Mughals & Maharajas

Namaste. Welcome to India. You will be greeted by our staff on arrival at Delhi's Indira Ghandi International Airport and driven to the five star Claridges Hotel, just a few minutes walk from Connaught Place in central New Delhi.

Your BOA adventure starts with a welcome meeting at 6.pm.  Look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask at reception where it will take place. You will need to bring your passport and a copy of your travel insurance.

After the meeting we will head off to enjoy our first meal together.

Drive times: 0 kms / 0 hrs approx
Accommodation: The Claridges, New Delhi or similar
Meals included: dinner

Included activities

• Airport Transfer
• Welcome Meeting 6.00 pm

Optional activities

• Shopping in Janpath Market

It is impossible to beat Delhi's traffic unless we leave very early indeed! The morning traffic rush transcends into an all day traffic jam and then the inevitable evening chaos. Safely out of Delhi's complicated network of roads, things calm down as a fast motorway heads south to Agra, driving through flat, rural farming communities. You will be escorted by a representative of BOA to Agra in a private vehicle, where awaits the rest of the group and 'Snowy', BOA's custom built Mercedes Benz all-terrain vehicle.

Drive times: 212 kms / 4-5 hrs approx
Accommodation: Taj Hotel, Agra or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Included activities

• Private transfer from Delhi to Agra
• Introduction to 'Snowy'

Sunrise at the Taj Mahal is one of life’s unforgettable moments… the magical aura as the sun’s first rays catch the different hues in the white marble is simply stunning.  

After a late breakfast at the hotel, we visit the very impressive Agra Fort, a marvel of architecture in red sandstone with walls standing over twenty metres high and with a huge moat surrounding it.

Agra is heaven for shopaholics and the afternoon is yours free to visit the many markets and craft areas or other attractive buildings and gardens in Agra.  On the opposite bank of the Yamuna River is the Moon Garden an ideal point for viewing the Taj Mahal in romantic moonlight.

Drive times: 0 kms / 0 hrs approx
Accommodation: Taj Hotel, Agra or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Included activities

• Taj Mahal
• Agra Red Fort

Optional activities

• Moon Garden or Mehtab Bagh
• Shopping

More about Agra.....

Today is all about wildlife conservation and we hope you share our enthusiasm. 

Wildlife SOS is a conservation non-profit in India, established in 1998 with the primary objective of rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife in distress in the country, and preserving India’s natural heritage. Close to Agra, Wildlife S.O.S. have two care facilities, one for Sloth Bears and the other for elephants. We take time to visit one or both of these facilities dependent on the groups preference before continuing on to Bharatpur.

Late in the afternoon we take cycle rickshaws and explore one of India’s best-known bird sanctuaries, Keoladeo National Park, commonly known as Bharatpur Bird Park.

Drive times: 86 kms / 3-5 hrs approx
Accommodation: Laxmi Vilas Palace, Bharatpur or similar
Meals included: breakfast | lunch

Included activities

• Wildlife S.O.S.
• Agra Bear Rescue Facility
• Elephant Conservation & Care Center
• Keoladeo National Park
• Cycle Rickshaw Tour

Optional activities

• Bicycle Hire
• Lohagarh Fort & Museum

More about Wildlife SOS, Bharatpur & Fatehpur Sikri....

Our day starts with the option of visiting Sunrise Point in Keoladeo NP before returning to the hotel for breakfast. 

A short 25 kms from Bharatpur, we arrive at Fatephur Sikri, a perfectly preserved ghost city built at the height of Emperor Akbar’s reign. We will spend some time wandering around this old abandoned marvel of Mughal architecture before continuing on to the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur.

Drive times: 230 kms / 4-6 hrs approx
Accommodation: Khandela Haveli, Jaipur or similar
Meals included: breakfast | lunch

Included activities

• Fatephur Sikri

Optional activities

• Sunrise Cycle Rickshaw Tour
• Sunrise Bicycle Tour

Why not start the day by floating across the skyline of Jaipur in a hot air balloon.

After breakfast we spend the day exploring several of the city’s famous landmarks with an old friend whose family has been synonymous with Jaipur and tourism for generations. 

Hawa Mahal (The Palace of the Winds), Iswari Minar Swarga Sal (Heaven Piercing Minaret), the City Palace, also known as the Pink Palace and Jantar Mantar Astronomical Observatory are all included in our day.

Drive times: 0 kms / 0 hrs approx
Accommodation: Khandela Haveli, Jaipur or similar
Meals included: breakfast | lunch

Included activities

• Hawa Mahal (The Palace of the Winds)
• Iswari Minar Swarga Sal (Heaven Piercing Minaret)
• City Palace (Pink Palace)
• Jantar Mantar Astronomical Observatory

Optional activities

• Hot Air Ballooning
• Shopping

More about Jaipur......

We drive 11 kms north of Jaipur, past the Jal Mahal (Water Palace) sitting in the middle of Man Sagar Lake, to the imposing and fabulous Amber Fort and Palace. 

From Jaipur to Delhi the drive is through quite undulating and dry country but, as we get closer to Delhi, it becomes flatter and greener. Be prepared for us to come to a grinding halt when we hit the edges of Delhi and are greeted by the chaotic Delhi traffic! 

Drive times: 310 kms / 4-6 hrs approx
Accommodation: The Claridges, New Delhi or similar
Meals included: breakfast | lunch

Included activities

• Amber Palace & Fort

Delhi is a frenzy of culture and colour, a vibrant, crazy and chaotic capital city, all of which you will discover on our city tour. A historians paradise, Delhi is home to a phase in history that speaks out from every nook and corner of the city.  The memories of the glorious age of the Mughal rulers is still alive, with most of their architectural glories still standing as a witness of an era gone by.  

Our day will include Bahai Lotus Temple,  the impressive Red Fort,  Jama Masjid a 17th century mosque, Rajghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Ghandia, Humayun Tomb, India’s parliament house, India Gate and Qutab Minar.

After a long day of exploring we end with a group meal together to say goodbye to those leaving in Delhi and hello to those joining us.

Drive times: 0 kms / 0 hrs approx
Accommodation: The Claridges, New Delhi or similar
Meals included: breakfast | dinner

Included activities

• Bahai Lotus Temple
• The Red Fort
• Jama Masjid
• Rajghat
• Humayun Tomb
• Sansad Bhavan
• India Gate
• Qutab Minar
• Group Farewell Dinner

Optional activities

• Shopping in Janpath Market

More about Old & New Delhi.......

We depart Delhi after an early breakfast and a brief introduction to BOA’s custom built Mercedes Benz all-terrain vehicle. After years on the road, we know what is required for long travel and you will quickly settle in and enjoy all the comforts available.  Air conditioning and heating, a library, charging facilities, writing table, a fridge for cold drinks……

It is impossible to beat Delhi’s traffic so we need to leave very early indeed! The morning traffic rush transcends into an all day traffic jam and then the inevitable evening chaos. Safely out of Delhi’s complicated network of roads, things calm down as the roads heads towards the Thar Desert and the town of Mandawa.

Drive times: 260 kms / 6-8 hrs approx
Accommodation: Castle Mandawa, Mandawa or similar
Meals included: breakfast | lunch

Included activities

• Introduction to 'Snowy' for those joining in Delhi

Often referred as “an open art gallery of India”, Mandawa is a fascinating place to explore.  Around every corner in Mandawa there is something to see.  Ornate homes, decorated inside and out with colourful frescoes and whimsical murals depicting the mythological and religious history of India will enchant you. 

The markets in Mandawa are great for lovers of art as the town is known for its paintings most of which have been recreated by artisans inspired by those in Mandawa’s forts and palaces. 

This morning we take a guided tour of some of its most famous sights before heading off, further in to the desert, to Bikaner.

Drive times: 192 kms / 4-6 hrs approx
Accommodation: Laxmi Niwas Palace, Bikaner or similar
Meals included: breakfast | lunch

Included activities

• Walking tour of Mandawa

Optional activiities

• Shopping in Mandawa

More about Mandawa......

In the morning we take a tour to the Junagarh Fort built by Rja Rai Singh, the sixth ruler of Bikaner (1571-1611).

After lunch we will drive to a small town approximately 35kms from Bikaner called Deshnok where there is a temple called Karni Mata with huge silver doors.  This temple is a little different to others as it is dedicated to sacred rats (kabas) - yes that’s correct - rats - approximately 20,000 of them!! 

We drive back to Bikaner in the afternoon. A good scrub in the shower and you will feel great! 

Drive times: 70 kms / 1-2 hrs approx
Accommodation: Laxmi Niwas Palace, Bikaner or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Included activities

• Junagarh Fort
• Karni Mati Temple

Optional activities

• Bhandasar Jain Temple

More about Bikaner......

Rising early, we continue our journey further into the Thar Desert to the ancient city of Jaisalmer. Soon after leaving Bikaner, the landscape changes to arid desert with low scrub dotting the terrain.  We stop en-route at the small village of Bap and take a village walk before lunch at the lovely Barsingha Villa. 

We experience first hand an Adobe Village and see the people, still living and working in mud houses, untouched by the Western world. These friendly folk will welcome you to amble freely around their homes and visit their families inside their Adobe Dhanis. 

We arrive in Jaisalmer in the late afternoon, but long before we arrive, we’ll see the sandstone fort sitting on the horizon, easily visible for miles as the afternoon sun gradually turns its honey coloured walls into a beautiful shade of gold. 

Drive times: 320 kms / 4-6 hrs approx
Accommodation: Gorbandh Palace, Jaisalmer or similar
Meals included: breakfast | lunch

Included activities

• Bap Village Walk

The city of Jaisalmer is spread in and around its magnificent fort and beneath its ramparts the old city beckons. Today we will take a walking tour exploring a maze where camel carts and rickshaws pass through the winding alleys full of markets and ornately carved buildings.

For centuries Jaisalmer was the hub of camel train routes between India and Central Asia and wealthy merchants built beautifully crafted homes from timber and sandstone, known as ‘Havelis’, of which we will visit two or three. 

The afternoon is yours to track down some dazzling Rajasthani fabrics, relax by Gadisar Lake or visit the impressive Folklore Museum. 

Drive times: 0 kms / 0 hrs approx
Accommodation: Gorbandh Palace, Jaisalmer or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Included activities

• Jaisalmer Fort Guided Tour
• Jaisalmer Fort
• Havelis of Jaisalmer
• Free time in the afternoon

Optional activities

• Gadsisar Lake
• The Folklore Museum
• Shopping

More about Jaisalmer...........

This morning out first stop is the stunning cenotaphs of Bada Bagh, located just on the outskirts of Jaisalmer.   

From here it is a short drive to our luxury-tented camp in the Thar Desert. We visit charming local desert villages and enjoy the typical friendly Rajasthan warmth - this is rural India. 

Just before dusk we mount camels and ride out into the desert and experience the amazing changing colours of the dunes as the sun sets… a mesmerizing sight.

We dine in an open-air restaurant as the camp comes alive with musicians, dancers and cultural entertainment. After a sumptuous meal and some wonderful entertainment, we sleep beneath the star studded sky in beautiful tents with crisp clean sheets and plenty of blankets for the cool night!

Drive times: 40 kms / 1 hr approx
Accommodation: Royal Desert Camp, Thar Desert or similar
Meals included: breakfast | lunch | dinner

Included activities

• Bada Bagh
• Thar Desert Villages
• Sam Sand Dunes Sunset Camel Safari
• Traditional Cultural Dancing

More about the Thar Desert...........

Leaving Jaisalmer , we drive through the desert to Pokaran. Surrounded by rocky, sandy and salty ranges, Pokaran means ‘the place of five mirages’. Fort Pokaran stands on an ancient trade route that carried salt, silk and spices to Persia and beyond.

Fort Pokaran, the 14th century citadel also known as “Balagarh”, a well-known landmark in the area, and the best place to have a break en-route to Jodhpur. 

The imperial gates of this stately fort are open to guests and day visitors as it is now a luxurious heritage hotel.  There is an in-house museum of the family collection of amoury, garments, miniature paintings, handicrafts and local artistry. 

Drive times: 320 kms / 4-6 hrs approx
Accommodation: Ajit Bhawan, Jodhpur or similar
Meals included: breakfast | lunch

Included activities

• Fort Pokaran

After breakfast we head to the ‘Majestic Fort’ of Mehrangarh. Rising perpendicular and impregnable from a rocky outcrop that itself stands 125m above Jodhpur’s skyline, Mehrangarh is one of the most magnificent forts in India.

Sitting above a small lake 1km northeast of the fort is a pure white marble cenotaph - Jaswant Thada, the memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II.

We make our way back to the city and from there the rest of the day is at your leisure. Why not visit the stunning Umaid Bhawan Palace, wander the alleyways of the old city or go bargain hunting in Sadar Bazaar. 

Drive times: 0 kms / 0 hrs approx
Accommodation: Ajit Bhawan, Jodhpur or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Included activities

• Meherangarh Fort
• Jaswant Thada
• Free time in the afternoon

Optional activities

• Umaid Bhawan Palace
• Sadar Bazaar

More about Jodhpur.......

We leave Jodhpur and drive the back roads to Udaipur via Ranakpur, a quaint town and one of the five most important pilgrimage places of Jainism. 

This beautiful, serene place is renowned for some amazingly carved Jain temples.  Constructed in amber stone around the year 1439 these are some of the most beautifully sculptured Jain Temples in India. Chaumukha Mandir (Four Faced Temple) is built of white marble with 29 halls supported by 1444 wooden pillars of which no two are the same. 

Here we also have the opportunity to eat lunch side by side with local pilgrims before continuing our drive to Udaipur.

Drive times: 250 kms / 6 - 8 hrs approx
Accommodation: Fateh Garh, Udaipur or similar
Meals included: breakfast | lunch

Included activities

• Ranakpur Temple Complex

Today we explore this stunning city and discover for ourselves why it is know as the most romantic city in India. First stop is Sajjan Garh, commonly known as the Monsoon Palace.  We will stop here for an hour or so before heading down to the old city, passing the beautiful Fateh Sagar Lake on our way to the City Palace complex.

After lunch there is free time to explore the narrow lanes and shop for hadicrafts in the bazaars.We take a late afternoon cruise on Lake Pichola to view the city from a whole different perspective before ending the day being entertained with a cultural dance show at Bagore-Ki-Haveli Museum.  

Drive times: 0 kms / 0 hrs approx
Accommodation: Fateh Garh, Udaipur or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Included activities

• Monsoon Palace (Sajjan Garh)
• Fateh Sagar Lake
• The City Palace
• Boat tour on Lake Pichola*
• Bagore-Ki-Haveli Museum 

Optional activities

• Shopping

More about Udaipur.......

We have a good highway most of the way between Pushkar and Udaipur; with an early start we will have time to have lunch and visit Deogarh (Castle of the Gods) which is located north east of Udaipur. 

As soon as you glimpse the Deogarh Mahal, you can see that its rulers must have been serious players, their magnificent fort a fitting stronghold for aristocracy.  With it’s battlements, domes, turrets, jharokhas and huge gateways, Deogarh Mahal stands proudly on a hilltop presiding over the town. 

The town itself,is surrounded by rugged countryside and lakes and is famous for it’s school of miniature paintings. 

Drive times: 285 kms / 6-8 hrs approx
Accommodation: Hotel Pushkar Palace, Pushkar or similar
Meals included: breakfast | lunch

Included activities

• Deogarh Mahal

Pushkar town is a veritable maze of temples, bazaars and narrow streets lined with little shops, food stalls and hotels. Four hundred temples and 52 ghats, where ‘pujas’ are regularly performed by wandering ascetics and visiting devotees, result in a constant cacophony of chanted prayers, drums and gongs. 

Today is free to explore as you prefer. 

Drive times: 0 kms / 0 hrs approx
Accommodation: Hotel Pushkar Palace, Pushkar or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Optional Activities

• Pushkar Lake
• Brahma Temple
• Bathing Ghats
• Saraswati Temple
• Camel & Horse Safaris
• Shopping

More about Pushkar.......

After leaving Pushkar, we backtrack through Ajmer, keep a lookout for the impressive Mughal architecture amidst the more modern sprawl of the city. We continue on through an ever greener landscape to Ranthambore National Park, home of the elusive Bengal tiger.

Drive times: 290 kms / 6-8 hrs approx
Accommodation: Hotel Ranthambore Regency, Sawai Madhopur or similar
Meals included: breakfast | lunch | dinner

Tigers are mostly active in the morning, before the heat of the day forces them to take shelter, so we are up early for a game drive in search of these elusive wild cats.

More commonly seen in the thick copses of trees and scrubby brush are the wild boars, monkeys, spotted deer and antelopes. Also watch out for hyenas, sloth bears, crocodiles, jackals and leopards The park itself is very picturesque with nearly 400 sq kms of lakes, rivers, forests and several ancient ruins.  

We return to the hotel for a late breakfast and, like the tigers we search for, take shelter from the heat of the day. In the afternoon we enjoy another foray into the park and explore the ruins the majestic 1,000-year-old Ranthambore Fort.  

Drive times: 0 kms / 0 hrs approx
Accommodation: Hotel Ranthambore Regency, Sawai Madhopur or similar
Meals included: breakfast | lunch | dinner

Included activities

• AM & PM Game Drives
• Ranthambore Fort

* PLEASE NOTE: The number of vehicles permitted to enter the park at any one time is restricted and all game drives must now be booked and paid for well in advance.  We recommend you book as early as possible in order to have the best chance of securing a space on a game drive.  

We will purchase seats for all passengers as soon as permits are available, usually 4 months prior, after this point it is not always possible to secure additional spaces. We cannot guarantee th operation of any game drives until the necessary permits have been purchased.

More about Ranthambore NP.......

We are up early for another game drive in search of our feline friends and a quick breakfast before heading to the Sawai Madhopur train station where we take an air conditioned train back to Delhi. Train travel in India is a must-do experience, and a great way to get a glimpse of rural India and the everyday travel of the local population.

On arrival in Delhi we will be escorted to our hotel to meet 'Snowy'. It is going to be a long day but the reward is a final group meal together.

Drive times: 360 kms / 6-7 hrs approx (AC train)
Accommodation: The Claridges, New Delhi or similar
Meals included: breakfast | lunch | dinner

Included activities

• AM Game drive
• Group Farewell Dinner

The tour ends after breakfast and your morning is free until it is time to transfer to the airport.  We thank you for choosing to travel with us… Best Of Asia Overland, the specialists in ‘Adventure in Comfort’, welcome you anytime.

Drive times: 0 kms / 0 hrs approx
Accommodation: Not included
Meals included: breakfast

Included activities

• Airport transfer

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