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Oberoi Hotels Low Season Prices |
India's Oberoi Hotels are among the most spectacular and luxurious in the world. If you have always wanted to stay with Oberoi in Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur or Ranthambore but have gasped at the prices ($500 to $1500 per night), you are in luck. From April through September you can take advantage of Oberoi Hotels low season prices allow you to enjoy Oberoi at a substantially lower cost.
The special program is valid April through September 2010 and uses their hotels in Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, and Udaipur. You have to stay a total of six nights in Oberoi hotels--two nights each in Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. You may add extra nights. You have the option to add Udaipur, which must be a minimum of two nights as well. You may add additional nights in any of these places, of course. Ranthambore is not part of this special offer since the park is closed during June through September and normally opens on or about October first.
Of course we can customize practically any itinerary you like should you want to add other destinations to your itinerary. How about Kerala, a few days on a houseboat on Lake Dahl, surrounded by the foothills of the Himalayas?Hotel accommodation single or double
Sample Tour
Arrive Delhi. Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel for overnight.
Today you have a combined Old and New Delhi tour. New Delhi was established in 1911 by King George V who, feeling Calcutta was too remote, wanted a new capital for the Indian Empire. Drive by the impressive India Gate with its eternal flame, the Presidential Palace and Parliament House; then stop to visit Qtab Minar, a 200-foot high minaret and Humayun's Tomb, the first of the great Moghul Tomb complexes. Later, you continue to Old Delhi, and drive past Raj Ghat, the monument to Mahatma Gandhi erected on the site of his funeral pyre and an important place of pilgrimage for People from all over the world. In Old Delhi see the The Jama Masjid Mosque, built by the Emperor Shah Jahan; then continue past the bustling market place of Chandni Chowk, where silver merchants ply their trade.
Delhi to Jaipur: Transfer to airport for flight to Jaipur. On arrival, assistance and transfer to your hotel for check-in. In the afternoon, a sightseeing tour of Jaipur city. Visit the Observatory equipped with mortar instruments of remarkable size, which for sheer accuracy are difficult to beat even today. Also visit the Maharaja's City Palace, the former royal residence and now a museum housing a vast number of artifacts. Stop by at the beautiful Hawa Mahal (the Palace of Winds), a beautifully decorated facade of 953 windows in flushed pink. Remember, Jaipur is the most colorful and vibrant city of India and a haven for shopping!
Early morning, visit the Amber and travel up the rocky promontory by elephant to the fortified palace at the top. Amber Fort was the ancient capital of the state of Rajasthan for more than 600 years. You willisit the Jagmandir & the Sheesh Mahal (pavilion of mirrors) which reflects a single candle flame in a thousand flickering lights. There is quite a lot to see here, so take your time. The rest of the day is free to enjoy the city. We suggest a late evening, visit the local market and walk down the main street of Jaipur with shops on both sides used by the locals. Jaipur stands out as one of the most important gem trading centers in the world. we will be happy to recommend reputable places to buy gems if you like.
Jaipur to Agra: Morning leave by surface for Agra, approximately 232 kilometers and 5 to 6 hours of drive. Enroute visit Fatehpur Sikri, perched atop a rocky ridge about forty kilometers west of Agra. This famous abandoned city dates to the sixteenth century when Emperor Akbar, not yet 28 years old, planned to create the first planned city in Indo-Islamic architecture. The city unfortunately had to be later abandoned due to the lack of water. Its fortifications, massive gateway and palaces remain in a wonderful state of preservation and include the Jamma Masjid, Panch Mahal & The Salim Chisti's Tomb, set like a jewel in a courtyard of pink sandstone and enclosed by delicately carved marble screens. Proceed to Agra and on arrival, check into your hotel.
Since the Moghul era, many crafts have flourished all over the state of Uttar Pradesh and Agra is the home to marble inlay work, stonework and the rich Zardozi embroidery. If you like you may visit factories where you can see the craftsmen at work and appreciate their art and skill. You can see how each floral design - measuring less than a square centimeter, hold over 30 smaller pieces of semiprecious stones like Jade, Coral, etc. The best way of purchasing a marble piece is to run your nail at the edge; if it gives off powdery flakes - it is soft soap stone. If it does not, it reflects a good quality hard marble. Similarly, the more translucent the marble is - the better the quality.
Very early morning, visit the Taj Mahal - a breathtaking sight as you see the monument change colors as the sun ascends the horizon from flushed pink to yellow white to blazing orange. A fitting tribute to love and romance as the monument was built as a tribute to the queen of Emperor Shah Jehan and today it is one of the wonders of the world. The legendary monument to love is an architectural marvel perfectly proportioned and fashioned in white marble. It stands testimony to the skill of craftsmen brought in from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy and to the 20,000 workers who toiled for 17 years in its construction. It has aptly been compared to “a drop of tear on the face of the universe”, by the Indian Nobel Laureate Tagore. The days other visits include The Agra Fort where you see it's palaces and the Hall of Public and Private Audience. From here, you get to see the Taj Mahal in the distance beyond the River Yamuna. Legend has that during the period of imprisonment of Emperor Shah Jehan here, he would see the Taj Mahal as a reflection in a mirror placed next to his bed. Later visit "Itmad-ud-Daulah," also known as The Mini Taj.
Agra-Delhi-Departure: Morning free. In the afternoon, leave directly for Delhi airport to connect your onward flight. If your flight is not in the evening we can arrange for an additional overnight stay in Delhi.
Add Udaipur if You Like
Delhi to Udaipur. Morning transfer to the airport for flight to Udaipur; meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to your hotel.
Udaipur is known as the "city of lakes" ! The marble palaces, beautifully laid out gardens and the lakes make Udaipur seem almost like a mirage. Surrounded by the ancient Aravali Mountains and set on the edge of three lakes, is a brilliant kaleidoscope of narrow lanes flanked by bright stalls, gardens, lakes, palaces and temples. The Lake Palace in the middle of Lake Pichola is the finest example of its architectural and cultural contribution to the region. The City Palace on the banks and the Monsoon Palace (Sajjan Garh) on the hill above complete the perfect picture postcard setting.
The city, capital of Mewars with which many legends of bravery are associated, was considered the most respectable of all Rajput princely states in Rajasthan. The Rulers are still remembered for their bravery & courage they showed while protecting the kingdom from external forces. As you walk around – you can sense more than see the grandeur of the era gone by.
In the afternoon, proceed for a tour of the City Palace. Completely white and majestic, The City Palace stands on a hill surrounded by crenulated walls. Its main entrance is through the triple arched gate, The Tripola, built in 1725. There is Suraj Gokhada, the Balcony of the Sun where the Suryavanshi Maharana (the descendent of the sun) of Mewar presented themselves in time of trouble to the people to restore their confidence. The More Chowk or the Peacock Courtyard gets its name from the vivid mosaics in glass, which decorates its walls.
Start with a morning excursion to Ranakpur. Renowned for some marvelous carving in Amber stone, Ranakpur is one of the five holy places of the Jain Community. The temples were built around the 15th century A.D. during the reign of Rana Kumbha and are enclosed within a wall. The central ‘Chaumukh' or four faced temple is dedicated to the venerated the Tirthankara Rishabhji. Open on all four sides, it enshrines the four faces (images) of Adinath. Sprawling over 48,000 square feet, the temple is an astounding creation with 29 halls and 1444 intricately carved pillars.
Images of 24 tirthankaras are carved on the ‘mandaps' or porticoes in a corridor around the shrine with each mandap having a ‘shikhar' or spire adorned with little bells on the top. The gentle breeze wafting through the corridors move the bells creating celestial music all around the complex. Rising in three storeys, the temple has 4 small shrines, with 80 spires supported by 420 columns.
Two temples, dedicated to saints--Parasvanath and Neminath--face the main temple. The temples have beautiful carvings similar to that of Khajuraho. Another temple worth visiting is the nearby Sun Temple, an eighth century A.D. temple dedicated to the Sun God. The temple has polygonal walls richly embellished with carvings of warriors, horses and other deities riding chariots. Lunch at Maharani Bagh before returning to your hotel.
