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Day 01 : |
Arrive Delhi
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On your
arrival at Delhi, you will be met by our
representatives and |
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transferred to a hotel. TRADITIONAL WELCOME -
The warmth of |
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Indian
hospitality & the custom of welcoming guests is
as old as the |
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time
itself. On arrival, as you step into the hotel,
ladies in traditional local |
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costumes
greet you with flowers & perform the "aarti" ceremony. |
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After having your fore head anointed with traditional red
"tikka" relax |
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with
non-alcoholic welcome drink. at the lobby and
welcome drink while |
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room
keys are handed over to group leader. Group
checks into rooms |
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after
wake up calls and breakfast time is intimated.
Surprise gifts at |
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bedsides in
each room. |
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A capital way to begin your discovery of
India |
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The
world is the body, Delhi is its soul…is how a
19th century poet |
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described this city that has ever been so many
things to so many different |
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people.
To the weary travelers on the ancient silk route
it was the first plain |
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after
having crossed the Himalayan Mountains with the
promise of shelter, |
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food
and business opportunities. To the Afghan, Turk,
Greek, Arab and |
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Roman
kings it was a vast and inexhaustible source of
treasures of all |
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kinds,
to the Chinese travelers it was the land of
knowledge and wisdom. |
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Its
ageless face saw the advent of Islam. It saw
empires being built and |
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destroyed or even merely dismantled to make way
for the new and |
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Delhi lived on….
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The
British created their own Delhi with large well
planned avenues and |
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planted 10000 trees
with 112 kms of hedges that it would be green round |
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the
year abundant with flowers a botanical paradise.
The seat of the British |
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Empire
Delhi of 1911 was planned to resemble ‘an
Englishman dressed for |
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the
climate’. Its planners and main architects
decided that it would be |
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neither hindu,
nor Muslim, nor Buddhist, nor English nor Roman
but |
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IMPERIAL a house for the Viceroy that resembled
‘a giant Indian |
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bungalow, embattled Rajput fortress and Mughal
tomb with shades of |
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Buckingham Palace with English country house
comforts. Delhi is perhaps |
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the
only city in the world that fuses its past
present and evokes its future |
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without
losing an iota of its identity. 1300 monuments
speak of her |
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antiquity of the ambitions of men who thought
they could hold on to her |
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but
history proved otherwise. A popular superstition
is that it is also |
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known
as the ‘graveyard of dynasties’ with every one
of its cities built |
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there heralding the death the dynasty that built it.
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Thus, Delhi is a Melting Pot of cultures, politics and
religions of India’s |
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colourful
past in its monuments, its palaces, and in the
faces of its people |
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that they narrate the
story of their glorious past. |
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New Delhi is a capital of
modern India. |
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Overnight : In Delhi
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Day
02 : |
Delhi
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Morning : New
Delhi A Touch of Faith, Philosophy and British India
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The discovery of New Delhi starts with visit to
Humayun’s tomb ~ the |
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magnificent structure in red sandstone and white
marble – one of the finest |
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examples of the garden
tomb and a precursor to the Taj Mahal. |
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Later visit Qutab Minar
which is Delhi's Eiffel Tower, its Statue of
Liberty |
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and
Nelson's Column. Visit the mosques, mausoleums
and ruins of forts |
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that lie around it.
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We drive to one of the most
colonial part of New Delhi called Raisina Hill. |
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Drive past the
Viceroy's House (now the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the residence |
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of
the President of India) and Lutyen's magnum opus; the India
Gate, |
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a war memorial arch.
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We then drive past a Sikh
place of worship called a Gurdwara or Temple. |
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This
shrine is the scene of constant devotional
music, whose ethereal tones |
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are
relayed throughout the entire complex. A Sikh
temple without a |
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Community Kitchen or “Langar” is inconceivable.
Food is serviced in the |
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kitchen of the Gurudwara
24 hours to all visitors without any distinction
of |
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caste,
creed, color or religion. All high or low, rich
or poor sit in the same |
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queue.
Approximately 40,000 visitors share the meals everyday
presently. |
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Gala lunch at a farmhouse
restaurant. |
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Afternoon : |
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Old Delhi –
Happily Chaotic! |
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We
proceed for our unique yet fascinating
experience of Old Delhi. |
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Visit
the mighty Red Fort followed by “cycle
rickshaws” through the lanes |
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of “Chandni Chowk”
or silver Street, experiencing the sights and
sounds |
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of
this very busy Avenue heading west from the Fort. Chandni
Chowk |
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literally means “moonlit crossroads” and an area
which best represents the |
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“super-Oriental”-
the glory and the guile; the grandeur and the
grime, |
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with
its crowded bazaars, twisting lanes, maze of
small streets strange |
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coolies and
“rickshaw- walas” and the clatter and whirr of furious
industry. |
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aromas, the pungent odour
of Oriental spices, the cries of shopkeepers, |
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The
thrill of being driven through the narrow,
winding lanes is a |
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memorable
experience. This is perhaps one of Delhi's most
populated |
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areas
and the largest marketplace.
Conclude the tour with Raj Ghat – |
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Father
of the nation Mahatma
Gandhi’s memorial. In evening enjoy dinner |
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with HYDERABADI
CHOWKI THEME - Set in a "chowk" (street market) |
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with all its colourful
attractions. Street-side dishes are cooked in
front of |
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you. Discover "kadai" and "tawa khana"
- hot tasty delicacies, snacks |
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and Indian breads cooked on a griddle. For
dessert, visit the "mithai-wala" |
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(the Indian sweet-maker) and
the "thelawala" who tempts you with |
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fresh fruits. There is a
"paan" shop which also sells "bidis" (freshly rolled
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Indian
cigarettes). A "mehendiwalli" traces intricate designs in red
colour |
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on the
hands of the ladies. This is done traditionally
at all Indian weddings. |
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A bangle-seller offers a glittering
array of glass-bangles in vibrant hues. |
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Overnight
: In Delhi |
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Day
03 : |
Delhi - Agra
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After
breakfast group departs for Agra. A royal
welcome awaits the group |
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with
decorated Floral Door with Aarti Tikka and Garlanding. Baggage
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check
into rooms and keys handed over while group has
lunch. |
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After a leisurely lunch feasting leave for the Sightseeing of:
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The Great Red Fort of Agra
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Visit
to the Agra Fort has been arranged. The Agra
Fort’s construction |
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was
started by Emperor Akbar in 1565 when he was just 23 years of
age. |
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Within
the fort are several fascinating buildings – the
Pearl Mosque built of |
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marble,
the Hall of Public Audiences, the Hall of
Private Audiences where |
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the famous "peacock
throne" was kept, the Octagonal Tower, the Jehangir |
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Palace
built by Akbar for his son Jehangir and the Khas Mahal, a
beautiful |
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white marble structure used as a private palace.
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It is said that the world is divided into two parts;
those who have seen the |
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Taj Mahal and those who have not.
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Get on to the decorated “Tonga” for ride to visit
the world |
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famous
‘Taj Mahal’. |
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A flawless
architectural creation. |
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For centuries, the Taj Mahal
has inspired poets, painters and musicians to |
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try and capture
its elusive magic in word, colour and son. Since the 17th |
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century, travellers
have crossed continents to come and see this
ultimate |
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memorial to love, and few have been unmoved by
its incomparable |
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beauty.
Taj Mahal
stands in the city of Agra, in the northern
Indian state of |
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Uttar Pradesh, on the banks of
the Yamuna river. It was built in the memory |
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of the beautiful Arjumand Bano Begum, who won the heart of a Mughal |
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prince. She
was married at 21 to Emperor Jahangir's third son Prince |
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Khurram
and stayed loyally by his side through good
times and bad: |
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in the
luxurious royal palaces of Agra as well as the
transient tents of war |
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camps. A labour
of love ~ Work on the mausoleum began in 1633
and |
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20,000 workers laboured
for 17 years to build it. The most skilled
architects, |
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inlay
craftsmen, calligraphers, stone-carvers and
masons came from all |
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across
India and lands as distant as Persia and Turkey.
The master mason |
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was
from Baghdad, an expert in building the double
dome from Persia, |
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and an
inlay specialist from Delhi. Intricacy in design
~ what is most |
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amazing about the Taj Mahal
is the fine detailing. The coloured inlay is |
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never
allowed to overwhelm the design, as carvings
done in relief |
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sensitively
balance it. The ornate pietra dura and relief carvings are of
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floral,
calligraphic and geometric designs. However,
flowers remain the |
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main
decorative element as the tomb depicts a
paradise garden. The skill |
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of the
inlay worker is so fine that it is impossible to
find the joints, |
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even
when as many as 40 tiny pieces of semi-precious
stones have |
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been
used in the petals of a single flower. Some of
the best calligraphy |
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of Koranic
verses can be seen around the entrance arches
and on the two |
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headstones. The colours of the Taj ~ Taj Mahal
changes its moods with |
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the
seasons and the different times of the day. At
dawn, the marble has a |
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delicate bloom in shell pink, by noon it
glitters majestically white, turning
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to a
soft pearly grey at dusk. On full-moon away
against the star-spangled |
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sky.Monsoon clouds give it a moody blue tint and
it appears and |
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disappears like a mirage in the drifting mists
of winter. It can be solid and |
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earthbound, fragile and ethereal, white,
amber, grey and gold. The many |
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faces
of Taj Mahal display the
seductive power of architecture at its best. |
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In
evening enjoy exclusive dinner with THE MOGHUL THEME - Go |
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back
to the historically fabled world of the great Moghuls.
"Chobedar" |
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(gatekeepers) usher guests to the "Daawat - khana"
(dining room). |
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Hostesses clad in silken, flowing shararas
(skirts) & "chunnis" (veils) |
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welcome
the guests with flowers & "attars" (perfumes) in
a traditional style. |
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Flamboyant folk dances herald a sumptuous spread of Mughlai
delicacies, |
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served in a manner befitting royalty. O/N stay at
hotel. |
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Day
04 : |
Agra - Jaipur
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Morning : After leisurely breakfast, depart by surface to Jaipur
visiting |
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deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri en route.
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Visit Fatehpur Sikri,
a visual experience of an ancient city abandoned |
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by its ruler and yet well preserved to
this day. One can visualise the |
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splendour and glory of a
bygone era. Fatehpur Sikri radiates a true sense |
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of
faith and belief in oneself and in God. Even
today, people visit a shrine |
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within the complex and pray for a better life.
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A royal
welcome awaits the group with decorated
elephants and |
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trumpeters, Baggage check into rooms and keys
handed over while group |
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has lunch.
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Jaipur : The
City of Royalty |
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Jaipur
today, is the capital of Rajasthan with a
population of over 1 ½ |
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million people. Jaipur
is called the “Pink City”, for by law all the
buildings |
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in the
old city must be painted a deep saffron-pink. It
is especially known |
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for its arts and crafts: jewellery,
enamel work, hand-painted fabrics and |
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stone sculptures. Above everything, Jaipur is an extraordinary colourful |
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place.
On its streets you see women in their brilliant
read and orange head |
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coverings and sweeping skirts, and men in their
equally vivid turbans and |
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upturned moustaches. Jaipur
is also a city of polo which is played on |
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horseback, elephants and at times on bicycles!
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In evening enjoy Rajput Wedding : A traditional
Rajput wedding |
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ceremony where the group members participate as
the "Baraat" (the |
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bridegroom's family and friends who form the
wedding party) and the |
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"mashaals" (torches). The
hosts (bride's party) receive the baraat party and |
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the wedding
ceremony is performed under a decorated "mandap" |
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(pavilion).
The "meena bazaar" ( a colorful bazaar for the ladies) also
forms |
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an
integral part of the setting. A festive buffet
meal, laid out for both the |
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parties in the illuminated palace-
hotel, is accompanied by Shahnai music |
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and
folk dances. Also accompanying the ceremony is
the traditional |
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"mehendi"
(henna) application for the ladies, which is
considered |
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auspicious at the time of an Indian wedding.
Overnight stay will be at |
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the
hotel in Jaipur. |
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Day 05 : |
Jaipur
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After breakfast, enjoy a full day sightseeing tour of Jaipur.
Enjoy an |
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elephant ride up to the famous 17th century
Amber Fort. After sumptuous |
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Lunch, visit the enchantingly beautiful
City Palace, a fine blend of |
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Rajasthani and Mughal
architecture, now housing a museum containing
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rare armories,
manuscripts, and paintings. Later, visit the Hawa Mahal
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(Palace of Winds), the landmark architecture of Jaipur
built of pink |
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sandstone. You will also visit the Jantar Mantar,
an Astronomical |
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observatory built by maharaja Jai Singh in 1728.
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In evening visit to CHOKHI DHANI
– AN ETHNIC VILLAGE RESORT |
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where
the guests would be given a Royal Welcome with
fireworks and all |
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traditional gestures – enjoy the exclusive
dinner with village theme - |
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Spread
over 10 acres of beautifully landscaped area for
a rustic look, |
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it
is dotted
with machaans & platforms where different folk artists perform
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concurrently. A village fair is created every
evening as an ongoing |
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celebration of the rich & vibrant cultural
heritage of Rajasthan. The display |
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of
traditional huts and workmanship will take you
back to the times when |
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splendor was
unpretentious. Experience the rich warmth and rustic charm
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of a
typical Rajasthani Village at Chokhi Dhani- the
festivities never end |
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here
!!! over the years it has evolved as a tasteful
and authentic symbol of |
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ethnic village life of this most
colorful state in the country. Today, the |
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name of Chokhi Dhani
is synonymous with Rajasthani culture throughout |
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the country.
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Later come back to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel in
Jaipur. |
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Day 06 : |
Jaipur - Samode
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Morning
free to relax in the hotel or group can go into
the local Market |
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for some
shopping tour would take you to choose from colorful fabric, |
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papier mache,
gems and stones, blue pottery, carpets etc.
Lunch at the |
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fascinating local restaurant. Post lunch group
departs for Samode |
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(40 Kms
away). Group arrives at the village entrance
where decorated |
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camel
carts await your arrival. The group will
distribute itself and mount |
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camel
carts and the coach with baggage will drive up
to the palace. |
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The
camel caravan escorted with 2 torchbearers to
each cart and led by |
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local
musicians would commence its journey through the
cobbled streets |
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through
the village. The group would get a first hand
insight into the quaint |
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village
life-style, the local village shops and houses,
curious children |
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waving
greetings from the roof top and the friendly shy
smiles from the |
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conservative village belles. The group is times
to reach the palace gate |
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at
sunset (40 minutes ride). On arrival the entire
palace is lit up. They |
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disembark and by now the excitement is loud and
clear. The group then |
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walks upto
the palace entrance gate wherein village elders
garlanding |
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them
receive them and the village belles in full
local attire showering |
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rose
petals at the group. The group enters the lobby
where a huge floral |
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logo of
your company is carved out on the floor
welcoming the group, |
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room
keys are distributed and the ladies are presented
with colorful |
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Rajasthani
scarves while the male member would
be presented Turbans |
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(Traditional Rajput headgear). They would be
welcome to wear the same |
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for the
evening and the baggage
transferred to the rooms. Cocktails with |
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prince Yadavendra
Singh is arranges at the Sheesh Mahal (hall of mirrors)
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and
later the group is seated in the Durbar Hall for
a cultural evening |
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extravaganza, The ambience created goes back to
600 years when the |
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king
and his lieutenants would sit on the cushioned
floor and the dancers |
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performed for entertainment. The group would be
served drinks and dinner |
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while
the local dancer and musicians entertain.
Members from the group |
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would
be invited to join the dancers. After dinner,
coffee is served on the |
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terrace. The group would be thrilled to see a
fire work show against the |
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stark
naked mountain landscape and the grand finale
lighting up your |
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company's logo against the skyline.
Overnight. |
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Day 07 : |
Samode - Delhi
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Morning free at the
palace or trek upto the fort. Group would then ride |
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camels
to the royal orchards for lunch and thus be able
to observe rural |
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life-style of study rare and shy wildlife. Later
drive back to Delhi (6 hours |
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approx.). Arrive Delhi by evening check-in
hotel for overnight stay. |
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Day
08 : |
Delhi – Departure
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Transfer to
international airport to board your flight. |