Mélange of Rajputs & Mughals

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Mélange of Rajputs & Mughals

One of the world’s greatest schools of architecture and decoration, rooted in several traditions but becoming an original, harmonious and beautiful synthesis. Architecture, art and history amid the enthralling landscapes and beautiful cities, forts and palaces of north-west India. The tour includes less visited places as well as major ones.

Mélange of Rajputs & Mughals

Explore the great Rajput fortress cities in Rajasthan and the fusion of Hindu and Islamic cultures at Mughal monuments.

Tour Highlights

  1. Explore the vibrant folk culture of Rajasthan, manifest in its fine music, dance and textiles.
  2. Visit three magnificent princely capitals in the heartland of the Mughal Empire.
  3. Visit great Hindu and Jain temples, encounter the vernacular architecture of Rajasthan.
  4. Stay in former palaces that are now heritage hotels.
  5. Visiting exquisite Taj Mahal – a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Itinerary

Delhi – Bundi – Chittaurgarh – Udaipur – Kumbhalgarh – Jodhpur – Khimsar –   Jaipur – Agra – Delhi

Day 01 : Delhi arrival
Airport welcome and check in at the hotel in the center of Delhi. Night in hotel.
Day 02 : Delhi
Breakfast at hotel. Then, go down to Old Delhi to visit the 17th century Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. You will be visiting streets of old Delhi on cycle rickshaw, See Chandni Chowk, the shopping center of old Delhi and drive past the Red Fort for a photo stop. Visit Raj Ghat where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. Visit of New Delhi is built in a typically British colonial style with tree-lined avenues and colonial bungalows. Drive past the Parliament House, the Secretariat buildings and the Vice Regal Palace, now the official residence of the President of India. We next visit the wonderful complex of Humayun’s Tomb (c.1565). Commissioned by the Emperor’s widow, this was the first of the great Mughal tombs. We continue to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Qutub Minar and its Monuments*. Built over the course of 300 years, the red sandstone tower of Qutub Minar is 72.5 meters and five stories high. The surrounding archaeological area also includes the magnificent Alai-Darwaza Gate, a masterpiece of Indo-Muslim art.
Day 03: Delhi (Train) Kota ( 20 kms) Bundi
Breakfast at hotel and morning free to explore local markets. Late afternoon transfer to railway station and onboard train to kota, on your arrival at Kota, transfer by surface to Bundi.
Day 04: Bundi – Chittaurgarh (140 kms – 02½ hrs)
Breakfast at hotel Before leaving for Bijaipur we shall visit Bundi, a delightful, unspoilt small medieval town which arguably gives a more vivid image of Rajasthan’s past than any other old, fortified city. This city is also dominated by the Garh Palace, which we shall enter from the old bazaar. The palace itself is an extremely impressive old complex that stands on powerful foundations above the city. Transfer by surface to Chittaurgah, evening free.
Day 05: Chittaurgarh – Udaipur ( 120 kms – 02½hrs)
Breakfast at hotel Visiting  Chittaurgarh, standing on an isolated rocky outcrop, 150 metres above the surrounding plains, the walls of Chitor are the finest medieval Hindu defence work to survive in any degree of completeness. A still silence hangs over the deserted pavilions and ruined temples of Chitor. Chittorgarh resonates with stories of Rajputana bravery, pride and passion. The bards of Rajasthan sing tales of courage and sacrifice recounting stories that are known to every child and adult in the city. Transfer by surface to Udaipur, The rulers of Mewar established a new capital at Udaipur. They belonged to the Sisodia clan of the Rajputs and they were the oldest of the Rajput ruling lineages. They offered the fiercest resistance to the Mughals.
Day 06: Udaipur
Breakfast at hotel After breakfast at hotel enjoy a guided tour of this "Lake City". Udaipur is a cool oasis in the dry heart of Rajasthan. It is probably the most romantic city in a state where every city has some romantic or exotic tale to tell. The huge City Palace, towering over the Lake Pichola is the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. Though it is a conglomeration of buildings built by successive rulers, it manages to retain a surprising uniformity of design and affords fine views of the lake and the city from upper terraces. Proceed on to the Jagdish temple which enshrines a black stone image of Lord Vishnu and his vehicle - a mighty bird called Garuda in a brass image. The temple is a very fine example of Indo-Aryan art. The temple is still in use and is visited by colourfully dressed pilgrims. Also visit Sahelion Ki Bari – the spectacular garden displaying the unique life style of the royal ladies who once lived in the palaces.
Day 07: Udaipur (90 kms – 02 hrs ) Ranakpur (50 kms) Kumbhalgarh
Breakfast at hotel We drive to Kumbhalgarh, visiting the Ranakpur Temples along the way. Ranakpur is one of the five most important pilgrimage sites of Jainism. It is home to an exceptionally beautiful temple complex tucked away in a remote valley in the Aravalli range, situated north of Udaipur in Pali district ( temple opens for non-jain between 12h00 to 16h00). Reaching Kumbhalgarh and rest of the evening free.
Day 08: Kumbhalgarh – Jodhpur (180 kms - 03 hrs)
Breakfast at hotel This morning we travel by jeep to visit Kumbhalgarh Fort. Its location had always been Kumbhalgarh’s greatest advantage. Because it was virtually inaccessible in the 15th century, Rana Kumbha of Mewar built this great defensive fortress on a 3500-foot (1100-metre) high hill overlooking the approaches from Ajmer and Marwar. It is the second most important Mewar fortress after Chitor, providing a haven when the city was attacked. Having had visited fortress we shall leave for Jodhpur. Upon arrival, visit the impressive Mehrangarh Fort which stands overlooking the whole of Jodhpur as well as getting the chance to explore the busy streets and blue houses. You may then wish to spend the remainder of the afternoon discovering the bazaars located around the clock tower.  
Day 09: Jodhpur – Khimsar ( 110 kms/ 02 hrs)
Breakfast at hotel we drive through the Rajasthan desert for the historic Khimsar Fort. Established in 1523 A.D, it is perched on the edge of the Thar Desert. Upon reaching, we shall take a  wo-hour 4WD safari. Our journey of 16 kilometres by open jeep aims to view herds of blackbuck, chinkara and blue bull antelope. Native to the Indian Subcontinent, the blackbuck is an antelope species that has been classified as endangered since 2003.
Day 10: Khimsar – Jaipur (290 kms – 06 hrs)
Early morning breakfast at hotel Transfer by road to Jaipur a long day on highway. Upon arrival free to relax.
Day 11: Jaipur
A full day sightseeing in and around the 'Pink City' of Jaipur. In the morning you will visit the magnificent Amber Palace. Capital of the Kachwaha Rajputs until 1727, this fort complex is an impressive place to visit. Back in the heart of the city, discover the treasures of the City Palace which houses an important museum, the intricate facade of The Palace of the Winds and also the fascinating Jantar Mantar Observatory.
Day 12: Jaipur (210 kms - 04 hrs) Fatehpur Sikri ( 60 kms ) Agra
After breakfast, drive from Jaipur to Agra stopping en route to visit Fatehpur Sikri, the enigmatic and beautiful deserted capital of Emperor Akbar which was abandoned when water supplies dried up. Reaching Agra  we visit Agra’s powerful Red Fort. As busily as he was reducing the fortresses of his enemies, Akbar was building his own strategic network of strongholds across northern India.
Day 13: Agra – Delhi (210 kms – 05 hrs)
Sunrise visit of The Taj Mahal (1631–47) was famously built by Shah Jahan as the tomb of his favourite wife. Rise early to see it in the first light of day; despite inevitable scepticism, it is likely that you will indeed conclude that this is the most beautiful building in the world. Return to the hotel for breakfast before  leaving for Delhi. Enroute we shall visit Tomb of the Itimud-ud-Daula - one of the most remarkable of Mughal buildings, the tomb of the Empress Nur Jahan’s father, a senior noble of Persian lineage whose long and capable service to the emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan earned him the title Itimud ud daula, ‘pillar of the state’. By evening reaching Delhi and sometime free before onboard flight back to your country
  • Best Season:  From 01 September –  30 April
map of Nawabs of Lucknow

The highlights of this trip

Rajput & Moghul Architect

The unique characteristic of its architecture is extremely popular in the whole world. The Rajasthan architecture is significantly depending on Rajput architecture school which was mixture of mughal and Hindu structural design. Grand havelis, astonishing forts and elaborately carved temples are the vital portion of architectural heritage of Rajasthan. Rajput’s carries the credit of creative builders.  

The Mughals, Indian architecture was greatly influenced by Persian styles. The Mughals constructed excellent mausoleums, mosques, forts, gardens and cities. The Mughal buildings show a uniform pattern both in structure and character. The main characteristic features of Mughal architecture are the bulbous domes, the slender minarets with cupolas at the four corners, large halls, massive, vaulted gateways and delicate ornamentation.

Local Life

From the tribal villages of the Thar Desert to the modern hustle of Jaipur, there are few places in India where traditional and modern life jut up against each other as they do in Rajasthan, and in such an exciting and intriguing manner. Camel carts pass hi-tech solar farms and mobile phones are ubiquitous, yet conservative social mores underpin everyday life.

Cuisines

Rajasthani cuisine is largely vegetarian, with an emphasis on pulses, millets and milk products. However, since this community is also known for its royal hunting soirees, small game animals and lamb dishes are also a speciality.

The Persian Cuisine had been introduced to India already in the 12th century, even though the Mughal Empire started only with Zahir-ud-din Muhammed Babur in 1526. A couple of historic events are particularly important to understand the evolution of the Mughlai Cuisine: the first was the introduction of the underground Tandoor to make naan bread by the Turks and Afghans during the Delhi Sultanate. Other dishes they introduced were keema, kebab, dahi yoghurt and paneer.

Fortress & Temples

Visit great Hindu and Jain temples, encounter the vernacular architecture of Rajasthan, including its famous stepped wells and villages, and explore fortresses like Chittaurgarh and Kumbhalgarh.

  • Cultural 95% 95%
  • Architect 90% 90%
  • Local Life 85% 85%
  • Cuisines 80% 80%

This is a fantastic trip !!!

“This is a fantastic trip – I was surprised and overwhelmed with many of the cities, forts and palaces in Rajasthan. The Taj Mahal is perfection! ITP really showed me a wonderful part of North India. ”

Mat & Jones, Devon, England

Loved this tour!

“Loved this tour! It was fabulous and far exceeded my expectations with its meticulously planned itinerary and myriad of sights, ranging from the breathtaking Taj Mahal, grand palaces, temples and forts to the rustic village family home. I loved the heritage accommodation and the folk culture we saw .“

Jade & family, Kent, England.

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