Royal Rajasthan on Wheels 2012 

We depart from London on our overnight flight to the Indian capital, arriving into New Delhi International Airport in the morning of Day 2. We transfer by coach to the 5-star Claridges hotel for an overnight stay. The rest of your day is free to relax, or to take the opportunity to begin your exploration of Delhi independently.

After a free morning to rest after our flight, we explore New Delhi, an area representative of the imperial era of British rule. We visit the tallest stone tower in India, the Qutub Minar, and Humayun's Tomb - regarded as a precursor to the Taj Mahal. We also pass the imposing India Gate, the Parliament Building and the Rastrapathi Bhawa (President's residence) during our tour. The morning of Day 4 is free to spend at leisure before we take a fascinating afternoon sightseeing tour of Old Delhi. We begin at Raj Ghat, a simple memorial to Mahatma Ghandi, before the tour takes us past the spectacular Red Fort and the equally impressive Jama Masjid - one of the largest mosques in Asia. After dinner in a local restaurant we board our luxury train, the Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, to begin our seven-night adventure.

After travelling through the night, we arrive in Rathambore National Park, enjoying breakfast on board before we embark on a morning safari. Rathambore is home to a large tiger population and is one of the best places in India for tiger-spotting. The park is also home to a thriving bird population, with over 270 species of birds living in the park. We return to the train for lunch before we return to the park for an afternoon safari. This evening we continue our journey on board, heading to Udaipur.

This morning the Rajasthan on Wheels arrives in Udaipur, where we visit the exquisite City Palace, a vast and fortified majestic white monument. We also visit the Jaddish Temple, the largest temple in Udaipur. We pass the Fateh Sagar Lake on our way to visit Sahelion-ki-Bari (the Garden of the Maids-of-Honour), a fabulous garden reminiscent of the unique lifestyle of the royal ladies who once strolled through them. Later this afternoon we cross Lake Pichola by boat to visit Jag Mandir Palace, before returning to the train this evening.

This morning we arrive in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Known as the 'Pink City', Jaipur is home to the impressive City Palace, an enormous complex of palaces, gardens and courtyards. The excellent Palace Museum houses collections of rare manuscripts, armoury, costume, carpets and miniature paintings. We then visit the Jantar Mantar, the most famous of the five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh. This afternoon we head to the Palace of Winds, an elaborate façade where the ladies of the court would spend their day watching the daily activities in the street below. Finally, we visit the Amber Fort, once the seat of power for Jaipur. We reach the hilltop fort by jeep, where you have time to stroll through the complex of courtyards and halls. There is time for you to enjoy some shopping before we return to the train - Jaipur is known for gems and jewellery.

The Rajasthan on Wheels arrives into Bharatpur this morning and we travel by coach to visit the Fatehpur Sikri. This deserted red sandstone city was abandoned shortly after it was built in the late 16th century after the wells ran dry. It remains in much the same condition that it was over 300 years ago. We continue by coach to Agra. Our first stop is the impressive Agra Fort, a majestic red sandstone citadel, often called the Red Fort. We pause for lunch before continuing to the incredible Taj Mahal - a true highlight of any visit to India. Emperor Shah Jahan built the temple in memory of his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal, between 1631 and 1648. The Taj Mahal is now considered the jewel of Muslim art in India as well one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

This morning we enjoy a visit to Khajuraho, home to the Chandela Temple Complex. The remote location of Khajuraho meant that temples built here were unharmed by Muslim invaders. Of the 85 temples that were here originally, 22 remain - some in very good condition; the intricate carvings that adorn the temples are said to represent life in heaven. Our visit takes us to four temples, each remarkable for their beautiful design and architecture.

Our day begins in Varanasi before sunrise. We enjoy a boat ride, beginning in darkness, on the Holy River Ganges. Hindus flock to the river at sunrise to cleanse themselves of their sins. After sunrise we visit some of the temples in the surrounding area. We enjoy breakfast before visiting the Bharat Kala Bhavan, located within the grounds of the Banaras Hindu University. This art gallery houses an outstanding collection of sculptures, paintings and textures that began with the private collection of the enlightened Rai Krishnadasa. This afternoon we continue on an excursion to Sarnath, one of the world's major Buddhist centres. Buddha gave his first sermon in the Deer Park in Sarnath, which is seen as the place where Buddhism found its routes and where the Buddhist way of life began. We return to the train this evening for a final overnight journey to Delhi.

The Rajasthan on Wheels pulls into Delhi railway station this morning, where we end our fantastic journey. After disembarking from the train, we transfer to New Delhi International Airport for our daytime flight back to London Heathrow.