Difficulty Information
This tour is classified as Category B.
The difficulty of our travels varies greatly. Added to this is the fact that travel difficulty is a very personal perception. To give an indication of the difficulty of a particular holiday, we have developed the following classification system:
Category A: Light travel, possible for everyone. Short distances, good hotels, slow travelling speed.
Category B: Feasible for everyone who is prepared. Sometimes longer distances, good hotels or camping facilities, sometimes adventure nights, average travelling speed.
Category C: Feasible for anyone who prepares well and is flexible, but some parts of the journey are difficult, distances may be long or require a day’s walk, there may be some basic facilities.
Category D: Relatively difficult trip because of long travel distances, often primitive facilities or tents, long walks.
Category E: Difficult trip. The traveller knows him/herself and is well prepared, he or she realises that the holiday can be demanding.
The North India Adventure is a Category B holiday. It can be made by any reasonably healthy individual. In the summer the trip is considerably more difficult than during the rest of the year. Although in the cities we stay in simple medium-priced hotels, remember that you are travelling in a developing country with much lower living standards than you are used to at home. Also, roads may be temporarily blocked because of the weather or owing to their state of repair, in which case a detour is unavoidable. A flexible and positive attitude is just as important as a good physical condition.
Nature of the Trip
Rajasthan is India’s most colourful and exotic province. The fairytale palaces, the gigantic fortresses and the richly decorated clothing of the people are a treat for the eyes. Rajasthan forms a picture of classic India, a land where time stands still. Hinduism still exists here in it's traditional form. The journey takes you through barren desert, past cool lakes, luxuriant valleys and rugged mountains. We will pass through lively cities with bustling markets and remote villages. We shall also visit the temple of love, the world famous Taj Mahal. Another highlight is Varanasi, the religious heart of India on the banks of the Ganges.
Day-to-day schedule
Day 1: Delhi
The tour begins today in Delhi at noon and you will be able to spend the afternoon or evening getting aquainted with your new surroundings. This 3000 year old city is the chaotic capital of India and forms a separate area in India, controlled by the federal government. The old part of town, Old Delhi, was built mainly during the rule of the Moghuls. The new district, New Delhi, was designed at the turn of the 20th century by the English architect Luytjens, and was intended to serve as the capital city of the jewel in the crown of the British Empire. The contrast between the old and new areas is enormous. The old area is a stifling, colourful, oriental ants’ nest characterised by narrow alleyways, temples and mosques. The Red Fort and the Jama Masijd, the biggest and most beautiful mosque in India, are found here. The new area is a grandiosely built metropolis with long, broad, straight streets, pavilions and parks. It seems almost empty and forgotten when compared with the bustling, noisy streets of Old Delhi. The national government sits in New Delhi, the parliament is there, the president lives there, and all large companies and corporations have their headquarters there. Around the two areas, Delhi spreads for miles in all directions. It extends over the sacred Yamuna River to the East. To the South, it extends past the military bases and homes of diplomats and rich men. To the North and West it encompasses the majority of Delhi’s population. Between all these buildings are hundreds of monuments which each tell part of the story of the city’s past. If you don’t have time to see everything you wish to visit, don’t worry, as we shall return to Delhi at the end of the trip.
Day 2: Delhi – Nawalgarh
Today we shall travel to Nawalgarh in Shekhawati, a region in the west of Rajasthan, famous for its colourful population and beautiful houses. Shekhawati was an independent state from 1471 until 1738, when it was added to the Jaipur kingdom. It is situated on the old caravan route between the Gujarat ports and Delhi. There is a busy trade in opium, cotton and herbs. The rich merchants built beautiful houses here for themselves, called havelis, and also built reservoirs, temples and caravan-serais (hotels for merchants). Most of these buildings were built between 1760 and 1920 and are decorated with frescos. Some are still in a good state of repair, others have been restored, but all are worth visiting.
Day 3 -
4: Nawalgarh – Bikaner
We shall travel further to Bikaner today. Impressive fortresses, palaces and public buildings are decorated with pink-red sandstone sculpture, characterising the region. Camels pull carts through the narrow streets as they have done for centuries. Bikaner is situated on an important old caravan route through central Asia. A long market street leads to the imposing Junagarh Fort. The fort’s wall is over half a mile long, has 37 bastions and two huge gateways. Inside the wall there are beautifully restored temples and pavilions. Brave souls among you may wish to go by taxi to visit the rat temple of Karni Mata in the nearby town of Deshnoke. According to local legend, the rats are sacred and are worshipped here. You go barefoot into the temple, where you will find yourself accompanied by a churning mass of thousands of rats. A second optional trip for the less squeamish could be a visit to the local camel-breeding farm.
Day 5 -
6: Bikaner – Jaisalmer
Today we will travel through the desert to Jaisalmer, reputed to be India’s most beautiful walled city. Culture lovers will adore the fortifications, exquisitely crafted havelis (merchants’ houses), temples and medieval street-life. Lovers of nature can go by land-rover to the desert, where antelopes live amongst the sand dunes. Situated on the Pakistani border, Jaisalmer is in the middle of nowhere. The arduous journey there is worth the effort, as this is one of the best maintained medieval cities in India. It was founded in 1156 by Rawal Jaisal, a member of the Rajput Bhati Yadav dynasty. In the 16th century the city was incorporated into the Moghul kingdom and enjoyed a golden age as a centre of commerce on the large caravan route which linked India with western Asia. Merchants and noblemen built extravagant palaces and havelis. In the 19th century, the rising popularity of shipping, diminished camel trade and Jaisalmer became a forgotten city. The coming of the British gave Jaisalmer some of its importance back, this time as a military base. In the 1960s, a railway and roads were built to the city. The walled city is a tourist attraction in itself, besides the many sites within its walls. The houses with their beautiful facades, the narrow, winding streets and the intimate bazaars characterise the city. One of the most attractive havelis is the 19th century Patwan haveli, with its particularly gracious façade and wall paintings, the 18th century Salim Singh haveli and Nathmal haveli. All three are within walking distance from the city wall. The fort, with its 99 towers, is one of the oldest in Rajasthan. It is inhabited to this day, giving this storybook site extra life. There are various exquisitely designed 15th century Jain temples, which are only open in the mornings, and four Hindu temples. The fort-palace is equally exquisite. On the south-east side of the city is the Gadi Sagar, the lake which provides the city with water. Around four miles north of the city are the cenotaphs, monuments built to honour the cremation of the maharajas.
Day 7 -
8: Jaisalmer – Jodhpur
Today we shall arrive in Jodhpur, known as the ‘gateway to the Thar Desert. The city was founded in 1459 and is dominated by an immense fortress, which towers over the market. From here there is a fantastic view over the blue-painted houses of the city. This will leave you in no doubt as to why the city was called ‘the Blue City’. It is surrounded by a 6 mile long wall. The city gave its name to jodhpurs, the special trousers worn particularly whilst riding, which are now restricted mainly to faraway places such as Bhuj in Gujarat. The most popular tourist sites are the Meherangarh Fort and the Umaid Bhavan Palace. In contrast to the fort, the palace was only completed in 1943, just before the maharajas of Jodhpur were forced to relinquish their power. Since then, part of the palace has been turned into the best hotel in the city. Jodhpur is a particularly good place to buy antiques. The hotel is situated on the edge of the city and has a large garden.
Day 9: Jodhpur – Ranakhpur – Udaipur
Today, a long bus journey is scheduled. The excursion goes by the monumental Chaumukh Temple in Ranakhpur, one of the most stunning Jain temples in India. Here you’ll see the incredibly detailed masonry that gives the temple its reputation. The complex dates back to the 15th century and has 1444 pillars, all of which differ from each other like snowflakes. After this we drive another three hours to Udaipur, and stay in a good-quality hotel with views over the lakes.
Day 10: Udaipur
Today is a free day in Udaipur. This city is Rajasthan at its finest. It is built around a number of artificial lakes on whose banks many palaces and havelis are constructed. Due to the abundance of water there are many parks and gardens. The Lake Palace, one of the best hotels in the world, stands in the middle of Lake Pichola. The city is partially walled; in places the wall has fallen into disrepair. Udaipur is a dream city in which you can wander for hours without running out of sites to marvel at. Today you may wish to visit the notable sites in this exotic and relaxing location. Besides palaces, there are also numerous temples you can visit, the most famous of which being the Jagdish temple, situated in the busy centre of the city. If you have time left, there will be numerous small excursions to sites in the city, such as Eklingji, famous for its temple built in honour of Shiva. This excursion is usually coupled with a visit to the Jain temples in Nagda.
Day 11 -
12: Udaipur – Pushkar
After a seven-hour bus journey we shall arrive in the sacred site of Pushkar. The last leg of the journey passes through a spectacular area of the Nag Pahar (Snake Mountain) to this picturesque white town that is the destination of so many pilgrimages. The town is built around the sacred Pushkar Lake. According to legend, the lake owes its existence to the god Brahma, who laid a lotus flower at a site where a sacred spring later came in to existence. Of the many Hindu temples here, the Brahma temple is therefore the most important. There are only a handful of temples built in honour of Brahma in the entire world. Just outside Pushkar there is another temple, built on top of a hill, from which there is a spectacular view over the town and the lake. Due to its sacred reputation, no meat or alcohol may be consumed here. There are also more stringent dress codes, and officially, no motorised vehicles may enter.
Day 13 -
14: Pushkar – Jaipur
Early in the morning we leave for Jaipur by bus, arriving in the afternoon. We shall stay here for two nights. The ‘Pink City’ is the capital of Rajasthan. To the North, the city is surrounded by hills that are dotted with forts and palaces. One of the most elegant palaces is the Hawa Mahal (Wind Palace). You can explore the city at your leisure. The streets are filled with Rajasthani men, in their huge turbans and equally large moustaches, and women, decked in jewellery over the most colourful saris in India. About 7 miles north-east of the city is the famous Amber Fort. Before Jaipur was built, Amber was the capital city of the region for 600 years. The actual fort stands at the top of a hill surrounded in all directions by hills, upon which smaller fortifications are also built. There are many marble statues and mosaics to be admired here. You can also round off your visit to the fort with a ride on the back of an elephant (subject to availability).
Day 15: Jaipur – Keoladeo NP – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra
Today we leave to visit Fetehpur Sikri, an abandoned imperial city not far from Agra. Before that you may wish to participate in an optional bicycle(rickshaw) trip through Keoladeo National Park, the largest bird reserve in India and the old hunting terrain of the Maharaja of Bharatpur. It is home to more than 400 species of bird, such as the fish-eagle, different species of crane and many species of heron and duck. Besides birds, you can also see nilgau antelopes, pythons, wild boar, hyenas and jackals. However, what makes this 11 square mile marsh reserve most special is that you can explore it freely by bike, without needing a tour guide.
In Fatehpur Sikri, Emperor Akbar, renowned as the most important Moghul emperor, built his capital city. The main reason for this was that a local Muslim holy man had prophesised that he would have a son and heir. He ruled the whole of North India from this city between 1571 and 1585. Fatehpur Sikri was seen by many as the perfect city and Emperor Akbar was renowned throughout the world. This renown was also partly due to his forward-thinking attitude and his tolerance of all worldly religions. Aside from Muslims, many Hindu and Christian women were part of his harem, which numbered 5000(!). However, the glory of Fatehpur Sikri was short-lived, due to the inadequate supply of water to the region. Shortly after Akbar’s death the city was completely deserted. Happily, the remains of the city still give a good indication of what life was like under the rule of the Emperor. The ancient city consists of a number of very well-maintained palaces, the most notable being the stunning Jama Masjid (Great Mosque) with what was seen as the most important gateway to Asia, the Buland Darwaza. Besides Islamic traits, the architecture of this mosque also has a lot of Christian and Hindu influences.
At the end of the day we shall arrive in Agra, the city made famous by the Taj Mahal. We shall stay in Agra for one night.Day 16: Agra – Varanasi
Today you will have time to further explore Agra. The city was made world famous by the Taj Mahal, and rightfully so. However, besides this architectural wonder, there are many other sites of interest for visitors. Agra was one of the three main cities during the Moghul era. The old part, to the west of the Red Fort, is lively and colourful, whereas the area where most of the hotels are situated is broad and green. The gigantic Red Fort, home to the emperors of old, and the bazaars in this vibrant city will not leave you unmoved. In the evening we will board the night train for Varanasi, travelling through the heart of India. Varanasi is the most sacred city in India. During the train ride, we will stay in reserved third-class sleeper carriages with air conditioning (six beds per compartment, two sets of three beds above each other. Bring a sleeping bag, as it is never certain that there are enough bedclothes. It shall be a long journey, but you will not be bored, as a train ride in India is an experience in itself. At every station, lively groups of salesmen, shoe-polishers and musicians make for an indescribable atmosphere in their attempts to earn a few rupees.
Day 17 -
19: Varanasi
The most sacred city in India is situated on the banks of the river Ganges and is, according to legend, the oldest city in the world. The city is also known as Benares or Kashi, and is the city of Shiva of Viswanath (as he is known here), the most important of the Hindu gods. It has been the centre of theology since the dawn of mankind and there was a university here as far back as the time of Buddha. The city itself is dusty and chaotically busy, like all northern Indian cities. The number of buffalo and sacred cows that roam the streets is higher than in any other city, making the flow of traffic, hand carts and bicycle-rickshaws irritatingly troublesome. However, outside the city centre, through the many back alleys and narrow streets, you experience the true soul of the place, Mother Ganges. The holy river, in which thousands of people wash away their sins each day, in which the ashes of the dead are scattered and where leaves bearing candles are placed as an offering to the Ganges. For Hindus, dying in Varanasi signifies the end of the cycle of life and death and access to nirvana, the universal lake of formless consciousness. The steps (ghats) along the banks of the river are seven miles long on the left bank and are one of the most spectacular sights in the country. If you wish to really get to know India, you must come to Varanasi, as Varanasi is India. However, Varanasi can also be a spiritual challenge for the comfortable western psyche, for which death and religion simply form notches in a busy and worldly life. There is no Hindu mythology which pre-dates Varanasi and we can safely assume that there was a city in Varanasi at the time that the Arians crossed the mountains to conquer India. We can certainly say that the city is at least 4,000 years old and has been a thriving settlement ever since. From the perspective of this city, the coming of the Buddha was simply a minor occurrence. Even the destruction wreaked by the Muslims in 1194, in which thousands of temples were destroyed, is just a footnote. Conquerors came and went, Moghul and British rulers played their small part in the city’s story, but Varanasi remained and saw little more during these eras than the periodic rise of the Ganges due to monsoon rain, and the subsequent fall. Probably the most painful era for the city was the rule of the Moghul Aurangzeb. In 1669, the emperor demolished the two most important Hindu temples and built mosques in their place. Fundamentalist Hindus still demand the return of the temples. The Ganges has left its marks over the years, with the walls of the ghats displaying floods from the last few dozen years. The river has certainly undermined many buildings throughout the ages, only for them to be restored by the ever-patient Hindus. These days you can look out over the scene of the Ganges, where Hindus bathe and cremate their dead. A boat trip along the river is a memorable experience, especially at sunrise. You may also wish to visit Sarnath, a nearby sacred site for Buddhists. Sarnath is the place where the Buddha proclaimed his eightfold path which leads to nirvana. This has made it an important destination for pilgrims and temples have been built there since the 3rd century. However, most of the old buildings in Sarnath have disappeared with time and only the foundations remain. There is, however, a stupa (Buddhist mound). Another interesting attraction is the Archaeological Museum, which also has a fine collection of Buddhist and Hindu art, and the monasteries and temples built by Buddhists hailing from various lands form an elegant spectacle. The Chinese temple, the Japanese temple and the Thai temple are particularly worth a visit. At the end of day 19 we shall take the night train back to Delhi. Once again, we will stay in third-class sleeper cars with air conditioning.
Day 20: Delhi
After arriving back here early in the morning, you will have all day to explore any areas in Delhi that you missed first time around. You may also wish to go and hunt for souvenirs in the numerous markets in the city.
Day 21: Delhi
The tour ends at noon today in Delhi. It is the last day of your tour but rather than being about ‘Goodbye’ your thought should be ‘Go further’!
Visit your personal ‘MyShoestring’ page on our website. ‘MyShoestring’ is the perfect way to make contact with other travelers before and after your trip. You can read and create journals from trips and upload your photos onto the photo gallery. Visit 'my.shoestring’ today.
When booking your tour, please check to see whether you need any post-tour nights, bearing in mind that accommodation for the night of the final day of the tour (day 21) is not included.