RAJASTHAN DESERT ADVENTURE

Day 1
Depart London.

Day 2
The group flight lands in Delhi early in the morning and we transfer to a hotel where breakfast can be purchased locally (not included). Leaving Delhi we drive away from the capital (approx 7-8 hours) to the Shekhawati region of eastern Rajasthan, home to some of India's most prosperous merchants many years ago. As the town attracted wealthy merchants they built fine mansions, called havelis, commissioning artists and stonemasons to execute workmanship befitting their importance and wealth.

Day 3
An early start this morning as we have a lot to see. Travelling on local bicycles we have the chance to experience the atmosphere of the Shekhawati region where the clusters of havelis are connected by bitumen roads. Our full tour will start from Nawalgarh which is a mixture of nostalgia and modernity; a region rich in legends, tradition, chivalry and songs. Founded in 1737 by Thakur Nawal Singh, a warrior statesman, the town exudes an old charm with its colourful bazaar and painted havelis. We explore the havelis by bicycles, concentrating on the Shekhawati district where vibrant murals decorate the havelis both inside and out. The paintings may depict Krishna legends, religious themes and other bold folk-art subjects. Here we find history that is painted with humour as images of animals and birds are juxtaposed with more sedate portrayals laden with European influences. After lunch we drive to Bikaner, approx 4-5 hours, where we stay for the night.

Day 4
This morning we visit Junagarh Fort in Bikaner, an impressive fort built by a Rajput ruler in 1587. A fort that has never been conquered though it has been attacked many times, Junagarh is an impressive monument, with huge towers and battlements for defence. It contains 37 palaces and many temples and pavilions. Many of the inner rooms of the palaces are beautifully decorated and painted in traditional style. We then continue on to Jaisalmer, approx 7-8 hours.

Day 5
Today is spent at the beautiful town of Jaisalmer. The whole effect of the town is stunning; there is nothing quite like it in the whole of India, shimmering like a mirage in the desert haze. Jaisalmer is a town straight out of the Arabian Nights, with its golden sandstone walls that seem to grow out of the desert. The cluster of temples, forts and palaces dotted along the narrow street give it a mediaeval feel. Founded by Rawal Jaisal in 1156, it became a major trading post on the camel silk route with Central Asia. The consequent wealth allowed the building of beautifully carved wooden and sandstone houses seen all over the city today. In the morning we tour the city walls and the fort, inside which is the palace of the Maharawal, several ornate Jain temples and a library containing some old manuscripts written on palm leaves. In the evening we transfer to Kaba Fort (approx 1hr drive) for a brief visit before setting off for a one hour camel ride to our camp for the night.

Day 6
We set off for our camel safari in the Thar Desert, evoking the atmosphere of the camel trains of the past, with vast stretches of sand surrounding us. Riding on a camel is one of the best ways of appreciating the desert scenery and the surprising number of desert dwellers and greenery you come across along the way. We may come across tiny fields of millet and perhaps catch sight of children picking the berries that manage to thrive in the sands. Flocks of sheep and goats, herded by young boys, are a common sight; the tinkling bells around their necks breaking the desert silence. We may prefer to walk at times leaving the camels to their drivers and getting the chance to examine the desert flora and fauna first hand. Our safari is a chance to relax and we make many stops to experience the traditional desert lifestyle of the tribesmen. We visit villages where the houses are made of sticks and mud: some of these are Rajput villages and others are mixed caste. All our meals are freshly cooked for us and at night we camp in tents under the shimmering stars.

Day 7
Leaving our camels we rejoin our vehicle and complete our journey by road to Jodhpur (approx 6 hours), a dramatic journey through a barren landscape in which it may be possible to see some wildlife such as gazelles and bustards. Jodhpur was founded by the Rajput chief Roa Jodha and was formerly the capital of the State of Marwar. The city is surrounded by an immense wall almost ten kilometres in circumference and is dominated by the massive fort that stands on a rocky hill commanding the surrounding desert. In the afternoon we visit the magnificent Meherangarh Fort from where we have a great view of the blue houses, painted to distinguish them as those of Brahmins. The fort itself looks massive from the outside but inside there is an impressive collection of finely carved sandstone screens and lattice windows, and the palaces themselves are very finely decorated

Day 8
In the morning we begin our drive to Udaipur and leave the arid desert behind us as we start to climb into the Aravalli hills, which separate the desert from the cultivated parts of Rajasthan. We stop before lunch to visit the stunning 15th Century Jain Temple at Ranakpur. The main temple, beautifully carved from marble, is dedicated to Adinath. It has 29 halls supported by 1444 pillars, each delicately carved with a different design. Following the scenic road we leave the desert lands behind and drive to the beautiful lakeside town of Udaipur (approx 7-8 hours).

Day 9
Known as 'The Pearl of Rajasthan', the 'City of Sunrise' and 'Venice of the East', Udaipur is a beautiful place regarded by both Indians and travellers as the most romantic city in India. Situated on the east side of Lake Pichola, the main palace commands an unsurpassed view across the shimmering lake to the dusty Aravalli Hills with the luxurious Lake Palace hotel adding to the scene. Lake Pichola has two islands, each with a palace to rival that on the mainland; Jag Mandir and Jag Nivas (the latter is now the luxurious Lake Palace Hotel) rise out of their own reflections in the waters of the lake. Udaipur is surrounded by a massive bastion with five gates and dominating the town is the City Palace of the Maharana. The sumptuous apartments are decorated with multi-coloured mosaics, elaborate mirror work and inlaid tiles, half of these can be visited as the current Maharaja still occupies the rest of the palace. We spend the morning visiting the City Palace and Jagdish Temple, with a huge black stone image of Jagannath, an aspect of Lord Vishnu. If time allows it may be possible to visit the gardens of Gulab Bag or take a boat trip on the lake. The afternoon is free to enjoy this evocative city.

Day 10
Today we leave the desert scenery behind us and drive north to the world famous city of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan (approx 8-9 hrs).

Day 11
A day of sightseeing. The Pink City of Jaipur is one of the most attractive and colourful cities in India. Rajah Jai Singh decided to abandon his nearby fortress and palace at Amber in 1727 and laid out a planned city of broad avenues, built of sandstone and painted pink at a later stage. In the centre of Jaipur is the City Palace, formerly the residence of the Maharaja, it is now a fine museum containing rare manuscripts, paintings, royal garments and weapons. Close to the palace is one of the most intriguing sights of India, the observatory of Jai Singh. This is an assembly of immense astronomical instruments made of marble and brass set in a pleasant garden. We will also see Jaipur's impressive landmark, the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds. A few miles from the main city is the splendid Amber Palace, rising above a lake. The imposing hilltop fort contains large courtyards and interiors with fine decorations including inlaid alabaster panels and a Chamber of Mirrors. We can walk or ride an elephant (optional) up the hill and through the massive gateway to the courtyard. Jaipur is a centre of many handicrafts, such as durries (woven rugs), carpets, printed cloth, semi-precious stones, leatherware etc.; it will be difficult to leave a workshop without buying anything!

Day 12
After a leisurely breakfast we drive about 180 kms. (approx 5hrs) to Ranthambore National Park. At Ranthambore we stay in a lodge with all the basic facilities, a swimming pool and a lovely garden not far from the park entrance.

Day 13
Today we have two game drives. The first game drive will be in the morning. Ranthambore is one of India's tiger reserves under Project Tiger. Sadly, after initial success, poaching has drastically reduced the tiger population, but many Exodus groups over the last few years have seen wild tigers. There is other wildlife, such as several species of monkey, deer, crocodiles, birdlife, and together with the scenery, make the visit well worth it.

Day 14
After an early breakfast we head to Agra, a drive of approximately 300km (7-8 hours). En route we will visit Fatehpur Sikri, the emperor Akbar's deserted royal city. This impressive and well-preserved citadel became his capital in 1571, after the blessing of a local Moslem holy man correctly predicted the birth of a longed-for son, his successor the Emperor Jehangir. The mosque, designed to hold ten thousand worshippers, the palaces, residences and halls of audience are all made of decorative red sandstone. But this magnificence only lasted 14 years, as in 1584 Akbar left Fatehpur Sikri to secure his outlying territories, leaving this city much as we see it today.

Day 15
In the early morning sunrise we will visit the beautiful white marble Taj Mahal, built by the Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631. The Taj is serenely beautiful and never fails to amaze a first time visitor; the white marble exterior changes colour according to the position of the sun during the day and is matched by the rich interior detail. There is also time to visit the imposing Red Fort of Akbar, third of the Moghul Emperors, whose mighty sandstone walls enclose the beautiful white marble Pearl Mosque and the palaces, halls, courtyards and fountains of his sons and successors, Jehangir and Shah Jahan. It is here that the latter spent his last years, imprisoned by his own son Aurangzeb. After visiting the sites we will drive to Delhi, about 5- 6 hrs

Day 16
Fly to London.