Palace On Wheels

Delhi ( Day 1 & 8 )
The Memories For A Lifetime Begins ..............

The journey of a lifetime begins at the Delhi Cantonment station where the guests are accorded a warm, traditional welcome before the Palace-on-Wheels pulls out into the night for a week long luxury cruise through fascinating Rajasthan.

About Delhi
Sprawling on the banks of the river Yamuna, Delhi, the capital of India, typifies the soul of the country. In time the city conceals within its bosom annals of civilizations that flourished for more than three thousand years. Indraprastha, according to legends, the city founded by the Pandavas in the times of the epic Mahabharata (1500 B.C.), was located near the Old Fort that stands on a large mound overlooking the river.

Since those early days many dynasties and rulers flourished on its regal soil. The legacy of that past survives in the many monuments left behind by the regents, each a chronicle of the glory of its time and an imprint of the character of the ruler. Today, the city is a curious blend of the modern and traditional, skyscrapers, beautiful gardens and wide tree-lined avenues perpetuate the Mughal passion of landscaping and architectural excellence. More important, however, Delhi blends within its folds the great cultural variety of India; an unceasing range of activity, a million ways of saying 'You are Welcome'.

Major Tourist Attractions
Delhi's history is so ancient that the story of its origin derives more from mythology than written history. Recorded history testifies to the fact that at least eight different cities have been established here. Through the ages, different rulers and their followers have left their mark on Delhi in the form of numerous architectural gems of great historical and social value.

Red Fort
Red Fort is laid out along the river Yamuna as an irregular octagon , surrounded by a wall of about 2.4 km in circumference and is built of red sandstone. The Mughal king Shah Jahan transferred the capital from Agra to Delhi and the Fort was completed in 1648. The fort has two main entrances , the Delhi Gate and the Lahori Gate which faces the famed Chandni Chowk market. The Fort has Diwan-e-am, and Diwan-e-Khas where the king would grant audience to the public and would grant audience to important people respectively. Another attraction is Light and Sound show held in the evenings.

Qutub Minar
This magnificent structure in the southern part of the capital was built by a Muslim King , Qutub-ud-din Aibak in 1199 A.D. A part of it which he could not finish was completed by another Muslim King Iltutmish. Minar is 72.5 m high and has as its base a mosque. In front of the imposing structures an Iron Pillar believed to have been built in the 5th century A.D. which has not caught rust ever since it was built.

India Gate
Straight down the road from Rashtrapati Bhavan is India Gate which is primarily a memorial to unknown soldier. Designed by Lutyens , the 42 meter high structure is a war memorial in honor of soldiers who died during the second World War. The structure has an eternal flame (Amar Jawan Jyoti) to honor the memory of the unknown soldiers.

Jantar Mantar
Within the Connaught Place are is the Jantar Mantar observatory built by the Rajput King of Jaipur, Sawai Jai Singh in 1724. It was believed to have been built with masonry instruments for observing the movements of the stars and the planets.

Humayun's Tomb
This tomb, which as built by emperor Humanyun's wife, took eight years to complete. The emperor's wife Begai Begum was buried in the tomb and the structure is first of its kind built in the center of a well - planned garden. The combination of white marble and red sand stone was a great influence on later Mughal architecture. It is generally regarded as a prototype of the famed Taj Mahal of Agra.

Lotus Temple
Is a very recent architectural marvel of the Bahai faith and is visible from several spots in south Delhi. Located in Kalkaji in the south of Delhi. It is Lotus shaped and has rightly been given the name.It is made up of marble,cement dolomite, and sand.

Rastrapati Bhavan
Formerly the Viceregal Lodge, the building is the highlight of Lutyen's New Delhi and was completed in 1929 at a cost of 12,53,000 pound sterling. Located in an area of 130 hectares, the palace has 340 rooms. At one time, 2,000 people were required to look after the building and serve the Viceroy's household. The lodge also has impressive garden called the Mughal Garden, which is open to public twice in a year, usually in February and March.

Shopping in Delhi
Delhi is a veritable paradise for shoppers, who can buy objects ranging from the simplest of Indian handicrafts to international designer labels, and often within the same shopping area. Delhi is unique in that it has representative outlets for the handicrafts of each Indian state. This in it self presents a staggering array of goods, and at very affordable prices. For visitors to Delhi, shopping is high on the list of "things to do". Tourists find a wide choice of items- such as carpets, silks, jewelry, leather and silver ware, handicrafts and hand printed cotton - that are synonymous with India. Each item is available in a range of prices, depending on the quality and the outlet.

The exploration of Delhi's markets could be begin at Chandni Chowk. Despite the pressures of traffic and population, its historic land marks survive to tell the story of the last three centuries. There are some antique stores behind Jama Masjid, and more lining the entrance to the Red Fort, where the Meena Bazar once was. These offer items arranging from jewelry to painting and furniture, and cater almost entirely to tourists. Connaught Place, New Delhi's original shopping arcade was planned as part of the Imperial capital in 1911. The Santushi Shopping Arcade opposite the Ashoka Hotel has become another popular up market haunt.