Day2: JAIPUR- RANTHAMBHORE
After a leisurely breakfast, commence your day with a photo stop at the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) – a five-storied wonder with a spectacular pyramidal facade and overhanging windows with latticed screens, domes, and spires. Continue on drive to the ancient capital of Amber to see the fabulous Amber Fort, situated on a ridge just outside Jaipur city. Excursion takes you to Amber Fort. Riding on elegantly caparisoned elephants, approach the palace in the traditional way. The high gateways allow us to enter on these broad backed animals. Amber was once the ancient capital of Jaipur. Construction of the fortress palace started in 1592 by Raja Man Singh, the Rajput Commander of Akbar’s army. It was later extended and completed by the Jai Singh. The fort is a superb example of Rajput architecture, stunningly situated on a hillside and over‐looking a lake which reflects its terraces and ramparts. This afternoon explore Jaipur visiting Jantar Mantar, an observatory equipped with instruments of astonishing size and precision, including a 90 foot high sun dial. See the Hawa Mahal or Palace of Winds, a major Rajput landmark built in 1799. This five‐story building in the old city is a pink sandstone masterpiece with semi octagonal and delicately honeycombed windows. The monument was originally conceived to enable ladies of the royal household to watch the city’s everyday life and royal processions in absolute privacy. The City Palace is the royal residence of the erstwhile King of Jaipur. It houses a museum with a superb collection of Rajasthani costumes, armory of Mughal and Rajput weaponry, and swords of different shapes and sizes with ornamental handles – some of them inlaid with enamel, embellished with jewels and encased in magnificent scabbards. AFTER LUNCH DRIVE TO RANTHAMBHORE Arrive Ranthambore and transfer to your hotel. The park is one of the finest tiger reserves in the country where more visitors spending a couple of nights are likely to spot one of these majestic animals. Once, private tiger reserve of the Maharaja of Jaipur, in 1972 the sanctuary came under the Project Tiger scheme. It covers 410 sq. km and runs from the easternmost spur of the Aravalli to the Vindhya Range. It has both the old for and the wildlife sanctuary, also known as Sawai Madhopur, after the town, which has some Jain temples with gilded paintings. Apart from tiger you can see herds of Chital and Sam bar deer and sounde4rs of wild boar, Nilgai antelope and Chinkara gazelles. There are also sloth beer, a few leopards and crocodiles. Extensive bird life includes spur flown, jungle forwl, patridges, quails, crested serpent eagle, woodpeckers, flycatchers etc. There are also water birds like storks, ducks and geese at the lakes and waterholes. Rest of the day is free to explore the colorful town independently. Overnight stay at your Hotel.
Meals
Sightseeing
Hotels
