Colourful Rajasthan
Unique Tour to Rajasthan
Get ready for an assault on the senses with this journey into one of India’s most colourful and enchanting regions. Explore the hidden side of the ‘pink city’ of Jaipur, take a boat ride on Lake Picchola in the ‘white city’ of Udaipur, get lost in the winding streets of the ‘blue city’ of Jodhpur and dodge sacred cows in the ‘fort city’ of Jaisalmer. Participate in a spiritual Aarti ceremony in Pushkar, visit the not-so-famous Chittorgarh fort and visit Delhi’s ultra-impressive Jama Masjid or Friday Mosque. After exploring Rajasthan’s bustling and exciting cities, escape to the wild and go in search of Bengal Tigers in Sariska Tiger Reserve, spot waterbirds near Khichan and adventure into the Thar Desert on an (optional) overnight camel safari.
As part of your adventure in Rajasthan, stay in converted forts, some of which are hundreds of years old, former palaces that were once home to royalty, and revel in the silence of India’s desert camps.
TOUR TO RAJASTHAN HIGHLIGHTS
- Get lost in the winding streets of the fort city of Jaisalmer, taste tea in the oldest tea house in Jaipur and take a boat ride on Lake Picchola in Udaipur to see its spectacular water palace
- Venture into the deep, dark jungle of Sariska Tiger Reserve as you go in search of India’s most majestic resident, the Bengal Tiger, as well as the Indian Leopard, Jungle Cat, Striped Hyena and Caracal
- Learn how to cook traditional Rajasthani food in the ‘blue city’ of Jodhpur, arise early in the ‘pink city’ of Jaipur for a yoga lesson and bring out your inner artist in the ‘white city’ of Udaipur by learning to paint the miniature figurines for which India is famous
- Venture into the dunes of the Thar Desert on an optional overnight camel safari and watch a spectacular sunset from the top of the SAM sand dunes
- Stay in stunning former palaces, old forts with beautiful gardens, traditional heritage-listed hotels and desert camps on this tour to Rajasthan
The Basics
Start: Delhi
Finish: Delhi
Trip style: Unique
Max group size: 15
22 Days
DELHI – DELHI
$8985 AUD*
Departure date: 1 October 2023
OR CONTACT US for more information
Trip code: CRDD *from
ITINERARY
Arrive in Delhi and make your own way to the trip hotel. Meet your trip leader and travel companions for a welcome meeting at 17.00 to discuss your tour to Rajasthan. After the meeting, head out into bustling Delhi to a local restaurant for a special dinner.
Arise early this morning and transfer by road to the ‘pink city’ of Jaipur.
We will check into the hotel and have lunch on arrival before exploring Jaipur’s Amer fort. The fort, which is more like a palace, was built by Raja Man Singh I in the 16th century and overlooks Maota Lake providing spectacular vistas of the fort reflected in the water. We will fully explore the fort including the mirrored palace and peacock gates and stroll through its manicured gardens.
We begin our tour to Rajasthan this morning is the colourful Patrika Gate, made famous by countless Instagram influencers. The gate is actually quite new and was built by Rajasthan Patrika Group of Publications to stand at the entrance to Jahawar Circle Park. We will stop at the ‘Palace of the Winds’ also known as the Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar a park showcasing ancient Indian astronomical instruments.
After a short coffee stop, we will visit the royal tombs of Gaitore Ki Chhatriyan followed by a visit to Surman Sansthan, an NGO caring for India’s abandoned and destitute children. Learn all about the work that is done here and meet some of the children. Inverted Atlas will make a donation to help enable Surman Sansthan continue their important work (donation included in the trip price).
The remainder of the afternoon is for you to explore the ‘pink city’ of Jaipur on your own.
Optional experience: Kathputli (Traditional Puppetry)
Optional experience: Once upon a Time in Panchayat (Village Experience)
Arise early to undertake a refreshing yoga lesson prior to the day’s activities. Yoga was developed in ancient India as far back as 1000 BCE and the ultimate goal of the practice is stilling the mind and gaining insight while resting in detached awareness. After your yoga lesson you will be ready to absorb everything today has to offer.
This morning we will head out to the little town of Bagru around 30km from Jaipur. Bagru has emerged as one of the industrial areas for textile printing in Rajasthan with over 100 small- and large-scale factories. While in Bagru we will try our hand at the art of block printing on fabric.
We will then head back to the outskirts of Jaipur to visit the Galtaji, or ‘Monkey temple’. This scenic terraced temple is built into the surrounding rocky hills and is swarming with many small macaque monkeys. Climb the terraces to the top to be greeted by a serene reflective pool and views of the surrounding countryside.
Our final stop on our tour to Rajasthan today is Sisodiya Rani Bagh. Bagh means garden and we will be strolling through the intricately designed gardens of this palace which was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1728.
This evening in Jaipur we will head out into the city for a culinary tour of Jaipur’s lively street food scene, complete with many tastings for dinner.
Optional experience: Early Morning Yoga Lesson
We start our leisurely day today with a relaxing tea tasting in Jaipur’s oldest tea boutique before a crafty lesson at one of Jaipur’s blue pottery workshops. The name ‘blue pottery’ comes from the attractive cobalt blue dye used to colour the vessels which are thought to have come to India from Central Asia.
We will have some free time in the afternoon to grab some lunch and maybe do some last-minute shopping in the city’s many markets before boarding the overnight train to the desert city of Jaisalmer.
On the overnight train you will be given a sleeper berth and a chance to watch the amazing scenery of Rajasthan go by out the window. This is also a great opportunity to rub shoulders with the local people of the region, learn some Hindi and share stories together.
We will arrive in Jaisalmer station early this morning and will transfer to our hotel for a rest and to refresh ourselves.
Situated amid the vast expanse of the Thar Desert on the far western border of India’s Rajasthan state, the city of Jaisalmer is home to one of the world’s only inhabited medieval forts. This 12th-century city served as a bustling trading post along the famous Silk Road and still to this day features markets selling silk, cashmere, silver jewellery, bronze statues and much more.
We will take an orientation provided by our local guide to try to get our bearings in the city’s labyrinth of smalls streets, walkways and corridors.
Today is free for you to wander the alleyways and markets of Jaisalmer on your own.
Optional experience – Day or Overnight Camel Safari (BLD)
Take to the back of one of Rajasthan’s many camels for a trek into the Thar Desert. See this amazing environment from the hump of your camel, meet the people of the small desert villages and enjoy a spectacular desert sunset from the top of the sand dune of SAM. Either return to the hotel in Jaisalmer after sunset or stay in the desert in our permanent desert camp, the choice is yours!
In the late morning we will take a trip to Gadisar Lake. The lake is a manmade reservoir and was constructed by the first ruler of Jaisalmer. Artistically carved chattris, temples, shrines and ghats surround the lake, which never dries out despite its desert location. Then, visit the remote desert fort of Khaba. Rumoured to be haunted, the fort is now in ruins and there is a museum on site.
The middle of the day is free for you to explore Jaisalmer, in the evening we will head to Bada Bagh (literally meaning ‘big garden’) to watch a spectacular sunset over the royal cenotaphs of the Maharajas.
We leave Jaisalmer today and drive deep into the Thar Desert to the permanent camp at Manvar, which offers us a rare opportunity to experience Rajasthan’s desert life, culture and beauty. On arrival we will have lunch at the camp, followed by a walk through one of the nearby villages.
This evening we are in for a real treat, with a performance of Rajasthani dance at the camp
After breakfast we will journey to the desert village of Khichan, also known at the ‘Demoiselle Crane village’. Khichan is a birder’s paradise with twitchers flocking here on an annual basis between August and March. The birds are led in a disciplined order by the female, with the male forming the rear guard. Showy displays of affection between couples are often seen. The surrounding landscape features vast wetlands and undulating plains dotted with small ponds which provide an ideal habitat for a variety of waterfowl.
After lunch we will transfer to the ‘blue city’ of Jodhpur and check in to our Haveli.
We continue our tour to Rajasthan today as we visit the stunning Mehrangarh fort located on a high rocky outcrop in the middle of the ‘blue city’. The Mehrangarh Fort, first established in the 15th century, is considered one of the most formidable and magnificent forts of Rajasthan. The fort and its palaces were built over period of 500 years, as a result, the varied building styles of many different periods are represented, including the 20th century.
After visiting the fort, we will meander back down through the blue buildings of the city to the main town market area. In the early afternoon we will visit the beautiful white cenotaph and gardens of Jaswant Thada.
Optional experience: Tye Dye Workshop
Optional experience: Cook Dinner with a Local Family
This morning we will head out to explore the fantastic gardens of Mandore located on the outskirts of Jodhpur. The gardens contain cenotaphs and are slightly overgrown, with monkeys swinging from tree to tree, giving the impression that you are lost in a forgotten jungle.
After the gardens we will visit the Umaid Museum, located within the Umaid palace. The museum displays items ranging from weapons to an array of antiques to some fascinating crockery to various trophies. It also exhibits a huge banner presented by Queen Victoria and an amazing collection of clocks.
After our visit to the museum, the remainder of the day is yours to explore Jodhpur.
We depart the city of Jodhpur this morning and head to the rural village of Rohat. On arrival we will take a walk through the village to meet local craftsman and see how the villagers live.
Lunch today will be a so-called ‘Royal Picnic.’ The Royal Picnic is a grand recreation of a bygone era, where you are waited upon by liveried attendants as large mattresses with bolsters and soft cushions are spread by a soothing water body, inviting you to put your feet up. The food is delicious, served hot on tables with crisp linen and a bottle of wine… and then you drift into sweet slumber watching the Pied Kingfisher dive for his lunch just yards away from you!
After our delightful picnic, we will check into our hotel which is set in a small fort.
This morning we will head to the town of Ranakpur en route to Udaipur. In this town we find arguably the most spectacular of India’s Jain temples. The complex rests on a lush mountain slope and encompasses a series of temples dating to the 15th century, all constructed from white marble and featuring exquisite decorative detail.
On arrival in Udaipur, we will check in to our hotel.
Welcome to the ‘Venice of the East’! The city of Udaipur is built around three interconnected lakes – Lake Pichhola, Fateh Sagar Lake, and the smaller Swaroop Sagar Lake – and is encircled by the hills of the Aravalli Mountain range. It is home to an array of ancient temples and fairy-tale palaces and is known as one of Rajasthan’s most beautiful and romantic cities.
First thing this morning we will take a trip to the village of Sadhna. In the village we will find an NGO working towards empowering the village women. Some of the women of Sadhna are now members of the local self-governance body and hold important positions. Many have travelled to Europe and Asia to sell their products in international trade fairs. Have a chit chat over a cup of tea where they share wonderful stories about how their learning and confidence building within Sadhna has helped them evolve into playing an important role in their families and neighbourhood.
Then travel back to Udaipur to take a scenic boat ride on Lake Picchola to view its stunning water palace, ghats, colourful local houses, temples and embankments. Following the boat ride, we will have some free time in the old city to explore and grab lunch before a short tour of Udaipur’s spectacular palace.
This morning we will head out to the Monsoon Palace. The palace is located on a hilltop and provides amazing views of all of the city’s lakes. Following our visit to the palace we will ride the Udaipur ropeway to enjoy even more spectacular vistas over this romantic city.
Later, we will join a local artist for a crash course in the art of painting Indian miniatures.
We will leave Udaipur early this morning and head to the city of Chittorgarh. While in Chittorgarh we will visit its spectacular UNESCO listed fort, one of the largest forts in India, and have some free time for exploring and lunch.
In the afternoon we will continue on to Pushkar, where we will check into our hotel.
Bordering the eastern edge of the sun-drenched Thar desert, Pushkar is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage town known for its relaxed atmosphere, countless whitewashed temples and mythical holy lake. We will spend this morning leisurely exploring the small temples, ghats and markets surrounding the lake.
The afternoon will be free for you to explore Pushkar on your own.
We will depart Pushkar in the morning and head to the small village of Abhaneri, now famous (thanks to Instagram) for its spectacular stepwell, one of the largest in India.
From Abhaneri we will make our way to Sariska National Park, where we will spend the next two nights.
Today we head out into the National Park on safari in search of India’s most majestic resident, the Bengal Tiger.
Dedicated a National Park in 1958, Sariska is situated within the Aravalli Hill ranges in the Alwar District to Rajasthan. While on the hunt for Bengal Tigers we will also be on the lookout for leopards, jungle cats, hyena, wild dog and jackals. Sariska is also well known for its large population of Rhesus Monkeys, as well as wild boar and Langur.
Early this morning we will transfer from Sariska National Park, back to bustling Delhi.
On arrival we will visit the imposing Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque), which was built in 17th century and has enough space for 25 000 worshippers.
We will check in to the hotel in the mid-afternoon – the remainder of the day is yours to relax or explore Delhi.
This evening we will head out into Delhi to a unique local restaurant to say goodbye to our traveling companions and tour leader and reminisce about our adventure through Rajasthan.
Your adventure in Rajasthan comes to an end this morning after breakfast.
If you wish to spend more time in India, why not book one of our Bolt-on experiences for Delhi and Agra?
Details
Duration: 22 Days
Trip style: Unique
Group size: Minimum 6 / Maximum 15
Trip code: CRDD
Cost: $8985.00 AUD twin share
Single supplement: $1928.00 AUD
Inclusions
- 21-nights accommodation in heritage and traditional-inspired hotels, former palaces, forts, desert camps and havelis
- Meals as specified in itinerary (B = Breakfast / L = Lunch / D = Dinner)
- Overnight train from Jaipur to Jaisalmer
- Services of your Inverted Atlas trip leader and local guides
Optional experiences (not included):
- Jaipur: Kathputli (Traditional Puppetry)
- Jaipur: Once Upon a Time in Panchayat (Village experience)
- Jaipur: Morning Yoga Lesson
- Jaisalmer: Day or Overnight Camel Safari
- Jodhpur: Tye Dye Workshop
- Jodhpur: Cook Dinner with a Local Family
* Please note some optional experiences must be booked prior to travel. You will be given the option to add these experiences at check out
Trip price does not include
- International airfares or domestic airfares
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure
- Visa for India
- Any expenses associated with COVID-19
- Meals not included as per trip itinerary including drinks and mini bar
- Additional accommodation before or after the tour
- Items of a personal nature including but not limited to laundry, souvenirs, porterage etc.
- Travel insurance – please note comprehensive travel insurance is a condition of travel with Inverted Atlas
Journey Rating – Journey
This tour to Rajasthan travels through the state of Rajasthan in India, a country that is somewhat accustomed to tourists and travellers. On occasion, you will find that the local people are very curious about you and where you come from and at times you may even feel like a celebrity. This trip does involve a lot of walking during the sightseeing, to get the most out of this trip you should be able to walk confidently across uneven surfaces and climb stairs. Women are strongly advised to either wear a floor length dress with sleeves or pants with a long kaftan over the top. While not mandatory, this will avoid causing offense culturally and prevent a lot of unwanted attention. To be culturally sensitive, men should wear trousers.
Trains in India operate in a bunk system and you must be able to climb into a top bunk, bottom bunks cannot be guaranteed. Good quality hospitals, pharmacies and other public amenities will be limited to big cities but should never be too far away.
A note about fitness
This tour to Rajasthan requires a good level of physical fitness. You should be able to walk up to 4km at times and manage uneven surfaces during sightseeing, which will sometimes be at an incline. In addition, you should be able to climb up to 200 stairs unassisted and use an eastern style squat toilet (beware if you have knee issues).
You will need to be able to carry your own luggage to and from the coach and on and off the train. (Due to OH&S regulations our trip leaders are not able to assist with luggage.)
In addition, you should be in good health, with no major chronic conditions requiring frequent medical attention. This trip often travels through remote locations where the availability of a hospital or even phone reception to call an ambulance is limited. While all our trip leaders are required to have a valid first aid certificate, they are far from doctors and any assistance they are able to provide will be limited to basic first aid. For more information please see our booking conditions.
Single supplement
Traveling by yourself? No problem, we love single travellers and don’t believe in penalising them by charging half the trip price again for our single supplement. With us you are only paying the actual cost to have a room all to yourself. If you’re up for making a new friend, you can elect to share with another single traveller of the same sex and only pay the twin-share price. The choice is yours!
Trip leader description
Accompanying you on your tour to Rajasthan will be your Inverted Atlas trip leader. Your trip leader is a logistics extraordinaire, keeps the trip running smoothly and ensures you have the best time possible on your trip. It is important to know that while your trip leader has the best job in the world, they aren’t actually on holidays, but rather they are there to make sure you have the best time while you are on your holiday! Your trip leader may at times need some time out so that they can complete back of house tasks that ensure everyone continues to enjoy the trip. It is also your trip leaders’ job to handle any issues (heaven forbid!) that come up while you’re on your trip like:
- If you lose your passport or other travel documents
- If there is a problem with your room at the booked accommodation – seriously please tell your trip leader don’t wait until you leave
- If you become unwell and need to find a pharmacy
- Assisting with restaurant recommendations or additional sightseeing during free time
- Questions regarding the itinerary
Your trip leader will have some good local knowledge about the destination in which you are traveling, however they are not a ‘local guide’. You’re welcome to ask your trip leader anything about the trip and if they don’t know they will find out and get back to you. Other people you will meet along the way are ‘local guides’ who are generally available to the group in specific towns or at specific sites like national parks, temples or archaeological sites. These people are the local experts and will be able to answer any questions you may have about the history and culture of a specific site.
Itinerary disclaimer
This itinerary for this tour to Rajasthan, is correct at the time of upload to our website and we have composed it in good faith. From time to time we may elect to make changes before departure, if we are making a big change we will of course notify you, however if it is a small change this will be reflected in the final trip notes. So, make sure you download these prior to departure. Small changes prior to departure are usually made with the groups best interests in mind and come about due to liaising with our best resources – our past travelers and of course our trip leaders! The ability to change and evolve depending on what our travelers enjoy is what makes us such a great trip operator.
While we strive to operate our trips exactly to the letter of the itinerary, sometimes we may need to make changes on the ground while the group is on the road. This is all part of the adventure of traveling and we would ask that you come on your trip with an open mind and a good sense of humour because as much as we want it to, everything doesn’t always go to plan. In fact, these impromptu situations often make the best stories that you can have a laugh with your friends about later.
Age requirements
Minimum Age: 16 years
There is no shared accommodation on this tour to Rajasthan, and we will be traveling through a relatively well travelled part of the world, in this instance we would welcome everyone above the age of 16 years. Should you wish to bring younger children, please give us a call.
There is no upper age limit for this trip, but you should consider the above fitness requirements prior to booking. If you are 65 years or over, you will be asked to complete our Health Check Form and have your medical practitioner sign it to confirm you are in good health and able to participate safely on this trip.
Travel insurance
Please note that comprehensive travel insurance is a condition of travel with Inverted Atlas. Insurance must include provision for medical situations, emergency medical repatriation to your home country and personal liability at a minimum. Proof of valid travel insurance will be requested by your trip leader on arrival at the pre-departure meeting. Please have this paperwork available for them. If you are unable to provide proof of comprehensive travel insurance, you may not be allowed to join the trip and no refund will be payable.
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