Tour Price
| Adult Twin Share |
$4,379 |
| Single
Supplement |
+$2,099 |
What’s included
Roundtrip air from New York on the award winning
services of Singapore Airlines, first class hotel accommodations
during the tour, luxury tent accommodation in Pushkar, daily breakfast, transfers and sightseeing
as per the itinerary and the services of an English speaking local guide at
all Indian cities.
What’s not
personal expenses, meals other than
breakfast, visa fees
for India, airport taxes / fees.
If you live outside the USA ..
.. you can still join our tour! Please E-Mail us for a special quote for this
tour starting / terminating anywhere in the world.
Sunrise at the Taj Mahal
The holy lake at Pushkar |
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Experience one of India’s most
fascinating festivals, the annual Pushkar Fair in Rajasthan. Travel around Northern India
– stay at Maharajas’ palaces, feel the romance of the Taj Mahal by moonlight and
be awed by the incredible experience that is India.
Every year in November
thousands of Rajasthani tribal people converge in the picturesque town of
Pushkar, which is also a major site for Hindu pilgrims. They come to buy and
sell camels and other cattle and bathe at the Pushkar lake (considered
sacred by Hindus). They come for the entertaining camel races and local
circuses, and to browse the local markets for camel saddles, textiles, glass
bangles and silver jewelry. Tribal people clamor through the winding
streets, men in crisp white dhotis and colorful turbans, and women peeking
from under scarlet veils, wearing all the silver and ivory jewelry they own.
Beyond the bustle is the sweeping expanse of desert, dotted with thousands
of camels and camping families. And all around you there is a riot of color
and smiling faces.
Spend a few days at
Pushkar, then move on to discover more of the fascinating Indian state of
Rajasthan, with her rich architectural and cultural heritage. |
Tour itinerary:
| 25 Oct. '06: USA to Singapore |
Shortly after noon today, catch your Singapore
Airlines flight to Asia. Arrive in Singapore two days later after
crossing the International Dateline. |
| 27 Oct. '06: Singapore |
The day is free for you to enjoy Singapore, a
modern city and yet distinctly Oriental. A special visitors’ pass is
included for transportation and entrance fees to important sights
around the city. Leave Singapore this evening and fly to Delhi,
India’s capital. |
| 28 Oct. '06: Delhi |
This morning, enjoy a brief tour of Old Delhi,
riding in a rickshaw just like the locals, through the narrow
streets and teeming bazaars. Visit the grand mosque before
continuing to New Delhi, for other sites such as Humayun’s Tomb and
some free time for shopping etc. |
| 29 Oct. '06: Delhi to Agra |
Travel by a chauffer driven car to Agra. Another
highlight of your trip awaits you, the Taj Mahal! Twenty thousand
master craftsmen labored for twenty years to build this awesome
memorial for one man to honor the memory of his wife. Stop at the
majestic Agra Fort . |
| 30 Oct. '06: Agra to Jaipur |
Visit the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri and
continue to Keoladeo National Park , once a Maharajah’s private duck
shooting grounds and now a haven for migratory birds from Central
Asia. Later, continue by road to Jaipur. |
| 31 Oct. '06: Jaipur |
Jaipur’s elegant buildings and palaces reflect
its past wealth and grandeur. Visit the elaborate ‘Palace of Winds’,
which is not a palace but merely a façade, behind which the ladies
of the royal household could watch processions and street festivals
without being seen themselves! Spend the afternoon walking through
Jaipur’s bazaars – famous for their silver jewelry and handicrafts.
Visit Amber Palace just outside the city – a hilltop fortress,
accessed in appropriately royal style on elephant back! |
| 1 Nov. '06: Jaipur to Pachewar |
Travel today to a typical Rajasthani village,
Pachewar, which is dominated by a 300-year old fort. Now converted
into a hotel, enjoy a restful break in this peaceful village far
away from the hustle and bustle of Jaipur! See how the villagers
live, visit the local craftsmen (well known for their blue pottery
and metal work) and soak in the atmosphere of the fort. |
| 2 Nov. '06: Pachewar to Pushkar |
Pushkar is a sacred town for Hindus who come from
all over the country to bathe in its lake and is also has the only
temple to the Hindu god Brahma in the entire country! Of course at
this time of the year, during the auspicious full moon is the time
for Pushkar’s biggest event - the annual cattle fair. People from
far and wide gather here to trade in all kinds of cattle and farm
animals, but especially camels – an amazing sight and incredible
experience! Your accommodation will be in comfortable tented camps,
equipped with beds, lighting and fans, with separate 'shower tents'
and 'toilet tents'. |
| 3 Nov. '06: Pushkar |
You have the whole day to flavor the atmosphere
of the place - get some instant expertise in valuating camels and
then haggling for the beasts, buy a handful of souvenirs for the
folks back home and shoot more photos than you ever thought
possible! |
| 4 Nov. '06: Pushkar to Deogarh |
Leaving Pushkar we travel to nearby Ajmer,
another sacred town, but this time for Muslims all over the
subcontinent. Visit some of the many historical buildings in the
city before heading for the small town of Deogarh, the site of
another charming 17th century castle, now converted into a hotel.
Most guest rooms are decorated in the local style with lots of
period furniture, antique and objets d’art. Relax with a drink as
you soak in the magical atmosphere of the castle and transport
yourself back to a bygone era of Maharajahs and kingdoms. |
| 5 Nov. '06: Deogarh to Udaipur |
Drive through the Rajasthani countryside to the
town of Udaipur, surrounded by hills and mountains and set on the
edge of three lakes. Famous for its whitewashed houses with brightly
painted exterior walls, Udaipur has a rich historical and cultural
heritage with an abundance of elaborate palaces and ornate temples. |
| 6 Nov. '06: Udaipur |
Enjoy a free day to explore Udaipur on your own
or catch up on some shopping perhaps. |
| 7 Nov. '06: Udaipur to Mount
Abu |
Set amidst the lush forested hills, Mount Abu
provides a striking contrast to the arid, desert landscapes of
Rajasthan. Stop here to check out the Dilwara Jain temples, built
with white marble and decorated with exquisite sculptures. |
| 8 Nov. '06: Mount Abu to
Ahmedabad |
Travel to Ahmedabad, the former capital of
Gujarat and Mahatma Gandhi’s birth place, a city where Islamic and
Hindu traditions, culture and architecture have blended together
through the centuries. |
| 9 Nov. '06: Ahmedabad |
Explore the unique architecture of Ahmedabad
during a morning tour of some of the more interesting neighborhoods
in the city. The afternoon and evening is free to catch up on some
last minute shopping, before you are transferred to the airport for
your flight home. |
| 10 Nov. '06: Ahmedabad to USA |
Leave Ahmedabad early this morning for Singapore,
where you can take a connecting flight to the US, arriving the same
day. |
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A Rajput Prince
Miniature paintings with exquisite detail
are part of Rajasthan's art heritage
The Hawa Mahal Palace
Fabulous palaces dot the landscape of
Rajasthan
Royal Elephants
Elephants with painted trunks and teeth
capped in gold are still used during ceremonial parades
A Rajasthani
Woman
Village women carrying urns of drinking
water are a common sight
Typical Rajasthan Architecture
A merchant's house (haweli)
at Mandawa, Rajasthan
Traffic in Jaipur, Rajasthan! |
