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India

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India

Day 1 | Dehli

Welcome to India! Your flight will land at Delhi’s International Airport sometime during the early morning hours (details to be advised). As you disembark, you will be met by our airport representative at the end of the aerobridge and assisted with the Immigration and Customs formalities. In the arrival hall, the airport representative will introduce you to your guide who will escort you to your hotel and assist you to check-in.

The morning will be at leisure for you to recover from jetlag and you can wake up at your own pace for a relaxed breakfast.

In the afternoon, your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel, and you will drive to one of the architectural triumphs of the Mughal Empire - Humayun’s Tomb. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is the earliest example of Mughal architecture in India. It was built as a memorial tothe Mughal Emperor Humayun during the periods AD 1562-1572 with the help of Persian architects who were brought in from Herat (Afghanistan).

You will then head to Qutb Minar complex (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), which has many historic monuments. The earliest extant mosque – Quwwat-ul-Islam – built from the dressed and carved stones of demolished temples lies in this complex. It was built in 1198 AD by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, who later became the first Sultan of Delhi under the Mamluk dynasty (also called the Slave dynasty). This construction established the political victory of Islam in northern India.

You will then return to your hotel.

Day 2 | Dehli

This morning, you will meet your guide in the lobby of your hotel at 09:00 hours and together, you will start you day with an interesting inner city walk conducted in partnership with a local NGO.

The local NGO works with street children in Delhi providing them with a secure environment as well as health and education. The Trust has developed a walk through the inner city, and your guide will be a young person who has been rescued and knows the area intimately. While introducing you to the heritage and the life of the backstreets of Delhi, little seen by visitors, he will also share stories of his life with you. You will stop at a couple of the contact centers and shelters run by the trust.

Note: This is not a slum tour as the walk does not take you into the slums, and photography is not allowed. The idea of the tour is to see the city through the eyes of your young guide.

You will visit Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the temple of the followers of the Sikh religion. The Sikhs, which means “disciples”, are one of the country’s most recognizable groups; their beards and turbans give them a distinctive look. The Sikhs believe that everyone, regardless of their station in life, should do “seva” or “social service”. This resulted in the “Langar” or Community Kitchen, where every member of the religion considers it an honor to put in a couple of hours, cooking thousands of Indian breads and making huge vat loads of curry for visiting pilgrims and anybody looking for a hot meal.

We will time your visit to coincide with the lunchtime service. You may like to serve the food yourself or help in the kitchen making Rotis (Indian bread). After the visit, lunch will be served at a local restaurant. After lunch, you will drive to the walled city of Old Delhi.

You will first visit the Jama Masjid, believed to be the largest mosque in India and Shah Jahan’s last architectural venture. Originally, it was called Masjid-i-Jahanuma, which means “The mosque commanding a view of the world”. Begun in 1644, the mosque was not completed until 1658. It has three great gateways, four angled towers and two minarets standing 40 meters high and is constructed of alternating vertical strips of red sandstone and white marble. You will then climb on board cycle-rickshaws and take a ride through the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk market.

Originally a canal ran through the middle of the street as a part of the water supply scheme. It is said that the moonlight reflecting on the canal earned the area its name, ‘Chandini (moonlit) Chowk (square)’.

This is a fun ride and you will navigate traffic through the narrow lanes of this 300- year-old wholesale market. Today, it is a busy market selling an extraordinary variety of items – silver, jewelry, aromatic spices, leather, fruit and vegetables. Apothecaries sell homegrown medicinal items, and roadside dentists display their bizarre array of equipment and false teeth. This is an excellent introduction to the organized chaos that is quintessentially Indian!

Afterwards, you will walk down the famous lanes of Khari Baoli spice market. The stalls here have a history that goes back through generations. In the narrow alleys of the spice market, huge sacks of herbs and spices are still brought to the wholesalers on long, narrow barrows pushed by laborers, and there are eye-catching displays of everything from lentils and rice to giant jars of chutneys, pickles, nuts and tea.

Note: Chandni Chowk market remains partially closed on Sundays so, it may be a little muted and inactive.

You will then return to your hotel, driving through Kartavya Path (Rajpath) or “King’s Way” and the wide tree-lined avenues of New Delhi, which served as the capital city for the former British Empire.

Day 12 | Mumbai

Day 14 | Departure

Day 3 | Varanasi

Day 4 | Varanasi

After an early breakfast, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague in the lobby of your hotel and escorted to the airport in time to check-in for your Air India flight, AI 406 (10:15/11:35 hours) to Varanasi.

In the arrival hall, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague and driven directly to Sarnath, which lies a short distance from the main city. Other than the Archaeological Park, which has the remains of the monastery that developed here and the Sarnath Museum (closed on Fridays), the fairly new Buddhist temple is of interest. On the walls are paintings depicting the most significant episodes in the life of Buddha, from his birth as Prince Siddhartha to the time he gained enlightenment and became ‘The Buddha’!

Here, you will take a guided walk, “In the Footsteps of The Buddha” which traces his life from his birth as Prince Siddhartha to the time he gained enlightenment and became ‘The Buddha’. After your visit, you will be driven to your hotel where you will be assisted with the check-in formalities.

In the evening, you will drive to the banks of the Holy Ganges where a boatman will be waiting for you. You will then board your boat for a sail on the river.

Note: the boat ride on the Ganges is subject to the level of water.

A visit to Varanasi is incomplete without a tour of the Ghats at sunrise. This is the most auspicious time in Hinduism and people flock to the river to greet the rising sun. You will drive to the banks of the Holy Ganges where a boatman will be waiting for you. You will then board your boat for a sail on the river.

You will watch the activity from your boat and as you drift down the river, you will see a panorama of life in a pilgrim town – people taking dips in the holy river, yogis practicing their art along the steps, mud wrestlers, women doing laundry and washing vessels, pilgrims worshipping at shrines and in the background, the constant sound of temple bells and chanting. There is a certain timelessness about the sights, which is extraordinary! Note - The boat ride on the Ganges is subject to the level of water.

After the boat ride, you will visit the Old City where you will get a fascinating insight into the rituals of Hinduism. Every temple is well attended, and every street corner has roadside shrines and vendors selling garlands, incense sticks and other items used in worship.

You will then return to your hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast, you will take a temple trail through Varanasi beginning, with a visit to Shri Kashi Vishwanath temple, one of the most revered pilgrimage sites for Hindus. Note: Non- Hindus are prohibited from entering the main sanctum of the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Next, you will visit Bharat Mata temple which is renowned for its big marble relief map of India, the Durga temple and the modern marble Tulsi Manas temple whose walls are engraved with scenes and verses from the Ramcharitmanas (the Hindi version of the Ramayana).

Silk is considered to be a pure textile and therefore it is used to dress the gods and the goddesses and is coveted by every Indian woman. As a result, weaving centers grew in and around the country’s holy cities. In Varanasi, the art reached its zenith under the patronage of the Mughal emperors and the weavers began producing rich lustrous silk interwoven with silver and gold threads to create rich and vibrant brocades.

You will have the opportunity to meet an “Ustaad” or master designer whose lineage in weaving goes back centuries.His forefathers created works of art for the royal family of Banaras and a few of their creations are exhibited at international museums. Note: You will meet him by prior appointment.

You will also visit the Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum in the campus which houses a priceless collection of decorative arts, textiles, rare and ancient coins, excavated artefacts and miniature paintings. Of particular note is the excellent collection of Mathura statues and a fine Chola bronze of a dancing Shiva (Nataraja).

Afterwards you will return to your hotel and the rest of the day will be at leisure. Tonight, a special Satvik Thali dinner will be served at your hotel or a local restaurant. Satvik typically means pure, essential, natural, vital, energy-giving and clean. The meal is prepared to restore balance to the body.

Day 5 | Agra

After a quick cup of tea/coffee, you will be met by your guide in the lobby of your hotel and escorted to the airport in time to check-in for your Indigo Airlines flight, 6E 6828 (07:05/08:35 hours) to Delhi (this is a no-frills airline and operates with economy class configuration only). You will carry a packed breakfast from your hotel.

In the arrival hall, you will be met by our colleague, and he will escort you to your waiting vehicle for your drive to Agra (approximately 4 hours, excluding stops). On arrival at your hotel, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague who will help you to check-in.

Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed the little village of Agra into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire. Today, a visitor to Agra is caught up in a world of contrasting edifices of red sandstone and white marble, narrow gullies and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm that this favorite city of the Mughals still retains who died during childbirth in 1631.

At 16:00 hours, you will visit the stunning Taj Mahal (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The Taj Mahal is best seen at different times of the day when the white marble reflects the nuances of the changing light from the sun. Described by poet laureate, Rabindranath Tagore as “a teardrop on the cheek of eternity”, the Taj is a mausoleum and a symbol of the enduring love of Emperor Shah Jahan for his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal,

Legend has it that she bound him with a deathbed promise to build her the most beautiful tomb ever known. It is said that 20,000 stone carvers, masons, and artists from across India and as far as Turkey and Iraq were employed under ateam of architects to build the Taj Mahal in the lush gardens on the banks of Agra’s Yamuna River. It took them from 1631 to 1648 AD to complete the epic task.

Today, the mausoleum is an important place of pilgrimage since the empress died in childbirth, making her a martyr. You will stay at the Taj through sunset before returning to your hotel. Note: The Taj Mahal remains closed on Fridays.

Day 6 | Agra

Day 7 | Ranthambhore

Day 8 | Jaipur

Day 9 | Jaipur

Day 10 | Udaipur

Day 11 | Udaipur

Day 13 | Mumbai

Today, you will have the option to visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise – early in the morning, the Taj is less crowded and the light dancing off the marble façade is magical. Alternatively, you could choose to lie in. Note - The Taj Mahal remains closed on Fridays for public viewing. You will then return to your hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast, you will check-out of your hotel and visit one of the most significant monuments of the city, the Agra Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). When the Mughal Emperor Akbar established his supremacy in northern India, he began his first architectural venture rebuilding the Agra Fort as a beautiful fort-palace.

The work was completed by his son and grandson, highlighting the Mughals’ ability to blend defensive and decorative architecture. Richly decorated with marble and mosaic, it was in a part of this fort that Shah Jahan spent the last years of his life, imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb. His ‘private quarters’ where he was confined has a magical view of the ‘Taj Mahal’ across the River Yamuna.

You will then leave for Ranthambore. En route, about an hour outside Agra, you will stop to see one of the MughalEmpire’s most inspired creations, Fatehpur Sikri (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). This was temporarily the capital of the Mughal Empire under Akbar the Great. Built by the Emperor to honour the saint who foretold the birth of Akbar’s son and heir, the complex was constructed entirely in vibrant red sandstone and is as pristine as when it was first chiselled. Architecturally, it draws its inspiration from Hindu, Persian and Islamic styles.

You will then stop for lunch at a hotel in Bharatpur (approximately 30-40 minutes, excluding stops). After lunch, you will be escorted to Bharatpur railway station in time to board your train 12060 Kota Jan-Shatabdi (15:40/18:03 hours) to Sawai Madhopur. (Class: AC Chair Car Compartment.) Upon arrival at Sawai Madhopur railway station, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague who will escort to your hotel and assist you to check-in.

Covering 410 square kilometers, Ranthambore is located 14 kilometers from Sawai Madhopur, at the junction of the Aravalli and the Vindhya ranges. Ranthambore National Park and Tiger Reserve is one of the world’s best- known wilderness areas and offers some of the finest opportunities for sightingthe magnificent tiger in the wild. A mix of rolling hills and crags, meadows, lakes and rivulets, this dry-deciduous forest system is home to an incredible variety of flora and fauna.

Twice in the day – early in the morning and again late in the afternoon, you will be taken for “game drives” inside Ranthambore National Park. All your drives will be in a private jeep, along with a naturalist.

(Your morning drives will start at about 06:30 hours and end at about 10:00 hours, and your afternoon drives will start at about 14:30 hours and end at about 18:00 hours.)

Apart from the tiger, you can also spot the jackal, fox, hyena and mongoose at Ranthambore. The elusive Indian wolf too, has been spotted here occasionally. Basking crocodiles, a king vulture on a snag, the scream of the serpent eagle and the alarm call of spotted deer are some sights and sounds that make this a safari experience like no other. The landscape is dominated by the 10th century fortress of Ranthambore while the valleys have numerous cenotaphs, ruins and abandoned settlements overcome by nature – a testament to the battles and romances of an era long gone.

After your morning drive, you will return to your resort to freshen up and have breakfast. You will have enough time to relax before you venture out for your afternoon drive. In the evening, if you like, you will participate in a private session with a local artist to learn about a rare art- form, that involves painting using charcoal and jute coir. You will interact with the artist who is also a naturalist and is closely involved in preserving this art-form. He will help you nurture your understanding of the iconography and eco-friendly techniques involved in creating this splendid work of art.

Early this morning, you will go on your final “Game drive”. After breakfast, you will drive to Jaipur (approximately 4 hours, excluding stops).

The history of the Kingdom of Jaipur can be traced to the 12th century, when it was originally known as Amber, which was also the name of the capital city. Amber, the kingdom, came into prominence when the Mughal Emperor Akbar married one of its princesses in a shrewd matrimonial alliance between the Mughals and the Rajputs. In the 18th century, Raja Sawai Jai Singh, perhaps one of the most brilliant rulers of this period moved the capital from Amber to Jaipur.

On arrival at your hotel, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague, who will assist you to check-in. The remainder of the day will be at leisure for independent activities.

After breakfast, you will be escorted to the airport by our Peirce & Leslie colleague who will help you to check-in for your Indigo Airline flight, 6E- 7348 (09:25/10:15 hours) to Udaipur. Note: The flight details mentioned is based on current available flight schedule. The exact flight details will be advised closer to the travel date.

In the arrival hall, you will be met by our colleague and escorted to your waiting vehicle.

Udaipur is the capital city of the legendary Sisodias of Mewar, believed to be direct descendants of the Sun (an insignia you will see everywhere), and was built on the shores of Lake Pichola by Udai Singh II in 1559. Known as the “City of Sunrise”, it is often described as the most romantic city in India and was built around four man-made lakes.

The standard check-in time at your hotel is 14:00 hours, so your room will not be available when you arrive. Therefore, you will take a walking tour of the old city with your guide. Sharing space with cows, elephants, people and bicycles, the walk through the winding lanes will give you a flavour of the lives of people in “small town India”.

You will pass unexpected folk art decorating the walls of houses, small architectural gems like a latticed work haveli window and shops selling a variety of items. You will stop at a small temple in the old city where you will see the very rare and ephemeral art of “Jal Sanjhi”, a religious art that involves drawing with coloured powder on water. This is a dying craft and has been revived by us. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. In the evening, you will take a private cruise on Lake Pichola, sailing past its picturesque ghats and palaces.

After breakfast, you will visit the City Palace. This sprawling palace was built over three centuries and is a series of four interconnecting palaces, illustrative of various architectural styles. The main section is a blend of Rajput military architecture on the outside, with lavish Mughal-inspired decorative art on the inside. In terms of an exemplary eye for detail and craftsmanship, few palaces match the artwork here.

Also of particular note, is the exquisite collection of priceless Rajput Miniature paintings that were done in the Mewari tradition. You will then take a walk through the Crystal Gallery, which has a rather eclectic collection of Crystal Objet d’art and furniture including a complete bedroom set, discovered recently in a storeroom in the Palace.

In the afternoon, you will visit The Vintage and Classic Car Collection of The Palace of Udaipur. The museum has become a major landmark of the city and showcases grand limousines and cars from the collection of the Royal family - theyare still in perfect running condition! You will be able to see the display of magnificentRolls-Royces, open convertible Cadillacs, Mercedes, Vauxhalls and customized Jeeps. You will also get the opportunity to go for a half-hour drive in one of these old beauties.

This will be followed by a visit to the Mewar School of Art to learn about Mewar Painting. The Mewar School is one of the most important schools of Indian miniature painting, dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

You will then return to your hotel.

In the evening, you will participate in a unique culinary experience conducted by a family that was once amongst the premier nobility of Mewar. The family has hosted Queen Elizabeth, Jacqueline Kennedy and the first Prime Minister of India.The secret, age-old recipes of the familyhave been passed through generations and are guarded zealously.

You will have the opportunity of watching the meal being prepared (and try your hand, if you like) as they explain the intricacies of the process. This will be followed by dinner with the host family. You will then return to your hotel.

The morning will be at leisure, and you may wake up at your own pace for a relaxed breakfast. Later, you will be met by a guide in the lobby of our hotel and escorted to the airport in time to check-in for your Vistara Airline flight, UK614 (14:20/15:55 hours) to Mumbai.

In the arrival hall, the airport representative will introduce you to your driver who will escort you to your hotel and assist you to check-in. India’s most cosmopolitan city and financial nerve center, Mumbai is also the center of the country’s thriving film industry popularly known as Bollywood. Some 15 million people from billionaire tycoons to homeless pavement dwellers live in this teeming megalopolis. No city highlights the glaring contrasts between the wealthy and the poor or the indomitable spirit to succeed as Mumbai does.

After breakfast, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and you will take a “Colonial Walk” through Mumbai. Covering the various tourist landmarks of Mumbai, this ‘heritage walking tour’ will start at the Gateway of India. You will then walk past the Royal Mumbai Yacht Club, the Police Headquarters, the National Gallery of Modern Art and the City Museum.

On the way, you will stumble upon the Kala Ghoda (literally, ‘black horse’,named after a statue in the vicinity) area, which is the art district of Mumbai. Here, amidst tales of Sassoon and Jewish history, you will hear stories of the Watson Hotel. As you walk past the Sessions Court and the High Court, you will see the iconic Rajabai Towers, the Big Ben of Mumbai and the venerated architectural masterpiece – the Victoria Terminus Railway Station (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

You will drive to Churchgate Station where you will get the opportunity to see the famed ‘dabbawallas’ or ‘lunch box carriers’ in action. The Mumbai dabbawallas are international figures now, thanks to Forbes Global. The Forbes story details the efficiency with which they deliver the dabbas or lunch pails of their customers. Around 5,000 dabbawallas collect and deliver 175,000 lunches every day and take the empty boxes back. Their operation has a six sigma rating which implies less than 3.4 errors in every million transactions. This is the same rating that has made companies like Motorola and GE world famous for their quality!

Note: The Dabbawalla experience is not available on Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays.

This will be followed by a visit to Dhobi Ghat, a sight unique to this city. Dhobi Ghat or “washer folks’ place” is the world’s largest outdoor laundry and here, Mumbai’s traditional washer folk – or dhobis – provide a wonderful service, collecting dirty laundry, washing it, and returning it neatly pressed, all for a very small fee. With a large chunk of Mumbai’s washing done here, it comes as no surprise that these dhobis have been christened the ‘Washing Machines’ of Mumbai. You may like to stop for lunch at one of the local restaurants. Your guide will behappy to make recommendations based on the cuisine that you prefer (direct payment).

After lunch, you will be taken on a special tour to Dharavi, the second largest slum in Asia where you will get a close-up look at the industry, the people and their way of life. Contrary to popular belief, the people are educated, employed, speak passable English and more importantly, are very happy.

Your co-explorer will be a local, for whom Dharavi has been home since childhood. History has it that Dharavi was a fishing village with the kolis, or the fisher- folk, as its main inhabitants. Owing to the construction of a dam, the Dharavi creek dried up, making the fisher-folk move to greener pastures and paving the way for new settlements.

Today, Dharavi attracts thousands ofpeople every day, and nurtures their dreams of a better life, making it possibly the only slum in the world where people come in vast numbers to make a living. It is this migration that has, over the years, resulted in making this settlement asignificant contributor to Mumbai’sproductivity. With thousands of small-scale industries thriving in the area, Dharavi, as a whole, generates estimated revenue of about US$ 500 million annually!

Note: This is not a slum tour, but a visit to highlight the entrepreneurial skills of the people here. Your guide will let you know when it is appropriate to take photographs.

Today, you will start at 05:15 hours with a memorable tour to watch the city come to life. The early morning start is well worth the effort because it is fascinating watching the city wake up. What’s interesting is that if you walk the same lanes a few hours later, you won’t find a shred of evidence of the morning’s flurry!

The tour will start at the clamorous and chaotic docks, where you will see the arrival and grading of 25 tons of fish. You will also witness a one-of-a-kind auction of the famous Bombay Duck (which is a fish and not a feathered friend)! You will then move on to watch the newspaper deliverymen in action. What makes this activity even more fascinating is that almost all of these thousands of vendors are illiterate and yet they sort through stacks of newspapers in 7 different languages at incredible speeds right in the middle of the empty streets before sending the sorted piles off for delivery.

The ‘all herb mandi’ (market) spread across a popular bridge is possibly the only market of its kind in the world, and hundreds of vendors sit atop the bridge selling various leafy vegetables to wholesalers, retailers, and local housewives. As you drive along, milkmen will ride past you on bicycles with milk canisters, bakers rush to deliver freshly baked bread, while other vendors are busy with the logistics of distributing 100 tons of meat, fruits and vegetables to various markets.

Breakfast will be served at a local restaurant. You will then return to your hotel.

After lunch, you will be taken on an off-beat tour called “Thieves Markets” or Chor Bazaar. For the collector, there is plenty to browse through. Furniture from the Raj, antiquated electronic appliances, vintage gramophones, rare vinyl records, handmade film posters, old crockery and even antique doorknobs and handles!

Of course, it is difficult to know whether the items are really antiques or modern day knock-offs so you do need to be careful if you purchase anything. However, the crowds, the hubbub of activity and the romance of doing something ‘edgy’, all make this a unique experience.

As an add-on sightseeing activity, you may like to stop at one of South Mumbai’s most famous markets – Crawford Market. This is one of the largest fruit and vegetable markets in the city. You can browse through the pungently aromatic lane of “Mirchi Galli” (spice lane) and the colorful and perfumed “Phool Galli” (flower lane).

You will then walk through a traditional market area, where your guide will show you the famous Crawford Market and the “native” bazaar area of Bombay, with its mix of Hindu, Muslim and Jain traders who alongside the Jewish businessmen, formed an integral part of Mumbai’s business community.

In the evening, you will join one of Mumbai’s local ‘foodies’ and explore the city’s famous and unpretentious street food together. You will join hundreds of locals on this journey as they flock to the street vendors and cafes. On your tour, you will explore a Khau Gully or ‘eating lane’ (Mumbai has several), an Irani Café, the Girgaon Chowpatty (beach), Kulfi Centre (Indian ice-cream) and if time permits, we will take you to Babulnath Dosa Point.

This is a very typical Mumbai experience but one that few tourists explore. You will then return to your hotel. Late at night, you will be met by our colleague in the lobby of your hotel and escorted to Mumbai’s International Airport in time to check-in for your homeward bound flight (details to be advised).

After breakfast, you will visit the Fort- Palace at Amber (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Hill forts were always important to the Rajput rulers. Belonging to the Hindu “Kshatriya” or warrior class, they believed in the line from the sacred holy books, the Puranas – “a fort is the strength of a king”. They built a number of such forts all over the State of Rajasthan; some made for purely defensive purposes, but most built as fort-palaces, similar in style to the surrounding richly decorated Mughal courts.

From Amber, you will be taken to the excellent Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing. The museum chronicles the regeneration of hand-block printing techniques in Rajasthan using traditional methods. A private and interactive block printing demonstration by a curator will be arranged for you. Note: Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing remains closed on Mondays.

Next, you will drive to a private farmhouse abutting the forest (approximately 30 minutes, excludingstops). Here, you will get to interact with the farm’s resident elephants - feeding them, washing and scrubbing them– all in the privacy of one of our exclusive wilderness venues. You will then have the option of simply strolling in the wilderness with it. Lunch will be served at a private venue.

Note: VLX Travel is very careful that all participants in the travel ecosphere (including animals) are treated well. We therefore do not support any activities which involve animals unless we are satisfied that they are well cared for.

After lunch, you will visit the City Palace, which at the behest of Sawai Jai Singh, was built near the temple of his personal deity, Govinda Deva. From the City Palace, you will enter the extraordinary “Jantar Mantar” (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the astronomical observatory built by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1827. Roughly translated, the name means “The Formula of Instruments”. This is one of the five observatories he built in northern India. The massive futuristic structures that you will see are actually highly sophisticated instruments that are accurate even today.

After your visit to the Jantar Mantar, you may like to stop to take photographs atthe iconic Hawa Mahal, or ‘Palace of the Winds’, with its ornate pink façade. This five-story- high “screen” composed of projected windows and balconies protected by fine, latticed screens was designed to allow ladies of the harem to observe the lively street scenes of the city from a position of privacy. You will then return to your hotel.

Dream Stays

  • SUJÁN The Serai

    JAISALMER

  • The Leela Palace

    DEHLI

  • Nadesar Palace

    VARANASI

  • The Oberoi Udaivilas

    UDAIPUR