Our Trips - Festival Tours - Gangaur Festival

Place : Jaipur

Duration: 18 Days

Gangaur Festival
A land of bewildering diversity, there is a festival for every reason and for every season, with every faith and religion living together to create a unique harmony and a colourful mosaic Gangaur is one such festival expressing devotion to Gauri a manifestation of Goddess Parvati The festival lasts for 18 days and is celebrated by both married and unmarried women throughout Rajasthan. The images of Gauri are colorfully dressed, ornamented and worshipped. This is also an auspicious occasion for young people to choose a partner and offer marriage proposal. Vibrant colours, music and festivities make the cities come alive with the statue of the deity being carried in caparisoned palanquins through the streets to the temples.

Day 01
 Arrive Mumbai. Met by India Calling Representative and transfer to hotel.

Day 02
Breakfast. Morning motor launch cruise to elephanta cave Island with the gigantic statue of the Trimoorti ( Trinity) of Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva. Afternoon visit Prince of Wales Museum, Mani Bhawan, Hanging garden, Kamla Nehru Park, Mahalaxmi Temple, Crawford market, Victoria Terminus.

Day 03
Breakfast. Transfer to airport for flight to Udaipur. Transfer to hotel. Afternoon visit City Palace, Museum, Sahelion – Ki – Bari, Prtap Smarak, Jagdish Temple and Fateh Sagar Lake. Evening boat cruise on Pichola Lake. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 04
Breakfast. Drive to Mount Abu enroute visiting Eklingji, Nagda, Nathdwara Haldighati. Transfer to hotel.
Eklingji – 108 temples carved out of white marble built in 734 AD. Temple is devote to God Eklingji, the deity of the Maharanas of Mewar. The temple is also the coronation site of the Mewar rulers.
Nagda – once the capital of Mewar King Bappa Rawal, the temples are exquisitely carved. A 10th century temple dedicated to “ Sas – Bahu” (Mother-in law and daughter – in law) are resplendent in intricate carvings.
Nathdwara – built in 18th century, this simple shrine is one of the most revered Vaishnava Temple of Shri Nathji ( Lord Krishna).
Halidighati is of immense historic interest of the Mewar royalty as the site of a fierce battle fought in 1576 AD between the Mughal Emperor Akbar and Maharana Pratap ( Pratap Smarak in Udaipur).

Day 05
Breakfast. Visit the Dilwara Jain Temple dedicated to the first Jain Tirtham Kara, Adinath ( saint) , Adhar Devi Temple of Goddess Durga carved out of a single monolithic rock.
Evening optional boat ride of Nakki Lake. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 06
Breakfast. Drive to Jodhpur enroute visit the 15th century intricately carved Jain Temples at Ranakpur. Later visit Mandore Garden on return visit the Old city, Sojati Gate, Sadar Bazar with its ornate Clock Tower. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 07
Breakfast. Visit Mehrangarh fort built in 1459 by the founder of Jodhpur rao Jodha, later visit Jaswanth Thada, white marble cenotap in memory of Maharaja Jaswanth Singh II. Afternoon visit Jain Mahavir Temple, Sati Mata Temple and Surya Temple at Osian.

Day 08
Breakfast. Drive to Jaisalmer. An exotic golden desert city built entirely out of rich golden sandstone. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 09
Breakfast. Visit the fort built in 1156 by Mahar Wal Jaisal in Trikuta Hill. The fort is a little township with a palace, 12th century BC Jain Temple, Gadisar, tank with a number of small temples and shrines around it, residential areas and bazzars. Nearly a quarter of Jaisalmer’s population live within the walls of the Fort. Thereafter visit a number of incredibly beautiful Old Havelis ( mansions) with facades of exquisitely filigreed sand stones, lacy screen protruding windows – Patwan Ki Haveli, Badal Vilas Palace.
Late afternoon visit Sam Sand Dunes. Option enjoy a camel ride on the dunes and watch the sun set on the desert changing the colours of the sand in different hues.

Day 10
Reakfast. Drive to Bikaner, another picturesque desert town built in reddish pink sand stone. Bikaner was founded in 1488 by Rao Bikaji. Late afternoon visit the memorial cenotaphs of the rulers of Bikaner at Devi Kund, thereafter proceed to Asia’s only camel Breeding Farm set within the sand dunes. Watch the spectacular sight of sun set on the desert sands. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11
Breakfast. Visit Junagarh Fort built by Raja Rai Singh in 1593, The palaces, Chandha Mahal, Phool Mahal and Sheesh are exquisitely decorated with carvings, paintings and Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum with a large collection of superb sculpture on the Gupta and Kushan periods., pre Harappan terracotta, pottery and miniature paintings of the Bikaner School, of art.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 12
Breakfast. Drive to Jaipur enroute visit the historic Nagaur Fort, established in 4th AD which has witnessed many battles fought by Rajput warriors with Mughal Kings. The Fort encompasses an ancient complex of richly painted palaces, mosque, temples, fountains and laid-out gardens. Delicate paintings, mirror work adorn the walls and ceilings of the palaces. Arrive Jaipur and transfer to hotel.

Day 13
Breakfast. Morning excursion to Amber fort including an elephant joy ride up the steep ramparts of the Fort. With palaces, courtyards, temple ascend in successive levels up the hill. The Sheesh Mahal, the finest of its kind in Rajasthan, is studded with small mirrors. The windows form this high altitude offer a splendid view.
Afternoon visit the many sights of this gateway city of Rajasthan, a city of Maharajas, palaces, the land of Chivalry and martial traditions. Visit Hawa Mahal, Observatory, City Palace, museum, Albert Hall. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 14
Breakfast. Drive to Agra enroute tour of Fatehpur Sikri and Tomb of Salim Chisti a sufi Saint who predicted the birth of a male heir for Emperor Akbar. On arrival check-in at the hotel.

Day 15
Breakfast. Morning tourof Agra Fort and leisurely tour of Taj Mahal ( World Heritage site) . Late afternoon drive to Delhi and check-in at the hotel.

Day 16
Breakfast. Morning tour of New Delhi visit india Gate, drive Past Parliament House, President’s Palace, drive to Humayun’s Tomb, Qutab Minar both world Heritage sites, Bahal Lotus Temple. Evening watch a show of classical Dance of India. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 17
Morning tour of Old Delhi visit Raj Ghat – Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial, Red Fort, Pearl Mosque, drive to the narrow streets of Chandini Chowk with its ancient bazzar, visit Jama Masjid. Return to hotel via visit to Laxmi Narayan Birla temple. Afternoon free for hopping etc. Overnight at hotel.

Day 18
Transfer to airport for onward journey.

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