Jaisalmer Desert Festival - 15 daysgo guidedon't leave home without it

A World Of Discovery

Jaisalmer Desert Festival - 15 days updated on 23-11-2011

www.onthegotours.comUK 020 7371 1113 info@onthegotours.com    AUS 1300 855 684 aus-info@onthegotours.com     NZ 0800 44 77 69     CAN 1 866 890 7038     USA 1 866 377 6147     SA 0800 982 686

This Go Guide has been compiled with care and good faith. It gives an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday. Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or otherreasons could force us to make changes to this itinerary. This document does not form part of a contract between the traveller and on the go and their affiliates. Any costs shown are subject to change though are an accurate reflection ofcosts at time of writing. Please also note that visa requirements are subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of on the go

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Join us on a Rajput Extravaganza - theultimate trip through the Land of the RajputKings with the added opportunity experiencethe exciting spectacle of the JaisalmerDesert Festival. As the drums of Rajasthanbeat out aloud brightly adorned elephantswith their mahouts and tassel laden camelsand riders, colourful floats, singers, dancersand marching bands will waltz on by in thecity's annual street parade.

WHAT YOU SEE AND WHAT YOU GET

Trip Highlights• Delhi - Old Delhi - Red Fort, Jama Masjid

and Raj Ghat.• New Delhi - India Gate, Rajpath,

Humayun's Tomb, Qutab Minar and acarpet emporium with demonstration

• Agra - Taj Mahal (entrance fee included),Agra Fort and visit to a marble craft shop

• Fatehpur Sikri - ancient Mughal city• Jaipur - Amber Fort and Jantar Mantar.

Visit to a cotton trader for tailoredgarments

• Shekhawati region - Rajasthaniarchitecture, havalis & village walk

• Bikaner - desert outpost, Junagarh fort,town and Camel Research Centre

• Jaisalmer - Jaisalmer Fort, old town andthe Sam Sand dunes

• Jaisalmer Deaert Festival - street parade• Jodhpur - Meherangarh Fort, palace,

clock tower and the Thar Desert• Ranakpur - Jain temples• Udaipur - Lake Pichola, City Palace and

museum• Option to travel onward to Mumbai

(Bombay)

What's Included• 14 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners

(including Namaste Dinner in Delhi)• 14 nights - 3-4 star and heritage hotels

(hotel upgrade available in Delhi)• Elephant ride to Amber Fort - Jaipur

(*Subject to Government regulations andavailability)

• Horse and cart/buggy ride to Taj Mahal -Agra

• Camel sand dune safari - Jaisalmer• Boat cruise on Lake Pichola - Udaipur• Economy class flight - Udaipur - Delhi• Taj Mahal, Jaipur City Palace and Jantar

Mantar entrance fees.• All relevant transfers and transportation• Airport arrival and departure transfers on

day 1 and day 15• Touring of Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Alsisar,

Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhur and Udaipur• English speaking Indian tour leader for

groups of 6 or more• Specialist guides at local sights

What's Not Included• Tipping Kitty: $30-35 USD• Entrance Fees: $45-55 USD• International flights and visas• Tip for your tour leader. We suggest

$13-$20 USD per person for this tour.Tipping your leader is an entirely personalgesture.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 : New DelhiSaturday. Welcome to India and the start of yourholiday! Arrive Delhi, included transfer to hotel.Overnight - New Delhi

Day 2 : Sightseeing in Old &New DelhiDelhi. Before the tour commences, we hold an earlybreakfast welcome meeting. Here, you’ll meet thetour leader and the rest of the group. Entrance feesand tipping kitty will be collected at this time. Thetip kitty will cover all the tipping throughout the tour,except a tip for your tour leader.

Setting off, we begin our sightseeing of Delhi –the nation’s capital and India’s third largest city.Today's tour will offer a fascinating insight intoIndia’s principal capital city.

Old Delhi is the 17th century walled city ofShahjahanabad (capital of Muslim India betweenthe 17th and 19th centuries) with city gates, narrowalleyways, bazaars, many mosques, monuments,forts and other buildings relating to India’s Muslimhistory. The main street in Old Delhi is ChandniChowk – a colourful, if hopelessly congestedshopping bazaar.

Sightseeing of Old Delhi - highlights:• Red Fort- The red stone walls of the fort

extend for 2kms and vary in height from 8mon the riverside to 33m on the city side. Builtby Shah Jahan started construction of themassive fort in 1638 and it was completedin 1648.

• Jama Masjid- The largest mosque in Indiaand the final architectural extravagance ofShah Jahan.

• Raj Ghat- on the banks of the YamunaRiver lies a marble memorial markingthe spot where the great leader-Mahatma Gandhi was cremated after hisassassination.

Indiago guidedon't leave home without it

Jaisalmer Desert Festival - 15 days updated on 23-11-2011

www.onthegotours.comUK 020 7371 1113 info@onthegotours.com    AUS 1300 855 684 aus-info@onthegotours.com     NZ 0800 44 77 69     CAN 1 866 890 7038     USA 1 866 377 6147     SA 0800 982 686

This Go Guide has been compiled with care and good faith. It gives an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday. Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or otherreasons could force us to make changes to this itinerary. This document does not form part of a contract between the traveller and on the go and their affiliates. Any costs shown are subject to change though are an accurate reflection ofcosts at time of writing. Please also note that visa requirements are subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of on the go

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New Delhi, in contrast to Old Delhi is a cityof wide tree-lined streets, parks, fountains androundabouts – designed by Edward Lutyens andbuilt as the imperial capital of India by the British.Connaught Place (Rajiv Chowk) with its outercircle Connaught Circus (Indira Chowk) forms thebusiness and tourist centre. New Delhi alsohouses many government buildings includingRashtrapati Bhavan – the official residence of thePresident of India which stands at the opposite endof the Rajpath from India Gate.

Sightseeing of New Delhi – highlights:• Rajpath – an immensely broad boulevard

flanked on either side by ornamentalponds. The Republic Day parade is heldhere every 26 January, drawing millions ofpeople to this spectacle. It is at the easternend of Rajpath we’ll see India Gate.

• India Gate - The 42m high stone “Archof Triumph”, erected in memory of Indiansoldiers who died in the First World War.

Tonight, we enjoy a Namaste Dinner at a restaurantspecialising in Indian cuisine. Overnight - NewDelhi (B, D)

Day 3 : The Taj MahalDelhi - Agra. Departing Delhi, we drive to Agra,once India’s Mughal capital. The Taj Mahal,described as the most extravagant monumentever constructed for love, is a fine example ofMughal architecture built by Emperor Shah Jahanin memory of his beloved second wife-MumtazMahal, who died tragically during childbirth. Builtentirely of white marble, construction began in1631, the year in which Mumtaz died, and was notcompleted until 1653. A staggering total of 20,000workers contributed their skills, in the constructionof this unique mausoleum.

After our visit to the Taj Mahal, we head to Agra Fortfor a short tour. Behind its colossal walls are someof the finest Mughal buildings in India. Constructionof the fort was commenced during the reign ofEmperor Akbar and additions were made until therule of his grandson Shah Jahan. During Akbar’stime, it was primarily a military fort though laterthe focus shifted and it partially became a palace.After our touring there is a visit to a visit a marblecraftshop before time to relax back at the hotel.Overnight - Agra (B)

Day 4 : Jaipur

Agra - Jaipur. En route to Jaipur, we visitghostly former Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri. This

magnificent fortified city was the capital of theMughal Empire from 1571 until 1585, when it wasabandoned dramatically due to a lack of water tosupport the peoples who resided in the city. Thanksto the very durable red sandstone, from whichit was built, Fatehpur Sikri remains fantasticallypreserved. Upon our guided tour we'll explorethe women’s quarters; the emperor’s quarters; aquarter for princes and noblemen; and weaponshousing. We see various temples, places ofworships, pavilions, public areas and examples ofeveryday living such as areas from where ablutionswere performed, to an ancient aqua cooling systemand marvel at how life must have been for theinhabitants of this old city.

We continue to Udai Vilas Palace for lunch,followed by a visit to the rural town of Perhersar.After a walk through the village, we continue to thePink City of Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan and a topspot for having taliored clothes made. Overnight -Jaipur (B, L)

Day 5 : Jaipur

Jaipur. Opt to see the pink city from high above withour early morning balloon flight. After we embarkon excursion to Amber Fort, before taking in somesightseeing within the Old City and City Palace.

An early start takes us to the Amber Fort, locatedjust outside the city limits. Once the ancient capitalof Jaipur State, construction of the fort/palacewas started in 1592 by Maharaja Man Singh, theRajput commander of Akbar’s army. The fort isstunningly situated atop a hill. We’ll ascend the roadleading to the palace in princely style, aboard Indianelephants - subject to regulations/availability as theelephants are limited to the number of trips that canmake up the fort each day. We explore the richlydecorated palace admiring how kings and queensonce lived.

En route to the City Palace, we’ll pass HawaMahal – the Palace of the Winds. Although littlemore than an impressive façade it is one ofthe city’s landmarks. The 5-storey building whichoverlooks the main street of the bustling old city isa stunning example of Rajput architecture with it’spink, delicately honeycombed sandstone windows.

We visit the City Palace, a blend of Rajasthaniand Mughal architecture. If the flag is flying, theMaharaja is in residence. A part of the palacehas been converted into a museum, which has animpressive collection of arts, carpets, enamelwareand weaponry.

Just over the road,(look out for the snake charmersthat dot our route) from the City Palace is JantarMantar, an observatory of astronomy built by JaiSingh in 1728. Of the five observatories he built, thisis the largest and best preserved. At first glance,Jantar Mantar resembles a sculpture park, thoughin fact, each construction has a specific scientificpurpose. Some measure the positions of stars,whilst others calculate eclipses, the lunar calendarand simply the time of day. Even today, most of theconstructions remain accurate!

Jaipur is the place to shop until you drop, soif you fancy a bit of retail therapy, be sure todo it here. Shop for jootis (traditional Rajasthanicurled shoes) Jaipur’s famous blue pottery, textilesand handicrafts around the City Palace or HawaMahal. Be sure to explore the Johari Bazaar inthe Old Pink City which are great for shopping. In1876, Maharaja Ram Singh had the entire old cityswathed in pink paint! Not as mad as it seems, aspink is a colour in India associated with hospitality.The new paint job was completed in time for a regalvisit by the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII),a tradition that has been maintained. Overnight -Jaipur (B)

Day 6 : Surajgarh - rural IndiaJaipur - Surajgarh - Shekhawati. After breakfast,we travel by road in a due westerly direction tothe semidesert Shekhawati region, which lies in atriangular area between Delhi, Jaipur and Bikaner.Starting around the 14th century, a number ofMuslim clans moved into the region of Shekhawati.Towns were developed and subsequently becameimportant trading posts on the ancient caravanroutes emanating from the coastal ports ofGujarat. With large amounts of money comingfrom intensive trade, the merchants of Shekhawatiwere keen to erect mansions known as havelis,on a large scale, as glittering testimony to theirnewfound wealth. The region is now justly famousfor it’s fine painted havelis.

Havelis are courtyard-style mansion homes thatwere built by these wealthy merchant families.Unremarkable from the outside, their courtyardsare often painted and decorated with quiteremarkable designs. The largest mansions hadas many as 4 courtyards and were up to 6stories in height. Having a house of such grandproportion prompted families to decorate theinterior walls quite lavishly with Hindu relatedthemes acknowledging mythology. Afternoontaking a walk through the local village and touringa wealthy merchant havali there is time to relax atour hotel. Overnight - Surajgarh (B, D)

Indiago guidedon't leave home without it

Jaisalmer Desert Festival - 15 days updated on 23-11-2011

www.onthegotours.comUK 020 7371 1113 info@onthegotours.com    AUS 1300 855 684 aus-info@onthegotours.com     NZ 0800 44 77 69     CAN 1 866 890 7038     USA 1 866 377 6147     SA 0800 982 686

This Go Guide has been compiled with care and good faith. It gives an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday. Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or otherreasons could force us to make changes to this itinerary. This document does not form part of a contract between the traveller and on the go and their affiliates. Any costs shown are subject to change though are an accurate reflection ofcosts at time of writing. Please also note that visa requirements are subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of on the go

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Day 7 : Bikaner

Surajgarh – Bikaner. Travelling west, our next stopis the 14th century desert town of Bikaner. Oncean important staging post on the great caravanroutes, much of the atmospheric old town whichwe will explore is still encircled by massive fortifiedwalls. Within these walls are havelis, artisan shopsand people going about their daily lives. We alsovisit the spectacular Junagarh Fort & museum, builtbetween 1587 and 1593 during the rule of RaiSingh. Overnight - Bikaner (B)

Day 8 : Jaisalmer

Bikaner - Jaisalmer. Driving through the RajasthaniThar desert we arrive at the medieval caravanoutpost of Jaisalmer, one of the jewels in India’scrown. The fort of Jaisalmer is among the oldestforts in India and the most alive of any fort, palaceor museum that you’re likely to visit anywhere inthe country. A city within a city- one fourth of thepopulation of the city of Jaisalmer still live in theconfines of the massive fort complex! Inside the citywalls of this impressive fort are beautiful are homes,hotels, hidden shops and ancient alleyways builtout of exquisite wood and unique yellow sandstonefound in the area. Late afternoon and evening atlesiure. Overnight - Jaisalmer (B)

Day 9 : Jaisalmer DesertFestival

Today we have a wonderful opportunity toexperience the exciting spectacle of the goldencity's grand parade. As the drums of Rajasthanbeat out aloud brightly adorned elephants withtheir mahouts and tassel laden camels and riders,colourful floats, singers, dancers and marchingbands will waltz on by in the city's annual streetparade.

Bright and early this morning we take a guidedtour of the Jaisalmer Fort. Afterward we'll wait inreadiness at the First Gate of mammoth stonefort. Here, with the honey coloured fortress as abackdrop there will be plenty of photo opportunitiesas the procession marches by. Then, together wecan walk alongside the festival and street paradeas it weaves its way through the city streets of theRajputs to gates of the town stadium.

We too will enter the stadium (scheduled to arrive at12 noon) and watch the festival events for an houror so before continue with our city sightseeing tour(time permitting). Later in the afternoon after timeto freshen up and have some lunch we mount ourships of the desert, riding by camel back into therolling Sam sand dunes.Overnight - Jaisalmer (B)

Day 10 : Jodhpur & the MightyThar Desert

Jaisalmer - Jodhpur. Today, we travel to Jodhpur,the largest city in Rajasthan after Jaipur. WhilstJaipur is known as the Pink City, Jodhpur earns itsname as the Blue City, in reference to the indigocoloured buildings that dot the old city and thelocals belief that blue acts as effective defenceagainst mosquitoes! We’ll enjoy some touring ofJodhpur’s highlights. The old city is surrounded by a

10km long wall. In the old city are a tangle of streetsand alleyways, bazaars and human traffic.

Standing at the edge of the Thar Desert, the cityis dominated by its massive fort, which sits atop asheer rocky ridge right in the middle of the town.Meherangarh Fort, still run by the Maharaja ofJodhpur is an impressive sight. Later during freetime, why not explore the Clock Tower markets,where you can bargain for spices, richly colouredRajasthani textiles and ornamentals. Overnight -Jodhpur (B)

Day 11 : RanakpurJodhpur - Ranakpur. Leaving Jodhpur, we drive toRanakpur, a small town tucked away in a remotevalley and famed for its beautiful 14th century Jaintemples. We’ll enjoy some exploration here andtime to relax at our hotel. Overnight - Ranakpur (B)

Days 12-13 : Udaipur -picturesque Lake Pichola

Ranakpur - Udaipur. Continuing south, we arriveat Udaipur. An oasis of cool, with its massive lakeand Venetian-like appearance, Udaipur is one ofthe most romantic towns in Rajasthan. A favouriteamongst travellers, Udaipur is crammed full ofpalaces and temples. During our stay we’ll enjoy acruise on Lake Pichola, plus touring of the imposingCity Palace, not to mention free time to explore andperhaps shop for colourful Rajasthani souvenirsand Indian spices. Overnight - Udaipur

Day 14 : Fly back to DelhiUdaipur – Delhi. Departure transfer to the airportto board a morning flight to Delhi. Option to travelonward to Mumbai, see note below. The afternoonis free for you to relax at the hotel or to head out andfurther explore Delhi. Overnight - New Delhi (B)

Day 15 : New DelhiSaturday. Saying goodbye to our new foundfriends, our tour ends, hotel check-out and includedonward transfer to airport.(B)

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

ClimateIndia has a three-season year known as the hot, thewet and the cool. The best time to visit is betweenlate September and April when temperatures arecooler and therefore ideal for sightseeing. In the

Indiago guidedon't leave home without it

Jaisalmer Desert Festival - 15 days updated on 23-11-2011

www.onthegotours.comUK 020 7371 1113 info@onthegotours.com    AUS 1300 855 684 aus-info@onthegotours.com     NZ 0800 44 77 69     CAN 1 866 890 7038     USA 1 866 377 6147     SA 0800 982 686

This Go Guide has been compiled with care and good faith. It gives an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday. Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or otherreasons could force us to make changes to this itinerary. This document does not form part of a contract between the traveller and on the go and their affiliates. Any costs shown are subject to change though are an accurate reflection ofcosts at time of writing. Please also note that visa requirements are subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of on the go

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summer months of May to July it is less crowdedand conditions are perfect for sightseeing andphotography, although parts of India are extremelyhot. July signals the start of the monsoon or wetseason that continues until early or mid September.Although the weather is humid, the days arepunctuated by intermittent rainfall and the monsoonis India is actually quite spectacular and quiterefreshing.

Health RequirementsIt is recommended that you be vaccinated forTetanus and Polio, if you haven’t had a booster inthe last ten years. Food and waterborne diseasesare more common, so we recommend vaccinationsfor Typhoid(valid 3 years) and Hepatitis A (validityvaries). You are also advised to take anti-Malarialmedication.

CurrencyThe Indian Rupees (INR) is non-exportable andonly available in India. Pounds Sterling, US Dollarsand Euros are easily exchanged upon arrival at anymajor bank or your hotel. ATM's are also availablein all major towns and cities.

If planning on using your ATM card whilst in India,please let your bank know of your travel plansprior to departure to avoid your bank assuming thatthe transaction is fradulent and blocking your card.Exchange rates are subject to fluctuation.USD 1 = INR 45GBP 1 = INR 75EURO 1 = INR 65AUD 1 = INR 47

TimeIndia is 5 hours 30 mins ahead of GMT.

Essential Packing• A small daypack for your day-to-day needs.• A photocopy of your passport data pages.• The voltage in India is 230-240V. Most

outlets in India accept round 3 pin plugs(not a UK, European or USA plugs). Youshould pack a Universal Adaptor and checkthat it is suitable for India.

• Insect repellant to guard against peskymosquitos

• Spare camera batteries/memory card soyou can go snap happy.

• Consider packing some pencils, pens ormodest educational supplies that can begiven to village schools or street children.

• If you fancy a tipple, take advantage of DutyFree buys.

• Buy some Indian Rupees at the airport onarrival.

• Buy a phrasebook and practice yourholiday Hindi.

• Keep a supply of small notes for localtransactions.

Holiday MoneyFunds collected in India for entrance fees andtip kitty (if applicable to your holiday) or optional

excursion that you may wish to participate is arepayable in local currency (INR).

Pre-Tour AccommodationIf arriving on day 1 of a holiday, that includes anairport arrival transfer (as indicated in the 'What youGet' section of this Go Guide) we will be at theairport, ready to transfer you to your hotel. Furtherif you are booking pre-tour accommodation with usan airport arrival transfer will also be provided. Ifarriving prior to 9am on day 1 (essentially on aflight that arrives very, very early in the morning)you will need to purchase a night of pre-touraccommodation to save you waiting until standardhotel check in time, which is generally 2pm.

Arrival TransfersIf your tour or short stay includes an airportarrival transfer (as indicated in the 'What you Get'section of this Go Guide) from Delhi's Indira GandhiInternational Airport, our arrival procedure is asfollows:

Arrive to Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport,where after you have attended to customs andimmigration formalities, please proceed to thearrival hall. Please have your tour voucher handyand make it available to our representative whowill be waiting for you in the arrivals hall, holdinga prominent on the go tours logo signboard, readyto escort you to our awaiting transportation andonward to your tour start hotel

If, for any reason you have trouble locating ourrepresentative (after waiting 20 minutes in thearrival hall) or your flight to India is delayed pleasecall the emergency contact number as stated onyour tour voucher and our local office who will thenadvise on the best course of action.

If travelling on our Captivating Kerala tour (witharrival via Kochi Airport) or one of our 'Short Stays'where an airport arrival transfer is included in yourholiday, the procedure for meeting you at the airportis the same as those detailed above.

Departure Tax - effective as of01 Dec 2011As of 01 Dec 2011, an airport development fee willbe levied to all flights departing from Indira GandhiInternational airport, New Delhi.

The fee will be collected directly at the airport forall international and domestic tickets issued prior tothis date. For all tickets issued/ puchased after 01Dec 2011, the cost will be included in the ticket cost.

The amount (payable to your respective airline atcheck in) is as follows and can only be paid in IndianRupees (INR). It would be ideal for you to haveclose to or the exact amount to avoid delays.Domestic flights: INR 221 per personInternational flights: INR 1434 per person

VisasAll foreign nationals must obtain a visa for a visitto India and it is essential the visa be procuredprior to travel. A 6 month single entry visa (valid

from the date of issue) is issued for most nationalsplanning to visit India. If you are planning to visit aneighbouring country such as Nepal, Bhutan or SriLanka and return to India you will require a multipleentry visa which must be procured in advance oftravel. In order to obtain this, you will need toprovide the embassy with a detailed itinerary andfull flight information, showing the dates and portsof exit and re-entry to India.

If you are a resident in the UK we offer a visa serviceto save you the inconvenience of having to queueat the embassy, please visit our website or contactus for further information.

Visa requirements are subject to change and thatvisa procurement prior to departure is solely theresponsibility of the traveller and not of on the go.Please also ensure that your passport is valid forat least 6 months from your planned date of returnfrom India.