Gujarat Tour

Mumbai - Bhavnagar - Palitana - Ahmedabad - Zainabad - Dungarpur - Udaipur
Kumbalgarh - Jodhpur Jaipur - Delhi
Duration: 14 Days

Day 1: Mumbai/Bhavnagar
Depart on the flight to Bhavnagar. You are met on arrival and transferred to the hotel for overnight stay.

Day 2: Palitana
After breakfast take a day trip to Palitana which lies at the foot of the Shatrunjaya river flowing to its south. The sacred hill rises in a crescendo of magnificent temples, 863 in all, that soar in marble splendour to its top. The construction of these temples dates back to the 4th century AD. They were built, destroyed by marauding armies, then rebuilt by devout Jains, including rulers of nearby states. The oldest shrines that exist today are attributed to the 11th century. They are typical of Jain temple architecture and each feature appears to assert its indispensable part in the integral structure. The Shri Adishwara temple dedicated to Rishbhadev, stands on the apex of the northern ridge. Palitana is one of the most sacred of Jain shrines, and it is the ambition of every Jain to visit the hill at least once, and if possible to build a temple here according to his means. The devotion has been expressed in the most exquisite and inspiring forms. The superbly carved marble spires glisten like ivory towers of a fairy tale city in the sun and the craftsmanship and beauty of the sculpture compare with the finest anywhere. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

Day 3: Bhavnagar / Ahmedabad (Drive)
After breakfast depart on the 6 hour drive to Ahmedabad. On arrival check in at Hotel Trident or similar. The Vechaar Utensil Museum, a 15-minute drive out of Ahmedabad, houses a remarkable collection of metalware: utensils of every imaginable shape and size in bronze, brass and other alloys have been collected from every corner of Gujarat. A traditional Gujarati meal at the Vishalla Restaurant is delicious and appropriately rounds off the visit to the museum. Overnight at the hotel

Day 4: Ahmedabad/Zainabad (Drive)
In the morning explore Ahmedabad. Founded in 1411 by Ahmed Shah I on the site if the ancient city of Karavati, it is today the great textile and commercial city of western India. Omnipresent is the Sabarmati River over which four bridges connect the old city with the new. On one side are the crowded streets leading to Manek Chowk, where rows of traders dealing in silver jewelry or printed fabrics lean against spotless white bolster-pillows, waiting for customers. The upper floors of the old havelis (family homes) have exquisitely carved wooden balconies, windows and doorways. The most beautiful ones stand in Doshiwala ni Pol. In Ahmedabad, the Indo-Saracen architecture blends beautifully Hindu and Muslim styles. Sidi Saiyad's Mosque near Relief Road is one of the most eloquent examples of the finest such work in sandstone. The shaking minarets of Rajpur Bibi's Mosque at Gomtipur and Sidi Bashir's Mosque at Kalipur are interesting - pressure exerted on the inner walls of the minarets sets them vibrating. The Calico Museum, with a rich collection of fabrics and garments from all over India is well worth a visit, as is Hridey Kunj, Mahatma Gandhi's austere Ashram set amongst mango trees where he experimented in non violent methods of political struggle.

In the afternoon depart on the 3 hour drive to Zainabad, situated at the edge of the Rann of Kutchh. The Little Rann of Kutch is a breeding ground for flamingoes and pelicans. The Indian wild ass lives in the Little Rann and part of the area is a sanctuary to preserve this rare animal. On arrival check in at the Zainabad Camp. There may be time to take a jeep safari into the sanctuary. Overnight at the Camp.

Day 5: Zainabad/Dungarpur (Drive)
After breakfast drive 5 hours to Dungarpur. En route visit the ruined Sun Temple of Modhera, built in the 11th century. It is designed so that the sun shines on the image of Surya, the Sun God, at dawn at the time of the equinoxes. The exterior of this fine temple is intricately and delicately carved.
Continue on to Patan, an ancient Hindu capital before it was sacked by Muhamud of Ghazni in 1024. Now a pale shadow of its former self, it still has over 100 Jain temples and is famous for the manufacture of beautifully designed Patola silk saris.
On arrival at Dungarpur check in at the Castle. Founded in the early 13th century by Rana Dungar Singh, The Juna Palace and Udai Vilas Palace have some of the most well preserved wall paintings - largely due to the fact that the inaccessibility of the region did not allow invaders to deface them. Overnight at the hotel

Day 6: Dungarpur
Spend the day at the Baneshwar Fair, a religious festival with simple and traditional rituals. This fair is the centre of attraction of a large number of tribals - particularly the Bhils - from the neighbouring states of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, who join their brethren from Rajasthan in offering prayers to Lord Shiva at the Baneshwar temple and taking a dip on the full-moon night in the holy Baneshwar Lake. Overnight at the hotel

Day 7: Dungarpur/Udaipur (Drive)
After breakfast depart on the 4 hour drive to Udaipur. On arrival Check in at Hotel.

Day 8: Udaipur
Spend the day exploring Udaipur. Visit the City Palace which stands on the crest of a ridge overlooking Lake Pichola. The largest palace in Rajasthan, it was built at various periods but still preserves the harmony of design, enhanced by massive octagonal towers surmounted by cupolas. Now a museum, it is a labyrinth of courtyards richly decorated with inlaid mirror-work, galleries covered with frescos, temples and roof gardens which afford a wide panorama below.Sahelion-ki-Bari (Garden of the Handmaidens) is a good example of the Hindu art of landscape gardening on a princely scale. Ornamental pools with finely sculptured cenotaphs of soft black stone are surrounded by a profusion of fountains.
The Jagdish Temple in the old town was built in the mid-17th century and has a remarkable bronze statue of Garuda, the mythical bird, facing his revered master Lord Vishnu. The shops and craftsmen's ateliers in the narrow bazaar streets justify endless walks.
In the evening take a boat ride on Lake Pichola. The steel blue waters of the lake, artificially created in the 14th century, reflect the white phantom Jag Nivas Palace, now the Lake Palace hotel which was built in 1746 as the summer residence of the rulers, and Jag Mandir said to be built by Maharana Karan Singh for his friend Prince Khurram, who was later to become emperor Shah Jehan. Huge seamless stone slabs of translucent thinness where used. The rooms were embellished with inlaid stones - onyx, jade, carnelian, jasper and agate.
Overnight at the hotel

Day 9: Udaipur/Kumbalgarh (Drive)
After breakfast drive to Kumbalgarh. En route visit Eklingji, a temple dedicated to the patron deity of the Udaipur Royal house, situated 24 km from Udaipur. As with all sacred buildings in the region, it is built entirely of white marble. The roof is decorated by hundreds of circular knobs and the whole is crowned by a lofty tower. To this day, the Maharana of Udaipur, who is the Diwan of the temple, makes it a point to visit it every Monday.

Continue on to Nagda. The temple here is believed to be established by Nagaditya, the fourth Mewar King. There are several temples here dating from the 4th century AD, ancient rock edicts, stone inscriptions and simple prehistoric shrines at which the Bhils still worship during the Mahashivratri festival in February. The Sas-Bahu (mother in law/daughter in law) temple dates back to the 11th century and is famed for its beautiful carvings. Adbhutji is an old Jain temple named after a somewhat odd statue of a Jain saint seated within. "Adbhut" means, quite literally - “peculiar”.

The fort of Kumbhalgarh lies off a difficult rutted road. Its very inaccessibility ensured its security as a refuge for Mewar's rulers in times of strife. Built by the scholarly Rana Kumbha in the mid fifteenth century, the fort stands on the site of a more ancient fortress said to have been built by Samprati, a Jain prince, in the 2nd century AD. Within its crenellated ramparts spreading over eight miles are palaces, temples, humble dwellings, fields, water sources, farms and kitchen gardens - everything needed to withstand a long siege. Kumbhalgarh fell only once in its history, when the armies of Emperor Akbar, combined with those of the Rajas of Amber and Marwar, contaminated the water supply of the fort. Overnight at the Hotel

Day 10: Kumbalgarh/Jodhpur (Drive)
Continue on the drive to Jodhpur. En route visit the famous Jain temples of Ranakpur which lie buried in a shady glen and cover a vast area. The central temple is called Chaumukha (four-faced) and is the most complex and extensive of Jain temples in India, covering an area of over 40,000 sq. feet. Its 29 halls are supported by 1,444 pillars, none of which are alike. Subsidiary shrines in the shape of side alters throng around in all directions, including a temple dedicated to the Sun God which displays erotic carvings. On arrival check in at Hotel.

Day 11: Jodhpur
Spend the day exploring Jodhpur. This is the land of the valiant Rathore kings, whose courage was a match for the tyranny of the Thar Desert. A bleak scarp rears up 120 meters from the desert valley. Straddling the rocky crevices is the massive Jodhpur Fort, its sheer walls reflecting the strength of its warrior builders. The fort is entered through seven gates, each a formidable barrier. The museum within the fort is one of the finest in Rajasthan and displays royal apparel, ancient paintings and manuscripts, fabled treasures of the royal household and an armoury. An interesting section displays folk musical instruments from different regions of Rajasthan. Delicately latticed windows and pierced screens worked in sandstone form the dominant motif within the rugged casket of the fort and the palaces are exquisitely decorated. On the road down from the fort, the splash of blinding white marble on the left is Jaswant Thada, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II's cenotaph, built in 1899 - all previous rulers have their cenotaphs at Mandore. As with the Taj Mahal in Agra, the marble is from Makrana.
Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 12: Jodhpur/Jaipur (Drive)
After breakfast depart on the 6-hour drive to Jaipur. On arrival check in at Hotel for overnight stay.

Day 13: Jaipur
Spend the day exploring Jaipur, one of the best planned cities in India, built of rose- pink sandstone by the great astronomer-king Jai Singh II in 1727. The City Palace stands in the centre of the city. Part of it is still the Maharaja's residence, while most of the complex has been developed into a museum containing rare manuscripts, fine specimens of Rajput and Mughal paintings, royal apparel and an armoury. Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) is the landmark of Jaipur. It stands on one of the main streets, a curious building, elaborate and fanciful, built of pink sandstone with a delicate honeycomb design. Rising five storeys high, it is composed of semi-octagonal overhanging windows, each with its perforated screen, which allowed the ladies of the court to look onto the main street without being seen. Also visit Jantar Mantar observatory, built by the founder of Jaipur, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. The huge stone instruments were devised to study the movements of the sun, moon and planets and are incredibly accurate. There is time to wander through the colourful bazaars, a veritable collector's paradise where you can watch ancient craft forms. Meenakari or enameling delicate patterns of birds and flowers fired in glowing red, deep green, peacock blue and white; the gold jewel is then given further sparkle with emeralds, rubies, white sapphires and dangling pearls. In tiny ateliers you can see the age-old tie-dye methods of cloth printing, with yard upon yard of vivid turquoise, ochre and crimson cloth unfolding. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 14: Jaipur/Delhi (Drive)
In the morning visit Amber, the capital for 6 centuries before Jaipur was built, which lies 11 km north of Jaipur. Rising majestically on the slopes of a hill, this 11th century fort and palace complex is a blend of Hindu and Muslim styles - the earlier constructions in the inner apartments designed by the Hindu founder are austere, while later constructions abound in the rich flourishes characteristic of Muslim influence. The Diwani-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience) affords a view of the strategic location of Amber. The Jai Mandir (Hall of Victory) is the finest example of the artistic exuberance of the day - panels of alabaster, fine inlay work, a shimmering Hall of Mirrors, renowned for its fine mirrorwork. The Sukh Nivas (Hall of Pleasure) has 17th century air conditioning. Elephants carry you up the ramparts of the fort. Continue on the 5-hour drive to Delhi’s International airport for the onward flight home.

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