Rajasthan Tour with Goa

Arrive Delhi Namaste! We are welcomed the traditional Indian way with hands clapped together. After immigration and custom formalities, we are assisted and driven through the city to our hotel. Overnight: Hotel Taj Mahal, Delhi (2 nights)

Qutub Minar

Qutub Minar Delhi Delhi The capital of India is a true reflection of the old and new of India. We start our morning tour with New Delhi and visit the famous India Gate followed by the Houses of Parliament, Connaught Place and the Qutub Minar - a perfect minaret towering 102 meters/112 yards into the sky. New Delhi is a blend of Moghul India, Hindu India, British India and certainly modern independent India. Our afternoon concentrates on Old Delhi, starting with the famous Red Fort. Built by Shah Jehan, this was once the most opulent fort of the Moghul Empire. Next we visit another Moghul majesty, the Jama Masjid which is India's largest mosque, followed by the Raj Ghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi. We end our tour with a bazaar experience at Chandni Chawlk, the street of silver and goldsmiths.

Taj Mahal Train travel is an exciting way to see India and the experience begins right at the railway platforms. Early morning we arrive at the Delhi Railway Station and see the many cullies that make the station so lively. We are escorted through this maze and board the deluxe Shatabdi Express to Agra. We arrive in the city that houses the most well known of the wonders of the world - the Taj Mahal. Built by Shah Jehan as a mausoleum for his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj is built of white marble, beautifully carved and inlaid with semi-precious stones. Next we visit Agra Fort, where Shah Jehan was imprisoned by his son in the later years of his life to prevent him from spending the family fortunes on a black echo of the Taj Mahal. Overnight: Hotel Taj View (1 night).

A short drive gets us to Fatehpur Sikri, the beautiful capital built in 1640 by the Moghul king, Akbar the Great. The city was later abandoned for lack of water. A superb example of Moghul architecture, it stands perfectly preserved in the desert. We also visit the artistically designed mausoleum of Salim Chisty who is reputed to have prayed for a son for Akbar leading to the birth of Salim Jehangir, the builder of the Taj. From here we continue on a countryside drive to Jaipur, the rose pink capital of Rajasthan. Overnight: Hotel Trident Oberoi, Jaipur (2 nights).

Jaipur Citypalace Jaipur, A royal experience awaits us as we take an elephant ride uphill to the intriguing Amber Palace, a distinguished example of 17th Century Rajput architecture. After the tour and enjoying a panoramic view, we return to Jaipur to visit the old astronomical observatory built by the founder of the city, Jai Singh. We also visit the majestic Palace, which houses a rare collection of Indian art, and the colourful bazaar. Jaipur is noted for its craftsmen, skilled in brass inlay, lacquer work and stone setting. Most of the buildings in the old city are made of pink sandstone and one of the most beautiful is Hawa Mahal, Palace of Winds, where the ladies of the royal harem used to watch the city from behind the intricately carved facade. Evening is free to enjoy both shopping and a cultural experience in the bazaars of Jaipur.

Jaipur has a lot to offer and we have our morning free to enjoy the many attractions. Late afternoon we are transferred to the Railway Station to catch the Jaipur-Jodhpur Intercity Train. Another interesting train ride where we meet people of different walks of life all making an attempt to converse with their IE (Indian English), we arrive at Jodhpur Railway Station at about 11:00 pm and are met and transferred to our hotel. Overnight: Hotel Taj Hari Mahal (2 nights)

Today we tour Jodhpur. Dominating the city is a massive fortress, safeguarding the Royal palaces with their collections of arms and priceless jewels, the Mehrangarh Fort. We also visit the exquisite Jaswant Thada and the Mandore Gardens. In the afternoon we take a Jeep Safari to Bishnoi Village, to see the traditional lifestyle of rural Rajasthanis living in small houses and wearing their colorful dresses.

After the Jodhpur experience we get a different feel of Rajasthan as we visit the Ranakpur Temples home to an exceptionally beautiful complex in the Aravali range and a popular pilgrimage for the Jains. We arrive in the early evening at the Lake Palace Hotel in Udaipur. We enjoy an evening boat ride in Lake Pichola arranged by the hotel. Overnight: Hotel Lake Palace (2 nights) .

Udaipur

If Jaipur is a study in pink, Udaipur is a vision in white. The City of Dawn, surrounded by the ancient Aravali Mountains and set on the edge of three lakes, is a brilliant kaleidoscope of narrow lanes flanked by bright stalls, gardens, lakes, palaces and temples. Eight marble porticos mark the spot where the Mewar sovereigns were weighed in gold, the equivalent value of which was then distributed to the poor. Within the City Palace are several architectural and artistic highlights such as the Mor Chowk, known for its stunning peacock mosaics and the Bhim Vilas Palace with its series of lovely wall paintings. The most memorable parts of Udaipur are its lake palaces, shimmering like jewels on Lake Pichola. Jag Mandir, the other island palace with a marble dome, is a marvel in red sandstone. It was a refuge for the Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan when he was in exile following a quarrel with his father, Emperor Jahangir.

An early morning flight gets us to the city for which India is equally well known - Bombay, or Mumbai as it is once again called. After checking into our hotel, we take a tour of Bombay including the Gateway of India landmark archway, the world's largest open-air laundry, Jain Temple, Marine Drive, Hanging Gardens and the Prince of Wales Museum. Evening is free to enjoy the many attractions that Bombay offers in art, theatre, shopping or just loitering in one of the largest cities in the world. Overnight: Taj Palace Hotel (1 night)

Mumbai After an inspiring tour of Rajasthan and bid farewell to India, with our minds filled with lovely memories of amazing sights, sounds end experiences.

Goa

A short flight takes us to the one time Portuguese colony of Goa, which offers a unique blend of India with a strong Portuguese influence. We are transferred to our beacheside resort to enjoy the relaxing Goan lifestyle and sea activities. The beach in Goa offers both quite and a public area where one would find lots of families enjoying the silver sands and the local hawker selling home cooked snacks. Overnight: Hotel Taj Holiday Village, Goa (2 nights).

Today is free for leisure activities in this tropical beach resort. You may also wish to visit the World Heritage Site of the churches and convents of Goa, the former capital of the Portuguese Indies. Of particular interest is the Church of Bom Jesus, which contains the tomb of St Francis-Xavier, a great illustration of the evangelization of Asia. These monuments were influential in spreading forms of Manueline, Mannerist and Baroque art to all the countries of Asia where missions were established.

Day free to relax on beach

Depart to your home twon after having a rich cultural and heritage experinece with relaxation on beach.