetemplewasopenedtopubliconNov.11th,1931andtheMahabodhiSocietyofIndiaoverseesitsaffairs.ABodhitreestandsontheleft(east)sideofthetemplethatisbelievedtohavegrownoutofasaplingoftheoneunderwhichBuddhaattainedenlightenmentatBodhgaya.UnderthistreestatuesofBuddhaandhisdiscipleshavebeendisplayed.ThecasketofthesacredrelicsistakenoutinagreatprocessionfromMulgandhaKutiViharandgoesaroundthistinycityofSarnathannuallyontheanniversarydayofMulgandhaKutiVihar,whichfallsonKartikPurnima(Fullmoonday)inthemonthofNov.Atapprox6pm,localBuddhistschantthewordstoBuddha'sfirstsermon.Returntothehotelfordinneronyourown(paydirect).Nov15Day4Varanasi/GatewayGanges(B)ThismorningweenjoyaverymovingsunriseboatrideontheRiverGangestowitnessthereligiousceremoniesofHindus.Afterwards,weshallenjoyaguidedwalkingtouroftemplesandghats.Returntohotelforbreakfast.Restofthemorningisindependenttorelaxortransportavailabletoreturntotheoldcitytowanderaroundindependently.Lunchisindependent.InthelateafternoonwereturntoOldVaranasi.ThereisalwaysaflurryofactivityaroundthebanksoftheriverGanges.We’llobservethepeoplepreparingfortheeveningrituals.Justafterthesunsets,weboardacountryboattowitnessaarti(fire)ceremonyperformedbyHindupriestsonthebanksofRiverGanges.DinneratVarunaRestaurantinthehotel(paydirect).Nov16Day5FlyVaranasi–Khajuraho/RadissonHotel(B)TransfertoairportforflighttoKhajuraho9W2423dep.1220/arr.1310.Transfertohotelforcheck-inandlunchonyourownatthehotelrestaurant(paydirect).

Thisquiet,genial,dustyvillageisawashwithtemples.Templesforeverything-sungods,sacredbullsand,morememorably,sex.Stonefiguresofapsarasor`celestialmaidens'poutandposelikePlayboypin-upswhilemithuna,eroticfigures,runthroughawholeKamaSutraofpositionsandpossibilities.It'shighlysalaciousstuffandonereasonwhythetemplesofKhajurahoarefamousthroughouttheworld.TheotherreasonisthattheyareliberallyembellishedwithsomeofthefinesthandiworkoftheChandelaperiod,adynastywhichsurvivedforfivecenturiesbeforefallingtotheonslaughtofIslam.Visitorsarealsodrawntoadancefestival,celebratedinMarch,whichattractssomeofthebestclassicaldancersinthecountry-thefloodlittemplesprovideaspectacularbackdropduringtheevent.ThisafternoonweshallvisittheWesternGroupoftemplesfromtheChandellaperiod,9th-11thcenturythatareillustratedwithremarkablesculpturesoftheclassiceroticliteraturetheKamaSutra.Thesearethelargestgroupandmostimportanttemples.Oftheoriginal85,only25surviveandeachisamasterpiecededicatedtodifferentdeities.ThetempleswerelostamongtheforestforcenturiesandwereaccidentallydiscoveredbyaBritisharmyengineerin1858.Externally,thetemplesconsistofcurvilineartowerswithclustersoflesserturretsclingingtothem,suggestiveofrisingmountainpeaksconvergingroundagreatcentralpeak.Roundtheexteriorwallsaretwo,sometimesthree,superimposedrowsofgods,goddesses,kingsandheroes,courtesans,couplesincarnalembraceand,insomecases,friezesdepictingvariousformsofbestiality.Theinteriorsarejustasornate,withanopenporticoleadingintoamainhall,thenavestibulebeyondwhichisaninnersanctumcontainingthefree-standingcultimage.Infact,thesculptureandarchitectureblendsoperfectlythateachbuildingappearstohavebeenconceivedbyasinglemastermind.Nov17Day6Khajuraho–Orchha-Gwailor/HotelUshaKiranPalace(B,L,D)ThismorningwewillvisittheEasternTemplesandtheoldvillageofKhajuraho(wherethelocalresidentslive).Thevillageisveryrelaxedandquitetraditional.MostofthetemplesherebelongtoJainfaithbuttherearethreeHindutemplesofthegroup,namely,theBrahmatempleenshriningafour-facedlinga;theVamanatemplewithdivinecarvingsofsensuouscelestialmaidensinvariousposesadorningitsouterwallsandtheJavaritemplewithaopulentlycarveddoorwayandostentatioussculpturesonitsexteriors.

Next,adrivetoOrchha(170km/105miles/4hoursdrive),thecapitalofthekingdomoftheBundellaRajputsfrom1531to1783.WevisitJahangirMahalPalace,anIndo-PersianstylepalaceoftheMughulperiodandtheRamRajaTemple,builtinthe17thcentury.NOTE:roadconditionsareverypoorinthissection.Mostlyduetomonsoondamagethathasbeenslowtoberepaired.Thismeansthedrivecanbeslowandbumpy.LunchattheAmarMahalinOrchha.Afterwards,drive2.5hourstoGwailor.TransfertohotelUshaKiranPalace.Richinhistory,this120-year-oldUshaKiranPalaceplayedhosttotheKingofEnglandandisnowaheritagehotel.Setamidst9acresofbeautifullylandscapedlawns,thisregalpalaceisoutfittedwithartisticstonecarvingsanddelicatefiligreework.Enjoythehotelambianceandaneveningatleisure.Nov18Day7DrivetoAgra(2hrs)/CourtyardMarriott(B,D)AftercheckinvisitItmad-Ud-Daulah,thefirstwhitemarbleinlaidgraveinpureIndo-Persianstyle,builtbetween1622and1628.AfterwardsvisitAgraFort.AgraFort,builtprincipallyasamilitaryestablishmentbyAkbarin1565.TheredsandstoneAgraFortwaspartiallyconvertedintoapalaceduringShahJahan'stime.ThismassiveFortis2.5kmlong&isconsideredaspredecessorofDelhiRedFort.Returntothehotelforsomeindependenttimeandlunchonyourown(paydirect).ThisafternoonwewilltourtheinterioroftheTajMahalandthenhavesometimetolingerjustbeforesunset.DinneratPinchofSpiceRestaurant.

Nov19Day8DrivetoJaipurviaFatehpurSikri(260km/4hrs)ITCRajputana(B,L,D)Optional(extracost$25perperson):Departat6amanddrivetotheparkinglotandthentravelbytonga(horsecarriage)totheTajMahal(vehiclesarenotallowedtogototheentrance.)Returntohotelforbreakfast.Afterwards,weshalldrivetoJaipur,en-route,visitFatephurSikri,alsocalled“thedesertedcity.”FatephurSikri,builtin1571,oneoftheworld'smostperfectghostcitiesandamarvelofdesignandconstruction.ItisasynthesisoftheflourishingstylesofthePersiancourtsandtheprevailingHindu-Islamictrends.Fatehpur(townofvictory)SikriwasbuiltbyAkbar,thethirdandgreatestoftheGreatMoguls.Itisover400yearsoldandtodayitspristineredsandstonebuildingsareasperfectaswhentheywerefirstchiseled.Thetownwaserectedafteraholyman,SheikhSalimChisti,decreedthebirthsofthreesonstoAkbarafterallhischildrenhaddiedininfancy.TherearethreesectionstotheCity:TheRoyalPalace(notablefortheEmperor'sthrone),theoutsideoftheRoyalPalaceandtheJamiMasjid(thelocationoftheTombofSheikhSalimChishti,amasterpieceinbrilliantwhitemarble).ThecenterpieceofthisremarkablemonumentistheJewelHouseoftheDiwanIKhas.Architecturallyextraordinary,thefourdoorwaysleadintoasingle-storyroomwhereahugecentralpillarsupportsaseatreachedbymid-airwalkways.We’llhavealunchstopatLaxmiVilasPalace.OnarrivalinJaipur,wecheckintohotelandenjoysomeindependenttimeWe’llenjoydinneratNirosRestaurant.Nov20Day9Jaipur/ITCRajputana(B,D)ThismorningweenjoyapleasantexcursiontoAmberFort.AmberisthenameoftheancientkingdomofJaipuraswellasthenameofitsancientcapital,beforeitwasshiftedtoJaipur,situated7milesaway.Itshistorycanbetracedbackedtothe12thcentury.AmberFortissuperblylocated,protectedbythewildArrivalHillsonallsides.Originallybuiltinthe11thcentury,itwasexpandedbyRajaMannishinthelate16thcentury.Theruggedexteriorbeliesabeautifulanddelicateinterior.Returntothehotelandlunchonyourown(paydirect).Thisafternoon,we’llembarkonanextensivecitytourincludingtheCityPalace,HawaMahal(PalaceofWinds)andtheJantarMantarAstronomicalObservatory.Browsethebazaarsifyouwish.AttheheartofJaipurisitsCityPalacewhichhousesanextensivecollectionofraremanuscripts,MughalandRajasthaniminiatures,Mughalcarpets,costumesandtextiles,armsandweapons,royalbuggies,chariotsandpalanquinsandaremarkablecarriage-theindiraviman-thatwasdrawnbyfourelephants.AtthecenterisChandraMahal,theseven-tieredmoonpalacewherethepresentMaharajastillresides.TheCityPalacecomplexalsocontainstheGovindDevjiTemple,dedicatedtoLordKrishna.JustoutsidethegatewayoftheCityPalaceisJantarMantar,theYantralayaofSawaiJaiSinghII,thelastgreatclassicalastronomerinIndia.ThemodernisticstructuresknownasYantrasaretheuniquecreationsofthisastronomer-king,designedbyhimandbuiltbyexpertstoobservethemovementsofthesun,moon,planetsandstars.Thisisthelargestoffiveobservatoriesfoundedbyhiminvariouspartsofthecountry.HawaMahal(PalaceofWinds)isJaipur'smost-photographedbuilding,ahoneycombpalacewith953-latticedwindowsoverlookingthebazaarandbusystreetsofJaipur.Builtin1799bythepoet-kingPratapSingh,thisextraordinarybuildingwasusedbypurdah-boundwomentowatchthegrandprocessionsthatwerearegularfeatureofthecity.Thisevening:attendpujaatGaneshTemple;thendinneratSpiceCourtRestaurant.Nov21Day10Jaipur-Pushkar (145km/3hrs)/ Jagat Palace (B,L,D) Departat9amforPushkar,auniquegeminthestateofRajasthan.

En-routewevisitAjmer,asacredplaceforbothHindusandMuslims.HerewevisitthehugefascinatingDargahSharifMosque.ItisaveneratedholyplaceforbothHindusandMuslims.Themosqueisactuallyahugecomplexlikeacommunitycontainingdifferentareas:foodvendors,shopssellingbeadsandspiritualitems;separateareasforwomenandmentostudytheholybookandseparateareasforcalltoprayer.ThemosquehousesthemausoleumoftheSufisaint,KhwajaMoinuddinChishti,whoseblessingsareeagerlysoughtbypilgrimstohisdargah.Knownasthe‘DargahSharif’,thelastrestingplaceofthesaintwhodiedin1235,itliesatthefootofabarrenhill.Thesaint’smarbledomedmausoleumisIndia’smostimportantshrineforMuslimsandreceivesanendlessflowofvisitorsofallreligionsasthesick,thetroubledandthechildlesscomehereseekingaboon,ablessingorjustpeaceofmind.LegendhasitthattheMughalemperor,Akbarcameheretothesaintinthe16thcenturyinquestofaboonforanheirandthesaintobliged.Wecontinueabout15kmtoPushkar,apilgrimagecityforthousandsofyearswithover500templesand52ghats;andtheonlytempleintheworlddedicatedtoLordBrahma,thecreator,Pushkarradiatesanambienceofpeaceandspiritualityandstillmaintainsanauthenticsmalltownambiance.Asaholycity,nomeatoralcoholispermitted.PushkarCamelFair:Wearriveadaypriortothetourismoffice’sannouncedstartofthefairtobeabletominglewithabitfeweroutsidevisitors.Thenomadsarriveearlytosetuptheirtents,groomanddecoratetheircamelsandpracticeskills.Agooddealofcattletradinghappensatthistimetoo.Onarrivalwecheckintoourhotelandhavelunch.Ouraccommodationislocated2kmfromthefairgrounds.Afterlunch,wewillhavesometimetowanderthroughthenomadiccamelherders’campquarterstoseetheirlifestylescloseupandtointeractwiththem.Theyareveryfriendlyandenjoytheexchangeaswell.ThetownofPushkarsurroundsaholylakebelowthefairsite.Then,lateafternoon,awalkingtourofthetownincludingJagatpitaBrahmaMandir.Althoughthepresenttemplestructuredatestothe14thcentury,thetempleisbelievedtobe2000yearsold.Wereachthemainghat(stepsleadingintothelake)nexttoPushkarPalaceHoteljustbeforesunsettowitnessthesunsetritualwiththelocals.Therewillbedrummingfromeveryghat(52)aroundthelakeasthesunsets.Awonderfulgestureandtradition.Nov22Day11Pushkar-Jodhpur(3hrdrive)/AjitBhawan(B,D)Thismorningwegotothefestivalgrounds,locatedabovethetown.Wewillwanderthroughthenomadiccamelherders’campquarterstoseetheirlifestylescloseupandtointeractwiththem.Theyareveryfriendlyandenjoytheexchangeaswell.Afterwards,wedepartforthedrivetoJodhpur.Onarrivalcheck-intothehotelandlunchonyourownatourcharminghotel(paydirect).ThisafternoonacitytourofJodhpurincludingthe15thcenturyMehrangarhFort,perchedmajesticallyonahighhill.ThebestwaytotracethehistoryofJodhpuristovisitthefort,whichdominatestheskyline.Weenterthroughgates,whichbeartheevocativehandprintsoftheSatiqueens,womenoftheroyalharemwhotooktheirownliveswhentheirmenweredefeatedinbattle.Theforthasaseriesofspectacularpalaces,eachdecoratedwithexquisiteengravings,latticeandmirrorwork.Ofparticularnoteisthemuseumthatexhibitsamagnificentcollectionofroyalmemorabilia.AlsoseethegracefulcenotaphatJaswantThada.Thiseveningbrowsethebazaarsoftheoldcity,forJodhpuriswellknownforitsglassbangles,puppetsandotherfolkart.Ornatemirror-embeddedandlacquer-finishedglassbanglescanbefoundhere.Theareaaroundthebazaarsisawonderfulexampleof19thcenturytownplanning,blendingRajasthaniconceptswithmorecontemporarystyles.WeenjoydinneratGardenrestaurant,anopen-airrestaurantwithmulti-cuisineandbarbeque.Itwillbealivelyambiancewithdanceandmusicperformances.Nov23Day12Jodhpur–Narlai(160km/3hrs)/RawlaNarlai(B,L,D)ThismorningwedrivethreehourstoNarlai,anenchantingvillagelocatedamidstdramaticbouldersandancienttemples.TheRawlaliesatafoothillofastupendous350-footsinglerockgranitehill.MaharajandRaniSwaroopSinghandtheirsons

oversawthecarefulrestorationofthis15thcenturyhomeofMarwarnobility.Theambienceisaspecialblendofaestheticsandcomfortthatenvelopthesenses.Aftercheck-inweenjoyawonderfulhome-cookedlunchonarrivalatRawlaNarlai.Thisafternoonweexplorethenearbyvillagesincludingbustlingbazaarsandtempleswhereamiraculousflamehasburntforwecenturiesproducingsaffroninsteadofsoot!Wishesmadeherearesaid,cometrue.Nov24Day13Narlai-Udaipur(140km/4hrs)/LalitLaxmiVilasPalace(B,L)DrivetoUdaipuren-routevisitingRanakpurJainTempleswith1444pillars.Surroundedbytangledforestswithmonkeysaboundinginthecourtyard,RanakpurisoneoffiveimportantpilgrimcentersfortheJaincommunity.Notedforitsgrandiosescaleandelaborateornamentation,ofthethreetemples,theAdinathaisthemostoutstanding.BuiltbyDaranshahin1439,thetempleisdedicatedtothefirstJainTirthankarasaint.Thewhole,includingtheextraordinaryarrayof1444sculpturedpillars,eachdistinctindesign,carvedceilings,andarchesdecoratedwithfriezesdepictingscenesfromthelivesoftheJainsaints,Jainmythologyandcosmology,ismagnificent!Thetourinsidethemaintemplewillbebyaudioheadset,guidesarenolongerallowedinside.Thisistorespectthesilence,asitisalivingtemplewherepeoplearepraying,meditatingandperformingdevotionalrituals.LunchatthewonderfulMaharaniBagh(MangoOrchardoftheMaharajaofJodhpur)nearthetemples.AfterlunchcontinuetoUdaipur.JustbeforesunsetboardaboatforacruiseonLakePichola.WewilldisembarkatJagmandirPalacefordinner(themenuhasawidevarietyofoptions;paydirect).Nov25Day14Udaipur/LalitLaxmiVilasPalace(B,D)WestartthemorningwithavisittheCityPalace,thelargestPalacecomplexintheareaandtheMuseumofRajasthanaswellastheCrystalGallerylocatedinsidethepalace.TheCityPalaceisablendofsternRajputmilitaryarchitectureontheoutsideandlavishMughal-inspireddecorativeartontheinside.SetonahilloverlookingLakePichhola,itisquitelargeandmadeupofatleastfourseparateinter-connectingpalaces,builtoveraperiodofnearly3centuries.ThepalacemuseumcontainsawonderfulcollectionofoldRajputweaponry.WealsovisittheexquisiteCrystalGallerylocatedacrosstheuppergalleryoftheDurbarHallSabhagaar.Thegallerycontainstheworld’ssinglelargestcollectionofcrystalunderoneroof.Itwasin1877thatMaharanaSajjanSingh(periodofreign:1874-1884)orderedthecrystalcollectionfromtheBirmingham-basedF&COslerCompany.Thecollectionincludesabewilderingnumberofobjectsd'art,dinnersets,perfumebottles,decanters,glasses,washingbowlsandevenfurniture.TheCrystalGalleryalsohousestheonlycrystalbedintheworld!ThecollectionhasbeencustomizedfortheHouseofMewar;theCrestofMewarbeingdelicatelyetchedonthecrystal,addingyetanotheramazingfacet.

AfterwardswetakeawalkthroughthecolorfulBapuBazaarandenjoysomeindependentstrolling.Thebazaarisaneasywalkbacktothehotel.WesuggestlunchattheexcellentFatehPrakashrestaurant(paydirect),adjacenttotheCityPalace.Thisafternoonenjoyawalkingtourwithourguide,ofthecobbled,narrowquaintstreetsintheareaoutsidetheCityPalacegates;weshallalsovisitminiature-paintingstudios.We’lldinetonightatTheUPRERestaurantwithspectacularviewsoftheCitypalaceandLakePichola.TherestaurantoffersfineinternationalcuisineaswellasauthenticflavorsofRajasthan.Thisevening,at7pm,weenjoyamusicanddanceperformanceattheBagore-ki-Haveli,agorgeous18thcenturyhavelithathasbeenconvertedintoamuseumshowcasingMewarartandarchitecture.ThishaveliputsononeofthebestRajasthanifolkdanceshowsinRajasthan–DharoharDance.Foranhour,performersdancetoRajasthanifolkmusicwearingbrightcoloredethnicdresses.ThedancesarevariedanddemonstratethetraditionandcultureofRajasthanifolklore.

Thehavelialsohousesaninterestingartgallery,featuringfineexamplesofMewarcontemporaryandfolkart,andaneclecticselectionofworld-famousmonumentslovinglycarvedoutofpolystyrene.Nov26Day15FlyUdaipur-Delhi&Depart/(B)Enjoyaleisureindependentmorning.Transferairportforflight6E2315dep.1415/arr.1535ORAI472dep.1510,arrive1630toDelhi.

Onarrival,transfertohotelnearairportforwash/changeuntil2100hrs.LateeveningtransfertoInternationalairportforflighttohome.

IfJoiningEllora-AjantaCavesExtension:flydirectUdaipurtoAurangabad.

PRICE:$4335basedonmin4people;SingleRoomSupplement:$1180SpecialSingleRoomdiscount:twosingleroomsupplements,onfirstcomebasisifgroupsizeisminimum6people:$590Plusairfares:(estimate,exactpriceTBDwhenbooked)Delhi–Varanasi:$110,Varanasi-Khajuraho$130,Udaipur-Delhi$110orUdaipur-Mumbai$120ExtraNightinDelhi:HotelMetropolitan$88perpersontwinshare;$166singleroom.Plusarrivaltransferifnotarrivingday1:$45percarIncludes:Accommodationwithdailybreakfastandothermealsasindicatedbelow2NightsDelhi:TheMetropolitan5*superiorroom(B,1L,1D)http://www.hotelmetdelhi.com/2NightsVaranasi:TheGateway5*StandardRoom,(B,D)http://www.thegatewayhotels.com/ganges-varanasi/overview.html1NightKhajurahoatRadissonHotel,5*StandardRoom(B,D)https://www.radisson.com/khajuraho-hotel-in/indkhaj1nightGwalioratUshaKiranPalace,upscaleheritage(B,LinOrchha,D)https://www.tajhotels.com/en-in/taj/taj-usha-kiran-palace-gwalior/1NightAgraatCourtyardbyMarriott(B,D)https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/agrcy-courtyard-agra/2NightsJaipuratITCRajputana5*(B,1L,D)https://www.itchotels.in/hotels/jaipur/itcrajputana.html1NightPushkaratJagatPalace(B,L,D)http://hotelpushkarpalace.com/jagat-palace-rooms/1NightJodhpuratAjitBhawan,(B,D)http://www.ajitbhawan.com/1NightNarlai:RawlaNarlai,classicheritageroom(B,L,D)http://www.ajitbhawan.com/rawla-narlai/home2NightUdaipur:TheLalitLaxmiVilasPalace(B,1L,1D)https://www.thelalit.com/the-lalit-udaipur/Roomforwash/changeatPridePlazaHotelnearairportavailableuntil9pm.Allarrival/departuretransfersandlandtransportinA/CTempoTravelerasperItineraryProfessionalaccompanyingguideMeals:dailybreakfast,6lunches,9dinnersMonumententrancefeesBoatrideonRiverGangesVaranasiandonLakePicholaUdaipurElephantridetoAmberFortinJaipur(youcanrideupbyjeepifyoudon’twanttodotheelephantride),rickshawridethroughtheancientbazaarofChandichowkinOldDelhiStillCameraFeesMineralwaterduringlongdrivesPorterTipsatdomesticairportandhotels.IndiaGovServiceTax

Doesnotinclude:InternationalAir,Insurance,VisaFees,VideoCameraFees,Tips,Mealsotherthanmentionedabove,expenditureofpersonalnaturesuchasdrinks,telephonecalls,laundry.

Post-tourExtensiontoEllora&AjantaCaves

Nov25FlytoAurangabad/RamaInternationalHotelTransfertotheairportforflightAI606,dep10am,arrive1120amtoAurangabad.

Uponarrivaltransfertohotelandhavelunchonyourown(paydirect).

Aurangabadisaconvenientbasefororganizingvisitstothefamousrock-cuttemplesofAjanta&Ellora.ThetownisnamedafterAurangzeb,thelastofthesixgreatMughalEmperors,whobuiltamausoleumhereforhiswife.Themostnotablefeatureofthesecavetemplesisthatentirehillsideswerecutawaywiththeartisan’schiseltoproducethesesculptures,whicharesomeoftheworld’smostexquisite.Ellora’s34cavesareover10centuriesoldandrepresentelaboratesculpturesfromtheHindu,BuddhistandJainfaiths.ThecavesatAjantadatebacktothe5thcenturyandcontainpaintingsandsculpturesofmajoreventsinthelifeoftheBuddha.VisittheElloraCavesDepartthehotelat1:30pmanddrive30km/45mintothesiteoftheElloraCaves.TheBuddhist,JainandHinducavesatEllora,notedfortheirsculptures,areconsideredtobethefinestinIndiaanddatebetween600and1100AD.Thelandmarkofthiscollectionofrock-cutsculpturesisthemagnificentKailasanathaTemple,theonlybuildingthatwasbegunfromthetop.Thisedificeisatributetotheimaginationandcraftsmanshipofthosewhoconceivedandbuiltthismasterpiece.Itisamostextraordinaryfreestandingmonolithictemple(thereareonlytwooftheseinIndia),withuniquecarvingsoftheRamayanaandVishnupurana.Youwillvisitthemostoutstandingofthe34cavetemples.Thecavescloseat6pm.Nov26Aurangabad-VisittheAjantaCaves/RamaInternationalHotelAfull-dayexcursiontothecavesatAjantathatdatefrom200BCto650AD.Wedepartat9amdriving105km/2.5hrstothesite.Thereisanupwardwalkingpathtogettothesite.Altogetherthereare29caveshere.Thesecaves,orvihararas(monasteries),areremarkableforthequalityoftheirmurals,whichrelatethelifestoryoftheBuddhaandrevealthelifeandcultureofthepeople,royalcourtsettings,familylife,streetscenesofthetime,aswellassuperbrepresentationsofbirdsandanimals.Insomeofthecaves,themuralsrelatetotheBuddha’spreviousbirths,showingtheprogressofhissoul.Nov27Depart/TransfertoairportforflighttoBombayAI606dep.1200noon/arr.1335.Onarrival,transferbyhotelshuttletohotelKohinoornearairport;roomsforwash/change.Latenighttransferbyhotelshuttletoairportforflthome.Price:ExtensionEllora/AjantaCaves$590perperson,basedonmin2people;$495perpersonbasedon4people.SingleRoomsupplement:$166.PlusAir(estimate):Udaipur–Aurangabad$105,Aurangabad-Bombay$105Includes:Accommodationwithbreakfast:TwonightsAurangabadatHotelRamaInternationalhttp://www.welcomhotelrama.com/Wash/changeatKohinoorContinentalonlastdayhttp://www.hotelkohinoorcontinental.com/Arrival/departuretransfersandsightseeingbyA/CCarorSUV,Professionalguideduringsightseeing,Monumententrances,IndiaGovServiceTaxDoesNotInclude:tips,camerafees,expenditureofpersonalnaturesuchaslaundry,telephonecall,drinks