Marieke's Art of Living

Regal Rajasthan: a Journey through Rajasthan

Discover the proud and valorous regal splendor of Rajasthan amongst its magnificent forts and palaces, mansions and landscaped estates.

The stunning legacy of the valorous Rajput kings and warrior clans, the ancient kingdom of Rajputana- now India’s richly endowed state of Rajasthan, continues to allure visitors with its promise of a kaleidoscope of experiences. From the landscaped vistas of Jaipur’s beautiful Rambagh Palace to Umaid Bhawan Palace’s sensuous Art Deco riches in Jodhpur; from the mighty ramparts of Amber Fort to the graceful Water Palace of Udaipur; from the elegant interiors of Devigarh Palace to the destination spa Raj Vilas in Jaipur — royal Rajasthan pampers you with its generous hospitality and luxurious splendour.

Synopsis

Day One	Friday	2 January 2009	Delhi arrival
Day Two	Saturday	3 January 2009	Delhi full day sightseeing
Day Three	Sunday	4 January 2009	Delhi/Jodhpur flight
Day Four	Monday	5 January 2009	Jodhpur
Day Five	Tuesday	6 January 2009	Jodhpur/Udaipur
Day Six	Wednesday	7 January 2009	Udaipur
Day Seven	Thursday	8 January 2009	Udaipur
Day Eight	Friday	9 January 2009	Udaipur/Jaipur
Day Nine	Saturday	10 January 2009	Jaipur Party

Itinerary Outline

Day One 2 January 2009 Delhi

Arrive in Delhi where you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Recommended hotels: The Imperial and Oberoi

Day Two 3 January 2009 Delhi

Enjoy a full day of private guided sightseeing of Old & New Delhi.

Delhi, Capital City of independent India rewards the determined sightseer with more than a thousand monuments and two old capital buildings complexes-including the present seat of Government, designed by the British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. Cosmopolitan hotels, shopping, and fine restaurants abound. Delhi also offers a glimpse into the real India: the labyrinthine street bazaars of Old Delhi, and the temples and monuments of India’s chequered colonial past and is a profoundly Indian city.

Full day sightseeing of Old and New Delhi.

The Old Delhi or Shah Jahanabad, was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the first half of the 17th Century. This old city is a dense network of narrow alleys and tightly packed markets and houses. On its perimeter is one of the largest of the Delhi’s monuments, the Red Fort , or Lal Qila, whose thick red sandstone walls, bulging with the turrets and bastions, rise above a wide dry moat in the Northeast corner of the original city of Sahanajanabad. Later visit by Cycle-rickshaw Jama Masjid- India’s largest mosque, designed by the eminent architect Shah Jahan, and built by a workforce of 5000 between 1644 and 1656. The Kinari Bazaar is a colourful street set on Chandini Chowk, and connected to the main road by Dariba Kalan, “the street of incomparable pearls”, which is the centre for the jewellers. The shops in Kinari Bazaar overflow with bright wedding finery.

New Delhi - The modern area of Central New Delhi, with its wide tree-lined avenues and solid colonial buildings, has been the seat of the central government since 1931. At this hub is the royal mall, Rajpath, that runs from the palatial Rashtrapati Bhawan, in the east, to the India Gate war memorial, in the west. Rashtrapati Bhavan is the former Viceregal Lodge, now the official residence of Indian’s President. A huge place, it is the best example of Lutyen’s expansive, imperialist vision, built- of red sandstone in the India-Saracenic (eastern baroque) style, and is a masterpiece of symmetry, discipline, silhouette and harmony set in 330 acres of Raisina Hill.

Also visit the foundations of Lal Kot, established in the 8th C by the Tomara Rajputs, and developed in the 12th C by the Chauhans, the first monuments of Muslim India, it is now know as the Qutab Minar Complex.

Day Three 4 January 2009

This morning, after a leisurely breakfast fly to Jodhpur. On arrival check into Umaid Bhawan Palace, the home of the Maharaja now converted into an elegant and grand hotel. This afternoon at leisure or we can arrange a jeep safari into neighbouring rural desert villages where you pass through many settlements of the Bishnoi community who have made environmental protection their religion where you can visit one of their settlements.

The Bishnoi people follow 29 principles laid down by Guru Jambhoji, who made environmental and wildlife protection a “religion” in the fifteenth century. Common throughout Rajasthan and Gujrat they are renowned for a concern for nature, particularly their refusal to harm the black buck, which now survive only in Bishnoi villages.

Umaid Bhawan Palace: Umaid Bhawan Palace, the only 20th C palace in India, and the largest ever private residence in the world, part of which has been converted into a luxurious hotel is a splendid example of Indo-colonial and art deco style of the 1930's. It took three thousand artisans 14 Years to create this magnificent edifice. The present and the 40th Maharaja of Jodhpur, Gaj Singh II has had the vision to restore and renovate his properties and to breathe a new life into them, adapting them to new uses.

Day Four 5 January 2009 Jodhpur

After a leisurely breakfast a full day sightseeing of Jodhpur City including the bazaars of the old “Blue” city, the spectacular Meherangarh Fort.

Jodhpur is on the eastern fringe of the Thar Desert and serves as the gateway to the wonderland of sand dunes and shrubs, rocky terrain and thorny trees.

Rao Jodha established the Rathore Dynasty in Jodhpur in 1459 AD. The spectacular Meharangarh Fort was hewn out of the rocks and the city of Jodhpur emerged out of the sands of the Thar desert to form the flourishing kingdom of Marwar, encompassing some 36,000 square miles, strategically placed on the trade route between Delhi and the Middle East. It was also a flourishing trading centre of wood, cattle, camels, salt and agricultural crops. The past, in fact, is never very far behind in Jodhpur where palaces, forts, temples and other elegant monuments of architectural and historical worth vie with each other for attention.

Meharangarh Fort spreads over five kilometres on a hill. It houses a palace intricately adorned with long carved panels and latticed windows exquisitely wrought from red sandstone. It also has a museum with a rich collection of palanquins, howdahs, and royal cradles, miniature paintings of various schools, folk music instruments, costumes and impressive armoury.

Day Five 6 January 2009 Jodhpur/Udaipur via Ranakpur

After a leisurely breakfast drive south through the Aravali Mountains (5 hrs drive time) via the wondrous white marble Jain temple of Ranakpur. After lunch continue 2.5 hours to Udaipur and check into your hotel.

Ranakpur Jain Temple - one of five holy Jain sites, it is one of the best known Jain temples, particularly noted for the grandiose scale of its white marble and intricately carved architecture and enjoys a steady stream of pilgrims and devotees.

Continue through a landscape that has rocky mountain passes followed by verdant paddocks in which oxen still draw Persian waterwheels and brilliant squares of colour shroud women bent in agricultural production.

Descend into the magical city of Udaipur by mid afternoon, just in time to punt across the lake and catch the sun setting over the Lake Palace. An oasis of white marble, soothing lakes and green hills in an otherwise arid region, your sanctuary will be the Oberoi’s Udaivilas.
Recommended hotels: the Lake Palace and Oberoi Udaivilas

Day Six 7 January 2009

A half day sightseeing of Udaipur including the City Palace. This afternoon is at leisure or you may wish to wander the bazaars of the Old City with its medieval maze of streets

Day Seven 8 January 2009

From Udaipur there is an hour's drive in the direction of the austerely beautiful Aravali mountains. Nearby at Eklingji are a number of fascinating temples including an 8th C Shiva temple, and at Nagda the ruins of some Jain temples with particularly fine carving.

Your destination is Devi Garh Fort Palace at Delwara. This is India's most spectacular heritage property - a stunning 18th C Fort whose architects, Nareen Gupta and Gautan Bhatia have retained all the romance and splendour of the original complex, but installed an utterly modern and unique interior. Indulge in the hotel's many pleasures: a lovely pool, a health club, Ayurvedic treatments and massage or gentle village and hill treks.

The cuisine is a highlight here and meals from the different regions of India will be served in romantic settings. The nearby village and dream-like farmlets offer delightful walks.

Day Eight 9 January 2009

Fly Udaipur to Jaipur and check into your hotel

Afternoon at leisure of a Tour of the Old City including Amber Fort, the City Palace the Jantar Mantar Observatory and Jaipur's most famous building, the Hawa Mahal: "Palace of the Winds.

The "Pink City" of Jaipur (pink only since it was painted in 1853 for a visit by Prince Albert) is a marvellous synthesis of Hindu, Jain and Mughal influenced architecture. All around the magnificent palaces and buildings are bazaars teeming with people, camels, horses, and shopping here is a lot of fun, and the jewellery particularly interesting. Amber, once the capital is now a deserted complex of majestic ramparts.

Day Nine 10 January 2009

Optional activities being arranged by your hostesses before this evening’s grand party

Day Ten Jaipur 11 January

Enjoy a leisurely morning before joining the Lunch Party

It is possible to leave Jaipur this afternoon and return to Delhi in time for your evening International departure

OR Stay an additional night in Jaipur

Day 8 Jaipur – 12 January Departure

Return to Delhi in time for your International departure
Or
Join Marieke’s Royal Tented and Exotic Estates of Rajasthan Tour
Or
Continue travelling under bespoke arrangements elsewhere in India.

Extensions to the above Tour could include:

• Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve
• UNESCO rated Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
• Agra and the Taj Mahal
• The Skekhavati Region, renowned for its painted havelis and lovely desert landscapes, 3 hours north of Jaipur on roads less travelled.
• A luxurious retreat to Amanbagh, 2 hours east of Jaipur and a 5-hour drive from Delhi.
• Shapurabagh, a regal home in a lakeside setting 4 hours from Jaipur.