Rajasthan – Marwad

On Arrival in Jodhpur Airport / Jodhpur Railway station. You will be received by a member of our local team. Or an appointed driver who will take care of your transfer and check-in at the hotel.  After lunch visit to Mandore Gardens [ 9 km ] to the north of Jodhpur. Mandore gardens, the extensive gardens with high rocks terraces makes it a popular attraction. The park also contains the Chhattries of Rathores rulers. Evening back to the hotel. 

Stay: Jodhpur

After breakfast, We take we for sightseeing tour of Jodhpur city visiting Mehrangarh Fort, Umaid Bhavan Palace and Jaswant Thada. Jodhpur stands at the edge of the Thar desert & is the largest city in Rajasthan after Jaipur. Mehrangarh Fort One of the most impressive and formidable Structures that looks down from a hight of 125 mt. The solid walls with tiny openings appear so daunting that it is easy to imagine the dread with which the enemies must have viewed it. But when we are inside the fort. It feels as if we have entered into a different world altogether. There are magnificent palaces with marvellously carved panels and latticed windows like the Moti Mahal, Phool Mahal, Sheesh Mahal and The Daulat Khana. The Fort Museum is one of the finest in Rajasthan. Jaswant Thada.. the graceful marble cenotaph of Jodhpur’s maharajas. Umaid Bhavan palace.. a stately mansion based on the Western model. With nearly 350 rooms, it has the distinction of having been one of the largest private residences of the world. Today, it houses an excellent little museum of some of the royal family’s possessions and a luxury hotel and the present Maharaja’s residence. Evening back to the hotel.

Stay: Jodhpur.

[Optional] Morning at leisure or do shopping. Evening we can go for a Jeep safari to one of the picturesque villages of the Bishnoi community. The rustic Bishnois are, traditionally, very environment conscious and animal-lovers. Yo may spot a herd of deers grazing fearlessly in the village farms. A large number of migratory birds also come here in the season. We can see a live demonstration of women making carpets and men making clay pots. We can also enjoy dinner in one of such village. Evening back to the hotel. 

Stay: Jodhpur.

After breakfast departure for Jaisalmer. Arrival and check into the hotel. Evening explores parts of the beautiful Golden City of Jaisalmer. It is well known as the city of Havelis. Each Haveli is built with yellow sandstone and very exquisitely carved with intricate jaalis (latticed grilles). Amongst them, the Havelis of Diwan Nathmalji, Salim Singh and Patwa Brothers stand out as architectural masterpieces. Evening back to the hotel.

Start our day with a walk to the imposing Jaisalmer Fort. It is positively the most exotic fort that we have ever seen anywhere in the world, and it was almost like stepping into the pages of Arabian Nights. Not just us ordinary mortals, it even inspired the legendary Indian film-director, Satyajit Ray of international acclaim, to make a movie Sonar Kila (Golden Fort). They were built with local sandstone and without any mortar. The shifting sands of the desert cover the base of its 99 closely-spaced semi-circular bastions creating the grand illusion of a fort rising out of the desert. Explore the interiors of the fort – walking through the different lanes and bylanes and saw the Jain Temples, the Palace and the numerous curio shops. Evening leave for Samm (pronounced Sum) dunes some 40 km (26 miles) away visiting the villages en route. Spend an enchanting evening on the sands watching the sensuous snake dance of the Kalbeliya gipsies and listening to the full-throated folks’ songs of the Manganiyars. Sleeping in tents under the desert starscape will be another of our unforgettable experiences of Rajasthan.

Last night’s revelries may not keep we from waking up early in the morning to see the cool golden sands of Samm changing colours in the sunrise. Explore around on camels and proceed back to Jaisalmer visiting different villages, ruins and temples en route. Later in the day, we see the Lodurva ruins of Jain Temples and the palaces at Moolsagar and Amarsagar. Spend the evening visiting the Royal Palace known as Mandir Palace and Tazia Tower. Also, see the beautiful human-made Gadsisar Lake. Which encircled with beautiful archways, cupolas and kiosks, it has been a watering hole for dog-years in the Thar Desert. Evening back to the hotel.

Stay: Jaisalmer.

After breakfast drive to Bikaner [350 kms]. Evening arrival and check into the hotel. Rest of the day to relax and unwind.

Start the day by visiting the unusual Junagarh Fort. Unusual because, unlike all the prominent forts of Rajasthan which are on hilltops, this one built on the desert plains itself. From the Junagarh Fort, we see some beautiful Havelis (mansions) that line the narrow alleys of the walled city. Later, we went to see the impressive Lallgarh Palace. Like Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, the royal family still lives in a wing of this Palace. Yet, the rest of it has now converted into a charming hotel, with a fascinating little museum thrown in. In the evening, we visit the National Camel Breeding Farm and see the incredible sight of a herd of camels returning after grazing, with the spectacular desert sunset in the background. Set amid rolling dunes, this farm set up to produce superior strains of camels both for domestic haulage as well as, even today, for military use. Evening back to the hotel.

Stay: Bikaner.

After an early breakfast drive to Mandawa [180 kms] known as Shekhavati, known for its painted walls. The whole region dotted with elaborately frescoed Havelis(mansions) in a fair state of preservation. It is as if we have stepped into an open-air Art Gallery. The region is unique as nowhere in the world there is such a profusion of exquisite wall paintings with utmost care and perfections. There are hundreds of Havelis, temples, cenotaphs, wells and forts. Afternoon arrival and check into the hotel. After lunch, we explore the town Mandawa.  Here we visit Chokhani, Ladia and Saraf Havelis for their frescoes and designs. In the evening we are entertained by a live performance of folk musicians in the hotel.

After breakfast, we visit Nawalgarh. This is the place famous for  finest frescos in the entire region. Namely, Roop Niwas, Poddar Havelis and Saat Havelis. Later we leave for Mukundgarh – well known for its brass and iron scissors Dundlod.. this small charming town has a fort, Palace and the Goenka havelis which have some fine frescoes. The fort and Palace has been turned into the heritage hotel.

Stay: Mandawa.

After leisurely breakfast check out & proceed to airport / railway station for return journey to home town.