Vintage Tour of India
11 - 25 February 2011
Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Jodhpur - Deogarh - Udaipur - Mumbai
Friday 11 February
Fly from London Heathrow Airport on the overnight flight to Delhi.Saturday 12 February
On arrival you will be met and taken by coach to your hotel, the Lalit New Delhi or similar, where you stay for two nights. A traditional Indian welcome awaits you at the hotel. The day and evening are free in Delhi.Sunday 13 February
After breakfast depart for a guided sightseeing tour of the city. New Delhi, the capital of India, is a successful combination of ancient and modern. The tour begins with a visit to Qutub Minar, the tallest stone tower in India. Continuing to Humayun’s Tomb – built by the widow of the second Mughal Emperor in Indo-Persian style and a precursor of the Taj Mahal. You will then drive past the imposing India Gate, the Parliament building and President’s residence and visit Gandhi Smriti. Here you will enjoy a tour through the museum presenting the events of Mahatma Gandhi’s life.In the afternoon a special visit is arranged to India’s foremost museum for vintage and classic automobiles – Pro Bono Uno Publico. Open to the public only occasionally we will try to arrange a meeting with the collector – Mr Diljeet Titus – during our visit. The collection includes cars built between 1927 and 1969 and includes a rare example of a 1927 Minerva AL – Belgium’s answer to the Rolls Royce.
Afterwards we return to the hotel where this evening we are guests at a welcome dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Monday 14 February
After breakfast we leave Delhi by coach to Agra and check in to our hotel, the Jaypee Palace or similar, where we stay for one night.
The Mughals were great rulers and great builders too and the area around Agra has many wonderful monuments each unique and outstandingly beautiful – the best known is the Taj Mahal, a masterpiece of Mughal architecture.
In the afternoon we will drive to Agra Fort – the seat of Mughal rule and administration where we visit the Hall of Public Audience and its Royal Pavilions. Later we return to the hotel where the evening is free.
Tuesday 15 February
Early morning departure from the hotel to watch the sun rise over the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. We return to the hotel for breakfast and then leave by coach for Jaipur.
En route we stop at Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted red sandstone city built by the Emperor Akbar as his capital and palace in the late 16th century.
After an included lunch at The Bagh Hotel in Bharatpur we continue to Jaipur and to our hotel, Le Meridien or similar, where we stay for two nights. The evening is free in Jaipur.
Wednesday 16 February
After breakfast you will be taken by coach and by jeep to visit the Amber Fort. Dating from the 17th century you can stroll through the sprawling complex of courtyards and halls looking at the delightful wall paintings and the fascinating Hall of Mirrors.Today we will also visit the Palace of Winds – a pink sandstone façade behind which the ladies of the court would watch the goings on in the streets below.
In the afternoon we will enjoy a sightseeing tour of Jaipur including the City Palace – an overwhelming complex of palaces, gardens and courtyards, decorative art and carved doorways. Collections of rare manuscripts, armoury, costumes, carpets and miniature paintings are housed here. You will also see the Astronomical Observatory and have some time to wander in the colourful markets.
The Evening is free
Thursday 17 February
Today we leave after breakfast for Jodhpur, stopping for an included lunch en route at Nimaj Palace, Chhatra Sagar. Accommodation in Jodhpur is reserved for two nights at the Ajit Bhawan Hotel or similar.
Jodhpur looks out over the desert to the West and is dominated by a massive fort atop a sheer rocky hill, which rises in the middle of the town. The old city is surrounded by a 10 kilometre wall and is a fascinating jungle of winding streets.
The evening is free in Jodhpur.
Friday 18 February
This morning we take a city sightseeing tour. There are many forts in Rajasthan but the Mehrangarh Fort is one of the most impressive. Still run by the Maharaja of Jodhpur you can visit the various palaces with their delicate friezes and museums displaying the myriad treasures of the royal family.Later we walk down to the old market to get a feel for the charm of typical Rajasthan.
This afternoon we are privileged to be invited to a special viewing of the vintage car collection of the Maharaja of Jodhpur, Maharaja Gaj Singh, and the Royal Family of Ajit Bhawan.
Later we will enjoy cocktails with a member of the Royal Family of Ajit Bhawan.
Saturday 19 February
The journey today takes us to Deogarh via Ranakpur, where we take an excursion through the rugged, wooded hills to the Jain Temples in the Aravalli Valley. Noted for the grandiose scale of its architecture and the highly decorated ceilings, walls and pillars it is one of the best complexes of the Jain religion. The priests of the temples did all the design and the work is ongoing.Afterwards we continue to Deogarh where accommodation is reserved for two nights at the Deogarh Mahal Hotel or similar. The afternoon and evening are free.
Deogarh is a small town occupying a strategic location on a main route. You can explore the town on foot and visit the extraordinary cave temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, said to be 2000 years old.
Sunday 20 February
Today is a leisurely day with plenty of free time to relax. A gentle excursion will be taken exploring the countryside and visiting villages before an included picnic lunch at the lakeside Palace of the Deogarh family. Afterwards we return to the hotel.
Monday 21 February
Leaving Deogarh after breakfast the route will take us to Eklingji, a complex of temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. After our visit we continue to Udaipur where accommodation is reserved for two nights at the Lalit Laxmi Niwas Palace Hotel or similar.Udaipur is a romantic city – cool lakes and forested hills where there’s still plenty of wildlife and fairytale palaces and a plentiful history of lores and legends.
In the late afternoon we will go to the Garden Hotel to visit the immaculate vintage car collection of the Royal House of Mewar.
Tuesday 22 February
This morning we take a city sightseeing tour. The City Palace on the banks of Lake Pichola is a collection of palaces forming a single façade. The main entrance, via a triple arched gate, leads to a series of courtyards and gardens. The Garden of the Maids of Honour is a beautiful ornamental garden where royal ladies came for a stroll. It has many fountains, pools and marble elephants. You can visit the museums, the hall of public audiences and the private chambers of the royal ladies at the palace.The afternoon is free to explore the bustling markets of the old town at leisure.
Wednesday 23 February
Early morning departure from the hotel for the airport and the flight to Mumbai. On arrival you will be met and taken to your hotel where accommodation is reserved for two nights at the Taj President Hotel or similar.Mumbai, on the west coast of India and the capital of the State of Maharashtra lays claim to be India’s commercial capital and most cosmopolitan city. The city’s long association with the British is reflected in the old world charm of its buildings and we will see many of the landmarks on this afternoon’s Heritage Trail.
The tour will start with a drive to the Fort and then to the Town Hall from where a walking tour will take you by Horniman Circle, the Cathedral Church of St Thomas, the Flora Fountain, Central Telegraph Office and the High Court where the viewing chambers are surrounded by Venetian style galleries. You will see Mumbai University – an impressive Italian/Gothic structure – the famous Rajabai Clock Tower and, under the clock tower, the Library which has some of the most exquisite stained glass windows in Asia. At the end of the tour we drive back to the hotel.
Thursday 24 February
After breakfast we leave the hotel and take a one hour boat trip to Elephanta Island. The island is home to the Elephanta Caves. Hewn out of solid rock the cave temple covers an area of 60,000 square feet, the carvings centring on the lives of Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu. After the visit we return to the mainland by boat and back to the hotel where the remainder of the day is at leisure.This evening we enjoy an included farewell dinner.
Friday 25 February
After breakfast the morning is at leisure until our departure for the airport and the mid-afternoon flight to London Heathrow, arriving early evening local time.Call now to book or to find out more about this exciting tour of India next winter - 0845 375 0300.
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