ITINERARY FOR Taj Mahal Marathon GROUP 4
CANCELLED
12 days
Price for tour
group 4:
Price: USD 2260,- per person sharing
Single room surcharge USD 835,-
Day 1 (March 1st) Arrival in Delhi
Arrival in Delhi. You are met at the airport in Delhi and transferred to
your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure on your own.
Day 2 (March 2nd) Delhi - Jaipur
After an early breakfast we we drive to the capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur, popularly
known as the 'pink city' because of the pink-colored buildings in its old city.
Maharaja Jai Singh II who ruled from 1699-1744 founded the city in 1727. We will
have lunch at a midway restaurant, before we arrive after a drive of 5 hours. When
we have checked in at our hotel, we will talk a walk in the hectical and colourful
bazar, filled with exotic products.
Day 3 (March 3rd) - Jaipur
After breakfast we start our guided excursion tour to Amber Fort, 11 km
North East of Jaipur. Instead of climbing the many steps leading up to the fort,
we will take an elephant ride to the main entrance of the fort. We continue with
the sightseeing of Jaipur city after our lunch at a local restaurant, visiting the
Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds. Constructed in 1799, it is one of Jaipur's major
landmarks, although it is actually little more than a facade. It was originally
built to enable ladies of the royal household to watch the everyday life and processions
of the city. We stop here for a brief photo-session. From here, proceed to the Jantar
Mantar (Observatory) & City Palace complex in the heart of the old city. Of
the nine blocks in the city plan, two were apportioned for the palace. It is almost
a city within a city. The City Palace is a superb marriage of the Rajput and Mughal
Arhitecture. Dinner will be served at the hotel.
Day 4 (March 4th) Jaipur - Ranthambore
After an early breakfast we drive to Swai Madhopur, 180 kms from Jaipur.
Here we will be received by a local guide and transferred to our hotel.
One can expect that Ranthambore National Park is one of the most picturesque game
reserves in the world. In this majestic area of the tiger, the entire forest is
being dominated by the serene rudiments of Ranthambore Fort. The sheer sight of
witnessing the man-eater roaring over these ruins is a thrilling episode. The park
has a core area of 158 square miles, and is one of the parks supported by Project
Tiger. The terrain fluctuates between impregnable forests and open bush land. The
forest is the typically dry deciduous type, with dhok, being the most prominent
tree. The entry point to the Park goes straight to the foot of the fort and the
forest rest house, Jogi Mahal. Ranthambore is noted for its tigers, which are not
merely nocturnal, but frequently seen during the day, often stalking their prey
in full view of visitors. The park also has a large population of panthers, although
their habitat does not overlap with that of the tigers, they keep to the outer areas.
Other predators here are the caracal, hyena, jackal and jungle cats. Marsh crocodiles
can also be seen basking by the banks of the lakes. There are various species of
deer, such as sambar, chital, chinkara, and Nilgai. Ranthambore is also known for
its rich birdlife, drawn here by the wide variety of flora and the lakes. In the
afternoon you will be devoted to game viewing by Canter, along with a local park
ranger.
Day 5 (March 5th) - Ranthambore
Early morning hours will be devoted to one more game viewing after which we drive
back to the hotel for breakfast. We have the rest of the day at leisure. Lunch &
Dinner will be served at hotel.
Day 6 (March 6th) - Ranthambore - Agra
After breakfast we drive to one of the great Mughal cities of South Asia,
Agra. En-route we stop for lunch at a restaurant and thereafter we continue driving
towards Agra.
35 kilometers before Agra we visit the magnificent fortified ghost city of Fatehpur
Sikri, which was the capital of the Mughal Empire between 1571 and 1585, during
the reign of Emperor Akbar. Fatehpur Sikri, the 'Perfect City', was constructed
in honor of the Sufi mystic Sheikh Salem Chishti, who Akbar credited with bringing
him an heir. We arrive in Agra late in the Afternoon and check in to the hotel.
Day 7 (March 7th) - Agra
After breakfast, we proceed for guided sight seeing of Agra City covering
Agra Fort. Rest of the afternoon will be at leisure for the runners to relax before
tomorrows race.
Day 8 (March 8th) Agra, Race Day
Today we wake up early for the day at 4:30 AM. Breakfast at 5 AM and departure from
the Hotel at 5:30 AM. We go to the Taj Mahal and have a group photo taken in front
of this impressive building. We leave from Taj Mahal at 6:30 to walk 5 mininutes
to reach the Taj Khema hilltop from where The Taj Mahal Marathon 2008 will start
at 7 AM.
The marathon runners and spectators will be driven to the Taj Mahal parking lounge
from there we change to the Battery vehicles to the Gate of Taj Mahal.
After the marathon we walk to the parking lounge where from all the runners and
participants will be driven to their respective hotels. At 7 PM we all be drive
from the respective hotels for the Gala Dinner. After Gala Dinner we all drive back
to the respective hotels for well deserved good night sleep.
Day 9 (March 9th) - Agra
After breakfast we proceed for guided sight seeing of Agra City covering the famous
Taj Mahal. Lunch will be served at local restaurant. Rest of the day will be at
leisure.
Day 10 (March 10th) - Agra Delhi - Amritsar by train
After breakfast we drive back to Delhi for our connection to Amritsar.
The drive takes 5 hours and in Delhi, lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
We will then go to the train station to board the train for Amritsar. On arrival
in Amritsar we will be transferred to our hotel, where dinner will be served.
Day 11 (March 11th) - Amritsar
Amritsar is famous for the Golden Temple it is completely fascinating and worth
seeing again and again. The Golden Temple is marbled, bronzed and covered with gold
leaf. The temple has a community kitchen where volunteers prepare free meals for
over 10000 pilgrims every day.
In the morning we take a guided sightseeing tour of the Golden Temple and Jallianwala
Bagh, the site of one of the most horrific moments in colonial and world history.
On April 13, 1919, crowds filled Jillianwala Bagh to peacefully protest a law allowing
the British to imprison Indians without trial. The British fired on 10,000 unarmed
men, women and children without warning.
We go back to the hotel for lunch and in the afternoon we will watch the closing
flag ceremony of the India and Pakistan borders, a very fascinating ceremony to
watch.
Day 12 (March 12th) Amritsar - Delhi by train
After breakfast we will be transferred to the train station and board the train
for Delhi. On arrival in Delhi we will proceed for sightseeing tour of Sir Edward
Lutyens' New Delhi, the garden city built in 1911 by the British. We also visit
the Birla Mandir Laxminarayan temple, the President's House, the India Gate, Jama
Masjid Mosque and finally we take a cycle rickshaw ride through the by-lanes of
Chandni Chowk.
After the sightseeing tour we will be transferred to a hotel where we can wash and
change before having a late night dinner. After dinner we will be transferred to
International airport for our flight home.
NOTE: If your flight is not scheduled to leave until the next day
and you would prefer to have a good nights rest, please let us know and we can book
a room for you for a small additional surcharge.
|