New Delhi
New Delhi begins with the drive past Safdarjang's Tomb (1753 AD) on the way to
Qutab Minar (1193 AD) this striking medieval tower of victory of Persian World
is 73 m high. Within the Qutab complex, amidst the ruins of Quwat-ul-Islam
mosque, stands the Iron pillar which has stood the vagaries of weather and has
not rusted over 1500 years. Then drive through New Delhi includes the Embassy
area (Diplomatic enclave), Government buildings, India Gate, Sikh Temple (Bangla
Sahib Gurudwara), Birla Temple and Connaught Place, New Delhi's main shopping
area. Visit Humayun's Tomb - considered to be the fore runner of Taj Mahal.
Samode
The story of Samode Place goes back more than four and a half centuries.
Prithviraj Singhji of Amber, the seventeenth prince of the house of Kachhawaha
Rajputs, had awarded Samode to one of his twelve sons-Gopal Singhji along with
the hereditary title of Rawal Saheb. Nestled picturesquely amid rugged hills,
Samode Palace with its stately grandeur and frescoed walls is a pleasant
journey into the glorious past. The palace is full of architectural delights
-the birds, animals and flowers painted on the walls of Sultan Mahal, the
dining-room with its stained glass windows and its collection of old family
portraits, the Durbar Hall with its painted ceilings and intricately carved
walls and beautiful chandeliers, give this palace its old world charm. Each
room is done up in traditional Rajasthani style and the antique furniture
blends well with the atmosphere making it comfortable and luxurious at the
same time. Special Features: A traditional welcome with camel carts, buggies,
elephants and local musicians is organized if desired. Camel safaris
available.
MANDAWA - SHEKHAWATI
Think of the most famous of the Marwari business families in India, and it s a
fair bet that a painted haveli by that name exists in Shekhawati. Singhania,
Goenka, Birla, Bharatiya, Jalan, Saraf, and Poddar the list is impressive. The
successful Marwari ventured out to the ports of Bombay and Calcutta, prospered
and spent lavishly on beautifully painted havelis in the 18th and 19th
centuries .The painters are as much at ease with Krishna and the gopis as with
the Wright brothers trying to fly their machines. Shekhawati is not a town or
a village, but a region comprising Sikar and Jhunjhunu districts with a
network of towns Nawalgarh, Dhundlodh, Mandawa, Lachhmangarh, Fatehpur and
Sikar.
Rohet (Jodhpur)
The village Rohet at its doorstep is out next stop, where we are guests of the
royal family. En route we visit the grand Mehrangarh Fort, perched on a
hilltop, the Umaid Bhavan Palace and the Jaswant Thada in Jodhpur. Located in
the heart of a village, Rohet Garh offers a chance to get close to the locals
of the region or simply relax by the pool and unwind to prepare for the
further caravan.
UDAIPUR
UDAIPUR is perhaps a unique pre-modern capital with no fort . Coming to life
after the final sacking of Chittaur , Udaipur saw an explosive of building
activity- temples, palaces and Havelis. Lake Pichola with its two islands-Jagniwas(now
the Lake Palace Hotel) and Jagmandir defines Udaipur . The City Palace towers
over the lake. The artificial Jaisamand Lake was created in 17th century by
damming the Gomti River. There are beautiful chhatries (Cenotaphs) around the
embankment
Jaipur
THE splendid Fort / Palace of AMBER was wrested by the Kachhwaha Rajputs in
the mid-12th century who dominated the surrounding area for the next six
centuries. Amber was also the prime site of the alliance between the Mughals
and the Rajputs. The astronomer-King Sawai Jai Singh II, famous for his Jantar
Mantar ascended the throne in 1699. He soon decided to build a new city in the
plains: JAIPUR was designed according to the principals of the Shilpa-Shastra
and the capital shifted here in 1727, the city attracted merchants and
crafts-people that over time shaped its irresistible bazaar. The Hawa Mahal,
City Palace and Jantar Mantar characterizes the old city, while the forts of
Nahargarh and Jaigarh, add to the spectacle of the city.
Taj mahal
one of the Seven Wonders of the world built by Emperor Shah Jehan in the
memory oh his beloved consort Mumtaz Mahal. This beautiful mausoleum took 22
years to complete with a work force of 20,000. Craftsmen and master builders
came from all over Asia to join in the great work - from Baghdad, Shiraz,
Delhi, Samarkand and Turkey. The marble, India's finest; was quarried at
Makrana near Jodhpur. Precious and semi precious stones were imported from
distant lands : Jasper from Punjab, Jade & Crystal from China, Turquoise from
Tibet, Lapis from Afghanistan and Ceylon, Chrosolite from Egypt, Amethyst from
Persia, Agate from Yemen, Malachite from Russia, Diamonds from Golconda and
Mother of Pearl from the Indian Ocean.
