Temples and Tigers 2025 - 2026

Departure on a regular flight to Delhi. Night on board.

Arrival at Delhi International Airport, customs procedures, luggage collection and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day free. Delhi, capital of the Republic of India, is marked by great historical importance favored by its strategic location in northern India. Established between the Aravalli Hills and the Yamunā River, its position facilitated control of the trade routes that ran from the northwest to the Gangetic plains. This late-night city, which never sleeps, never rests, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, always receives travelers bustling, full of traffic jams, with motorcycles that cross each other clumsily and with difficulty, disconcerting sounds and shocking smells and colors that leave their mark. Delhi is divided into two, Old Delhi and New Delhi, the latter created under the control of the British Empire in order to build a new city where all the government and governors' buildings would be gathered.Accommodation .

Breakfast. Visit of Old Delhi, starting with the Raj Ghat, which is the memorial where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated; the Sikh Temple of BanglaSabih, where we will observe the fervor with which the members of the Brotherhood listen to the reading of the Book; the Great Jamma Mashid Mosque, ordered to be built by Shah Jahan and built almost in the middle of the ancient city (Old Dehli) on a small hill. Muslim pride prevails in the majority of the Hindu territory, especially in the northern part, marking and remembering its ancient supremacy in much of the subcontinent, the conquests achieved around the 16th-19th centuries and its undoubted influence on the development of the culture of India. From one end of the main courtyard of the mosque, you can see the Red Fort of Delhi or Lal Quila in Hindi, built by the Islamic empire in the 17th century. Continue by rickshaw (bicycle cart) through the colorful streets of the popular neighborhood of Chandni Chowk, to immerse yourself among stalls with various decorations, food with an intense smell of almost indecipherable spices, shoes, backpacks, glasses, cows or goats sneaking into the stores, all under a constant and disturbing disorder and bustle. Lunch at a local restaurant. Already in New Delhi, we will pass through the Rajpath, the city that Edwin Lutyens built to be the British capital in the so-called Anglo-Indian style; the Gate of India memorial erected in honor of soldiers who died during various wars; the Parliament building; the Presidential Palace; the Ministries... Visit of theQutub Minarthe oldest monument remaining in Delhi, as its construction began at the end of the 19th century. XII. It has been declared a “World Heritage Site” since 1993. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Departure by road to Agra. Located on the banks of the Yamuna River, it was the capital of the Mughal empire at its peak, founded in 1505 by the Sultan of Delhi Sikander Lodi on an ancient city of Hindu origin. In 1565, when it was named Akbarabad, the Mughal emperor Akbar made it the imperial capital and it remained so intermittently until Shah Jahan moved the capital again to Delhi in 1648. Visit the Red Fort of Agra, built of stone red sandstone, by the Mughal emperor Akbar between 1565 and 1573. It is a walled complex, which contains palaces and stately buildings with architectural styles that vary from the complexity of what was built by Akbar, to the simplicity of what was built by his grandson. Shah Jahan and surrounded by a deep moat that was filled with water from the Yamuna River. In the afternoon we will visit the Taj Mahal, being able to enjoy the sunset lights that surround everything in a reddish-pink tone, forming a much more idyllic setting. to contemplate this spectacular architectural complex, considered one of the 7 wonders of the modern world. Erected between 1631 and 1654 by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, it is built of white marble, in a style that combines elements of Islamic, Persian, Indian and even Turkish architecture. The monument has achieved special notoriety due to the romantic nature of its inspiration. Although the mausoleum covered by the white marble dome is the best-known part, the Taj Mahal is a group of integrated buildings. Dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast. Departure by road to Jaipur, visiting en route the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri. Built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar between 1571 and 1585, in honour of the saint Salin Chishti, Fatehpur Sikri was the capital of the Mughal Empire for 14 years, after which it had to be abandoned, leading to a multitude of looting and robberies, although despite this you can still see its magnificent architecture that mixes Mughal and Hindu styles. The next stop will be in Abhaneri, where you will visit the medieval Rajput monuments such as the Chand Baori well and the Harshat Mata Temple dedicated to the god Vishnu. After the visit, continue to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast. Departure to visit the Maharaja's Palace and the Jai Singh Observatory, still in operation, where we can observe the precision of the stone instruments built in the 18th century. Next, we will visit the Baldev ji Temple and the Galta Ji Temple, also known as the Monkey Temple, a pilgrimage centre since the 15th century. In the afternoon, we will visit the Amber Fort, which offers a spectacular view from the road. This palace complex stands on top of a hill that we will reach by jeep. Built with sandstone and decorated with carved marble that covers the floors and walls, it reminds us of the magnificence in which many maharajas used to live. Next, we will make a stop at the Nahargarh Fort, not far from the Amber Fort. This majestic fort, dating back to 1734, also known as the Tiger Fort, has an incredible view of the city of Jaipur. On the way back we will make a brief stop to admire the spectacular façade of the Palace of the Winds, Hawa Mahal, which has become an emblem of the city. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

Breakfast. Drive to Ranthambore. Ranthambore was established as the Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955 by the Government of India, and was declared one of the Project Tiger reserves in 1973. Ranthambore became a national park in 1980. In 1984, the adjacent forests were declared the Sawai Man Singh Keladevi Sanctuary, and in 1991 the tiger reserve was expanded to include the Sawai Man Singh and Keladevi sanctuaries. Well known for the diurnal activity of tigers, Ranthambore is a very special and unusual area where a natural present meets a historical past. Sambar, cheetal, chinkara, nilgai langoors. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast. Morning and afternoon game drive in an all-terrain vehicle into the interior of Ranthambore N.P., one of the best tiger reserves in the country, where a number of other species are also abundant. Accommodation.

Important notes about Ranthambore National Park:

*Ranthambore National Park is divided into 10 zones of which the first 5 remain open from 1 October to 30 June every year. From July 1st to September 30th, coinciding with the rainy season, only areas 6 to 10 can be visited, which are equipped with specific paths that jeeps can travel on.

*Visits are conducted with naturalists from the park itself in English.

*Regarding the recommended clothing to wear, it will depend on the time of year in which you travel: the months from April to June are very hot with temperatures of 35 to 47º C for a good part of the day, so it is recommended to wear light clothing, a cap and sunglasses. The winter months; from November to February the weather is cold. During morning walks it is essential to dress warmly. Throughout the morning, a sweatshirt will suffice. The nights are very cold again, (a cap, down jacket or warm clothing and gloves will be necessary).

Breakfast. Early morning departure by road to Jodhpur. Located on the edge of the Thar Desert, it is known as the "Blue City" because of the colour of the houses under the Mehrangarh Fort. Originally they were Brahmin houses, although the colour was soon adopted by the other houses because it was said to ward off heat and mosquitoes. Jodhpur was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, a Rajput chief of the Rathore clan. Rao Jhoda conquered the neighbouring territory, thus founding a state known as Marwar. The city was located on the strategic road that linked Delhi with Gujarat, which allowed it to benefit from the flourishing trade in opium, copper, silk, dates and coffee. Next, departure to visit the Mehrangarh Fort, inside which there are perfectly preserved courtyards and palaces, highlighting the Moti Mahal Palace. On the way back to the city, we will stop at Jaswant Thada, a white marble mausoleum erected in memory of Maharaja Jaswan Singh II. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast. Departure by road to Ranakpur, a Jain temple complex named after Rana Kumbha, who in the 15th century gave a large tract of land to the wealthy merchant Dharna Sah for the construction of the temples. It is said that Dharna Sah had dreamed of a heavenly place and commissioned the design of it to numerous architects from all over India; it was a sculptor called Depa who perfectly captured that vision, and the construction of the temples began, which lasted 50 years. The Jain religion prohibits harming any animal, including the smallest ones, which is why Jains, in addition to being vegetarians, usually dedicate themselves to commerce and never to agriculture, as they might accidentally kill a small insect. Visit to the Adinath Temple, which is not only the largest Jain temple in India, but also the most beautiful. It is entirely built of richly carved white marble, its plan is cruciform, not longitudinal as in most Indian temples; it has four entrances, one on each side, leading through columned halls to a central chamber with the image of Adinath; it is completely surrounded by a row of chapels, 86 in all; numerous columns and finely carved capitals supporting its roof crowned by twenty domes and five cupolas. The roof is decorated with geometric panels; the domes with concentric ornamentation and descending ornaments; on the corbels supporting the domes there are figures of dancing goddesses; both outside and inside the temple there are many representations of elephants; and carved columns. The entrance to the temple, which is entered barefoot, is preceded by a large staircase; The light filters through the many columns, creating a wonderful play of light and shadow throughout the day, changing the colour of the marble columns and sculptures from gold to pale blue. Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue by road to Udaipur, in the desert state of Rajasthan. Udaipur, capital of the ancient Kingdom of Mewar, ruled by the Sisodia dynasty, with its artificial lakes and the canals that connect them, is like an oasis in this desert. Transfer to the hotel and accommodation.

Breakfast. Visit to the Palace of the Maharajas, which stands on a small hill on the banks of Lake Pichola. Its construction was begun by Maharaja Udai Singh, but the present building, more than 30 metres high and some 250 metres long, is the result of various additions by his successors to the original construction, so carefully integrated into the original design that it is difficult to believe that such a colossal work was not conceived as a whole. The interior of the City Palace, now transformed into a museum, is a labyrinth of courtyards, kiosks, terraces, galleries, rooms and gardens. Some of its facades are richly decorated with inlaid mirrors, its galleries covered with paintings; and from the kiosks and terraces at the top there is a magnificent view of Lake Pichola. Continue to visit the Garden of the Ladies-in-Waiting (Sehellon Ki Bari), a small ornamental garden situated on the banks of the second great lake of Udaipur, the Fateh Sagar; it was built for a melancholic princess who adored the rain and used as a place of rest and walk for the ladies of the court. It is an immense garden with kiosks and elephants carved in white marble, four ponds and numerous fountains. Some fountains come directly out of the ground, letting the water fall on it. We will finish the visit with a boat ride on Lake Pichola (subject to water level). Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

Flight from Udaipur Airport to {destination}.