11-Day Tour of the Enchanting Shekhawati Region, India
HIGHLIGHTS
This 11-day tour provides unsurpassed experience:
meditate, perform yoga, enjoy Ayurvedic massages of various kinds, and take silent walks with stay in mesmerizing forts, castles, palace, and havelis.
The Shekhawati region of Rajasthan State of India is called the “wonderland of heritage” for its lovely fresco paintings adorning the walls of the havelis.
During the day, explore the colourful countryside on jeep safaris, visit schools, talk to crafts persons, and enjoy an incredible variety of delicious food of the region.
In this tour you will also take a jeep safari deep into the forests of Sariska Tiger Reserve.
Description
Arrive a day earlier to New Delhi. You will be received by our representative at the
IGI International Airport and driven to our hotel for rest, exploration of the city,
dinner and overnight.
Day 1 : New Delhi – Jaipur
After an early breakfast drive 250-km to Jaipur. Check-into Mahal Khandela. Lunch
at the hotel. Enjoy a swim in its lovely pool. Enjoy a 70-minute Ayurvedic massage.
Dinner at a famous restaurant in Jaipur. Overnight at Mahal Khandela.\
What Makes This Retreat Special
This tour helps you discover and explore the rich culture and heritage of India’s Shekhawati region. For centuries, it has produced businessmen with a pioneering spirit.
The havelis across the region have lovely fresco paintings on the inner and outer walls and ceilings. The paintings have varied themes such as battles, marriage processions and rituals, religious processions, and men and women in intimate poses.
The region is famous for its step- wells and crafts, folk music, and dances. Its forts, castles, and palaces are a sight to behold.
On the last day of your tour drive to Jaipur airport to board your afternoon or evening
flight to New Delhi domestic airport. We will assist you to change over to the IGI
International Airport to board your flight back home.
Details
ITINERARY
After an early breakfast drive 250-km to Jaipur. Check-into Mahal Khandela. Lunch
at the hotel. Enjoy a swim in its lovely pool. Enjoy a 70-minute Ayurvedic massage.
Dinner at a famous restaurant in Jaipur. Overnight at Mahal Khandela.
In the morning practice yoga and meditation and after a healthful breakfast take a full-day tour visiting Amer, Jaigarh and Nahargarh Forts, the Palace of Winds, Albert Hall Museum, Jantar Mantar, and the City Palace Museum.
In the evening take a 60-minute Ayurvedic massage. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Practice yoga and meditation in the morning and then enjoy breakfast before taking an excursion to the 14th century AD 450-step well at Village Abhaneri. On return take lunch at the hilltop Fort Madhogarh before returning to Jaipur.
See a music and puppet show while you enjoy bar-be-cue, unlimited drinks and sumptuous dinner hosted by your tour operator and his lovely wife who own Hotel Mahal Khandela.
Practice yoga and meditation at dawn. Take an excursion to Village Samode to see its mirror and fresco painted beautiful palace. Visit its ancient temples and the "chattris" of the former members of the royal family cremated here.
In the evening drive 24-km to Fort Mundota for bar-be-cue and dinner. Here you will meet and converse over drinks and dinner the owner of this property. He breeds race horses and is a great polo player.
Hotel : Gandharva Retreat
Practice yoga and meditation in the morning.
Spread over 13 acres this retreat is owned and run by a well-known tiger expert of India and his wife - a specialist on Buddhist literature. The retreat as of now has large cottages and staying here, walking around and talking with the Tiger Man is a great joy. The wife helps in cooking and you must join in to learn from her some really delicious Indian food.
This retreat offers a wonderful setting for you to do your yoga and meditation and silent walks. After breakfast, take a tour around Thanagazi visiting sites such as temples as old as 1000 years. Visit Lake Silisaid and take a boat ride there.
Return to the retreat for a swim, dinner, and rest.
Hotel : Gandharva Retreat
Early morning before breakfast, take a jeep safari right into the thick forests of the Sariska Tiger Sanctuary. See here at close quarters these big cats and other wild animals such as deer, bison, chinkara, and deer.
When you return take an ayurvedic massage, have dinner and rest overnight at the retreat.
Hotel : Castle Kalwar ( 230 year old )
After your yoga and meditation, drive to Castle Kalwar to a warm welcome from the owners who stay on the property. The castle has a lush-green hill behind it, a large lawn and an inviting swimming pool. You will love the large rooms very tastefully done up.
Take lunch and then visit a local low-cost school to interact with the children and the teachers. Walk around the village and take plenty of photographs of people attending to their chores in colorful clothes. In the evening enjoy an ayurvedic massage.
Bar-be-cue and dinner near the pool of the castle.
After your yoga and meditation, drive to Pushkar 135 km from the Castle. Arrive at Bhanwar Singh Palace or equally good well in time for lunch. Visit the sacred lake where rituals are held. See a memorable "aarti" being performed by the priests to Lord Brahma - the lord of creation.
Return to Castle Kalwar for dinner and rest.
Hotel : Heritage Mandawa
Practice yoga and meditation at the castle and after breakfast leave for Mandawa, in the heart of Shekhawati and check into lovely Heritage Mandawa.
Enjoy an ayurvedic massage, dinner and overnight at this property.
Hotel : Heritage Mandawa
Practice yoga and meditation at dawn.
After breakfast, take a full day tour of the town, visiting Murmura Haveli for its exceptional art, The Open Art Gallery, The Chokhani Double Haveli, The Hanuman Prasad Goenka Haveli, The Harlalka Well & Haveli.
Mandawa's craftsmen and women produce wonderful wooden products such as decorative chests, cradles, chairs, etc. See them.
Dinner and overnight at this heritage property.
Hotel : Alsisar Mahal
After breakfast drive to Alsisar and check into Alsisar Mahal. This Mahal or Palace has a lovely swimming pool, beautiful lounge, dining hall, and rooms. You will find staying here a great experience. During the day visit the stone chattris (cenotaphs), Morarka Museum, Laxmi Narayan Temple.
Take a walking tour of the town set in rugged countryside. Enjoy bar-be-cue and dinner by the pool before retiring to your room.
Drive from Alsisar to the Jaipur International Airport for your flight home.
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