FESTIVAL TOUR SUGGESTION # 5

Best during Period : February

Duration : 17 nights / 18 days

Cities covered  Delhi - Surajkund - Delhi - Mandawa - Bikaner - Khimsar - Nagaur - Luni - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer - Delhi.

Colorful festivals covered :
- Surajkund Crafts Mela- Delhi (1st - 15th Feb.'08)
- Nagaur Cattle Fair- Nagaur (13th - 16th Feb.'08)
- Desert Festival- Jaisalmer (19th - 21st Feb.'08)

Highlights : A shorter purely North Indian itinerary taking you from one most exciting festival to another. Visit Rajasthan for the spectacle of the desert: forts, camels and folk-dances..
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[These Festival Tour Programs are best run with minimum 6 travelers to a group & more]

Day 1 - DELHI
Arrive Delhi. Meeting and transfer to hotel.
(check in time 12 noon). Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 2 - DELHI
Morning depart for Surajkund just 12 Kms from Delhi, in the sun drenched panoramic plains of Haryana, there lies the serene arc of a lake. Legends say, Raja Suraj Pal of the Tomar dynasty built the lake and a sun temple on its shore some 900 years ago. Today the temple is in ruins, but the lovely wooded landscape worships a different power - the craftsmanship of Indian artisans.

Major crafts on display here are Kalamkari, glass, scroll Madhubani and phad paintings; block, tie and die printing; handloom textiles, embroidery, sandalwood, rosewood carving, various kinds of terra-cotta and pottery; brass, copper and iron metal crafts; stone carvings and sculptures; cane and grass crafts; papier mache and lacquer work, etc. - a shopping bonanza by an standards.
Enjoy the festive atmosphere. Lunch at Raj Hans Hotel.
Evening return to hotel in Delhi. Overnight at hotel.

Day 3 - DELHI
Morning combined sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi. In Old Delhi visit Red Fort, Jama Masjid drive past Chandni Chowk and visit Raj Ghat - the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi.

In New Delhi visit Qutub Minar - 234 feet high tower, nearby stands the Iron pillar, the Tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun, the modern Birla Mandir Temple. Drive past India Gate (War Memorial), President’s House, which was once the Viceroy’s Palace, Parliament House and Secretarial Buildings.
Late afternoon depart for Suraj Kund Crafts Mela.
Evening return to hotel in Delhi. Overnight at hotel.

Day 4 – DELHI / MANDAWA
Depart by coach for Mandawa.
Arrive and check-in at Castle.

Mandawa Castle, located in the desert town of Mandawa, the hotel emerges like a mirage. The castle is a favourite attraction with tourists from the world over, who come to see the painted havelies and frescoes of Shekhawati.

The castle creates an ambience of royalty and magnificence for the guests coming to stay here. A painted, arched gateway adorned with Lord Krishna and his cows leads to the bazaar. Three large gates lead one to the cannon-guarded interior of the fort. The terrace of the Castle holds a breathtaking view of the town and the semiarid plains beyond.

Afternoon explore the castle and In-house museum which has an interesting numistic collection, old documents, costumes of ancestors and silver objects. Visit the village and see the frescoes painting work on walls of the old havelies.
Evening witness the puppet show followed by a special dinner. Overnight at Castle.

Day 5 – MANDAWA / Bikaner
(205 Kms)
Depart by coach for Bikaner.
Arrive and check-in at Hotel Lalgarh Palace, built by Maharaja Ganga Singh in memory of his father Maharaja Lal Singh. Dexterous carving in red sandstone specially intricate filigree work is the chief attraction here. It is today the residence of Her Highness Rajmata Sushila Kumari.

Afternoon visit 16th century Junagarh fort housing old palace, Jain Temple and a Mosque. the fort is distinguished by its long range of 37 windows of varying designs.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 6 – BIKANER / KHIMSAR
Depart by coach for Khimsar. Enroute visit Nagaur.
In the midst of the burning, blowing yellow sands of Thar Desert, is an inconspicuous little town called Nagaur, the venue of the second largest cattle fair in Rajasthan. Nagaur is one of the most picturesque of the Rajput townships, cordoned in by massive ramparts, the entrance to the town lies through stately gates. At the main entrance to the town is a complex of royal cenotaphs including the beautiful cenotaph of Amar Singh. Inside the fort are Moti Mahal, Badal Mahal and Hawa Mahal, and a ‘Baradari’ with a pool having painted murals in the Nagaur style.

During the cattle fair the town is set ablaze with colours and festivities. Once a year, usually when the winter calms down the fiery desert heat, a cattle fair is held here, on of the largest in India. Thousands of horses, cattle, camels and other livestock are brought in for buying and selling and rural folk from the neighbouring areas depend on it for their thereafter, proceed for Khimsar.

Khimsar, Perched on the edge of the Great Thar Desert lies a unique 16th Century Khimsar Fort. The royal lineage still reside in this historic Fort.
Arrive and check-in at Royal Castle. Overnight at castle.

Day 7 – KHIMSAR / NAGAUR/ KHIMSAR
Full day visit Nagaur Fair. Explore the colourful activities, an opportunity to buy handicraft.

Once the job of buying and selling is over, the assembled folk settle down for enjoying themselves. The Rajasthani dance and music, camel race are the special features of this fair. Evening return to Khimsar. Overnight at castle.

Day 8 – KHIMSAR / NAGAUR / KHIMSAR
Morning visit Nagaur Fair. Return to Khimsar.
Afternoon take a Jeep Safari to photograph the herds of the famous Indian Gazelle (Chinkara) and the highly protected rare Black Buck leaping into the thin desert air. The Neelgai or Blue Bull can be sighted in abundance. Followed by Picnic tea atop the famous Sand-dunes of Panchla. As you sip tea, watch evening sunset behind the marvellous dunes. Overnight at castle.

Day 9 – KHIMSAR / LUNI
Depart by coach for Luni.
Arrive and check-in at Fort Chanwa.

Afternoon explore the fort, an exceptional example of elegance and symmetry in Indian architecture of the last century. The entire fort is carved out of red sandstone. Visit the complex of courtyards, towers, water wheels, stables, passages and unexpected stairways to secret pavilions and panoramic roof tops spanning the village below and the Thar horizon beyond. Overnight at Fort Chanwa.

Day 10 – LUNI / JODHPUR
(32 Kms)
Morning visit Luni village known as one of the typical Rajasthani villages and a hub of activity with it many artisans fashioning metal, clay or wood into intricate forms and demonstrating the skills passed by their ancestors.
Depart by coach for Jodhpur.
Arrive and check-in at hotel.
Rest of the day free. Overnight at hotel.

Day 11 - JODHPUR
Morning sightseeing of Jodhpur visiting the Mehrangarh Fort, situated on a low sandstone Hill, almost 400 feet height and with ramparts made from the very stone that constituted the isolated hill. Guarded by seven gates, 68 feet high and 117 feet wide, within the fort are the various residences and public offices, including Moti Mahal and Phool Mahal. The museum is the part of the fort. The Palki room houses royal palanquins, the Elephant Howdha room silver howdha to be fitted on Elephant for royal journeys.

See the collection of royal costumes, musical instruments and armoury.
Also visit Jaswant Thada - an imposing Marble Memorial built in 1899 using blindings white marble. One of its interesting aspects is the complete genealogical table of the rulers of Jodhpur, and their portraits, which can be viewed here for a comprehensive grasp of Marwar’s history.
Rest of the day free. Overnight at hotel.

Day 12 – JODHPUR / JAISALMER
(295 Kms)
Depart by Coach for Jaisalmer.
Arrive and check in at hotel.
Rest of the day free. Overnight at hotel.

Day 13 - JAISALMER
Morning visit the DESERT FESTIVAL, which takes place once in a year. The empty sands around Jaisalmer come alive with the brilliant colours, music and laughter of the festival. The very rich and colourful Rajasthan folk culture is on show here.

Day 14 - JAISALMER
Full day at the Desert festival.
See the pulsating drama in the dazzling sands, the myriad - hued ghagharas swirling with the rhythm of tinkling pajebs. The smiling faces framed in jewels and veils. The blazing turbans reflecting a passion for colours. The proud mustaches reminding of the valour and romance of a chequered history.

The sound of bells and bangles mingling with the ecstatic uproar. The incredible feats of the acrobats. the charging Camels and an oblivious crowd in the magic circle of golden dust. The magical spell makes the fantasies real, experience it yourself.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 15 - JAISALMER
Morning sightseeing tour of Jaisalmer, an architectural dream in the lonely silence of the desert. Visit Gadisar lake, Sonar Fort also known as Jaisalmer fort was built in the 12th century, it has 99 bastions and is rounded contour seem to ripple with the sand. The fort was the ruling base of the Bhatti Rajputs who claim decent from the moon, Amarsagar & Barabagh.

Late afternoon explore on Camel back Patwon Ki Haveli and Salim ki Haveli, and some of the beautiful mansions.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 16 – JAISALMER / JODHPUR / DELHI
Depart by Coach for Jodhpur (295 kms). Arrive and board flight for Delhi.
Arrive Delhi and transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 17 - DELHI
Morning free. Afternoon combined city tour of Old and New Delhi.

In Old Delhi visit Red Fort, Jama Masjid, drive past Chandni Chowk and visit Raj Ghat - the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi.

In New Delhi visit Qutub Minar - 234 feet high tower, nearby stands the iron pillar, the Tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun, the modern Birla Mandir Temple. Drive past India Gate (war memorial), President’s House, which was once the Viceroy’s Palace, Parliament House and secretarial Buildings.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 18 - DEPART DELHI
In time transfer to International airport to board flight for onward destination.