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Palace on Wheels Day-02 (Thursday)
Arrival Jaipur at 0000 hrs. The first stop of
the Palace on Wheels is Jaipur, one of the most well planned cities of the
world of its time. This capital city of Rajasthan, popularly known as the
Pink City was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, in 1727 A.D. To
explore the city, an air-conditioned coach takes you to
Hawa Mahal /the Palace of Winds, which is a remarkable five
storeyed building along the main street of the old city in pink splendour
with semi-octagonal and delicately honey combed sandstone windows. This is
followed by a visit to
Amber Fort, eight kms away, where rides on caparisoned
elephants add to the ambience. Shop for Jaipur's famous jewellery,
handicrafts, carpets, blue pottery and textiles. After lunch at a Palace
Hotel, you are off to the
City Palace, home of the erstwhile royal family. Right across
the road from the palace is the Jantar Mantar, the largest observatory
built by Sawai Jai Singh II. After dinner and a cultural programme at
Palace Hotel, the coach takes you back to the Palace on Wheels. Departure
for Jaisalmer is at 1730 hrs.
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