Day by Day itineraryDay 1: Arrival at DelhiGangaur Festival Jaipur has its first stop at Delhi where you arrive by rail or air and are escorted to the booked hotel in the city. After checking-in and relaxing for few hours, you are free to spend the rest of the day at your will. It would be a great idea to visit the bustling Chandni Chowk(open till 08:00 p.m.; closed every Sunday; best transport modes include metro and cycle-rickshaw) market area for shopping and to relish a variety of street snacks and Indian sweets. Stay overnight at Delhi.
Have to breakfast and join us to visit the hotspots of Delhi. Ruled by different dynasties over thousands of years, the city has distinctive historical and cultural charm which is evident from brilliant architectural masterpieces. Consider it as the opportunity to watch the historic Old Delhi meeting the contemporary New Delhi. Start with Laxmi Narayan Temple (also called Birla Temple; open 04:30 a.m. to 09:00 p.m.) which is constructed in Nagara Architecture style and boasts of attractive carvings, fountains, and gardens. Next, visit Akshardham Temple (09:30 a.m. to 06:30 p.m.; closed every Monday) which has a stately architecture and attractions like lush green gardens and musical fountains.
The next highlight of Jaipur Gangaur Festival tour the incredible Lotus Temple (09:00 a.m. to 05:30 p.m.; Monday closed; permission required for photography) which is designed in the form of lotus petals using white marble. From there, we head towards India Gate, the monumental arch commemorating the bravery of Indian soldiers. Drive past SansadBhawan (Parliament House) which boasts of stupendous modern architecture.Later, visit Jama Masjid (open 07:00 a.m. to 06:30 p.m.; INR 200 for photography), an extremely peaceful mosque with supreme architecture.
Next, you would visit the colossal Red Fort (09:30 a.m. to 04:30 p.m.; closed on Monday; entry fee INR 35/500 for Indians/foreigners), the red sandstone wonder with many great structures. Then, visit QutubMinar (07:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.; entry fee INR 30/500 for Indians/foreigners), one of the tallest minarets in the world. Humayun’s Tomb (07:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m.; entry fee INR 30/500 for Indians/foreigners; INR 25 for video cameras), an enchanting structure amidst sprawling gardens is the final attraction of the day. Return to the hotel and stay overnight.
Finish your breakfast and start the road trip to Agra. The erstwhile capital of the grand Mughal Empire, the city has a fascinating profile boasting of enthralling Mughal heritage. On arrival, visit the first attraction of the day – Sikandra (open 06:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m.; entry fee INR 15/115 for Indians, BIMSTEC, and SAARC nationals/others), the tomb of great Mughal Emperor Akbar. Geometric and floral designs on red sandstone and marble make it a spellbinding structure.
One of the most exciting moments of Gangaur Festival Jaipur arrive as you visit the resplendent TajMahal (open 06:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m.; entry fee INR 40/530/1000 for Indians/BIMSTEC and SAARC nationals/others). This white marble beauty needs no introduction as you must have read much about its brilliant architecture and the love story of Shah Jahan and MumtazMahal which inspired its construction. Take time to explore the structure before checking in at the booked hotel.
Relax and have lunch before we visit a marble factory in the city. Watch expert artists engaged in crafting irresistible marble carvings and performing majestic inlay work. From there, visit Agra Fort (open 06:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m.; entry fee INR40/80/550 for Indians/BIMSTEC and SAARC nationals/others), the magnificent red sandstone structure boasting of royal palaces, pavilions, thrones and more.Stay overnight at Agra.
Start from Agra after breakfast as we drive to the next destination – Jaipur. On the way, you would be excited to stop at FatehpurSikri(open 09:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.; entry fee INR 40/40/510 for Indians/BIMSTEC and SAARC nationals/others)which is yet another addition of Mughals to the splendid Indian heritage wealth. Explore the marvelously designed red sandstone and marble structures like BulandDarwaza, PanchMahal, Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas, Tomb of SalimChishti and much more. Resume the road trip to Jaipur and check in at the booked hotel on arrival. Have dinner and stay overnight.
Before you actually attendGangaur Festival Jaipur celebrations, spend this day visiting the world-famous attractions of the city. Jaipur, apart from being a state capital, is the most visited city to experience Rajasthani folk culture, cuisines, artworks and festivities. After breakfast, we take you for an exhilarating elephant ride to ascend Amber Fort located on a hilltop (08:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m.; entry fee INR 25/200 for Indians/foreigners and INR 10/100 for Indian/foreign students, ride costsINR 900 for two). Watch in awe the remarkable views from the top and explore royal structures.
Later, visitHawaMahal (09:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.; entry fee INR 50/200 for Indians/foreigners) which boasts of a honeycomb-like design with hundreds of jharokhas (small windows). Then, visit the majestic City Palace (09:30 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.; entry fee INR 25/35/150 for children/Indians/foreigners; INR 50/150 for still/video camera) andJantarMantar Astronomical Observatory (09:30 a.m. to 04:30 p.m.; entry fee INR 15/50/200 for students/Indians/foreigners; INR 50/100 for still/video camera).
Reserve evening for a visit to ChokhiDhani, the traditional village-like restaurant which serves platters of scrumptious Rajasthani cuisines. You would be thoroughly entertained by the performances like folk dances, acrobatics and puppet shows and activities like bullock cart ride. Stay overnight at Jaipur.
Finally, the day arrives when you would be a part and parcel of the festival. During Gangaur celebrations, young unmarried girls observe fast wishing for a suitable match while married women do so for long lives of their husbands and marital bliss. Celebrations begin a day after Holi in the month of March or April.
Here are some great aspects of the festival many of which you would enjoy during Gangaur festival tour Jaipur:
- Women prepare idols of Shiva and Gauri using clay and painting them in beautiful colours.
- Idols are also decorated with pretty clothes and jewellery items.
- Women apply mehndi (myrtle paste) in some truly remarkable designs on their palms and feet.
- Women carrying earthen pots (called Ghudlias, with a number of holes and earthen lamps inside) on their heads to various homes, collecting jiggery, ghee, sweets and cash as blessings.
- Women dressed up in attractive traditional clothes and jewellery and singing folk songs.
- Ghewar, the tasty Indian sweet is just not worth missing.
- Processions and departure of Gana and Gauri as women immerse their idols in water on the concluding day.
Enjoy the entire day observing these highlights. Stay overnight at Jaipur.
Leave Jaipur after breakfast and drive back to Delhi. As the Gangaur Festival Jaipur tour comes to end, we drop you at the airport or railway station.