Mick and the Maharaja
The 9th Jodhpur Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF) will take place during the brightest full moon in north India, Oct 5th - 9th, 2017. Held at the Maharaja's palace, Mehrangarh Fort, this festival is internationally known for its spectacular concerts and events.  RIFF is ranked among the top 25 music festivals in the world! HH Maharaja Gaj Singh II is the Chief Patron and Mick Jagger is the International Patron of this event which is endorsed by UNESCO as a "Peoples' Platform for Creativity and Sustainable Development".  

Want to go with insider access?  Want to stay on palace grounds in a royal luxury tented camp?

Curated Global Travel can do that!

Day 1: 2nd October 2017 – Arrive Delhi

Arrive Delhi. On arrival you will be met and welcomed with Garlands by Curated Global Travel partner Wandering Monk Tours India representative. On way to hotel you will be provided with basic do’s and don’t’s which will enable a smooth experience throughout the tour. Once you reach the hotel, you will be assisted throughout the check in process. Rest of the day at leisure, Overnight at hotel.

Note – Check in time is 1200 hrs.

Day 2: 3rd October 2017 – Delhi Sightseeing

After breakfast at hotel, embark on a sightseeing tour of Delhi.

In Delhi’s 3000 years of existence, seven cities stood where the present capital of India stands. Here you’ll encounter a fascinating blend of the ancient and the contemporary - where government buildings, medieval palaces and bazaars exist besides a modern metropolis. Delhi is a city waiting to be explored.  After breakfast sightseeing of Old and New Delhi.

Visit the 7th city of Delhi, Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) which was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (1639-48 AD) after he shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi. Red Fort – the 17th century imposing fortress built in red sandstone is surrounded by a huge boundary wall 33m high. Inside are exquisite palaces and beautiful gardens. Opposite the Red Fort lies Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) made of red sandstone and white marble, completed in 1656. It is India’s largest mosque where more than 20.000 people can kneel in prayer. Visit Raj Ghat on the banks of the river Yamuna, Mahatma Gandhi’s Memorial, where he was cremated following his assassination in January 1948. The memorial lies in the midst of landscaped gardens and made of a simple square platform of black marble inscribed with his last words “Hey Ram”. An eternal flame burns 24 hours.

Afternoon visit New Delhi.

Visit the Humayun’s Tomb, built by his wife Haji Begum in the 16th. Century an early example of Mughal architecture considered the predecessor of the Taj Mahal. The Qutub Minar – the landmark of Delhi, a huge tower of victory started in 1199 and completed in 1368. The minar is 72.5m high with a diameter at the base 14.4m and 2.7m at the top. Proceed to the Rashtrapati Bhawan once the Viceroy’s residence is now the official residence of the President of India. Designed by Lutyens, it combines western and eastern styles – the dome reflects the Buddhist stupa, the chattris Hindu and the graceful colonnades very British.

It has 340 rooms. The Government Buildings designed by Baker, are topped by baroque domes and decorated with lotus motifs and elephants, while the north and south gateways are Mughal in design. The northern building has an inscription with “Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty. It is a blessing which must be earned before it can be enjoyed”. The Parliament House, designed by Baker is 173m in diameter. Inside is the library and chambers for the council of state, chamber of princes and legislative assembly. The India Gate (42m), commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died in the 1st world war. 13516 names of British and Indian soldiers killed in the Afghan War of 1919 are engraved on the arch and foundations. Under the arch, the Amar Jawan Jyoti commemorating Indian armed forces’ losses in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971. Overnight at hotel.   Overnight at hotel.

**Old Delhi Sightseeing Time – Approx 4 Hrs.

**New Delhi Sightseeing Time – Approx 4 Hrs.

Day 3: 4th October 2017 – Fly Delhi to Jodhpur (Stay in Royal Luxury Tented Camps)

Intime transferred to airport for your flight to Jodhpur, on arrival you will be met with our Jodhpur office representative and transferred to your pre booked Royal camps accommodation.

Day 4 to 7: 5th  to 8th October 2017 – Jodhpur – RIFF Event

(Stay in Royal Luxury Tented Camps)

RIFF Event – Programme to be announced in August 2017

Jodhpur Sightseeing Spread across the above 4 days, planned around the RIFF programme

Sightseeing of Jodhpur includes visiting the impressive Mehrangarh Fort on a 37 m low sandstone hill built by Rao Jodha in 1459. From the top of the fort one can get a bird’s eye view of the old city. You will notice the predominance of blue houses referred to as Brahmin houses - the Colour being associated with the high caste. Proceed to the Jaswant Thada, an imposing marble cenotaph built in 1899 for Maharajah Jaswant Singh II, and smaller memorials to other Maharajahs of Jodhpur. At the end of the tour enjoy a short walk through the local and vibrant bazaar of Jodhpur. 

Day 8: 9th October 2017 – Drive Jodhpur to Jaipur

After breakfast at hotel, drive to Jaipur. On arrival check into your pre-booked hotel. Evening at leisure. Overnight at hotel.

Day 9: 10th October 2017 – Jaipur

After breakfast, half-day excursion trip takes you to Amber Fort. En route, make a photo stop at the palace of winds the Hawa Mahal. A 5 stored building with 25cm thick facade from the 18 century having 953 windows and niches so that ladies of royal family could see the procession and events in the city without being visible to the people. Proceed to the Amber City Fort situated 130m high with the Aravalli hills around and 11 km north of Jaipur. It was the ancient capital of the Kachhawaha Rajputs till 1037. Enjoy an Elephant ride to the top of the Palace fort.

Return to Jaipur. Afternoon visit the “Pink City” of Jaipur. The City Palace occupies the center of Jaipur. It now houses the Royal residence and museums with collections of textiles and costumes, armory, manuscripts, paintings etc. Also visit Jantar Mantar (1728-34) by king astrologer Jai Singh II. The instruments are built of stone with marble facing on the important plains for measuring the harmony of the heavens. Each instrument serves a particular function and each gives an accurate reading. Overnight at hotel.

**Sightseeing Time – Approx. 5 Hrs.

Day 10: 11th October 2017 – Jaipur – Agra via Fatehpur Sikri (225 Kms. / Time Approx. 5 Hrs.)

After breakfast at hotel drive to Agra. En-route sightseeing of Fatehpur Sikri.

40 km (1 hour) before Agra, lies the beautiful and deserted medieval city built by Akbar the Great in the 16th century to serve as the capital of his vast empire. It was mysteriously abandoned 13 years later. Today, it is perfectly preserved as a ghost city built at the height of the empire’s splendor.

Continue drive to Agra. Agra stands on the right bank of the river Yamuna, was once the seat of the Mughal rulers, the zenith of art and an enshrined romance. A town famous for its beautiful medieval monuments. The passion of the Mughals for building endowed it with some of the loveliest buildings in the world. Later afternoon on arrival in Agra you are met with our representative and check in at the hotel. Rest of the day is free for leisure to relax. Overnight at hotel.

** Fatehpur Sikri Visit – Approx 2 Hrs.

Day 11: 12th October 2017 – Agra Sightseeing

After breakfast at hotel, later proceed for sightseeing tour of Agra visiting Taj Mahal (1631-1653), the world famous monument of India, a poem in white marble, built by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaj Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14th child. It employed 20,000 workers from the Central Asia and Europe for 22 years to construct this extravagant monument of love, inlaying the white marble edifice with precious and semi precious stones and Red Fort, the rusty and majestic red-sandstone fort of Agra stands on the banks of the river Yamuna and the construction was started by Emperor Akbar in 1566. At the Diwan-I-Am (hall of public audience), a colonnaded hall of red-sandstone with a throne alcove of inlaid marble at the back, the emperor heard public petitions. At the Diwan-I-Khas (hall of private audience) where marble pavilions with floral inlays lend an ethereal ambience, the emperor sat on his gem-studded peacock throne and met foreign ambassadors and rulers of friendly Kingdoms.

Evening at leisure to relax. Overnight at hotel.

Note: TAJ MAHAL IS CLOSED ON FRIDAY.

**Sightseeing Time – Approx. 5 Hrs.

Day 12: 13th October 2017 – Drive Agra to Delhi + Departure

After breakfast at hotel, drive to Delhi. Arrive and transferred to airport for your back home flight.

Day 13: 14th October 2017 – Fly back home

End of the Tour

Supplements:

§  Single Room - $ 1995 Per Single

Cost Includes:

§  Accommodation on twin sharing basis for 8 Nights in Hotel and 4 Nights in Tented Camps as per the itinerary.
§  Daily breakfast at hotel
§  Lunch (9 Lunches)
§  Dinner (8 Dinners)
§  3 Days Folk Festival Multiple entry pass
§  Airfare for Delhi to Jodhpur / Jodhpur to Delhi
§  Air-conditioned private chauffer driven car for transfers, sightseeing, excursions and long run as per the itinerary at Disposal throughout the tour
§  Jeep ride in Jaipur from foothill to Amer Fort
§  Govt. Approved English speaking guides at all destinations for all city tours demonstrations
§  Monument entry fee.
§  Meeting & assistance by our local office representative
§  Currently applicable Govt. Taxes.

Complimentary

• An Evening with Folk dances and Dinner at Jaipur
• Curated Global – GIFT HAMPER on Departure

***Cost does not include:

Any Airfare, meals (other than mentioned above), camera fee, porterage charges, gratuities, other personal expenses such as mineral water, telephone charges, and or anything specifically not mentioned in cost includes section above, tips & gratuities.