Forts and palaces tour of Rajasthan

Once you step into the capital territory of India, Delhi; you will be transferred to your hotel by a professional guide. Rest of the time is at leisure.

Delhi was once also the capital of British India. The city has its significance mythologically and historically. It is one of the essential cities that is the main contributor to fast-growing industries and is considered to be the commercial center in northern India. It was also the first city to incorporate modern transportation system as well. The city has several places that you can visit. One of the most iconic places you can visiton your own is the Red Fort. This iconic fort was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Though the fort appears red, it is actually white in color. The fort was previously known as “Qila-e-Mubarak” or “The Blessed Fort.” It took ten years to build this fort, and the wondrous Kohinoor Diamond was part of its fortune. The city also houses the Qutb Minar. This minaret has certain areas made up of white marble. This is because, the iconic minaretwas once struck by lightning, but soon reconstructed by Firoz Shah. The minaretis not completely straight; it is a slightly leaning tower. The other exotic landmark also includes Purana Qila and Tomb of Safdar. Post-tour overnight is at Delhi.

From Delhi, you will be transferred to Mandawa by road. Mandawa is the soul of the Shekhawati region. It has gigantic forts and palaces that area great tourist attraction. It is a town well connected by road. It has extreme weather conditions, i.e., summer can be extremely hot, and winder can be too cold. It is a small town that also features several handicrafts such as wooden marionettes, embroidery, mirrored patchworks, and much more. It was also an excellent trading region as well. Overnight at Mandawa.

The tour will begin by visiting the villages of Mandawa, Nawalgarh, Dundlod, etc. Here you will get to see several forts and havelis.

The Mandawa region has a beautiful Mandawa Fort. This fort was built by Nawal Singh, a Rajput ruler. It was constructed in 1755 and features gateways with Lord Krishna and his cows. It has a medieval outlook sighted with several frescoes. The interiors are all themed with the life of Lord Krishna. It also has beautiful carvings and mirrored works as well. The Durbar Hall of the palace is now open to numerous archaic paintings and details. It also houses several havelis such as the Hanuman Prasad Goenka Haveli, Chokhani Double Haveli, and Jhunjhunwala Haveli. These exquisite mansions that have latticed windows, wooden doors, and Rajasthani decorations on walls.Post-tour, overnight at Mandawa.

Today, you will be transferred to Bikaner. It is one of the desert cities of Rajasthan that houses several forts, palaces, and monuments. The city also comprises of several Jat communities as well. It is also known for several stories of Rajput princes that remarks the history of the place.

On this tour, you will be taken to the Junagarh Fort. This fort was built by Raja Rai Singh, Mughal army general. He was one of the bravest military generals. He built this fort to defend attacks of the enemies. The fort encloses palaces that are made up of sandstone and marble. The famed palaces include the Badal Mahal, Anup Mahal, and Chandra Mahal. Some other places of interest also include the Lalgarh Palace and Bikaner Raj Parivar Vishram Garh. Post-journey, overnight at Bikaner.

Today, you will be transferred to Jaisalmer by road. This desert city is the most popular tourist destination that is eminent for forts and palaces of Rajasthan. It was once the main center for trading goods to the Arabian and Persian countries. It is also known as the “Golden City” as it lies near the Great Indian Desert. It is also the city that features the largest wind farms in India.

Some marvelous places of interest include the Tazia Tower. It is a five-story monument that has carved balconies. It is a copy of Imam Mausoleum. Another good location to visit is also the Badal Mahal. It is also known as the “Cloud Palace.” It once served as a region for hunting. It was built by Rana Fateh Singh in the 19th century. It is located on top of the Kumbhalgarh Fort. Other landmarks include the Raja Ka Mahal and Amar Sagar. Overnight is at Jaisalmer.

The first stop at the tour will be at the Jaisalmer Fort. This fort was built in the 1156 CE and has a mix of both Rajput and Muslim elements in its design. The fort has three layers of walls that make it majestic. It is made up of yellow sandstone. Hence, it is locally known as the “Sonar Quila.”Then, you will be taken to the MotiMahal. It is also known as “Salim Singh Ki Haveli.” From far it resembles a dancing peacock. It is a 300-year-old haveli that has a blue cupola roof, 35 balconies, history of Salim Shah, and elegant look.

You can also visit the Patwon Ki Haveli on your own. This haveli is a combination of five havelis and is the largest haveli in Jaisalmer. It was built by Guman Chand Patwa and is also known as the “Mansion of Brocade Merchants.” The Gadisar Lake is a vast conservation tank built by Maharwal Gadsi Singh. The lake has a gateway “Tilon Ki Pol” that is made up of yellow sandstone along with a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. The lake is known for its undying waters, boat rides, and catfishes. At leisure, you can also go shopping across the streets as well. Post-tour, overnight at Jaisalmer.

Today, you will be transferred to Jodhpur from Jaisalmer by road. The city is mainly dominated by blue color due to the Lord Shiva devotees that are present here. It is also known as the “Sun City.” It was founded in 1459 by RaoJodha of the Rathore dynasty.

The first stop at this location is the Mehrangarh. This beautiful fortress was built in the 17th century by Maharaja Ajit Singh. It has a famous story that is linked to the curse of this fortress. It has seven gates that are Jai Pol, Loha Pol, Fateh Pol, Gopal Pol, Bheru Pol, Doodkangra Pol, and Amrita Pol. Tourists here also enjoy a zip lining tour that is exclusively offered. Then, you will visit the Jaswant Thada. It is cenotaph built by Maharaja Sardar Singh in honor of his father. It is also known as the “Taj Mahal of Marwar.” It is a cenotaph that is made up of marble that is polished. Then, you will be taken to the Kaylana Lake. It is an artificial reservoir that was built by Pratap Singh. Here, you can get to see Siberian Cranes and several indigenous birds as well. Then, you will be taken to the Umaid Bhawan Palace. This palace was the last royal palaces built in India. It is one of the largest private palaces for residing. Half of the palace is now a hotel, and the other half features antiques, paintings, and history. After the journey, overnight at Jodhpur.

Today, you will be transferred to Ranakpur by road. It is one of the important places for Jainism. It is covered by the Aravali mountain ranges and is located close to Udaipur. The town gets its name after its ruler Rana Kumbha.

The first stop at this tour will be the Ranakpur Jain Temple of the Chamukha Temple. It is a temple dedicated to Tirthankara Rishabhanatha. It is named after its ruler and is the most significant Jain temple. It is made up of light-colored marble and comprises of 1444 marble pillars. It is rumored that is impossible to count all the pillars. The statues located in this temple are placed face to face. It also has a beautiful carving of 108 snakes.

Some other landmarks of interest also include the Surya Temple or the Sun Temple. You can visit this temple on your own. It is a temple dedicated to Suparshvanatha. It was built in the 13th century. It is famous for numerous wall arts. Post-journey, overnight at Ranakpur.

Today, you will be transferred to Udaipur by road. Udaipur is famed as the “City of Lakes.”It was ruled by the Rajput kings of Mewar. In 1559, it was founded by Rana Udai Singh.

SpIt has marvelous destinations that one must visit. Some of the destinations include the “Pearl Hill.” It is located near the Fateh Sagar Lake and is a memorial built in honor of Maharana Pratap. It has a humongous statue of the Rajput ruler with his favorite horse “Chetak.” Udaipur also has a vast Lake Pichola. Here, you can enjoy a boat ride across its water and get to view spectacular views. There are four islands on the lake that you will be viewing. The first island has the Jag Niwas, a beautiful lake palace. It is one of the romantic palaces in the world. The second and third island have the Jag Mandir and Mohan Mandir respectively. The last island has the Arsi Vilas. It is a small palace and a depot. After the journey, you can visit many other places of interest and go shopping at leisure. Post-journey, overnight at Udaipur.

The first stop at Udaipur will be at the City Palace. This is now a museum that provides insight over the Rajput history. It has narrow staircases, and low height doors that open to beautiful rooms contained colored glasses, chambers, jharokhas, and mirrors. It is a palace of 11 rulers enclosed as one. Then, you will be taken to the Fateh Sagar Lake. It is a well-planned artificial lake. Here, you can go for boat rides, bird watching, and picnics. Then, you will be taken to the Saheliyon-Ki-Bari. This is a wondrous garden that was gifted by Maharana Sangram Singh to his wife. It has enormous fountains, pools, kiosks, courtyards, marble sculptures, and romantic pavilions. Post-journey, overnight at Udaipur.

Today, you will be transferred to Chittaurgarh from Udaipur. Chittaurgarhis situated on banks of river Berach. It comprises of diverse forts and palaces of Rajasthan that tell tales of history.

At this location, you will be taken to the Chittor Fort that houses the Vijaya Stambh and Kirti Stambh. This is the largest fort in India and has seven vast gateways. The main entrance of the fort is through the Sun Gate or Surya Pol. Within the fort, there are three palaces namely Rani Padmini Palace, Rana Khumba Palace, Fateh Prakash Palace. The fort has a shape of a fish and is under the World Heritage Sites. The two towers are known as the “Tower of Victory” and “Tower of Fame” respectively. They are one of the most predominant structures in Udaipur built by the kings. Post-tour, overnight at Chittaurgarh.

Today, you will be taken to Bundi. Bundi is a marvelous town in the Hadoti region. It is famous for its palaces and forts that have paintings, step wells, and much more to capture.

The region has a beautiful palace known as the Garh Palace. It was built in 1264 by Prince Jait Singh. It remarked the victory of the ruler over a battle or military defense in the past. It is a majestic palace that comprises high walls, archways, gateways, and vast pavilion. It is also locally known as the “Bundi Palace.”The place also comprises of the Taragarh Fort. It is the first hill fort in India. Here, several battles amongst Rajput, Maratha, and Mughal took place here. It was built in the year 1354 and was founded by Rao Deva. It is also known as the “Star Fort.”Nawal Sagar Lake is the largest lake that is located at the center of this city. It is the main source of water for the people living in this location. Amidst this lake, lies a half-submerged temple dedicated to Lord Varuna.

Then, you will be taken to Pushkar. It is one of the most sacred cities for the Hindus. It is near the town of Ajmer. Here, is a famous temple that is dedicated to Lord Brahma. This can be considered one of the most sacred Lord Brahma temples. This exquisite location is famed for its amazing camel safaris. Hop on a camel and go across the location and see the wonders capturing moments. Post-journey, overnight at Pushkar.

Today, you will be taken to Jaipur. Jaipur is the pink planned city in India. It doesn’t only have a palace on land, but also in water.

At your Jaipur tour, you will be taken to the City Palace. It was built by Sawai Jai Singh in the year 1727. It has a fusion of Rajput, Mughal, and European architecture. It has four gateways that represent four seasons. Another fantastic monument includes the Hawa Mahal. It is made up of fusion of both Mughal and Rajput elements. It is the tallest building in the without foundation. It is leaned at an angle of 87 degrees, yet it stands erect and strong. The windows of the palace are famed to represent a beehive.Then, you will be taken to the Pink Rose Garden where you will get to see several colorful flowers including roses. Then, you will also visit the business capital of Jaipur,and then you will go for shopping across the streets that are known for textiles and handicrafts.Post-journey, overnight at Jaipur.

This day you will be visiting other grand locations at Jaipur. The first will be the Amer Fort. It was built during the year 1592 and has Hindu elements in its architectural design. From the fort, you can witness the Maota Lake. It is made up of yellow, pink, and red sandstone along with white marble. The Sheesh Mahal is the prettiest palace in Jaipur. It is made up of a unique style of mirror works. It has a magnificent work called the magic flower which comprises of seven designs that can be seen by covering the artwork with hands in different positions. Then you will be taken to the Diwan-e-Khas. It is a hall for the public audience. It is a vast chamber that is completed marble tiled. It has paintings that are painted by famous artisans along with lattices, galleries, and royal rooms. Then, you will visit the SukhNiwas. It is a wondrous palace surrounded with lush green vegetation. It is a prestigious spot for the royal. It has several intricate details to its architecture that captivates most of the tourists.

Other fabulous landmarks include the Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh Fort, and Mubarak Mahal. Post-tour, overnight at Jaipur.

Today, you will be transferred to Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri is also popular as the “City of Victory.” It was built during the 16th century by Mughal Emperor Akbar. It served as his capital for 10 years.

The first stop here is the Jama Masjid. It was built by Shah Jahan using red sandstone and marble. It houses tall minarets that have 130 steps inside. From there you can see a panoramic view of the city. It is one of the largest mosques in India. Then, you will arrive at the Tomb of Salim Chisti. It is tomb built for the Sufi saint, Salim Chisti. It is also known as the “Ajmer Sharif.” It is believed that Akbar was blessed with a son because of this famous saint. Hence a tomb was built to honor the saint. Then, you will visit the Panch Mahal. This is a five-story palace that has a wondrous design. It was the retreat palace for Emperor Akbar. The architecture was inspired by a Buddhist temple which makes it unique compared to other palaces in the city. Then, you will be taken to the Buland Darwaza. It is a humongous architecture that fuses Hindu and Persian styles. It remarks a victory archway of Akbar of 1601 battle victory over Gujarat. The Ibadat Khana is the other landmark. It was once the meeting house for the Mughal ruler. It was built in the year of 1575. It is also known as the “House of Worship.” Many religious conversions took place at this court. Then, you will be taken to JodhaBai’s Palace or the Mariam-uz-Zamani’s palace. This palace was built for the first and last love of Emperor Akbar, JodhaBai. She became the Marian-uz-Zamani after she gave birth to their son Jahangir. Then, you will be taken to the NaubatKhana. It is also popular as the “Drum House”. It is a place where several musicians resided. It is located at the entrance of a palace. Then, you will arrive at Birbal’s house. It is one of the nine precious gems of Emperor Akbar. It is near the palace dedicated to his favorite wife. It is known for its secret pathway that leads to the Hathi Pol.

Then, you will be taken to Agra. Agra has a great history associated with the Mughals, Sultans, and British. It is also the place where Urdu literature and Hindi literature started becoming more prominent due to emerging writers and poets.

The first stop at this city is the Taj Mahal. This marble monument is dedicated to Shah Jahan’s wife, Mumtaz Mahal. So, Shah Jahan, left her grave undecorated to express his grief. Even though the palace is known for its spectacular symmetry, the grave of his wife is the only place that is left unsymmetrical. The four minarets of the Taj Mahalare built in such a way that they would collapse away from the palace so that they do not fall on the grave of Mumtaz Mahal. Then, you will be taken to the Agra Fort. This fort was a site of the start of Indian movement of 1857. It has two gates the Delhi Gate and the Lahore Gate, out of white the former is not opened to the public. This fort also severed as an inspiration for construction other buildings due to its excellent architecture. After the journey, you can go shopping across the streets at leisure.Post-journey, overnight at Agra.

Today, you will be transferred from Agra to Delhi airport to board a flight for your onward journey.