Rajasthan off the Beaten Tour

14 NIGHTS – 15 DAYS

DELHI – JAISALMER – JODHPUR – RANAKPUR – UDAIPUR- DHARIYAWAD – JHALAWAR – KOTA – BUNDI – JAIPUR – ABHANERI – KARAULI – FATEHPUR SIKRI – AGRA

This Rajasthan off the Beaten Tour is a unique tour of Rajasthan as you enjoy all the must visit places of Rajasthan, Delhi and Taj Mahal. Besides, you also visit the places which a normal tourist does not go like Dhariyawad, Jhalawar, Karauli, Kota and Bundi. These are very interesting places and not frequented by many tourists enabling these places to give you a very authentic experience. You stay in nice heritage hotels with the royal families of Rajasthan to enjoy old world charm as their guests.

Rajasthan off the Beaten Tour

1
Day : Delhi

Upon arrival in Delhi, you will be received at the airport and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, we start the tour of Old Delhi with a drive to Raj Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. We will then visit the Red Fort. We proceed to enjoying a rickshaw ride along the alleys of the ancient bazaars of Chandni Chowk with a stop at the Jama masjid, the largest mosque in Asia. We return to the hotel for an overnight stay.

2
Day : Delhi – Jaisalmer (By Flight)

In the morning, we transfer to the Delhi airport to catch our flight for Jaisalmer. Upon arrival, we transfer to the hotel and check-in. The city was founded by Rawal Jaisal in 1156 and is truly unmatched and unlike other towns in Rajasthan. It is located on the famous ancient silk route and was a trade center in those years. Even today, it retains its medieval charm, narrow streets, magnificent forts and havelis that take you back to that period. In the afternoon, we take you to Bada Bagh to marvel at the intricate carvings at Royal Cenotaphs or Chatris of the royal family and then you will enjoy spectacular views of the Sonargarh Fort and sunset over the sand dunes at Gadsisar Lake. Return to hotel for overnight stay.

3
Day : Jaisalmer

We start with a morning city tour of Jaisalmer and visit the fort known as Sonar Quila, rising from the sand, the mega structure merges with the golden hues of the desert ambience and the setting sun in its most colourful shades, giving it a fairy tale look. We will also visit Patwaon Ki Haveli and Nathmal Ki Haveli which are famous for their wonderful carvings. We then take an afternoon excursion to the sand dunes located at a distance of 42 km from Jaisalmer to create an unforgettable experience of camel rides and sunset views. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

4
Day : Jaisalmer – Jodhpur (310 Km, 6 Hours)

We start with a morning drive to Jodhpur – the Gateway to the Thar desert. On arrival, we check-in at the hotel. In the afternoon, we take a tour of Jodhpur and visit the Meharangarh Fort built in 1457 and situated at an altitude of about 125 mts. It is spread over an area of 5 sq. km and has seven gates. It was the toughest fort to conquer in the whole of Rajasthan. Then, we visit Jaswant Thada, which is a white marble memorial built in memory of Maharaja Jaswant II in 1899. Overnight stay in Jodhpur.

5
Day : Jodhpur – Ranakpur – Udaipur (280 Km, 6 Hours)

In the morning, we shall leave for Udaipur and stop en–route to visit Ranakpur. The Jain temples at Ranakpur are dedicated to Adinath, the first tirthankara of Jains. The temples are sacred and a must-visit for followers of Jain religion. But the temples are not only known for their religious significance but also for intricate carvings on its stone. The most interesting feature is that there are no less than 1400 pillars in the temple and no two pillars are alike. The domes of the temple are also richly decorated. We later proceed to Udaipur, which is one of the best examples of royal grandeur and also known as Venice of the East. Udaipur city was a capital in the Mewar region. It was built when the ruler of Chittorgarh retreated after almost invincible fort at Chittorgarh, former Capital of Marwar, was captured by the Mughal emperor Akbar. We arrive in Udaipur and check–in to the hotel for overnight stay.

6
Day : Udaipur

We shall start our tour of Udaipur city in the morning with a visit to the City Palace, which was completed over three centuries by incorporating brilliant ideas of architecture. The Palace is a big complex of adjoining buildings. The rooms feature typical Rajput architecture with decorated mirrors, glassware and magnificent frescoes. There is also a Museum which displays, in form of paintings, how Udaipur city was founded by Raja Uday Singh and later developed by other Maharajas. We shall next visit the Jagdish temple which is adjacent to City, and a steep staircase takes us there. At the entrance of the temple, we are greeted by two elephants. The stone art work and intricate carving on the walls is remarkable. We shall now drive to Saheliyon Ki Bari Gardens, which is the most beautiful garden in the city. It was built for princess and her forty-eight maids who had come to Udaipur along with her as part of her dowry. The wonderful lay out of the garden is a treat to the eyes. In the afternoon, we shall go for an excursion to Eklingi and Nagda. Eklingji is a very famous and sacred Hindu temple. It was constructed in the 9th century by the Guhila dynasty of Mewar. The final visit of the day is Nagda, which was founded by Nagaditya, the fourth Mewar King, in the 6th century. Nagda is famous for the 10th century Saas–Bahu Temple. We will then return to the hotel for overnight stay.

7
Day : Udaipur – Dhariyawad (130 Km, 3 Hours)

After breakfast, we will drive to Dhariyawad Fort and check-in at Fort Dhariyawad, which has been converted into a heritage hotel. The beautiful Fort has a glorious history as it was founded by the Royal Prince Sahasmal (the second son of the legendary hero Maharana Pratap of Mewar, Udaipur).
In the evening, we head for a visit to Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary where you’ll see one of nature’s rarest wonders – the flying squirrel – yes it exists! Later, we will take a night safari in an open jeep to the Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary in quest of leopards. We will end the day with a traditional Rajasthani meal at the hotel lawns.

8
Day : Dhariyawad – Jhalawar (230 Km, 5 Hours)

After breakfast, we will visit the tribal villages near Dhariyawad, where even today, villagers have preserved their cultures and traditions. Later, we will drive to Jhalawar and check-in to a heritage property called Hotel Prithvi Vilas (An amazing 130-year-old former hunting lodge of the Maharajas).
Later in the afternoon, we will visit the Gagron Fort, which is a fine example of a hill and water fort. Surrounded by the tranquil waters of the Ahu and Kali Sindh rivers on three sides, the fort is indeed a sight to behold. A beautiful mausoleum of Sufi saint Mitheshah just near the fort is the venue for an annual colorful fair held during the month of Moharram. Also of interest is the monastery of Saint Pipa, a contemporary of Saint Kabir. Overnight stay at hotel.

9
Day : Jhalawar – Kota – Bundi (130 Km, 3 Hours)

After breakfast, we will visit the Sun Temple which is a 97-ft-high, 10th-century temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is popularly known as the Padmanabha or Sun Temple. The temple is crowned with a finely carved shikhara (spire). This high steeple is an amalgamation of miniature towers which seem to stick to the main tower, making it a unique one in itself.
Later, we will proceed to Bundi, en-route visiting Kota. We will visit the Jag Mandir Palace in Kota. Resting in the middle of the Kishore Sagar Lake, the Jag Mandir palace is one of the most unique places in Kota. Built with magnificent red stone, this palace was made by one of the queens of Kota around the year 1740. Upon arrival at Bundi, check-in at hotel for overnight stay.

10
Day : Bundi – Jaipur (220 Km, 4 Hours)

After breakfast, we will start the day with a visit to Taragarh Fort. This majestic fort lies on a steep hill overlooking Bundi and was constructed in 1354. Later, we will visit Raniji ki Baori, which was constructed by Rani Nathavati Ji in 1699. Raniji ki Baori is the most iconic step well of Bundi. Next, we visit Garh Palace, which was built between 17th and 18th centuries and is a collection of numerous palace complexes constructed by different rulers at different times. Another site to visit is Sukh Mahal. This majestic palace is located in the Sukh Sagar Lake and was the summer residence of the princes. It was constructed during the reign of Umed Singh.
We then leave for Jaipur. After arrival, we check-in at the hotel. Founded by Maharaja Jai Singh in 1727, Jaipur is a magnificent planned city and is also known as the “Pink City”. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to explore the local bazaar. Return to hotel for overnight stay.

11
Day : Jaipur

We start with a morning excursion to the Amer Fort. You will ascend the fort atop painted elephants and pass by its huge gateways and pillared pavilions. The fort houses a marble palace, Temple of Victory and Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors). In the afternoon, we take a city tour and visit City Palace and Museum. Next, we visit the ornate Hawa Mahal (Palace of winds) which is five stories high and is decorated with delicate screens carved from stone, followed by a visit to Jantar Mantar, an observatory which is still equipped with immense brick and mortar instruments. Return to hotel for overnight stay.

12
Day : Jaipur – Abhaneri – Karauli (200 Km, 4 Hours)

After breakfast, we leave for Karauli. First stop is the small village of Abhaneri, where you will visit Chand Baori, an ancient hidden stepwell. The step wells are unique in this part of the world and were used for storage of water by rainwater harvesting. Abhaneri has one of India’s deepest and largest step wells (also known as tank gardens). Step wells are unique to India and were used as cool places as resorts, as pools for ritual cleansing. We the continue our drive to Karuli, a pilgrimage center and an old palace which, though mostly in ruins, is still representative of the opulence of its medieval durbars. Overnight stay in Karauli.

13
Day : Karauli

After breakfast, we will visit the City Palace of Karauli to appreciate its frescoes and magnificent structures. Enjoy the Camel cart ride and a stroll through the local village. You will also get an opportunity to visit an organic farm through lush fields, pick seasonal vegetables if you can’t resist the temptation, a local charity school and a handicrafts shop where you can interact with farmers, school children and handicraft workers.
In the palace, you get a chance to explore the collection of vintage cars and palanquins and elephant howdahs (a seat or covered platform on the back of an elephant) and explore other in-house activities. Overnight stay in Karauli. .

14
Day : Karauli – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra (150 Km, 4 Hours)

We leave for Agra in the morning. First stop is Fatehpur Sikri, undoubtedly the best-preserved Mughal Palace city of all. Built by Akbar the Great around 1570, Fatehpur Sikri has the highest quality of craftsmanship. The emperor constructed the city only to abandon it some fourteen years later when it is said that the water system failed. We then proceed to Agra, and check-in at the hotel for overnight stay.

15
Day : Agra – Delhi (200 Km, 4 Hours)

In the morning, we start the city tour of Agra, once the capital of Mughal India and the center of great power and glory. Visit one of the eight wonders of the world – the “Taj Mahal”, the monument of love immortalized in marble, built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his Queen Mumtaj. We then visit the Agra Fort and Sikandara, where lies the Tomb of the Emperor “Akbar the Great”. In the afternoon, we leave for Delhi. On arrival, we transfer to the airport to catch flight for onward destination.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ'S)

No, this is a private travel exclusively for you, your friends and family who may accompany you on the tour.

Yes, it is possible. But, the cost may be high in case of a single traveler. You may send us information in the form and we shall send you our best offer depending on number of persons in your group or for a single person.

Yes, since this is a private tour, you may decide the dates as per your choice. Only in case of certain tours, we have to check if there are any operational difficulties for organizing a tour of your choice. Certain tours are not possible for particular period which we shall let you know. Besides, the cost may vary depending on seasonality.

It is better if you could buy international tickets directly through your local agent or on internet. Although we can provide you international flight tickets, but you may a get a better deal locally.

No, you have to obtain visa on your own. The visa regulations will depend on your nationality. You may contact us for further details.

Yes, it is very much possible. You can extend your stay on arrival or departure or at any other place. You may also modify the tour. You may let us know your interest and we can send you modified tour itinerary with cost.

Our cost normally includes hotel accommodation with breakfast, private air-conditioned car with driver which includes fuel, parking and all taxes, entrance fee to monuments, train tickets if any, guided city tours in English or in other foreign languages, viz French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Russian or other foreign languages subject to availability which we can notify at the time of reservation request. Our cost also includes some other services viz Elephant ride at Amer fort in Jaipur, camel safari in Jaisalmer and boat tour in Varanasi. We shall send you all details at the time of sending you quotation.

We may also include other services viz lunches, dinners or other services if you wish. We may also exclude guide service and entrance fee to monuments if you so wish.

Train tickets are included in our cost. But, we give supplement cost for domestic flight tickets as these days, there are dynamic fares and these are not fixed. We send you indicative fare at the time of sending you quotation which is subject to change until issue of tickets with advance purchase for which we need payment from you to issue flight tickets. You may also purchase domestic flight tickets directly on your own if you prefer.

We provide minimum standard (3 star or similar), superior (4 star or similar), deluxe (5 star or similar) hotels and the cost will depend depending on category of hotels. We can send you quotation for the category that you are interested in. We usually provide heritage or palace hotels which fit in your category of hotels. We may also mix the hotel category if you prefer and can also provide you rates based on hotels of your liking in all places if you like.

We usually request 25% advance upon confirmation of our services unless otherwise informed at the time of sending you quotation. We shall send you all payment terms at the time of sending you our offer.I am interested.

Click here to send us information of your trip and we shall send you soonest possible.

Why StateExpress

Established in 1980, State Express has been providing most reliable services to travelers all over the world for last 35 years. We are renowned for our customer first approach and unobtrusive efficiency which ensures the highest levels of customer satisfaction. We have been awarded several times by State Government for being best Tour Operator. All aspects of our tours have been carefully researched and then designed to give ultimate experience to travelers. Let our travel knowledge help you to create a wonderful experience, whether on one of our tour itineraries or a tailor made tour itinerary made exclusively for you to give you an unforgettable holiday.

Our people make the difference

Our success has been possible because of our people who are our biggest asset. We have a team of highly dedicated, sincere, hardworking who work with integrity that has made State Express one of the leading and most reliable tour companies in India. They not only have expertise and experience to meet any requirement, they also speak foreign languages and trained to offer only the best and leave nothing to chance. We know that travel to Indian sub-continent is a dream of many of our guests and our team does everything possible to make their dream true and give them an experience of their lifetime.

Our infrastructure

We have complete infrastructure to provide you best rate and services to you. We are an IATA approved and authorized agents for all domestic airlines and Indian Railways. We have our own cars vans and coaches with experienced drivers. We have multi lingual staff to ensure that our guests do not face any language problem. We also have associate offices in all major tourist centers to provide assistance in shortest possible time.

Our fleet of vehicles & drivers

We undoubtedly have one of the best and most modern fleet of cars, vans, 4X4s and large coaches. Surface travel is a very important aspect in India as you spend lot of your time while travelling on the road and therefore given us an edge over other tour companies who have to rely on other transport companies to provide this service to their clients. We have our own garage and all our vehicles are well maintained to give you hassle free journey.

Besides having the best fleet, it is our drivers who truly make the difference as they play a crucial role in making a tour successful. Even if you stay in best of the hotels and travel in most comfortable and luxurious vehicles, if you do not have a good driver, it may spoil your experience. We have our team of drivers who are part of State Express and have been working with us for years and they are trained, dedicated and motivated to take care of our guests and make them comfortable. That is the reason that more than 90% of our guests thank us and appreciate them after returning to their home.

Our choice of hotels

We take utmost care in selection of hotels that we recommend to our clients and include in our list of suggested hotels. We inspect these hotels regularly to be sure of their quality of product and services. We give lot of emphasis on the location and the people who run those hotels. We want to give you clients an experience of heritage and palace hotels which are unique and not available in other part of the world.

Our tour itineraries

All our tour itineraries are designed by experts to give you an opportunity to see most wonderful sites in number of days at your disposal at the same time giving you time to explore the places in your own way. We have a number of itineraries to choose from which covers all India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Tibet. We also include mode of travel and approximate time taken between places to ensure that you do not have any surprises during the tour. Our specialists will also work with you to create an itinerary of your choice either by modifying our readymade tour itineraries or prepare an exclusive tailor made tour for you based on your interest and liking keeping in mind local conditions.

24×7 assistance during the tour

We provide you clients real 24×7 assistance during the tour. This is not a marketing gimmick but we have someone in our office always to assist you in case of any emergency anytime. We also provide cell phone numbers of our executive who you may contact even during odd hours when you need them for anything urgent. We have associate offices in all major cities of India to provide you assistance in minimum possible time.

Response time

We know that response time is key to our success and we value it a lot. Even at initial stages before reservation, you will get replies from us in not more than 24 working hours. We shall always be there whenever you need us during the tour.

Personalised Service

Apart from professional service, we believe in emphasising on personalised service. That is to make our guests feel at home in a foreign country and also feel that they have friends here who they can trust for any need. Our customer executives remain in constant touch with our guests during the tour to give them comfort and trust that we are always with them.

Good value for money

We know that there are so many travel companies providing their services and unless we provide good value for money to our clients, they will not be satisfied. Our own fleet of cars, vans and coaches and best special discounted rates with hotels due to our volumes enables us to offer value for money.

What our clients say about us

Good Morning,

we are in Rome and none problem in the return trip; I send you an email to add comments and let you know our feedback in details; my wife and I are frequent travelers and have custom to evaluate our trips in all the aspects; so

. Booking process excellent (rapid, clear and exhaustive answers; we have appreciated the help to obtain the e-visa and the contacts during the tour to know possible problems;

. Driver excellent (polite, punctual and very expert in the drive), he gave us many suggestions and accompanied us directly to the coach in the Tundla station; the other driver in Varanasi good but should improve his english;

. Car good;

. Guide only in Jaisalmer good;

. Tour organization good for times and the included hotspots;

. Hotels: we evaluate the hotels for cleaning and comfort of the room and bathroom and for breakfast; we use a ranking from 1 (bad) to 5 (excellent):

Iris Park 2; dirty bathroom with dirty towels, room dirty and uncomfortable (too small, difficult to move inside, put and open the suitcases; breakfast room trivial and food inadequate for european tourists;

Mandawa Palace 4 for all;

Lallgarl Palace 4 and no 5 for inadequate breakfast respect to the level of the hotel;

Mandar Palace 3-4 , room and bathroom no perfectly clean , breakfast inadequate for european tourist and internet didn’t work;

Krishna Prakas Havei unacceptable; room located in the roof without elevator and with dangerous stairs; room dirty with a door that didn’t close perfectly, bathroom dirty with dirty towels; breakfast room dirty with tablecloth dirty and broken, food trivial and inadequate also for amount;

Master Paradise 3, cold uncomfortable room without possibility to warm it; bathroom in the average and skinny breakfast;

Golden Tulip 5 and more, the best

Atulayaa Tay unacceptable, dirty and small room, dirty bathroom with microscopic sink an a glass wall between the bed, dirty towels, trivial breakfast;

Meradan Grand 4 for all

Last hotel in Dehli 4 for room and bathroom also here glass wall between bathroom and the bed but the light didn’t across;

we suggest, personal opinion, to cancel the hotel with a rank less than 3 and choose others of superior quality ( also if more expensive) because the hotel is important to rest in a daily tour step by step.

In summary we evaluate very good the experience of our first trip in India and surely we will recommend State Express to our friends.

Enzo Ferrante

27 January 2023 

Hi Rinki,

Just wanted to say thank you for all the organisation for our India trip. Everything went very smoothly. Our vehicles, drivers and accommodation were all faultless.

Look forward to our next trip now whenever that may be.

I’d like to just comment on one thing… please encourage clients to do Chittorgarh as a day trip. The accommodation there must’ve been really good at some point but is quite run down now. They were lovely and very obliging but when we compare the accommodations it wasn’t the best.

I know I’d said I wanted a night in Chittorgarh but I wasn’t as conversant with availability there as someone who knows the areas more.

Thank you once again from my mum, massi and I.

Best wishes and regards to your team,

Ps. Next visit we must meet!! 🙂

Priya

14 January 2023

Dear Sirs, namaste.
The journey of my group is over and we have returned to our homes.
I hope all of you are fine.
I wish to thank State Express for the usual good assistance. A special thank to Mr Mamlesh Sahu for following my trip through his frequent telephone calls.
I hope to have the chance to come again.

Dhanyavad.

Alfredo Sermasi

12 December 2022

Good Morning,

we are in Rome and none problem in the return trip; I send you an email to add comments and let you know our feedback in details; my wife and I are frequent travelers and have custom to evaluate our trips in all the aspects; so
  • Booking process excellent (rapid, clear and exhaustive answers; we have appreciated the help to obtain the e-visa and the contacts during the tour to know possible problems;
  • Driver excellent (polite, punctual and very expert in the drive), he gave us many suggestions and accompanied us directly to the coach in the Tundla station; the other driver in Varanasi good but should improve his english;
  • Car good;
  • Guide only in Jaisalmer good
  • . Tour organization good for times and the included hotspots; . Hotels: we evaluate the hotels for cleaning and comfort of the room and bathroom and for breakfast;
we use a ranking from 1 (bad) to 5 (excellent): Iris Park 2; dirty bathroom with dirty towels, room dirty and uncomfortable (too small, difficult to move inside, put and open the suitcases; breakfast room trivial and food inadequate for european tourists; Mandawa Palace 4 for all; Lallgarl Palace 4 and no 5 for inadequate breakfast respect to the level of the hotel; Mandar Palace 3-4 , room and bathroom no perfectly clean , breakfast inadequate for european tourist and internet didn’t work; Krishna Prakas Havei unacceptable; room located in the roof without elevator and with dangerous stairs; room dirty with a door that didn’t close perfectly, bathroom dirty with dirty towels; breakfast room dirty with tablecloth dirty and broken, food trivial and inadequate also for amount; Master Paradise 3, cold uncomfortable room without possibility to warm it; bathroom in the average and skinny breakfast; Golden Tulip 5 and more, the best Atulayaa Tay unacceptable, dirty and small room, dirty bathroom with microscopic sink an a glass wall between the bed, dirty towels, trivial breakfast; Meradan Grand 4 for all Last hotel in Dehli 4 for room and bathroom also here glass wall between bathroom and the bed but the light didn’t across; we suggest, personal opinion, to cancel the hotel with a rank less than 3 and choose others of superior quality ( also if more expensive) because the hotel is important to rest in a daily tour step by step. In summary we evaluate very good the experience of our first trip in India and surely we will recommend State Express to our friends. Kindly Regards, Enzo Ferrante
David & Emily
8 March 2020
Good morning Rinki,
Emily and I are home now, and we would like to thank you for organising what turned out to be a wonderful trip. We enjoyed visiting all the various places, and the hotels were comfortable. People were very friendly and helpful. The pace of the trip was perfect, travelling but not exhausting. The driver Chandra was very good and I would have no issue with recommending him as a driver. He was very polite, punctual, and courteous. We felt he was a very safe driver, and would like to extend our thanks to him as well. With the benefit of hindsight, I would have stayed an extra day or two in Verkala rather than the extra days in Mumbai, but that is as I say with the benefit of hindsight. Once again, thank you so very much for all your help in organising this trip for us, which we will remember fondly for many years to come.
David & Emily
8 March 2020
Dear StateExpress
To whom it may concern, we are writing you regarding the package booked with andanitravel for the India golden triangle from the 01/03/2020 to the 11/03/2020. On the 4th of March ’20 the staff from the Sher Gary Resort in Road Village Sherpur, Khilchipur, Rajasthan 322001, Ranthanbore, following the Advise from the Government of Rajasthan, invited us to leave the resort and the State of India as soon as possible due to our Italian Nationality. Immediately we contacted the DCM Italy of Rajasthan, Mr Carini, who told us there was a mistake and the Advise number 27 of the 4th of March 2020 was withdrawn with immediate effect. Although we informed on a timely manner the resort staff, we have been asked to leave anyhow. Only after the DCM Italy informed the resort about the mistake, we have been given the opportunity to leave the resort the following morning. All these difficulties, the constant hostility by the people in India despite the advise number 28, the decision made by the State Express emergency contact( Harish Bhatt) to interrupt our trip and the news regarding the spread of COVID-19 in India, induced us to arrange autonomously for a flight back home as soon as possible. At least but not last we kindly ask you to let us know of any official way to provide a positive feedback to the great support, empathy, help, kindness, professionalism, flexibility and special assistant given by the driver Mr Ashok Yadav in the sphere of his competences.
Anna Caputo, Antonio Caputo, Maria Napolitano, Guida Villani
7 March 2020

Hi, Rinki

Thank you for the trip arrangement. We have enjoyed very much.
Looking forward to our next trip in India next year and will get in touch with you again.
Once again, thank you very much for your excellent service.

Chua Boon Hua

09 October 2018