HOLI FESTIVAL TOUR 2024
Holi - the festival of colors is one of the most popular festivals in the country. Holi festival has an ancient origin and celebrates the triumph of 'good' over 'bad'. The colorful festival bridges the social gap and renews sweet relationships.
On this day, people hug and wish each other. Spraying colors, dancing on traditional Holi songs, rhythmic drum beats and wild processions are the common scenes that one comes across during this festival. With the festival of colors, Holi, ushering in the Indian spring, the country is looking forward to enjoying the pleasant weather before summer arrives. To celebrate the spirit of spring.
When a new year begins and homes in India have their walls adorned with calendars welcoming it, the first date Indians look for is that of Holi – the grand festival of colors. Ushering in spring, Holi is the first major festival of the year and is celebrated with zeal and fervor throughout India. The legend of Holi starts with Lord Krishna, who was jealous of his soul mate Radha's fair complexion, as he himself was very dark. Young Krishna complained to his mother Yashoda about this prejudice of nature, and to placate him, his doting mother asked Krishna to apply color on Radha's face and change her complexion according to his choice. The playful and mischievous Krishna complied, thus heralding the popular tradition of applying colors which became the festival of Holi.
The application of colors has in a way become an expression of love, and everyone, from young to old, wakes to the call of 'Holi Re!' singing and dancing to the beats of dholaks. Kitchens bustle with fervent activity, with delectable dishes and finger-licking sweets being readied for the occasion. Colored powder is playfully smeared on each other, then the water, colored and scented, using pichkaris or squirt guns add to the fun, with family and friends getting drenched. Musical soirees, called 'Hori' are sung, depicting the epic love story of Radha and Krishna. Then there is the much-awaited occasion of churning bhang (cannabis) to make intoxicating shakes, which inject in the rejoicers energy of so preternatural a proportion that even the unearthly hours of the night come alive to their songs and dances. Thus, India welcomes the new year and spring with this most vibrant of festivals, where, albeit briefly, the humdrum of life sparkles with energy and joy in the gay abandon of colors and songs.
| Arrival: Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi |
Langauge: English, Spanish, German, Italian, French |
Highlights
- Guided tour of Delhi including India Gate, Raj Ghat, Govt. Buildings
- Explore historical sites in Delhi like Red Fort , Jama Masjid, Humayun Tomb and Qutub Minar
- Visit Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and enjoy Tonga Ride
- Guided tour to Jaipur including Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Jantar Mantar
- Enjoy Elephant ride up to the Amber Fort
- Enjoy and Celebrate Holi Festival at Surya Villa Jaipurt
- Guided tour to Jodhpur including thar desert, Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada
- Explore historical sites in Udaipur like City Palaces, Sahelion ki Bari and major tourist attractions as per the program
Tour Itinerary
Day 01 - Arrive at Delhi
On arrival in India, you will be greeted and escorted by India Holiday Mall Tour's Executive to your hotel.
Check-in time 1200 hrs noontime.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 02 - Delhi
After breakfast visit Red Fort* – the 17th-century imposing fortress, the Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque), India's largest mosque where more than 20,000 people can kneel in prayer and Raj Ghat –Mahatma Gandhi's Memorial. In the afternoon visit New Delhi. You will drive past President's Palace and India Gate (42m high), built to commemorate the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died in the 1st world war. Later visit Humayun's Tomb, and the Qutub Minar, the highest sands stone minaret in the world (73 meters).
* Red Fort is closed on Mondays
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 03 - Delhi - Agra
After breakfast drive to Agra.
On arrival in Agra check-in at the hotel.
Later visit Agra Fort (Fort and Palace) situated on the west bank of the river Jamuna.
Also enjoy Tonga ride in Agra.
Overnight at the hotel
IMP: TAJ MAHAL REMAINS CLOSED ON FRIDAY.
Day 04 - Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Jaipur
Later visit Taj Mahal (1631-1653), a poem in white marble, built by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaj Mahal.
Later drive to Jaipur. Maharaja Jai Singh II built Jaipur in the 18th century. It is a planned city built with ancient Hindu rules as the colonial capital of a richly colorful state. The whole city was painted pink to welcome the visit of Prince Albert in 1853. On arrival check-in at the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 05 - Jaipur
After breakfast, half-day excursion trip takes you to Amber Fort with Elephant/Jeep ride. En route, make a photo stop at the Palace of Winds (Hawa Mahal). In the afternoon visit the “Pink City” of Jaipur. You will visit City Palace, and Royal Observatory (Jantar Manter-1728-34).
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 06 - Jaipur
After breakfast, you will be picked up and transferred to Surya Villa to celebrate Holi. Holi Music and dance will take around the Garden.
Enjoy the festival and then have lunch.
Post celebrations transfer back to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 07 - Jaipur - Jodhpur
After breakfast drive to Jodhpur.
On arrival check-in at the hotel.
Later visit the city of Jodhpur, which is the second-largest city of Rajasthan, built by Rao Jodha in 1459 when he shifted his capital from Mandore.
You will visit Mehrangarh Fort situated on a 37m-sandstone hill built by Rao Jodha in 1459. Also visit Jaswant Thada, an imposing marble cenotaph built in 1899 for Maharajah Jaswant Singh II.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 08 - Jodhpur - Ranakpur - Udaipur
After breakfast drive to Udaipur. En-route visit Ranakpur, the wonderful 3 temples of the Jain sect dating back to the 14th/15th century. The unforgettable main Temple dedicated to Adinatha the first Tirthankar (1439) built-in marble took 65 years to complete. It is one of the five holy Jain pilgrimage centers and has one of the best temple complexes.
Udaipur is considered to be a romantic city - with its lakes, gardens, temples, and palaces - an Oasis in the Thar Desert. The city of Dawn, Udaipur is a lovely land around the azure lake, hemmed in by the lush hills of the ARAVALLIS.
On arrival in Udaipur, check-in at the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 09 - Udaipur
After breakfast visits the City Palace built on the bank of the Pichola Lake, by Maharana Udai Singh in 1570. The Jagdish Temple – (1651) a fine example of the Nagara style of temple architecture. Sahelion-ki Bari an ornamental pleasure garden specially made for the ladies of the palace in the 18th century. It has beautiful fountains, trees, and flowers.
Afternoon enjoys a public boat ride on the Pichola Lake.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 10 - Udaipur – Delhi Departure
After breakfast.
Morning at leisure.
In time transfer to the airport to board the flight to Delhi and connect flight for onward journey.
IMP: Room will be available till 1200 Hrs
