Forts and Palaces Tour in India - 12 days

You can arrive in Delhi via flight, train, or road. Please pass on the details of your arrival to us so that our representative can receive you at the pick-up point. After welcoming you he will drop you at your hotel where you can take a rest.

Overnight in Delhi.

Delhi the capital of India has many historical and cultural sites. Today you will visit the Qutub Minar, India Gate, Akshardham temple, Birla Temple, Lotus Temple, President's House, and India Gate.

Qutub Minar is one of the earliest structures built by the Muslim invaders. Dating back to the thirteenth century, Qutub Minar heralded the beginning of Muslim rule in India. Standing at a height of 72.5 meters, Qutub Minar which is built using sandstone and marble is the tallest masonry tower in India. The tower is decorated with beautiful carvings and Islamic calligraphy. Protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site Qutub Minar complex also includes a mosque and a mausoleum.

India Gate and the President's House or Rashtrapati Bhawan is located in New Delhi. These colonial structures were built under the British Raj. While the India Gate is an arched memorial dedicated to the Indian soldiers who lost their lives during World War I and the Anglo-Afghan War, the President's House is where the President of India lives.

Akshardham Temple is the biggest Hindu temple in the world. This sacred place of worship has been built using ancient Hindu building techniques. A total of 20,000 statues of various gods, goddesses, and saints are placed inside the temple.

Visits to the beautiful Lotus Temple and the sacred Birla Temple and Bangla Saheb Gurudwara are also included in your itinerary.

You end your sightseeing tour of the capital city with a visit to the old market of Chandni Chowk. Shop for souvenirs while strolling the old bazaar.

Overnight in Delhi.

After an early breakfast, you board a vehicle and enjoy a drive to the old city of Agra. Known as the favorite city of Akbar the Great, Agra is home to the famous Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.

You begin your sightseeing tour after checking in at your hotel and leaving your luggage in your hotel room. The first site you will explore is the monument of love, the Taj Mahal. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his deceased queen Mumtaz Mahal. The mausoleum is built entirely of white marble. Precious stones embellish the interior of the mausoleum.

Later explore the grand Agra Fort. Built entirely of red sandstone, the Agra Fort was the seat of power of the Mughal dynasty. Inside the fort are palaces, mosques, courtyards, gardens, and royal audience halls. Diwan-i-khaas, Diwan-i-aam, Akbari Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Khaas Mahal, Angoori Bagh, Jehangiri Mahal, etc are some of the beautiful buildings you will get to explore.

Later you can visit a marble factory or workshop where artisans create marble inlay work.

Overnight in Agra.

Take the road to Jaipur via the old city of Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri was a well-planned city built by the great Mughal emperor Akbar. The city was later abandoned due to a shortage of water. Among the architectural jewels of Fatehpur Sikri are Jodha Bai's Palace, Paanch Mahal, Khwabgah, Salim Chisti's Tomb, Bulund Darwaza, etc. 

After a brief exploration, you continue your journey and head towards Jaipur, the Pink City of India. Upon reaching the city you will be driven to your hotel. Check in and take a rest.

Overnight in Jaipur.

Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan is a city built by the Rajput Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in the eighteenth century. Today you will visit the ancient fort and palaces built by the valiant Rajput kings.

You begin your sightseeing tour with a drive to the majestic Amer Fort. From the car park, you take an elephant ride like the Rajput royals to the rampart of the fort. Built by the king of the Chanda dynasty in the tenth century, the fort was later expanded and modified by Maharaja Man Singh of the Kuchwaha dynasty. Sitting on a hill overlooking Jaipur, Amer Fort remained the royal seat of the Kuchwaha Rajput kings till the seventeenth century.

Inside the fort are beautifully built palaces of golden and red sandstone and marble. Sukh Niwas, Suhag Mandir, Diwan-i-aam, Diwan-i-khaas, Zenana Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, etc are some of the magnificent palaces inside the fort.

Later you will get to explore the Hawa Mahal or the Wind Palace., City Palace, Jantar Mantar and Jal Mahal.

The Hawa Mahal was built by Maharaja Sawai Man Singh in the eighteenth century as a summer palace for his family. The five–storied pink sandstone palace is decorated with ornate windows or 'jharokhas' and is designed to look like the crown of Lord Krishna. The Hawa Mahal is the largest palace in the world standing without a foundation.

The City Palace has been the residence of the ruling royal family of Jaipur since it was built in 1727 by the Rajput Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. The palace now houses a museum and the residence of the royal family.

Jantar Mantar was also built by Sawai Jai Singh II, who was a great scholar. The Jantar Mantar which is an astronomical observatory has the world's largest sundial.

Jal Mahal or the Water palace stands in the middle of the serene Mansagar Lake. The palace was built as a bird hunting lodge by the Rajput kings. Jal Mahal has five floors, four of which are under the water.

Later in the evening, you will enjoy Rajasthani cuisine and a cultural program at Chokhi Dhani, a village-themed restaurant. Please note the price of food is not included in your package.

Overnight in Jaipur.

Leaving the Pink City you head to Udaipur the 'City of Lakes'. The route to Udaipur is filled with green forests and hills of the Aravalli Range. Built by the king of Mewar in the sixteenth century, Udaipur is dotted with natural as well as artificial lakes, palaces, and temples.

During the ride to Udaipur, you can spy langurs running around the highway. On reaching the city you check into your hotel and freshen up. You can either relax at the hotel or take a leisurely stroll around the city by yourself.

Overnight in Udaipur.

Today you will explore the most popular tourist sites in Udaipur – Pichola Lake, City Palace, Jagdish Temple, Bagore ki Haveli, and Meera Kala Mandir.

Enjoy the beauty of the glittering Pichola Lake and explore the grand City Palace. Inside the City Palace complex are 11 palaces built by the Mewar kings, with courtyards, pavilions, terrace gardens, and fountains embellishing the complex. The enormous palace complex took around four hundred years to complete.

Jagdish Temple dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu is the largest temple in Udaipur. Dating back to the seventeenth century, the ornately carved Jagdish Temple provides the best example of Indo-Aryan style of architecture.

Bagore ki Haveli is a magnificent palace built by the prime minister of Mewar in the eighteenth century. The huge palace is built on the waterfront of Pichola Lake and boasts of richly decorated 138 rooms. The palace, which has been converted into a museum, showcases wall frescoes and paintings of Mewar royals, stained glass windows, costumes and jewelry worn by the Rajput royals, etc.

Later head to Meera Kala Mandir and enjoy Rajasthani folk songs and dances performed by local artistes.

Overnight in Udaipur.

Leaving Udaipur you proceed towards Jodhpur, the Blue City of Rajasthan. En route, you stop at Ranakpur and visit the Jain Temple. Built entirely of white marble, this magnificent temple is dedicated to Jain guru Rishabha Deva.

The ride to Jodhpur is pleasant and filled with picturesque views of the Aravalli Range. After reaching the city head to your hotel and freshen up. Later visit the majestic Mehrangarh Fort. Located on a hill overlooking Jodhpur, the fort rises to a height of 125 meters and stretches over an area of 1200 acres.

The Mehrangarh Fort was built by Rajput ruler Rao Jodha in 1459. Inside the fort are elegant palaces decorated with ornate carvings, stained glass windows, and frescoes. These palaces used to be the residences of the Marwar royalty. Some of the important palaces are Phool Mahal, Moti Mahal, Zenana Dude, Sheesh Mahal, Janaki Mahal, and Takht Vilas. There's a museum inside the fort showcasing the items used by the royal Marwar family, musical instruments, and weapons. From the rampart of the fort, you can enjoy the panoramic view of Jodhpur city filled with brightly painted blue houses.

Later head to Jaswant Thada, a beautiful marble cenotaph. Jaswant Thada, also known as the Taj Mahal of Marwar was built by Marwar Maharaja Sardar Singh in memory of his father.

Explore the local market and shop for souvenirs before returning to your hotel. Jodhpur is famous for its Bandhini and Lehariya fabrics, silver jewelry, lac bangles, shoes and accessories made from camel leather, etc.

Overnight in Jodhpur.

From Jodhpur take the road toward Jaisalmer. Known as the Golden City, Jaisalmer lies in the middle of the Thar Desert, the only desert in India. During your journey, you can see the sand dunes of the Thar Desert dotted with huts of farmers and shepherds. You can see villagers dressed in traditional clothes herding their goats and cattle.

On reaching the city you will be driven to your hotel where you can freshen up and relax. If you wish you can explore the area surrounding your hotel by yourself.

Overnight in Jaisalmer.

Jaisalmer is known as the Golden City because of the city's burnished sandstone houses and palaces. The city was founded by king Rawal Jaisal in the twelfth century. It used to be a medieval trading hub and traders traveling along the silk route used to stop here to trade and rest.

After breakfast your guide will take you to the famous Jaisalmer Fort which dominates the skyline of the city. Made of yellow sandstone, the Jaisalmer Fort is the only living fort in India. You will find temples, shops, hotels, restaurants, art galleries, museums, and people's residences inside the beautiful fort. The chief attractions inside the fort include the royal palace, the seven Jain Temples, and a Hindu temple known as the Laxminarayan Temple.

Later your guide will take you to the famous Patwon ki Haveli, a cluster of traditional mansions built by a rich merchant family. The heritage building is made of yellow sandstone and features intricately carved pillars, jharokhas, frescoes, and marble inlay work.

Overnight in Jaisalmer.

Leaving Jaisalmer, you return to Jodhpur. Our driver will drop you at the domestic airport from where you catch a flight to Delhi. On reaching Delhi our representative will drive you to your hotel. No activity is planned for today. If you wish you can explore more places in Delhi on your own. There are a lot of heritage sites and modern shopping malls which you can visit.

Overnight in Delhi.

Our representative will drop you off at the airport on time to catch your flight back home. If you want to explore more destinations in India or the Himalayan nations of Nepal and Bhutan, please do let us know. Third Rock Adventures operate tours and treks in all these countries. Our travel consultant will help you plan yet another interesting and exciting holiday.