A Royal travel plan to the richest heritage destinations of Western India

Day 1:In the following seven days, you will journey through one of the world’s oldest civilisations. Its mystic cultures and colourful customs. Its amazing variety. Its enduring legends. Its mythology. Its mysteries, and its spirit.

Day 2:Chittaur has Rajasthan’s noblest, yet most tragic history. At Chittaur, you will visit the Chittaur Fort, built in the 7^th Century, sprawling over 700 acres. The nine-storey watch tower, the 12^th century tower of fame and sculptures of the Jain Pantheon, the Rana Kumbha Palace. You will also visit Zanana Mahal, where a mirror reflection of Queen Padmini’s famed beauty was shown to Allauddin Khilji. setting off a tragic invasion.

There is no place in India which sets fire to the imagination of poets and painters, travellers and writers, the way Udaipur does. Set amidst an amphitheatre of low-lying mountains and flanked by three lakes and far-flung plains, its streets are lined by gardens, temples, explanades and palaces – every feature mirrored in the placid blue waters of Lake Pichola.Day 3 Much as the Sun is worshipped in India and elsewhere, there are very few temples dedicated to the Sun God. The famous Sun Temple on a wheel of charriots in the east is at Konark & the other one in the west at Modhera stands on a lotus. Built in 1026 AD the Sun Temple at Modhera is one such rare edifice of the Solanki era. The temple is an imposing structure and is counted among the best specimens of the Indian art and architecture. The main shrine faces East and is built so that the rays of the rising Sun at equinoxes would fill the sanctum sanctorum, creating a divine ambience. It is indeed a feast to the eyes where one can spend hours taking delight in the beauty of the carvings.

Patan once saw the rise and fall of the great Solanki Rajput dynasty. It is a home of the famous patola silk saris.

The greatest reminder of the golden period of Gujarat under the Solanki kings is the Queen’s Stepwell- Rani ki Vav. Built in the 1050 A.D. the stepwell is the oldest and perhaps the grandest among the 120 plus stepwells in Gujarat. Steps are string- coursed by sculpture of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu, other idols & celestial figures create a panoramic spectacle to behold. It is a procession of marvellous sculptures, layer after layer, created by the master craftsman of the bygone era at the height of their creativity.

Ahmedabad means different things to different people. For architects, it is a rich repository of magnificant styles – from the Indo-Saracenic times to the 15^th century Muslim styles, from the experimental modern styles, to the legendary le Corbusier. Some still like to view it as the erstwhile ‘Manchester of the East’ - the premier textile town of India. Sultan Ahmed Shah founded Ahmedabad on the banks of the river Sabarmati in 1411 AD. He spangled his kingdom with splendid monuments.

In Ahmedabad, you will visit the Siddi Saiyad Mosque (1571), with its exquisite windows of pierced stonetracery, an architectural delight. And in a quiet 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 the ‘Father of the Nation’ – Mahatma Gandhi gave human race one of its most remarkable ways of life non-violence. The visit to the Calico Museum, one of the finest textile museums in the world, will be a experience and then shopping of handicrafts items will be another memorable experience.

Day 4 Gir Forest is not only one of the most important wild life sanctuaries in India, but also the only place in the world outside Africa where the Lion can be seen in its natural habitat.

It also harbours a variety of other animals and birds: Leopards, Hyenas, the Indian Sambar, Spotted Deer, Blue Bull and Chinkara.

In the days of dynasties, if you were a prince or nawab worth your crown, you would build a palace by the sea, for royal leisure. So did the Nawab of wealthy Jungadh, at Ahmedpur Mandvi- one of the finer beaches of Gujarat.

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, and tourists who keep falling in love with it have spread its name all over the world. Another cynosure at Diu is the fort of Diu.

Day 5 Palitana is known as the ‘Temple City’. It is probably India’s most picturesque pilgrim centre, with more than 863 temples assimilated on the imposing Shatrunjaya Hill. These temples were built over a period of nine hundred years!At Palitana, you will also visit other important temples. With special permission from the authorities, you can also view the fabulous collection of jewels at the oldest temple here, built by Kumarpal Solanki, a great Jain patron. If you so desire you’ll be carried all the way 3572 steps in chairslings. On return enjoy the cultural cuisine at Vishalla village in Ahmedabad in a traditional style.

Day 6 Ranakpur: The Jain community, like several others had always enjoyed the patronage of the ruling family of Mewar. The rulers were also particularly supportive of their temple building activities. In the 215^th century, Rana Kumbha of Mewar gave a large stretch of land in a quiet and picturesque valley deep into the range of Aravalli hills. This area was known as Ranakpur. Located 96 kms from Udaipur, this is one of the five main holy places of the Jain community. These 500 years old temples are till date well preserved in an almost perfect condition. These are 29 halls, 80 domes, 1444 pillars and infact none of these 1444 pillars are the same. Each of these pillars are covered with intricate carvings. The graceful pillars and the domes of different heights with flat ceiling combine to produce an excellent effect. Each and every conceivable surface is carved with delicacy. It is really difficult to decide what is more appealing, the architecture or the location.

Day 7 Jaipur is one of the most colourful spots that makes the tapestry of medieval India so mesmerising to the traveller and the historian.

Here, you will visit the city palace, a historic and architectural landmark. The palace is renowned for its rich carvings, the in-house museum of Rajasthani dress and Mughal & Rajput armoury, the art gallery featuring paintings, carpets and royal paraphernalia and rare astronomical works in Arabic, Persian, Latin and Sanskrit, and the fascinating medieval observatory, named ‘Jantar Mantar’ by its founder, King Sawai Jai Singh-II.

Also, 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.

Jaipur stands as a city Time forgot to thrash down. And it will give you a true taste of days gone by.

After travelling through the awesome corridors of eastern history, as you journey back to Delhi, you would find it hard to reconcile with the present.

The Royal Orient Train

A joint venture of the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd. & Indian Railways, the Royal Orient is a train journey of seven days and nights, surrounded by the grandeur and opulence reminiscent of India’s princely past. Travelling on the Royal Orient Train is the best way to visit the culturally fascinating States of Gujarat Rajasthan & Diu.

Life as a Maharajah can be experienced in the luxuriously furnished coupes. Central air-conditioning, plush carpeting and modern bathrooms with running hot & cold water are just some of the facilities on board the Royal Orient. The restaurant serves Continental, Chinese and Indian cuisine. Soft channel music, movies and a well stacked library will help you relax. ‘Watering Holle’ – the bar well stacked with exquisite liquors is popular with all on board the train.

On the Royal Orient the combination of travelling by night, and sightseeing during the day ensures optimum value of your time. The Royal Orient Train starts in Delhi, with halts at Chittaurgarh and Udaipur in Rajasthan, Modhera, Patan, Ahmedabad, Sasan-Gir, Ahmedpur-Mandvi, Diu and Palithana in Gujarat – back to the Pink City of Jaipur in Rajasthan, and finally ending in Delhi.