Jain Pilgrimage Tour - 14 Days

Highlights: Jain temples of Delhi, Osian, famous Jain temple of Ranakpur with 1444 pillars, Craft and art schools at Udaipur, Palitana Jain temple, lecture on Jainism etc.

Day 01 : Arrive Delhi
On arrival, you will be met by representative and transferred to The Park Hotel.

Day 02 : Delhi - Jodhpur ( By Overnight train Mandore Express - 2100 hours )
Full day city tour of Old & New Delhi, includes, the Raj Ghat, the Red Fort, the Jain Temple, and the Chandni Chowk by rickshaws (tricycle). Later, visit the Emperor Humayun's Tomb, the Qutab Minar. Drive past to the India Gate, Houses of the Parliament and the Rashtrapati Bhawan (Presidential Palace). Also visit the Laxmi Narayan temple for Aarti ceremony. Evening, representative will assist you for transfer to Old Delhi railway station to board the train Mandore Express to Jodhpur. Overnight on board. B

Day 03 : Arrive Jodhpur at 0800 hours
Arrive Jodhpur at 0800 hours, you will be met by representative and transferred to the Ajit Bhawan Palace Hotel. Late morning, tour of Jodhpur visit the Mehrangarh Fort, which Kipling called one of the grandest sights in India. True to its name, the 15th century Mehrangarh (majestic) Fort towers 400 feet high and was never captured. From the courtyard we can see the fantastic `jali' (lattice) work that almost entirely covers the sandstone walls and balconies. Enjoy the view of the beautifully decorated dancing hall, the royal bedroom, jewel-studded robes, ornate baby cradles, solid silver elephant-seats and palanquins. Later visit the royal cenotaphs at Jaswant Thada, the pillared marble memorial to the popular ruler Jaswant Singh II. Also visit the interesting Clock Tower bazaar area. B

Day 04 : Jodhpur
Full day excursion to the Osian Jain Temples. On return visit the Mandore gardens.

Day 05 : Jodhpur - Ranakpur Jain Temples - Udaipur ( By road - 7 hours drive, including stops )
This morning, drive from Jodhpur the desert begins to ebb giving way to thickly forested low hills. En route we visit the fabulous 500 year old Jain Temples of Ranakpur. The temples are superbly preserved in near perfect condition. The most distinctive feature are the 29 halls of the main temple, some octagonal and many more than one story high, each dissected by 1444 pillars, each sculpted with unique designs, of which no two are the exactly alike. The carvings are on the walls, while musicians and dancers have been modeled out of brackets between the pillars and the ceiling. After the sightseeing of Ranakpur, continue drive to Udaipur. This lake city is perhaps the most romantic of all the Indian centers. A fairy tale collection of exotic gardens, mirror-calm lakes and fantasy island palaces. On arrival, check in to the Shikarbadi Hotel. Late afternoon, we have a boat ride around the fabulous Lake Pichola, which will include a visit to another island palace called the Jagmandir. B

Day 06 : Udaipur
After breakfast, visit the City Palace, Saheliyon Ki Bari (Garden where women of the royal household would meet), the Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir and Shilpgram (a craft village). Also, visit to an Artist's school to see miniature paintings being painted. Later, visit the Jagdish Temple (Built in 1651 AD by Maharana Jagat Singh, this Indo-Aryan temple is the most beautiful temple of Udaipur) for evening prayers. B

Day 07 : Udaipur - Mt. Abu ( By road - 5 hours drive, including stops )
This morning, drive to Mt. Abu. On arrival, check in to the Cama Rajputana Club Resort. At sunset, visit the "Sunset Point". B

Day 08 : Mt. Abu
After breakfast, visit the Dilwara Temples, dating back to the 11th - 13th centuries, other Hindu temples beyond Brahma Kumari University and Guru Shikhar. Evening relax at the banks of Nakki lake. B

Day 09 : Mt. Abu - Ahmedabad ( By road - 5 hours drive, including stops )
This morning, drive to Ahmedabad - the capital of Gujarat state. This city is also called the "Manchester of the East" as many textile units are based here. On arrival, check in to the Cama Park Plaza Hotel. Afternoon, visit the Sabarmati Ashram, situated on the western bank of the Sabarmati River. This ashram, founded in 1918 by Mahatma Gandhi, was the headquarters during the struggle for Indian Independence. It is now a spinning wheel factory and they also make handmade paper, handicraft items etc. B

Day 10 : Ahmedabad
After breakfast, visit the excellent Calico Museum of Textiles exhibits antique and modern textiles including rare tapestries, wall hanging and costumes. Later, visit the Swaminarayan Temple. B

Day 11 : Ahmedabad - Bhavnagar ( By road - 5 hours drive, including stops )
This morning, drive to Bhavnagar. On arrival, check in to the Nilambagh Palace Hotel. B

Day 12 : Bhavnagar
After breakfast, visit the Jain Temples at Palitana, 51 km south west of Bhavnagar, a pilgrim center located at the foot of the 600-meter high Shetrunjaya hills. The hills have 863 Jain temples, which were built over 900 years, many of white marble. Surprisingly, a Muslim shrine is located next to one of the major temples. B

Day 13 : Bhavnagar - Mumbai ( By flight )
Representative will assist you for transfer to the airport to fly to Mumbai. On arrival at the the dynamic city of tycoons, skyscrapers, film studios and big business, you will be met by representative and transferred to the Holiday Inn Hotel. Afternoon, enjoy an interesting drive through this vibrant city. Travel along the elegant arc shaped Marine Drive past the famous Chowpatty Beach to the impressive Gateway to India, along Flora Fountain via legendary Victoria Terminus and the Jain Temple. We also visit the Prince of Wales Museum, founded in 1905 by the Prince (later King George V) during his first visit to India. Its superlative collection of sculpture, paintings and decorative arts ranks it among the great museums of India. B

Day 14 : Mumbai Departure
Morning free for shopping at the Crawford Market, Linking Road and Colaba. Lecture on Jainism in India, by some prominent personality. Late evening, representative will assist you for transfer to the International airport to board the flight for onward journey. B

[Top]