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RAJASTHAN TOURS
A unique tour of 22 days devised and led by Alistair Shearer.
About Alistair Shearer
ALISTAIR
SHEARER was born in Edinburgh and educated at Fettes and Cambridge, where he
read English Literature. He later received an MA in Sanskrit and Indian studies
from the University of Lancaster.
Alistair has been
leading tours to India regularly since 1980. He has been specially invited
to lead travel groups from such institutions as the Royal Academy of Arts,
the Tate Gallery and the National Art Gallery of Ontario, and has lectured
on Oriental art for The School of Oriental and African Art [SOAS] at
London University, the British Museum, the auction houses Christie's and
Sotheby's, the Prince of Wales' Institute of Architecture and numerous art
schools around the country. He is a Fellow of both the Royal Society of
Arts and the Royal Asiatic Society.
Alistair's interest in
Indian culture has never been just academic. A teacher of meditation, he
sees the appreciation of great art and architecture as a means to enliven
and expand consciousness. As he says:
"Many tourists
are motivated by a genuine and deep-felt need to expand their horizons,
especially those who choose to go to a country like India. But most of
them, having travelled so many miles and spent so much money, have no key
to understand the real meaning and significance of what they see.
Conventional
explanations tend to regard Indian sites as products of a totally alien
culture, remote from ourselves. In fact, although unfamiliar, these places
also resonate with myths, symbols and teachings which are eternal and
universal. All it needs is the right angle of perspective to unfold their
mysteries."
Route
Delhi
- Neemrana - Pachhar - Jaipur - Pushkar - Rawla Narlai - Kumbalgarh -
Udaipur - Ranakpur - Jodhpur - Delhi.
RAJASTHAN
- ‘The Land of Kings’ - is one of India’s most traditional
states, proud of its history of fiercely resisting conquest by the various waves
of invaders who have swept over the sub-continent from the earliest times. As
a result, the area has preserved a unique cultural integrity. A wild and beautiful
desert land, it rejoices in a romantic past of often warring princely states
whose deeds are embellished by tales of chivalry and romance. Yet it is also
celebrated for its ancient and vibrant spiritual tradition, a living heritage
passed down through saints and shrines of the Hindu, Jain and Islamic faiths,
and for its vibrant artistic creativity – its miniature art, fabrics, furniture,
sculpture, ceramics and jewelry.
RAJASTHAN is a place of brilliant colours,
its clear light giving an added vibrancy to the materials and paintings for
which it is famed, and lending great drama to its hilltop palaces and forts
with their finely carved buildings. A visit to this unique area makes an
ideal introduction to the magic that is India, and gives a glimpse of the
fascinating variety of a country that is like nowhere else on earth.
OUR ACCOMMODATION will be in keeping with the spirit of
Princely India. We shall be staying in Heritage hotels - palaces and
guesthouses that, once the homes of maharajahs and local rulers, will
provide us with a gratifying and memorable balance of comfort and character,
elegance and atmosphere.
DAY 00/ 6th OCT
PASSAGE TO INDIA
When you arrive at Indira Gandhi International
airport, you will be met and transferred to our hotel, the Hotel Imperial in
Janpath, where your room has been reserved for you from 12 noon today.
Day 01/ 7th OCT DELHI
The tour begins
officially with a rendezvous in the hotel lobby at 12 noon today, followed
by a gourmet South Indian lunch in a local restaurant. An afternoon of
gentle sightseeing of Delhi, followed by evening visit to Bangla Sahib Sikh
temple with its beautiful chanting.
Lunch in local restaurant and
Overnight in Hotel.
DAY 02/ 08th OCT
DELHI TO NEEMRANA
Late morning, after breakfast we shall drive to
Neemrana (about 125kms), a village cradled in the horseshoe formation of the
billion year old Aravalli ranges. Check into the hotel, a converted fort
built in 1464 AD, which covers 25 acres and rises to 10 levels commanding
the most splendid views. Each room is different, furnished with a charming
mix of traditional Indian and colonial furniture, antiques and objets d'art.
Rest of the day free to relax.
Lunch/ Dinner and Overnight in
Hotel.
DAY 03/ 9th OCT NEEMRANA
Today
is for gentle sightseeing of the nearby village and surrounding area.
All
meals and Overnight in Hotel.
DAY 04/
10th OCT NEEMRANA TO PACHHAR
After breakfast we shall drive to
Pachhar (about 190kms), and check into our hotel, a lovely small haveli
where the Maharaja and his wife will be very happy to be our hosts. Rest of
the day is free for you to relax.
In the evening we can visit the
village, with its spectacular Jain temple, adorned with beautiful frescoes.
Lunch/ Dinner and Overnight in Hotel.
DAY
05/ 11th OCT PACHHAR TO JAIPUR
After breakfast we drive to Jaipur
(about 65 kms), known as the Pink City, with many buildings still washed
pink, the traditional colour of welcome, originally introduced to honor the
visit of the Prince Albert in 1856. Jaipur is particularly interesting as it
is one of the few cities left in India where the original vastu - design
according to Vedic principles of sacred architecture - is still clearly
visible.
We check into the hotel, with rest of the day free to relax or
local sightseeing.
Lunch/dinner and Overnight in Hotel.
DAY
06/ 12th OCT JAIPUR
After
breakfast, we start our day by ascending on elephant to the 16th century fortress
at Amber, the citadel that was the capital before Jaipur was built in the early
18th century. Amber was the site of a Hindu temple built by the Mina tribes,
and there is a beautiful and powerful Kali temple still active within the walls
of the fort.
On the way back to our hotel we shall
visit Mangalam Arts, one of the best galleries in Jaipur for antiques and
traditional stone-coloured paintings. In the afternoon we shall visit the
home of Jaipur's Royal family - the City Palace - around which the city was
originally laid out, and the adjacent Jantar Mantar or Vedic astrological
observatory. Still in use today by astronomers and astrologers, the
observatory, originally built in 1730, is a place of futuristic beauty.
All meals and Overnight in Hotel.
DAY
07/ 13th OCT JAIPUR TO PUSHKAR
After breakfast we continue to
Pushkar (about 145kms), check into our hotel located on the Lake. Pushkar
lies in a narrow dry valley overshadowed by impressive rocky hills, which
offer spectacular views of the desert at sunset. After lunch we shall visit
the ghats around the lake , see some of the temples, especially the
particularly holy Brahma Temple, one of only two known temples dedicated to
this deity, the God of Creation, in the whole of the sub-continent.
Lunch/
Dinner and overnight Overnight in Hotel
DAY
08/ 14th OCT PUSHKAR.
After breakfast visit nearby temple and
walk through the beautiful market
Breakfast/ Lunch/Dinner and
overnight in hotel.
DAY 09/ 15th OCT
PUSHKAR TO NARLAI
After an early breakfast we take a beautiful
drive to Narlai (about 240kms), Stay two nights in Rawla Narlai.
Lunch
en route; dinner and overnight in hotel.
DAY 10/ 16th OCT NARLAI
After breakfast we shall visit the
village by camel cart.
Rest of the day free to relax.
All
meals and overnight in Hotel.
DAY 11/
17th OCT RAWLA NARLAI TO KUMBALGARH
Today after breakfast drive
to Kumbalgarh [85kms] a wild area with an ancient fort.
Lunch/Dinner
and Overnight in Hotel.
DAY 12/ 18th OCT
KUMBALGARH
Morning visit to the Fort.
Afternoon walk in the
aurrounding area.
All meals and overnight in Hotel.
DAY 13/ 19th OCT KUMBALGARH TO UDAIPUR
After breakfast we
continue to Udaipur (about 90kms), romantically set on the shores of Lake
Pichola and surrounded by hills. Upon arrival, we check into our heritage
hotel for lunch overlooking the lake, with the rest of the day free to relax
and explore.
Lunch/dinner and overnight in Hotel
Day14/20th OCT UDAIPUR
Afternoon, visit to the City Palace -
familial home of the Udaipur Maharanas and the largest palace complex in
Rajasthan - and the surrounding bazaar.
All meals and Overnight in
Hotel
DAY 15/ 21st OCT UDAIPUR
Morning
visit Eklingji Shiva temple, and the Bahu Sahu temples, 11th century
masterpieces of intricate carving. Afternoon at leisure.
All meals
and Overnight in Hotel.
DAY 16/ 22nd OCT
UDAIPUR TO RANAKPUR
After breakfast drive to Ranakpur [about
180kms] and stay two nights in our delightful hotel. Evening aarati at the
temple.
Lunch enroute, dinner and overnight in hotel.
DAY 17/ 23rd OCT RANAKPUR
After breakfast we shall visit the
marvelously carved 15th century temple complex of Ranakpur. This is one of
the five holy places of the Jain community - perhaps the oldest religious
group in the sub-continent - and one of the wonders of Indian architecture.
The most important temple here covers some 48000 sq.ft. and has 29 halls and
1444 pillars, all minutely carved out of pure white marble.
Back
to our hotel for lunch and then an afternoon at leisure. All meals and
Overnight in Hotel.
DAY 18/ 24th OCT
RANAKPUR TO JODHPUR
To Jodhpur abot 190kms, Check into our hotel.
Rest of the day free to relax. Lunch enroute, dinner and overnight in
Hotel.
DAY 19/25th OCT JODHPUR
Morning
after breakfast we visit the massive Mehrangarh Fort that looms over the
city and the red sandstone palaces within the fort. Together they form one
of the most impressive complexes in Rajasthan
All meals and
Overnight in Hotel.
DAY 20/ 26th OCT
JODHPUR / DELHI fly
Morning sightseeing; then we shall transfer
to the airport for Jet airways flight at 1400hrs to Delhi. Arrive Delhi at
1520hrs and transfer to the hotel for overnight.
Lunch/Dinner under
own arrangements. Overnight in Hotel.
DAY
21/ 27th OCT DELHI
A free day to relax, or enjoy last-minute
shopping. Farewell Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
DAY
22 / 28th OCT HOMEWARD BOUND
Early morning, transfer to
international airport to board flight to your home country.
Cost and hotels details will be provided on
request.
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