12 Days – India with Festival of Lights – Diwali

12 Days – India with Festival of Lights – Diwali

Destinations Covered: Delhi – Pushkar – Udaipur – Jodhpur – Jaipur – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra – Delhi

Overview

Diwali” is perhaps the happiest of Hindu festivals. Of all the festivals celebrated in India, Diwali is undoubtedly the most glamorous and important. It is a festival of lights that symbolize the victory of justice and the elevation of spiritual darkness. The festival of lights “Diwali” is something like “Christmas” for the Hindus and is the cult of the goddess Lakshmi-goddess of money and prosperity.  In India People Painted houses, Go to market and purchase dectorated decorate and illuminate their homes, offices with flowers, lamps, lights, rangoli, and have rituals to worship the goddess to extend their invitation to enter their homes and offices that they mean to bring prosperity to the family or business. It is a festival that people celebrate with their family and the rituals of worship are a private event in each house. This is also a time for shopping as people buy gifts and sweets for friends and family (the bazaars are very well decorated and illuminated) and people go to the homes of their friends and family with gifts and sweets to wish them what Best of prosperity.

Highlights of Tour 

Tour to Qutub Minar, India Gate , Birla Temple , Jama Masjid and Rajghat

Enjoy Rickshaw ride at Old Delhi

Guided Tour to Holy City Pushkar

Visit Chittorgarh Fort

Enjoy folk Dance at Bagaron Ki Haveli

Guided Tour to Udaipur City Palace, Sahelion- Ki –Bari

Enjoy Boat cruise at Lake Picholla

Enjoy Diwali Festival with Lcoal family in Jaipur

Guided City Tour of Jaipur

Visit Early Morning Taj Mahal and Agra fort

DAY 1:  Arrival at Delhi

Upon arrival, you will be given a traditional welcome by our tour executive and transfer to the hotel.

DAY 2: Delhi

Breakfast. In the morning we head to the modern part of Delhi; New Delhi. We visit Qutub Minar, a gigantic 72m tower, built by the first Muslim ruler of India; Qutub-ud-din Aibak. Walkthrough the diplomatic area, government buildings, Rashtrapati Bhawan (residence of the President of India), the Parliament with its beautiful surroundings, and the India Gate (Arc of Triomphe) that always has guests in the form of the countrymen with their Dear/families, etc. In the afternoon we enter the Old part of Delhi where the environment is completely changed with crowded streets, places Going through the Red Fort, built by Mogol Emperor Shah Jahan and we enjoy a ride on a rickshaw (bike cart, pulled by man) in Chandni Chowk, We got off the rickshaw and climbed the stairs a bit to enter the Jama Mosque, The day ends with a visit to Rajghat

DAY 3:  Delhi – Ajmer – Pushkar

Breakfast to go. In the early morning transfer to the train station for the trip to Ajmer (train station closest to Pushkar).

Departure:         Delhi at 0605 Hrs with Shatabdi (train)

Arrival:                Ajmer at 1245 Hrs

Upon arrival departure by road to Pushkar  (15kms, ½ hour approx.). Pushkar one of the holiest places for Hindus and considered one of the oldest existing cities in India. When a demon Vajra Nabha killed the sons of Brahma, Brahma struck him with a lotus flower that killed the demon. A lotus petal fell in Pushkar and a lake formed.  It is a temple dedicated to Lord Brahma and this is the only kind of temple of Brahma in the world

Upon arrival, transfer to the Hotel. In the afternoon discover the presence of four prominent religions of India in PUSHKAR, on a walk just one mile. Visit a famous temple with a mixture of Rajput and Tamil Architecture,

DAY 4: Pushkar – Udaipur

Breakfast. In the morning departure by road to Udaipur (285kms, 5-6 hours approx.) En route, the Chittorgarh Fort built on the top of the hill. It is considered one of the greatest strengths of the country. Here we find the purest expression of pride, romanticism, and the soul of Rajput (Indian warrior caste), who preferred death to surrender to someone. Due to the great extension, its different sections can be visited separately, in which we can highlight the temples and palaces. Continue to Udaipur, a city also called “the Venice of the East” and the “city of lakes.” In the afternoon enjoy Rajasthan folk dances in the Baghore-ki-Haveli.

DAY 5: Udaipur

Breakfast. In the morning visit the City Palace that was built in a fusion of Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles on top of a hill and offers panoramic views of Lake Pichola and Monsón Palace. . Later, visit the Jagdish Temple, a temple of God Visnú. Afterward, a tour that includes the walk on Fateh Sagar Lake and visits the Sahelion-ki-Bari or the ‘ladies’ garden’, built in the middle of the 18th century. In the afternoon, enjoy a shared boat cruise on Lake Pichola with a visit to Jag Mandir Palace.

DAY 6: Udaipur – Ranakpur – Jodhpur

Breakfast. In the morning departure by road to Jodhpur (275kms, 6 hours approx.) Visiting en route to the Jain temple in Ranakpur. The temple is an amazing creation of architectural splendor, with 29 rooms and 1,444 pillars all clearly carved, no two pillars are the same. After the visit, we will continue by road to Jodhpur, a city located almost on the edge of the Thar desert. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel.

DAY 7: Jodhpur

Breakfast. In the morning visit the Fort of Meherangarh, which has a crown of a perpendicular cliff, which was founded by Rao Jodha in 1459 AD, Also visit Jaswant Thada, the white marble imposition memorial, built-in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II in 1899. Later, visit the Umaid Bhawan Palace and the museum to see a private collection of objects from the royal family of Jodhpur.

DAY 8:  Jodhpur – Jaipur

Packed Breakfast & In the early morning transfer to the train station for your trip to Jaipur.

Departure: Jodhpur at 0555 hours with Intercity Express (train)

Arrival: Jaipur at 1050 hours

Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Room available from 1400 hours. Jaipur the capital of Rajasthan, also known as “The Pink City” as the old city had turned terracotta pink in 1876 to welcome Prince Albert.

Upon arrival transfer to the Hotel. Later we explore the exotic ‘bazaars’ of Jaipur to discover the artistic richness of the region and also to experience the purchases of Festival of Light – Diwali – colorful clothes with embellishments, accessories for home decoration, diya (mud candle) to illuminate the house and so on and it is also the perfect opportunity to meet the local people with their families doing shopping and so on. Next experience of Festival of Light- Diwali.

DAY 9: Jaipur

Around 0730 hrs you will take Breakfast and our guide will meet at Lobby and proceed to city tour of Jaipur visit Amber Fort and enjoy a romantic an elephant ride till the top on the hill. The Amber Fort, located on the picturesque and rugged hill, is a fascinating mix of Hindu and Mogol architecture. Then walk through the beautifully restored Jal Mahal, In the afternoon visit the City Palace and the museum. Visit the Hawa Mahal or the Palace of the Winds  Also visit the Jantar Mantar or the Astronomical Observatory.

DAY 10:  Jaipur – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra

Breakfast. In the morning departure by road to Agra (240kms, 5-6 hours approx.) Visiting on the Fatehpur Sikri route. Upon arrival transfer to the Hotel. In the afternoon visit the Agra Fort, an imposing fortress on the banks of the Yamuna River, built by Emperor Mogol Akbar, in 1565 AD.

DAY 11: Agra – Delhi

Early morning visits the Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays), the most fascinating and beautiful monument in India. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Later departure by road to Delhi (210kms, 4 hours approx.).

DAY 12: Delhi (Departure)

Breakfast. Room available until 1200 noon hours. At the convenient time transfer to the airport for your international flight (must be presented at the airport 3 hours before the flight departure time)

Inclusions

Accommodation on twin/double sharing at the Standard hotels

Buffet Breakfast included at Hotels

All transfers, tours, and excursion as per itinerary using air-conditioned AC Vehicle

Local English Speaking Guide as per itinerary

Diwali Celebration with Local family

Shared Boat ride at Udaipur

Rickshaw ride in Delhi

Jeep Ride at Amber Fort

All taxes, tolls, parking fees, and service tax.

Exclusion

Any airfare (International or domestic).

Passport and Visa fees for India.

Any Lunch / Dinner is not Include

Any Monument Entrances ( Tickets)

Any meals OR options not mentioned in the itinerary/cost inclusion.

Any item of personal nature and Gratuities.

Any insurance.

Additional nights for participants, which are offered at additional cost to individual participants.

All personal expenses such as medical expenses, laundry, drinks, telephone and fax services, and all other services not specifically mentioned as included in the itinerary.