Itinerary

Day 1

Day 01 : Pickup from the airport / railway station & transfer to your Palace Hotel.
Post breakfast commence with a tour of Hawa Mahal.
How often have we been told not to build castles in the air? Very often indeed, but if you are a dreamer and wish to see this 'Palace of the Winds' which is not just in your imagination but a real palace, then come to the 'pink city' of Rajasthan and see the Hawa Mahal. Each wall of the palace reinforces the idea that 'dreams truly can come true', and the whole structure is such a beautiful sight that you possibly cannot describe it in words.
The Hawa Mahal, which adjoins the famous City Palace wall, was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh and has now become one of the major landmarks of Jaipur. The palace is shaped like a pyramid and is a five-storied building, with number of small windows and screens, with arched roofs.
Since the Hawa Mahal was built at a time when women of the royal families had to observe strict purdah, many believe that the Hawa Mahal was built, just so these ladies could watch the processions and various activities taking place on the streets. This does explain why Hawa Mahal has such tiny windows and many screened balconies. The royal ladies could look below at the people without showing themselves and thus enjoy a sense of freedom.
The Hawa Mahal is a great example of the Rajputana architecture, which was strongly influenced by Mughal style of architecture. This particular style of building that we observe in Hawa Mahal, uses the best features of Mughal architecture with other features that could better adapt to the inhospitable weather conditions of Rajasthan.
The Hawa Mahal is a popular place among visitors to Rajasthan because of the amazing view it offers of the city and particularly Jantar Mantar (another tourist attraction). Many insist that the best time to visit Hawa Mahal is in the early morning, right when the sun is rising. As the palace bathes in the golden light of the sun, it looks like a fantastic image conjured up by the mind in a trance. The palace glows like an impalpable dream, which makes you feel that even if you dare blink your eyes, it will quickly dissolve into thin air.
Later proceed to The City Palace.
Jaipur city is known for its many palaces and forts, which are a major attraction for tourists to Rajasthan. One of these major landmarks of the 'pink city' is the City Palace Complex.
The City Palace was built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of the Kachhwaha clan of Rajputs, but a lot of changes and additions were made to the original structure by his successors.
The architecture of the City Palace is a synthesis of Rajasthani and Mughal styles. The Complex comprises of many structures, courtyards, gardens and buildings. There are many splendid small palaces and halls in the complex, such as the Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal and Badal Mahal. There is also a famous temple called the Shri Govind Temple and a museum inside, named the City Palace Museum.
As one enters the first courtyard, one comes across the Mubarak Mahal, which was built in the 19th century by Maharaja Madho Singh II. Here is a splendid gateway, which leads to the Diwan-I-Khas (Hall of Private audience). It is an open hall, where there are two silver vessels on display, which are in the Guinness book of World Records! One can also check out the Diwan-I-Aam (Hall of Public Audience).
As one moves on, one sees the Chandra Mahal, which many consider being the highlight of the whole tour of City Palace. It has a lot of paintings, mirror work on walls, and floral decorations that make the Moon Palace truly magnificent.
It is a seven-storied Palace, where each level has a distinct name. The lower two levels have the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum, which has a large collection of 15th century weapons, carpets and rarities. There is also the Sukh Nivas or the 'Hall of Rest', which has the drawing and the dining area. On the fourth floor is the 'Shobha Nivas' or 'Hall of Beauty' which is decorated with mirrors all over and has gold leaf and mica decorations. The fifth floor is the 'Chavi Nivas' or the 'Hall of Images' and the sixth floor is known for the beautiful view it offers of the surrounding area. The uppermost floor is called the 'Mukut Mahal' or the 'Crown building'. When one moves forward to Badal Mahal from the Chandra Mahal, one comes to the Govind devji temple, which is also quite like the others, a must-see.
The City Palace does not only have a lot of historical significance but is also a reminder of the royal past. It stands as a symbol of the royal elegance and courtly splendor that is no longer visible. Perhaps, this is why people love coming to the City Palace in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
A Royal Luncheon at the Jai Mahal Palace which is set amidst 18 acres of beautifully landscaped Moghul gardens, dating back to 1745 A.D. A masterpiece in the Indo Saracenic style of architecture, it blends spotlight-grabbing opulence with tantalizing comforts that transport guests to a world of Rajasthan magnificence.

The food at Cinnamon is inspired by the two spheres of cooking - Punjab and the Moghul India, connected by what are called the cinnamon-saffron link. Redefining Indian food, the menu at Cinnamon uses only the freshest ingredients and authentic herbs and spices to provide a modern twist to traditional Indian cuisine.
Post lunch is at leisure in your Palace Hotel.
Evening explore the colorful bazaars of Jaipur by an escorted tour.
Dinner tonight is at the ethic village resort Chokhi Dhani where you witness a colorful extravaganza of Rajasthani culture & folk.
Overnight Jaipur.

Day 2

Day 02 :Post breakfast is a visit to the Jantar Mantar Man has always been fascinated by the Universe and the Cosmos. With every passing year we think we have come closer to unfolding the secrets of the dark skies. But just as we think we are close to discovering the key or the knowledge, we realize we haven't even crossed the threshold yet. Even our ancestors and the people before us, could not resist the temptation and made attempts to learn more about the mysteries of Time and Space.
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the Rajput ruler of Amber and the founder of Jaipur was a learned man and an astronomer who was deeply interested in the workings of the celestial bodies and so built the Observatory, known as Jantar Mantar. The name 'Jantar Mantar' comes from Sanskrit's 'Yantra Mantra' meaning instruments and formulae.
Sawai Jai Singh II was commissioned by Emperor Muhammad Shah, to make corrections in the astronomical tables and to confirm the data, already available on the planetary positions. Sawai Jai Singh II took seven years to finish the task. He built the first stone observatory in 1724 in Delhi. The Jaipur observatory was built in 1728. There is actually a fascinating story in relation to the construction of the Observatory. According to the story, Sawai Jai Singh II sent his envoys to various parts of the world. The emissaries came back with manuals and astronomical tables besides tons of data on the advances made in the fields of astronomy. La Hire's "Tables" was one of these manuals, and impressed by it, Sawai Jai Sing II ordered the observatory to be constructed according to the data available in this manual. Amazingly, after Jantar Mantar was built, it was discovered that the Observatory was more accurate than the Table itself.
The observatory has the Jaiprakash Yantra, Samrat Yantra, Ram Yantra and the Composite instrument, which comprises of a sundial and a massive hemisphere.
Later a visit to the much acclaimed Amber Fort in a way the Royal's did : on elephant backs !

Amber is located at a distance of 11 kilometers from Jaipur and was the old fort of the Kachhwaha clan of Amber, which used to be the capital, till it was moved to Jaipur.
The construction of the Amber Fort began in the year 1592 and was started by Man Singh I, but it was finished by his descendant Jai Singh I. The exterior of the Fort is not in the least like its interiors. The outside is very imposing and rugged looking whereas the inside is a comforting and warm interior which is influenced by both Hindu and Muslim style of ornamentation. On the walls, are paintings depicting various hunting scenes, and there is also a lot of work on walls, which are covered with intricate carving, mosaic and minute mirror work that make the halls look very majestic and imperial.
The fort is built with white marble and red sandstone and look even more attractive because of the Maota Lake in the foreground. The fort in itself is a beautiful sight to behold but as one looks on the fort with its clear reflection on the lake in the front, one cannot help but wonder if it is a dream or a beautiful illusion.
Lunch is at a popular restaurant Niros, highly rated amongst the locals of Jaipur.
An excursion to the famed Samode Palace is next on the agenda. The winner of the award for the best Heritage hotel in the country, for 5 consecutive years, the Palace has been meticulously restored offering a retreat into an aesthetically beautiful environment. Tour of the exquisite Palace followed by a champagne dinner whilst the folk performers regale you with their magical appeal in the Palace courtyards.

Overnight Jaipur.

Day 3

Day 03 :Post breakfast tour of the Birla or Laxmi Narayan Temple. The Laxmi Narayan is located in the South of Jaipur, and was built by the Birla family, which is a major industrialist family of India. This is why, the temple is also called the 'Birla Mandir'. It is situated quite close to the Moti Doongri fort, which was converted to a small palace by Ram Singh II and Gayatri Devi.
Keeping in mind the secular nature of the country, the temple has three domes, which represent different approaches to religion. It is a beautiful white marble temple, which seems to glow at night.
Later a whirlwind escorted shopping trip is organized for you.

A number of handicraft items and other artifacts make Jaipur a wonderful destination for shopping. The rich heritage of Jaipur's art and craft dates back to the 18th century when the city was being built by Sawai Jai Singh. Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh invited artisans from different parts of the country to come and settle in his new city. The city had made especial arrangements for their place of work and residence. This lured many artisans, who came to the newly built city and settled in Jaipur. This has made Jaipur a thriving hub for many arts and crafts.
Jaipur's colorful bazaars offer tourists great opportunity to shop and enjoy the vibrant culture of the region. Most tourists who travel to Jaipur make it a point to visit the bustling markets of Jaipur and shop for exquisite handicraft items. The traditional art of dyeing is one of the beautiful arts that offer us beautifully dyed textiles. Jauhari Bazaar is one of the best places to shop for tie-and-dye items in Jaipur.
Jaipur is also famous for blue pottery and Kundan jewellery. The two of Jaipur villages Sanganer and Bagru are popular for the delicate art of floral sprigs. If you are interested in blue pottery and hand made paper, Sanganer is the perfect place to visit. Jaipur is also known for producing soft and warm quilts. Jaipuri razai as it is called is quiet popular and most Indians touring Jaipur shop for these quilts. The quilts of Jaipur weigh very little but are quiet warm.
Silver jewellery, semi-precious stones and handcrafted footwear are other wonderful shopping items in Jaipur. You can also shop for miniature handcrafted elephants, horses and camels. Shopping is an exciting activity in Jaipur and no tour to Jaipur is complete without a shopping spree in Jaipur's colorful bazaars.
Lunch today is a special affair at one of the grandest palaces of India, The Rambagh Palace, Jaipur.
The Suvarna Mahal with its exceptionally grand ambience; liveried waiters, gold plated tableware, exquisite china and crystal, grand high ceiling, crystal chandeliers and alabaster lamps, original Florentine ceiling paintings and mirrors — is the signature restaurant of the Rambagh Palace, wherein culinary masters have meticulously researched the cuisines of the Royal houses of India. On offer are original menus from the royal houses of Jaipur, Mewar, Awadh, Hyderabad, Vijayanagar, Kashmir, Patiala to name a few and have. Complimented with an extensive international Palace wine cellar, live classical music and unobtrusively- pampering intuitive service, the Suvarna Mahal is the epitome of culinary celebration in Royal India.
Post lunch is at leisure at your palace hotel.
Evening a jeep ride to the Nahargarh Fort is organized for you.
The Nahargarh Fort was built by Sawai Raja Jai Singh in 1734. Since Jaipur was his capital, the Nahargarh Fort was strategically important and was built as a means of bolstering the defense of Amer. It was also known as the Tiger Fort. New additions were made to the fort in the 19th century by Sawai Ram Singh II and Sawai Madho Singh II. The older parts of he fort are being hard hit by the ravages of times but the newer additions are quite captivating.
According to a legend, the Fort was named after a prince whose spirit used to haunt the site and would cause mischief so as to delay the construction of the fort. After too many disturbances, finally after a Tantrik prayer the ghost or the spirit, agreed to leave on the condition that the fort should be named after him.
One of the major attractions of the Nahargarh Fort is the view it offers of the Man Sagar lake and the surrounding area. If you are visiting Jaipur, then do take out the time to visit Nahargarh Fort, which stands as a symbol of the royal past and reminds the visitors of the glory of the former age that belonged to kings and Maharajas.
Dinner tonight is at the Rambagh Palace's resto-bar on wheels, the city's hottest entertainment venue located on the Palace premises, The restored Steam Engine with a Victorian style Station recreated provides a unique restaurant night lounge and bar experience.
Dinner featuring the city's only wood fired pizza oven and an innovative Mediterranean :Arabesque food bar and a full range show beverage bar this lively spot offers a house DJ, dance floor and a giant screen TV. The ideal venue for a night out in the Pink City.
Overnight in Jaipur.

Day 4

Departure post breakfast

Extra Information

Inclusions -

All excursions by private car & english speaking guide/escort Acoommodation in palace hotel All meals & extravaganzas as per itinerary Elephant rides, shopping tours, Jeep safari as per itinerary All special meals as described in the itinerary Excurion to Samode as desribed

Exclusions -

Expenses of personal nature & items not specified above

Extras -

Rs 24,999 per person onwards which includes organised private tour exactly as per itinerary