Royal Orient

The coaches of the Royal Orient are built on the lines of the luxurious saloons of erstwhile Maharajas, and air-conditioning and modern plumbing has been added to make the journey more comfortable.

The fantasy begins on the afternoon of the first day, when you arrive to a red carpet welcome at the Delhi Cantonment Railway station. Garlands, tilting music and gracious men and women who will play host for the week ahead, add up to a traditional welcome. But this is just an appetizer for the seven days ahead. A week that you will spend in Rajasthan and Gujarat, two enchanting lands whose memories will linger on your mind for a long, long time.

The ITINERARY

An Elegant Journey
DAY 01 Wednesday
Delhi The journey begins from Delhi every Wednesday evening at 1500 hrs from delhi cantonment railway station. Guests are served tea and dinner on board.

DAY 02 THURSDAY
Chittaurgarh The City Of Valour
At CHITTAUR, you will visit the CHITTAUR FORT which sprawls over 700 acres and was built in the 07th century, the nine storey watch tower, the 12TH century tower of fame and sculptures of the Jain pantheon and the Rana kumbha palace. You will set foot in the underground cellar where Rani Padmini and her compatriots performed Jauhar, a mass suicide by immolating themselves - a Rajput custom followed to avoid humiliation at the hands of the enemy in the face of defeat. In 1303, Allauddin Khilji, sultan of Delhi, invaded it, besotted by the gorgeous queen of Chittaur, Rani Padmini. You will visit the Zanana mahal, where a mirror reflection of her famed beauty was shown to Allauddin Khilji, setting off the tragic invasion which led to the Jauhar.

There are other historic spots. The Meera & Kumbha Shyam temple, and Meerabai's temple, mystic poetess and devotee of lord krishna. Legend says that she physically merged into the Krishna idol, at the height of her devotion. You will also visit the kalika mata temple, dedicated to kali, the fiery goddess of power, and the Jaimal and Patta palaces. Chittaur will transport you back in time, to an era when pride was greater than power, and kings were the envoys of god.

Udaipur The Land Of Lakes
There is no place in India which sets fire to the imagination of the poets and painters, travelers and writers, the way Udaipur does. Set amidst an amphitheatre of low-lying mountains and flanked by three lakes and far-flung plains, Udaipur's streets are linked by gardens, temples, esplanades and palaces - and every feature is mirrored in the placid water of Lake Pichola.

Day 03 Friday
Mehsana The Temple Of The Sun God
At Mehsana, you will see the sun temple at Modhera, built in 1026 ad by Bhimadeva of the Solanki Rajput clan. The temple is one of the two sun temples in the world - the other being at Konark. It is an exemplary model of art and architecture of the 11th century - a style that was to influence the development of temple architecture in neighboring regions.

The temple site at Modhera, located on a high mound on the left bank of the river Pushpawati, consists of three distinct units: THE SUN TEMPLE, THE NRITYAMANDAPA AND THE SURYAKUNDA. The outer façades have a string of freizes and above that is the mandovara with exquisite carvings of gods and goddesses.

The SUN TEMPLEhas a rectangular step tank with about 108 shrines. Larger shrines of Vishnu, Ganesha and the Natraja- incarnation of Shiva in tandav stand on three sides of the Surya kund, with the Sabha mandap of the principal temple soaring on the fourth side with 52 pillars carved in intricate detail depicting tales from the ramayana and the mahabharta. Between the sabha mandapa and the sanctum sanctorum is a hall with pillars and the arches and the walls have 12 niches showing the different aspects of the sun god in each month. The outer walls are filled with sculptures of surya and other gods. In another part of the temple you can see a whole kama sutra of traditional erotic sculpture in a style that rivals that of Khajuraho and Konark. Unlike konark, which rests on 12 wheels of a chariot, Modhera has been built on the petals of a lotus which runs the whole length of the temple.

Patan The Splendour Of The Stepwells
Another example of the Solanki - period architecture can be seen at the Ran - Ki - Vav stepwell at Patan, some distance from the town center. Built in the 1050s and named after Rani Udamati, the stepwell is the oldest and perhaps the grandest among the more than 120 stepwells in Gujarat. The stepwell was silted up for centuries and only major excavation and restoration work in the 1980s helped expose its glorious structure. In the chambers, where the royal families came to rest in summer, the water from the well served as a natural air-cooling system.

No other vav in India is so profusely adorned as the Ran ki Vav. More than 800 sculptures form a remarkable backdrop to what was purely a functional structure.

Ahmedabad A Fusion Of Old And New
Ahmedabad means different things to different people. For architects it is a rich repository of magnificent styles - from the Indo- Saracenic to the 15th century muslim styles and from the experimental modern styles to the legendary Le Corbusier. Craft lovers discover in its streets and Byzantine lanes a treasure trove. For political scientists and social activists, it is the abode of Mahatma Gandhi. Some still like to view it as the Manchester of the east - it is the premier textile town of India.

But the traveler who finds his way to Ahmedabad, guided more by wanderlust than by any international travel guide, is rewarded with surprises, For, he discovers one of the most colorful and exciting destinations in India.

In Ahmedabad you will visit the Jumma Masjid built in 1423 AD, described by historians as the most beautiful mosque in the east. The Siddi Saiyad Mosque (1571), with its exquisite windows of pierced stone tracery is also an architectural delight. And, in a quite corner of Ahmedabad called Sabarmati, you will walk along the most revered precinct in the history of modern India - the Gandhi ashram. The austere habitat from where Mahatama Gandhi took on the might of the British empire and gave human race one of its most remarkable ways of life: ahimsa or non-violence.

Your other destinations in the city are the Rani Rupmati Mosque, the Sarkhej Rauza, and the Hutheesing Jain Temple, built in pure white marble. You will come across modern landmarks - edifices created by celebrated architects like Le Corbusier and Louis Kahn and India's own Charles Correa and Balakrishna Doshi. The national institute of Design, the Gujarat school of Architecture, the Sanskar Kendra, the Paldi Museum, the Shreyas folk Art Museum.

Day 04 Saturday
Sasangir The Gir Lions
It is not only one of the most important wildlife sanctuaries in India, but also the only place in the world outside Africa where the lion can be seen in its natural habitat. The Gir Lion is a majestic animal, averaging 2.75 meters in length, and with a bigger tail tassel, bushier elbow tufts and more prominent belly - folds than his African cousin, who has a larger mane. He is more shaggy and lighter brown than the African Lion. Though both have hunting habits, while the African Lion has no aversion to feeding on carrion, the Gir Lion is too dignified to do it. Today the Gis forest is home to more than 312 lions. It also harbours a variety of other animals and birds: panthers, hyenas, the Indian sambar, spotted deer, blue bull and Chinkara.

A crocodile farm has also been developed in Gir, which is one of the few remaining forests that comprise divergent habitats.

Ahmedpur-mandvi A Romantic Rendezvous
The Nawab of Junagadh set up a haven for romantic rendezvous at Mandvi, in a grove flanked by lush greenery, cooled by winds from the shores and serenaded by seagulls. The Nawabs and their Begums are history but their sea - side pleasure palace, renovated and updated with modern amenities, is open to visitors.

12 kms from the resort lies a virgin beach. It is a safe area for swimming and there is a host of water sport facilities like scooters, skiing, surfing, para - sailing and speedboat trips that are on offer here. The beach is white and firm, ideal for walks and with the seemingly unending sands and shallow water, it is a great spot for a family holiday.

diu a sun, sand and sea getaway
Across Ahmedpur-Mandvi lies the island of Diu, a sensuous blend of sun, sand and deep blue sea. It is one of the country's finest beaches. Another cynosure at Diu is the fort - an imposing statement of power and ancient warcraft.

Day 05 Sunday
palitana the temple town
The sight of Palitana's Shetrunjaya Hill with its 863 Jain temples, and the aura of devotion is palpable. This complex is one of the greatest tourist attractions in Gujarat and probably India's most picturesque pilgrim centre. The temples are exquisitely carved in marble and when seen from a distance, they appear to be ivory miniatures. The temple has a fabulous collection of jewels and these can be seen following special permission.

This temple city has been built as an abode for the Gods and as such, people are not allowed to stay overnight - not even the priests. One has to go up at the break of dawn and return before dusk. Also, one is not supposed to carry anything made of leather be it a watch strap, a belt a purse or shoes. For taking pictures, permission has to be taken from the trustees which is readily given on payment of fees.

Day 06 Monday
Ranakpur An Excursion From Udaipur
Located 96 kms from Udaipur, Ranakpur is one of the five main holy places for Jains. Its history dates back to the 15th century when Rana Kumbha of Mewar gave a large stretch of land in a quiet and picturesque valley, deep in the Aravallis, to the Jains. Although over 500 years old, these temples are well preserved and are almost in perfect condition. The central temple is the Chaumaukha temple. Dedicated to Adinath, the first Jain tirthankar (saint), this three storey temple is the most complex and extensive in design. It has 29 halls, 80 domes and 1444 pillars. What is interesting here is the fact that no two pillars are alike. Each of these pillars is covered with the most intricate carvings. The grace with which these pillars are arranged, the tasteful admixture of domes of different heights with flat ceilings, and the mode in which light is introduced, combine to produce an excellent effect. Not only the pillars, but every conceivable surface is carved with equal delicacy. Within the complex are other temples, though not as magnificent as the Chaumukha, enhancing the charm of this beautiful place. The musical chimes of the temple bells, the gentle breeze flowing through the carved corridors and the serenity of the surroundings tempts you to spend more relaxed moments here than you may have planned. Few places in Rajasthan can match the ambience of Ranakpur.

Day 07 Tuesday

Jaipur The Pink City
A city of royal grandeur, ancient romance and a splendor that is awe-inspiring, there is history in every nook. Here, you will visit the city palace, a historic and architectural landmark and the fascinating medieval observatory, named Jantar Mantar by its founder, Sawai Jai Singh II. You will also visit the Hawa Mahal built by the poet-king Sawai Pratap Singh. The Hawa Mahal is the most strikingly - designed monument in Jaipur. The five storey royal complex was built to give the palace ladies a vantage view of royal processions passing below, while remaining unseen by the public eye.

You will visit the Amer palace and the Shilta Mata Temple as well as several palaces, halls, pavilions, gardens and temples built over a period of about two centuries. For a part of the tour, you will ride on the elephants, as did the kings and the queens of yore. Jaipur stands as a city time forgot to thrash down.

Day 08 Wednesday
Arrival at Delhi Cantonment Railway Station at 0700 hrs. After traveling through the awesome corridors of history, you are back in Delhi.

FACT FILE
Luxuriously furnished coupes
Central air-conditioning
Plush carpeting
Modern bathrooms with running hot and cold water
Continental, Chinese and Indian cuisine
Soft channel music
Movies
A well - stocked library
Bar