Deccan Odyssey - EXCLUSIVE CHARTER

Highlights

(DELHI TO MUMBAI) - 8 Days/7 Nights
Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Sawai Madhopur - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer - Udaipur - Mumbai

11th September 2019

Day 1 Wednesday

Board the Deccan Odyssey at Delhi - on to Agra

Welcome aboard the Deccan Odyssey.
This evening assemble at the railway station at approximately 1800 hours to complete the registration process and check in formalities for your Indian Odyssey journey, as you receive a traditional Indian welcome and enjoy a refreshing welcome drink.
After completion of all formalities, you will be shown to your delightful cabins. As you settle in, the Deccan Odyssey shall depart Delhi for Agra.
Dinner on board
Overnight on Deccan Odyssey

Day 2 Thursday

Agra

Arriving at Agra, you will realize that the Mughals were not just the greatest dynasty to rule India but also its greatest builders. After a leisurely breakfast on board, you will visit the Taj Mahal, which was Emperor Shah Jahan's gift of love to his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, and is truly the world's most wondrous monument. The making of the Taj Mahal is as much a fable as the edifice itself. It took 20000 men 22 years to build this unrivaled mausoleum and its exquisite white marble was brought from 200 miles away by caravans of elephants and camels. Lunch at a City Hotel.
After lunch, your tour of Agra continues as you visit Itmad-ud-Daulah, a marble mausoleum built by Nur Jahan, the wife of Emperor Jahangir, in memory of her father, Ghiyas Beg. Sometimes called the 'Baby Taj', it is beautifully conceived in white marble, mosaic and lattice.
Later, you have the opportunity to visit the local markets to admire the exquisite Pietra Dura (marble inlay) artefacts and Mughal ornaments before completing your tour of this historical city. Late evening, you return to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner and your onward journey to Jaipur, The Pink City.
Breakfast on board; Lunch at a City Hotel; Dinner on board
Overnight on Deccan Odyssey

Day 3 Friday

Jaipur

Legendary for the triumphs of its proud Rajputs, Jaipur, the City of Victory, is surrounded by the rugged Aravali hills - crowned by formidable forts - and beautiful palaces, mansions and gardens. Royal processions and parades, in all their splendour, graced these palaces and forts once. The city is a colourful oasis in the desert and you will notice a timeless quality to Jaipur's bazaars and its people.
After breakfast you drive to Maharaja Mansingh's 17th century masterpiece, the Amber Fort that overlooks the beautiful Maota Lake. The fort is a sprawling complex of courtyards, halls and rooms adorned with beautiful paintings, precious stones and mirrors. Behold the Sheesh Mahal, 'Hall of Mirrors', where a single lamplight reflects in many mirrors, and lights up the entire room, creating a dazzling effect.
En-route to Amber Fort visit the Palace of Winds, otherwise known as the Hawa Mahal, famous for its intricate pink sandstone carving and a beautiful view of the city.
Thereafter you will visit the famous City Palace of Jaipur, an overwhelming complex of exquisite palaces, gardens and courtyards, decorative art and carved doorways. The palace museum houses collections of rare manuscripts, armoury, costumes and carpets. Walk across to the adjacent Jantar Mantar, the astronomical observatory built in the 18th century by Sawai Jai Singh. A wondrous achievement for its time the observatory gives accurate readings even to this day.
Lunch at a City hotel.
Following lunch you have the opportunity to explore the colorful bazaars of the Pink City which offer a wide range of ethnic handicrafts produced in the city-centre and its outskirts.
After your full day of delving in the royal past of Jaipur you will return to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner on board as it departs for Sawai Madhopur.
Breakfast on board; Lunch at a City hotel; Dinner on board
Overnight on Deccan Odyssey

Day 4 Saturday

Sawai Madhopur - Ranthambore National Park

Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan is the alighting point for the famous Ranthambore National Park, and India's efforts to conserve the dwindling tiger population can be seen here. The park is one of the finest tiger reserves in the country and the most likely place to spot one of these majestic animals.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before you set out for your village safari.
The people of Rajasthan's villages are mostly tribal who subsist on farming and hunting. These friendly folk are warm and welcoming, happy to show guests around their villages, giving deep insights into their daily lives. The women here wear bright colours to offset the drab desert, and most people live in mud huts. Visit a local home and interact with the family.
When you're done with the village safari, return to the comfort of the Deccan Odyssey. Enjoy a leisurely lunch before you set out for a game drive.
Ranthambore is home to several other species as well; you can see herds of Chital and Sambhar deer as well as wild boar, Nilgai antelope and chinkara gazelles. There are also sloth bear, a few leopards and crocodiles. Extensive bird life includes jungle fowl, partridges, quails, the crested serpent eagle, woodpeckers, flycatchers etc. There are also water birds like storks, ducks and geese at the lakes and waterholes. If it's your lucky day, you could spot a tiger lolling around lazily in the sun, or feverishly hunting down deer around the lakes!
After a fulfilling afternoon, proceed for high tea at the Sawai Madhopur Lodge, the former hunting lodge of the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur. Feel free to share the spoils (of your photo-shoots!)
After high tea, it is time to head back to the Deccan Odyssey where you can relax with a drink before dinner on board, as the Deccan Odyssey sets off for Jodhpur.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on board; High tea at Taj Sawai Madhopur Lodge
Overnight on Deccan Odyssey

Day 5 Sunday

Jodhpur

This morning as the Deccan Odyssey travels through the stronghold of the Marwar region, enjoy a relaxing morning on board as you breakfast, unwind and experience the striking panorama of the Thar Desert, arriving at Jodhpur. The morning is at leisure on board the Deccan Odyssey.
Lunch on board the Deccan Odyssey
Following lunch, set out once again to explore the magnificent city of Jodhpur, also known as the Blue City, after the vivid blue-painted houses that surround the Mehrangarh Fort. Set like a pearl amidst the stark desert, this former capital of Marwar boasts some of the finest architecture from the Rajput era, renowned for its superb forts and glorious palaces.
In the evening enjoy a wide array of sumptuous Marwar barbeque delights served in the royal courtyard of Mehrangarh Fort as you admire the cityscape from atop.
Having taken in your share of the sublime beauty of Jodhpur, return to the Deccan Odyssey and head for Jaisalmer.
Breakfast & Lunch on board; Barbeque at Mehrangarh Fort.
Overnight on Deccan Odyssey

Day 6 Monday

Jaisalmer

Early morning, disembark to enjoy a sun rise view of the sand dunes with high tea followed by camel ride.
Return to Deccan Odyssey for breakfast.
Later, disembark to visit Gadisar Lake followed by Forts and Havelis.
Return to the Deccan Odyssey for leisurely lunch and rest of the time at leisure while the train departs for Udaipur
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner onboard.
Overnight on Deccan Odyssey

Day 7 Tuesday

Udaipur

The Deccan Odyssey rolls into Udaipur in the morning. Set on the shores of the placid Lake Pichola, Udaipur, known as the City of Lakes, is easily one of the most romantic cities of India, surrounded by scenic hills. Enjoy your breakfast as you admire the picturesque landscape of the Aravali hills.
You will then disembark to visit the famous City Palace, the largest palace complex in Rajasthan, with its scalloped arches, fretted balconies, and cupolas, which also houses the spectacular Crystal Gallery.
Later, board a ferry to ride on Lake Pichola to glance out to the lovely views of one of the most romantic cities of Rajasthan.
Lunch onboard the Deccan Odyssey.
Later embark on a walking tour through the Old City of Udaipur. On this tour you will explore the Old City's lively, busy and old fashioned colourful bazar which still retains local charm and feel. As we walk along on the serpentine narrow streets, the place gives us the opportunity to see the shops selling spices, tea, bamboo baskets, flowers, sweets and other household items.
Thereafter you return to the Deccan Odyssey for a relaxed evening and dinner as we depart for Vadodara.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner onboard.
Overnight on Deccan Odyssey

Day 8 Wednesday

Disembark in Mumbai

Early this morning, after breakfast, you will disembark at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Railway Station, Mumbai.
Bid farewell to the Deccan Odyssey as your royal passage through the grand vistas of India comes to an end. Breakfast on board
Breakfast on board