The Colours of Rajasthan

Welcome to the beautiful chaos of Delhi! Arrive by flight, jump right into the hustle and bustle of the capital of India and its second most populous city. Considered one of the oldest existing cities in the world, Delhi’s importance lies not just in its past glory as the seat of empires and magnificent monuments, but also in the rich and diverse cultures.

A private car with driver will receive you at the Delhi airport and transfer you to the hotel for check-in. After refreshing, head out for Delhi sightseeing. Start with a drive past Rashtrapati Bhavan (the residence of the President of India), and visit India Gate (a memorial to 82,000 soldiers of the Indian Army who died in the period 1914–21 in the First World War).

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Delhi.

After breakfast check-out and head towards Mandawa, known for its fort and havelis. This town has been referred to as the “open art gallery” of Rajasthan state because the entire region is dotted with fascinating mansions (havelis) that have lavishly painted walls.

Reach Mandawa by afternoon. Check-in at the hotel on arrival.

In the late afternoon set out for local sightseeing. Visit some of the most popular havelis of Mandawa. Built as per a medieval theme, the castle of Mandawa is adorned with beautiful frescoes. Rooms in the palace are decorated with paintings of Lord Krishna, exquisite carvings, and amazing mirror work. The palace’s Durbar Hall houses several antiques and paintings.

Dinner & overnight stay will be at the hotel in Mandawa.

After breakfast, check-out from the hotel and head towards Bikaner. Bikaner is a vibrant, dust-swirling desert town with a fabulous fort and an energizing outpost feel. It’s less dominated by tourism than many other Rajasthan cities, though it has plenty of hotels and a busy camel-safari scene.

Reach Bikaner by the afternoon. It will be around 3-4 hours drive. You’ll be crossing the countryside of Rajasthan, and on the way, you’ll find that the landscapes have changed a little. Jaipur has no sand dunes, but as you reach closer to Bikaner, you’ll see sand dunes, and more of Rajasthan’s traditional village folks with their camels and carts, working in fields. 

Visit the impressive Junagarh Fort, one of Rajasthan’s finest forts, celebrated for its grand palaces, beautifully decorated courtyards, temples, and museums. Continue to the unique National Research Centre on Camel, where you can learn about Rajasthan’s famous camels and their importance to desert life. In the evening, explore the lively local bazaars, known for traditional handicrafts, textiles, sweets, and the famous Bikaneri snacks, before returning to your hotel.

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Bikaner.

After a delicious breakfast, check out of the hotel and head towards Jaisalmer. A city that has come back almost from the dead in the past half-century, Jaisalmer may be remote, but it’s certainly not forgotten – indeed, it’s one of Rajasthan’s biggest tourist destinations, and few people go from here without getting enchanted with the sand dunes of the Thar Desert. It is known as the ‘Golden City’ due to its golden sand dunes and forts clad in golden honey sandstone. Jaisalmer is adorned with lakes, ornate Jain temples, and Havelis (mansions).Reach Jaisalmer by evening. Check in at the hotel on arrival and relax. The evening is at your leisure. 

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Jaisalmer.

After breakfast, head out to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site – Jaisalmer Fort. Jaisalmer’s unique fort is a living urban center, with about 3000 people residing within its walls. It’s honeycombed with narrow, winding lanes, lined with houses and temples, handicraft shops, guesthouses, and restaurants. It is the second-oldest fort in Rajasthan, built-in 1156 AD by the Rajput Rawal (ruler) Jaisal.

Afterward, visit Patwon ki Haveli (‘mansion of brocade merchants’), a cluster of 5 small havelis, which is an interesting piece of architecture and is the most important among the havelis in Jaisalmer. The first among these havelis was commissioned and constructed in the year 1805 by Guman Chand Patwa and is the biggest and the most ostentatious.

In the evening, head out to visit the Sam Sand Dunes for a genuine Thar Desert experience. The sunset view at the dunes is a lifetime experience.Reach back at the hotel by evening.

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Jaisalmer.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and head towards Jodhpur. Welcome to the land of legendary kings, gladiators, and royalty. Also known as “The Blue City”, “The Sun City” and “The Gateway to Thar”, Jodhpur is famous for its beautiful Mehrangarh Fort, vivid blue houses, temples, sweets, and snacks. Seen in the backdrop of the movie, The Dark Knight Rises, Jodhpur attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the globe.

Check in at the hotel on arrival. In the evening, take a walk near the blue houses at sunset while enjoying tea on the rooftop of one of them.

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Jodhpur.

After breakfast, set out for a local sightseeing tour of Jodhpur. Start with a guided walking tour of the heritage Blue City. Visit the majestic Mehrangarh Fort, regally set on a sandstone hill built by Rao Jodha in 1459. Rising perpendicular and impregnable from a rocky hill that stands 120m above Jodhpur’s skyline, Mehrangarh is one of the most magnificent forts in India.

After that, visit Jaswant Thada – the milky-white marble memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, sitting above a small lake 1km northeast of Mehrangarh, which is an array of whimsical domes. The cenotaph is built out of intricately carved sheets of marble. These sheets are extremely thin and polished so that they emit a warm glow when illuminated by the sun. After that, visit the lavish Umaid Bhawan Palace, one of the world’s largest private residences. A part of the palace is managed by Taj Hotels. In the evening, visit the local market.

Later, return to the hotel. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Jodhpur.

After breakfast, check out from your hotel in Jodhpur and drive towards the romantic City of Lakes, Udaipur, with a fascinating stop at the magnificent Kumbhalgarh Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled in the scenic Aravalli Hills. Built in the 15th century by Maharana Kumbha, the fort is renowned for its massive defensive wall—the second-longest continuous wall in the world after the Great Wall of China. Explore its impressive gateways, royal palaces, ancient temples, and breathtaking viewpoints while learning about the glorious history of the Mewar Kingdom.

After your visit, continue through the picturesque landscapes of the Aravalli Range towards Udaipur, enjoying beautiful countryside views and traditional Rajasthani villages along the way. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel and relax. If time permits, spend the evening strolling along the scenic Lake Pichola waterfront or explore the charming old city, where narrow lanes are lined with handicraft shops, cafés, and local markets. The peaceful atmosphere and illuminated palaces create a perfect introduction to the City of Lakes before returning to your hotel for an overnight stay in Udaipur.

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Udaipur.

After breakfast, head out for local sightseeing. Visit Fateh Sagar Lake (one of the most beautiful lakes in Udaipur). Then visit the Sahelion ki Badi, which was laid out for a group of forty-eight young women attendants who accompanied a princess to Udaipur as part of her dowry. Afterward, visit the City Palace Complex.  It was built over a period of nearly 400 years, atop a hill, in a fusion of the Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles, providing a panoramic view of the city and its surroundings. Also, visit the beautiful Jagdish Temple close to the City Palace Complex.

In the evening, visit Lake Pichola and enjoy a sunset boat cruise (shared). Then visit Bagore-ki-Haveli, a historic haveli (mansion) that stands magnificently on the waterfront of the surreal Lake Pichola at Gangori Ghat. Built in the 18th century by Amar Chand Badwa, the then Prime Minister of the Mewar kingdom, Bagore Ki Haveli has been restored over a period of time and is now converted into a museum. In the evening, enjoy the Dharohar Folk Dance Show at Bagore-ki-Haveli. See Rajasthani folk dancing, with nightly shows of colorful, energetic Marwari, Bhil, and western Rajasthani dances, as well as traditional Rajasthani puppetry.

The overnight stay will be at the hotel in Udaipur.

After an early breakfast, check out from your hotel and drive towards Jaipur, with a memorable stop in the sacred town of Pushkar. Nestled around a holy lake, Pushkar is one of India’s oldest pilgrimage destinations and is renowned for its spiritual atmosphere and vibrant local culture. Visit the revered Brahma Temple, one of the few temples in the world dedicated to Lord Brahma, and take a peaceful walk around the sacred Pushkar Lake, surrounded by historic ghats and temples. You’ll also have time to browse the colorful local bazaars, famous for traditional handicrafts, textiles, silver jewelry, and souvenirs.

After exploring Pushkar, continue your scenic drive to the Pink City of Jaipur. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel and spend the remainder of the evening at leisure, or explore the nearby local markets if time permits.

The overnight stay will be at the hotel in Jaipur.

Have breakfast and then set out to explore the best attractions of Jaipur. Visit Hawa Mahal (“Palace of Winds”), a high screen wall built so the women of the royal household could observe street festivals while unseen from the outside. Then visit Jantar Mantar (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). It is a collection of nineteen architectural astronomical instruments, built by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh, and completed in 1738 CE. Afterwards, visit the City Palace. Built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh during the years 1729 to 1732, the vast complex of the palace occupied one-seventh of the walled city. The palace is divided into a series of courtyards, buildings, and gardens.

In the afternoon stop by Jal Mahal, a palace in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur city. It was built in the 17th century. Then visit the grand Amer Fort (or Amber Fort), also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the principal tourist attraction in Jaipur and the current structure was built during the late 16th century by Rajput Kings. This magnificent fort comprises an extensive palace complex, built from pale yellow and pink sandstone, and white marble, and is divided into four main sections, each with its own courtyard. In the evening visit Nahargarh Fort, which provides a beautiful bird’s eye view of the entire Jaipur city.

Then reach back at the hotel. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Jaipur.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel. The private car will drop you at Jaipur Airport. 

Bid farewell with the memories of amazing fun-filled 16 days trip through The Grand Rajasthan worth remembering for the lifetime!