Circuit du patrimoine rural de l'Inde

Description du séjour

Hébergement

Programme du séjour

• jour 1

  Arrivée à Delhi par vol international

  

  Arrival at Delhi airport by international flight. Traditional welcome at Delhi International with a garland and a water bottle. Hotel rooms are booked from 14:00 hours on this day. Overnight stay at the hotel in Delhi.

• jour 2

  In Delhi

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Morning: start your sightseeing tour with the old city of Delhi. Visit the famous Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Enjoy a bicycle rickshaw ride through the narrow lanes and experience a truly oriental, colorful bazaar. Then, drive past the Red Fort, followed by a visit to Raj Ghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. Continue your city tour by visiting New Delhi. Visit the 234 ft high, 12th-century Qutb Minar, famous for the Ashokan iron pillar, which has never rusted in 1500 years. Continue past Humayun’s Tomb, a forerunner of the Mughal style of architecture. The trip takes you past India Gate, Parliament, and Rashtrapati Bhavan, the residence of the President of India. Before returning to your hotel, you will visit the Sikh Temple, known as Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, a place where you can see the customs and traditions of the Sikh community. Overnight stay at the hotel in Delhi.

• jour 3

  Delhi - Nawalgarh

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Nawalgarh, approximately a 4-5 hour drive with photo stops en route at local villages and colourful bazaars. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel. Nawalgarh is a small town located in the Shekhawati region, famous for its castle, havelis, and cenotaphs. Often known as an "outdoor art galleria," the medieval region of Shekhawati is dotted with beautiful frescoes, havelis, and mansions. We recommend walking the streets of a city that still retains the charm of a bygone era. Later this afternoon, visit various havelis and old mansions where you will witness the famous Shekhawati colourful paintings on the walls and ceilings. On the way to the hotel, take a walking tour through the village market. Overnight stay at the hotel in Nawalgarh.

• jour 4

  Nawalgarh - Bikaner

  

  Breakfast at the hotel, Morning drive to Bikaner, approximately 3-4 hour drive. Upon arrival at Bikaner, check in at the hotel. This afternoon, start with the visit to this desert city, surrounded by imposing walls and possessing a 16th-century fort behind whose walls are ancient palaces, temples, and a mosque. The fort JUNAGARH, built by Raja Rai Singh, is characterized by its 37 pavilions and a series of balconies and windows of varied designs. We will also visit the museum of the fort, which has an extensive collection of manuscripts, jewels, and carpets. At the end of this visit, we can tour several temples throughout the city, such as the Jain Temple and Laxmi Nath Temple. Overnight stay at the hotel in Bikaner.

• jour 5

  Bikaner - Jodhpur

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Jodhpur, approximately a 4-hour drive. Upon arrival in Jodhpur, check in at the hotel. Jodhpur (also known as the Blue City of India) is a city dominated by one of the most impressive and rich forts in India. It is surrounded by sands, just on the edge of the Thar Desert. In the afternoon, you can visit Mehrangarh, the fort that rises 120 meters above the city. The fort is immense, full of details, and offers wonderful views of the city. You can also visit Jaswant Thada, a monument erected in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Overnight stay at the hotel in Jodhpur.

• jour 6

  Jodhpur - Deogarh

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Deogarh, approximately a 4-hour drive. Upon arrival at Deogarh, check-in at the hotel. Heritage Hotel Deogarh Mahal is an impressive and sumptuous palace that was built during the era of the Kingdom of Mewar (also known as the Kingdom of Udaipur). Its traditional Indian architecture and furnishings tell a history of luxury and decadence, set on a hill with fantastic views of the Aravallis Mountains and lakes. The palace is much more the public face of the Deogarh government. Later this afternoon, take a walking tour through the surrounding village and the local colourful bazaar of Deogarh. Overnight stay at the hotel in Deogarh.

• jour 7

  Deogarh - Jaipur

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Today, we took an approximately 2-hour local train journey on a narrower route from Deogarh (Kamli Ghat) to Pulad via the Aravali Mountains, with a wonderful view of the passing mountain scenery. It is a local train without air conditioning, similar to those used by the middle class, with colorful locals dressed traditionally, allowing us to experience the true face of India in the countryside. This afternoon, drive to Jaipur, an approximately 5-hour drive. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel. Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, was built in 1728 by order of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. This city is called the "Pink City" because most of its buildings were constructed with sandstone. Hindu, Jainist, and Mughal architectural styles are combined in the city of Jaipur. This evening, we attend the aarti (prayer) ceremony at one of the oldest temples, “Shree Govind Dev Ji Temple,” located in the City Palace complex. During the aarti ceremony, you will witness dance and songs with local devotees—a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Overnight stay at the hotel in Jaipur.

• jour 8

  À Jaipur

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Morning, proceed for the city tour of the Pink City, Jaipur. After a brief photography stop at the famed Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds, drive out of town to visit Amber Fort. Enjoy a jeep ride up to the entrance of this romantic, traditional Rajasthani fort, setting the mood for a visit to the dramatic hilltop fortress. Once inside the rugged walls, you will find beautiful miniatures depicting hunting and battle scenes, along with precious stones and mirrors embellishing the plasterwork walls. The Jag Mandir, or Hall of Victory, contains the extraordinary Sheesh Mahal, where all four walls and the ceiling are completely covered with glittering mirror pieces, creating a beautiful effect. Continue the city tour by visiting the famous City Palace. The historic City Palace is a huge, sprawling complex, covering almost a seventh of the walled part of Jaipur. The palace is still home to the erstwhile royal family, who live in one section, while the rest has been converted into a museum. Highlights include the Armoury Museum, with its impressive collection of royal weapons. Later, visit the Jantar Mantar, the largest stone observatory in the world. There are 17 large instruments, many of them still in working order. On the way back to your hotel, take a walking tour through the local spice and vegetable market in Jaipur. Overnight stay at the hotel in Jaipur.

• jour 9

  Jaipur - Abhaneri - Bharatpur

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Bharatpur, en route visiting Abhaneri Chand Baori stepwell (one of the oldest stepwells, an architectural marvel). Continue driving to Bharatpur and check in at the hotel. Bharatpur, a village famous for its bird sanctuary. Later this afternoon, excursion to a nearby village to witness the daily rural village life of India. During the visit, you may have a chance to interact with the locals over a cup of tea or coffee. Overnight stay at the hotel in Bharatpur.

• jour 10

  Bharatpur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra

  

  Early morning, visit the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary by bicycle rickshaw ride. About 350 kinds of birds have been sighted in the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary (also known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park), of which about 150 species migrate to the sanctuary from as far away as China and Siberia, arriving between October and March. The sanctuary covers 30 square kilometers of low-lying marshland and is connected by paths and canals running through the park, which make for pleasant walks, rickshaw, or canoe rides. Some animals like the nilgai (blue bull antelopes), sambhar, chital, and monitor lizard have found their haven in the park. Return to the hotel for breakfast. This morning, drive to Agra en route visiting Fatehpur Sikri. The abandoned, ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri lies some 40 km from Agra. The city was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569, in honour of Saint Sheikh Salim Chisti, who prophesied that Akbar would have three sons. For 14 years, Fatehpur Sikri was Akbar’s capital until a lack of water forced the city to be abandoned. The city is remarkably well-preserved, and visitors can see the Jama Masjid, the tomb of Salim Chisti, and several palaces. Continue driving to Agra. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel. Later this afternoon, visit the magnificent Agra Fort and see the public and private audience halls overlooking the river Yamuna. Overnight stay at the hotel in Agra.

• jour 11

  Agra - Delhi

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Morning visit to the Taj Mahal, a white marble tomb built in 1560 by Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved Queen Mumtaz. Over 20,000 craftsmen from Persia, Turkey, France, and Italy labored for 17 years to build this masterpiece. (The Taj Mahal remains closed on Fridays.) This afternoon, drive to Delhi (approximately a 5-hour drive). Upon arrival, transfer to Delhi International Airport.

• jour 12

  Départ de Delhi

  End of the tour.