Architecture in Abundance Culture Tour (16 days) C192

Introduction

Enjoy some of India’s sensational monuments and most famous cities on this classic culture tour. Not to be missed is the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, both exhibiting intricate decorations – no wonder these World Heritage Sites feature high on the agenda when planning a visit to India.   Visit the famous  Pink City of Jaipur (location for  the film “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”) and see the famous Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) and the Amber Fort.  Explore the Shekhawati region with its ornate havelis decorated with beautiful Rajasthani frescoes.  See so much more in Bikaner than its famous Rat Temple – a visit to here is not compulsory!  Many love to take a tour of the Camel Breeding Centre and the old streets of Bikaner.  This itinerary is basically the same as C191, but with two nights added in Jodhpur, where amongst other things you can visit the colossal Mehrangarh Fort and much more.  An ideal holiday for anyone interested in the finest of architecture or photography and for those who wish to experience the ‘real’ India.

Itinerary and price

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Meals: Payable directly today Arrive at New Delhi airport where you will be welcomed by our representative.  Your driver will then take you to your hotel.  Check-in at most places is from 12 noon – often earlier if the room is available.  Explore Delhi for half a day (with your driver).  From here we recommend a leisurely few hours to see the Lotus Temple and enjoy the grounds and have a relaxing evening. Night in Delhi Meals: Breakfast in Delhi Full day to explore Delhi with your driver. There are many cultural places in and around the capital.  Humayun’s Tomb, Jama Masjid and Qutub Minar are well worth a visit.  You can enjoy a journey by cycle rickshaw around the narrow streets of Old Delhi, visit Raj Ghat and drive past India Gate and the Government Buildings.  Note: In the cities there are plenty of places where you can eat out cheaply, or alternatively you can check the menu at your hotel.  To allow flexibility we have priced this on a bed and breakfast basis.   Interested in wildlife?  Look out for Black Kites overhead and Five-striped Ground Squirrels and Rhesus Macaques in green spaces. Night in Delhi Meals: Breakfast After breakfast leave for Agra.  Expect the journey to take around 4 – 5 hours depending on traffic.  Check in at your hotel, then in the afternoon visit the extensive and very beautiful Agra Fort, followed by the Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays) and watch the colour of the marble change in the mid to late afternoon light. Night at hotel in Agra. Meals: Breakfast Depending on your choice, after breakfast your driver can take you to the Baby Taj (in Agra) or you can commence the journey of around five hours plus stops to Jaipur.  If you wish after about 45 minutes along the route you can explore the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri (a World Heritage Site). Continue on to the Pink City of Jaipur.  On arrival at your hotel you may want to relax for a while  then explore locally in the late afternoon/early evening. Night at hotel at Jaipur. Meals: Breakfast Following breakfast, explore the impressive Amber Fort, City Palace, the Observatory and, if there is any spare time, walk the streets of this vibrant, colourful city which is famous for silk. Return to your hotel for the evening. Night at Jaipur Meals: Breakfast After breakfast your driver will take you on a journey of about three to four hours through rural India to Pushkar, well known as the location for the famous Pushkar Camel Fair.  On arrival you can relax or visit Brahma Temple and Pushkar Lake. Night at Pushkar Meals: Breakfast After breakfast and at a time to be decided by yourselves continue to the Shekhawati Region of Rajasthan, famous for its grand havelis (mansions) boasting ornate frescoes and carvings. You'll love this area, visiting local markets and towns such as Nawalgarh, some incredibly ornate havelis and a museum over the course of today and tomorrow. Night at Mandawa Meals: Breakfast A day to explore the many beautiful places around Nawalgarh, the city of Havelis. Night at Mandawa Meals: Breakfast A few hours driving and you'll be in Bikaner. After checking in at your hotel you can decide on what to do for the rest of your day - there is plenty of choice.  We recommend a visit to the Camel Breeding Centre and much more. Night at Bikaner Meals: Breakfast Today you can visit Lallgarh Fort, the Fort Museum and some of Bikaner's best havelis.  Consider a tuk tuk ride (auto rickshaw) or travel by horse and cart through the narrow streets of Old Bikaner and in the evening, whilst not compulsory, those of you who wish to, can visit the famous Karni Mata Temple, often referred to as the Rat Temple. Night at Bikaner. Meals: Breakfast Today's drive is a longer one of around six hours, but with stops en route.  It will be well worth it, though, as your destination is the picturesque citadel of Jaisalmer.  On the journey you'll visit the village of Kheechan, famous for its gatherings of the majestic Demoiselle Cranes in certain months.  It is here that local villagers supplement the Cranes' diet by offering them grain and gatherings of these beautiful, stately birds can be very special.  Closer to Jaisalmer you can stop to visit the War Memorial Museum before continuing to the city.  Check in to your hotel and relax for the evening. Night at Jaisalmer Meals: Breakfast Jaisalmer Fort and museum await you today and you will also enjoy a walk around Lake Gadisar on the edge of Jaisalmer city.  Back in Jaisalmer itself you may visit Patwon Ki and Salim Singh-ki havelis, the former is one of the largest havelis in Rajasthan. In the evening you can, if you wish, enjoy the famous sunset views from the sand dunes of Sam. Night at Jaisalmer Meals: Breakfast After breakfast you will leave for Jodhpur, a journey of around five hours.  On your approach, you'll see the impressive Mehrangarh Fort towering over the city.  Check in to your hotel and enjoy local sites at leisure, including the Clock Tower Market, bustling with life. Night at Jodhpur Meals: Breakfast This morning you can take an excursion by jeep with a guide to the local villages of the Bishnoi tribal community by jeep with a guide.  One can see the daily life of this tribe, visit the local school, a shepherding family and the local weaver and potter.   As an added bonus and with a bit of luck, you may see Indian Gazelle and the stunning Blackbuck antelopes.  Drive back to Jodhpur around lunch time and in the afternoon visit Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada, the latter a milky-white marble memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, located above a small lake 1km northeast of Mehrangarh.  Relax in the evening. Night at Jodhpur Meals: Breakfast Morning at leisure or further explore the city before being transferred to Jodhpur airport to take an internal flight to Delhi (excluded from our price and to be booked by you directly).  One option is with Air India flight no. AI 476 departing Jodhpur at 1455 hours arriving in Delhi at 1620 hours. Our services end with the transfer to Jodhpur airport.  If you require an extra night in Delhi to connect with an international flight the next day, please let us know and we can supply a supplement. Extra note: You can reduce the length of tour in many ways - see C191 which excludes Jodhpur as one example or add nights - see C193 with two nights added to include Udaipur.  Other changes can be made to suit you. Prices for different hotel categories, the names of hotels and a list of inclusions/exclusions are shown below. * Important note: We haven’t included the cost of the entrance fees to monuments mentioned in this itinerary (where they are charged) as some travellers prefer to pay for these directly to retain flexibility each day.  The supplement to include the entrance fees will be approximately £162 per person.  If you would prefer us to book a local culture guide in advance for the monument visits in each city this will cost an additional £240 per person based on two travelling, £160 based on three and £120 per person based on four travelling.  Alternatively you can just pay the entrance fees directly and visit which monuments you would prefer on your own and without a guide.   This approach allows flexibility and you can confirm which is best for you.  Naturally, we can book everything on your behalf. Price per person for low budget hotels option: 2 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £895 * 3 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £840 * 4 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £765 * Single room supplement £220 * See supplements above if you'd like the cost of monument entrance fees and a culture guide to be included. Low budget price is based on the following hotels:

Place	Hotel name	No. of nights
Delhi	Pamposh Guest House, Deluxe Room	2
Agra	Hotel Crystal Inn, Deluxe Room	1
Jaipur	Hotel Ram Vilas, Deluxe Room	2
Pushkar	Notel New Park / Krish Palace, Deluxe Room	1
Mandawa	Hotel Radhika / Haveli Mandawa, Deluxe Room	2
Bikaner	Maharaja Ganga Mahal, Deluxe Room	2
Jaisalmer	Nachna Haveli, Deluxe Room	2
Jodhpur	Kalinga Hotel, Deluxe Room	2

Price per person for mid budget hotels option: 2 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £960 * 3 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £895 * 4 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £825 * Single room supplement £280 * See supplements above if you'd like the cost of monument entrance fees and a culture guide to be included. Mid budget price is based on the following hotels:

Place	Hotel name	No. of nights
Delhi	Hotel Almora, Deluxe Room	2
Agra	Hotel Seven Hills Tower, Deluxe Room	1
Jaipur	Park Regis, Deluxe Room	2
Pushkar	Hotel Pushkar Legacy, Super Deluxe Room	1
Mandawa	Hotel Pushkar Bagh, Deluxe Room	2
Bikaner	Vesta Bikaner Palace, Deluxe Room	2
Jaisalmer	Heritage House / Helsinki House, Deluxe Room	2
Jodhpur	Devi Bhawan, Deluxe Room	2

Price per person for standard hotels option: 2 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1135 * 3 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1075 * 4 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £995 * Single room supplement £410 * See supplements above if you'd like the cost of monument entrance fees and a culture guide to be included. Standard price is based on the following hotels:

Place	Hotel name	No. of nights
Delhi	Justa The Residence at Panchsheel, Superior Room	2
Agra	The Retreat, Deluxe Room	1
Jaipur	Umaid Bhawan or Umaid Mahal, Royal Deluxe Room	2
Pushkar	Fort Pushkar, Deluxe Room	1
Mandawa	Sara Vilas or Udai Vilas, Deluxe Room	2
Bikaner	Lallgarh Palace, Deluxe Room	2
Jaisalmer	Golden Haveli, Deluxe Room	2
Jodhpur	Ratan Vilas, Deluxe Room	2

Price per person for deluxe hotels option: 2 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1340 * 3 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1275 * 4 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1205 * Single room supplement £555 * See supplements above if you'd like the cost of monument entrance fees and a culture guide to be included. Deluxe price is based on the following hotels:

Place	Hotel name	No. of nights
Delhi	Pride Plaza, Aerocity, Deluxe Room	2
Agra	Crystal Sarovar Premium, Premier Taj View Room	1
Jaipur	Shahpura House, Suite Room	2
Pushkar	Pushkar Resort, Deluxe Room	1
Mandawa	Vivanna Haveli, Deluxe Room	2
Bikaner	Laxmi  Vilas  / Narendra Bhawan, Deluxe Room or Lallgarh Palace Super Deluxe Room	2
Jaisalmer	Desert Palace, Deluxe Room	2
Jodhpur	Radisson, Deluxe Room	2

Price includes

• Accommodation in the above mentioned hotels with meals as listed
• All mentioned transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
• Short cycle rickshaw ride in the narrow streets of Old Delhi
• Tuk tuk (auto rickshaw) ride in the narrow streets of Old Bikaner
• All currently applicable taxes
• Half day visit to the Bishnoi villages around Jodhpur by jeep
• Pre-travel information including how to apply for a tourist visa

Price excludes

• Any international airfare to/from India including International airport tax
• Any internal airfare
• Meals not specified
• Tourist visa and travel insurance
• Entrances fees to monuments listed in the itinerary - see supplement for adding these
• Local culture guide to accompany you in each location to visit the culture sites - see supplement if you'd like us to book culture guide services
• Camera fee and camcorder fee where levied
• Any additional taxes levied by the Government of India on the tourism sector in future
• Any increase in the monument entrance fees in the future - should you wish these to be included in the price.  The price is based on currently applicable monument fees
• Any expenses of personal nature such as hard/soft drinks, laundry, phone/fax calls, tips etc.
• Any item not mentioned in the price includes section
• Cost incidental to any change in the itinerary/stay on account of flight cancellation due to bad weather, ill health, roadblocks and/or any factors beyond control

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