The glorious era of Indian royalty is explored on this tour of the north, along with a stay at Ranthambore National Park, once the private hunting grounds of Maharajas, now an important conservation area.
Royalty & Tigers 15 Days India
- Itinerary and Tour Map
Day 1 – Arrive – Delhi
On arrival at Delhi airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The drive from the airport introduces Delhi as a spacious, tree-lined city with a number of beautiful parks.
Stay three nights at the Taj Palace Hotel.
Day 2 – Delhi
The morning is at leisure. In the afternoon take a tour of Delhi including visits to Qutub Minar, the tallest stone tower in India, and Humayun’s tomb, built by the widow of the second Mughal Emperor in the Indo-Persian style. See the imposing India Gate, Parliament buildings and Rastrapathi Bhawan, the President’s residence. (B)
Day 3 – Delhi
Take a morning tour of Old Delhi, beginning with a visit to Raj Ghat, a simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. See the Red Fort and continue on to Jama Masjid, one of Asia’s largest mosques. It was the last architectural extravaganza of the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, built in 1656 AD, and large enough to hold as many as 25,000 devotees. The afternoon is free for shopping or leisure. (B)
Day 4 – Delhi – Agra
Travel by road this morning to Agra. Visit the Taj Mahal, arriving at the gates by horse drawn carriage. (Closed on Fridays.) The Taj Mahal is everything that has been said about it and more. Taking 22 years and 20,000 men to build, the white marble was quarried 200 miles away and transported to the site by a fleet of 1000 elephants. Built in the mid 17th century by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as an expression of his love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal appears amazingly perfect from almost any angle. Close-up the marble inlay work is astounding. You will have ample time to view this outstanding piece of architecture. Continue on to Agra Fort, once the stronghold of the Mughal Empire. This evening try your hand at bargaining at the marble & leather stalls.
Stay one night at the Taj Gateway Hotel. (B)
Day 5 – Agra – Fatehpur Sikri – Jaipur
Drive to Jaipur, the ‘Pink City’ of palaces and monuments. Stop along the way to visit Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted red sandstone city, built by the Great Mughal Emperor Akbar as his capital and palace in the late 16th century. It was abandoned soon after when the wells dried up and it remains today in much the same condition that it was over 300 years ago.
Stay two nights at the Jai Mahal Palace Hotel. (B)
Day 6 – Jaipur
Sightseeing today includes a jeep ride up to the Amber Fort, then time to stroll through the sprawling complex of courtyards and halls. See Hawa Mahal, also known as the Palace of the Winds, whose elaborately carved façade captured cooling breezes and concealed from view the ladies of the court watching the activity in the streets below. Visit the City Palace gardens and courtyards, and explore the collections of costumes, armoury and rare manuscripts in its museum. Walk to the adjacent Astronomical Observatory, built in 1726 and still in use, and shop in the local bazaar. (B)
Day 7 – Jaipur – Ranthambore
Travel by road to Ranthambore National Park. Once the private hunting grounds of Maharajas, the large and beautiful Park is now an important conservation area for the Royal Bengal Tiger. Your adventure begins on a jungle safari this evening, on the lookout for tigers, panthers, sambar, crocodiles, eagles and other wildlife.
Stay two nights at the Vivanta byTaj. (B,D)
Day 8 – Ranthambore
Morning and afternoon wildlife viewing by jeep or open top truck is included today, plus a visit to the Ranthambore Fort, built in the 10th century and commanding a panoramic view of the tiger reserve. (B,L,D)
Day 9 – Ranthambore – Bundi
After breakfast you will be driven to Bundi. The rest to the day is at leisure, perhaps to visit the pretty lake in the centre of the town.
Stay one night at the Hadoti Palace Hotel. (B)
Day 10 – Bundi – Udaipur
Visit Taragarh Fort and the adjacent Palace filled with beautiful murals reflecting the glorious era of Indian royalty. Journey on to Udaipur.
Stay two nights at the legendary and luxurious Taj Lake Palace Hotel. (B)
Day 11 – Udaipur
No city in Rajasthan is quite as romantic as Udaipur. Full of pale, elegant palaces and intricate temples, the city encircles the placid waters of Lake Pichola. Explore the City Palace and Museums, a maze of courtyards, apartments and decorated halls. The frescoes, glass and mirror work are not to be missed. Also visit Saheliyon-ki-Bari, the ornamental Garden of the Maids of Honour, featuring fountains and pools. In the afternoon, a feast for the senses awaits on a visit to the old market at Udaipur, walking through areas where the James Bond film Octopussy was shot. Later there is a boat-ride on Lake Pichola visiting the bathing ghats. (B)
Day 12 – Udaipur – Deogarh
Your journey today takes you through the rugged, wooded hills of Rajasthan, stopping to visit the Ranakpur Jain Temples, renowned for their grandiose scale and highly decorated ceilings. Continue to Deogarh, nestled in the Aravallis, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. The afternoon is at leisure to explore the village, or watch for the numerous migratory birds attracted to the area.
Stay one night at the Deogarh Mahal Hotel, a hilltop palace overlooking the town. (B)
Day 13 – Deogarh – Jodhpur
The destination today is Jodhpur, the desert city of blue painted buildings and origin of the name for the baggy-tight horseriding trousers. The old walled city, a tangle of winding streets, is best viewed from the Mehrangarh Fort situated on a rocky ridge above the city. Visit the palaces inside the fort to see the delicate friezes and treasures of the royal family. Take an exhilarating walk through the old city, perfumed by incense and roses, then climb aboard a horse-drawn carriage for a ride back to your hotel.
Stay one night at the Taj Hari Mahal Hotel. (B)
Day 14 – Jodhpur – Delhi
The morning is at leisure before transferring to the airport for an afternoon flight to Delhi.
Stay one night at the Taj Palace Hotel. (B)
Day 15 – Depart Delhi
Transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B) - Make a Booking
- Tour Dates and Prices
- Price Includes:
Photo Gallery
Highlights
- See for yourself the astounding marble inlay work on the walls of the Taj Mahal
- Jeep safari in Ranthambore on the lookout for tigers
- Stay in the elegant and romantic Lake Palace Hotel in Udaipur
- See the simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi
- Marvel at the beauty and intricacy of palace design and decoration
