Our Jodhpur, Narlai and Udaipur tour invites you to soak up the splendours of Jodhpur and Udaipur while also steering off the beaten track to Rawla Narlai in rural Rajasthan. It pairs perfectly with our Luxury Golden Triangle Tour. It’s lovely all on its own, too, particularly for those who’ve already dipped their toes into India on a previous visit and would like to explore the beauty, charm and heritage of Rajasthan in more depth.
Kicking off in the Blue City of Jodhpur, you’ll explore the majestic Mehrangarh Fort before navigating the labyrinthine lanes of the old city – bursting with activity and vibrant market stalls, Jodhpur’s old town is full of photo opportunities. While in Jodhpur, we’ll also treat you to a private Bhopa performance (a rare and dying Rajasthani art form, combining singing, painting and dance). Next, it’s onwards to the sleepy village of Narlai for two nights. Here you’ll experience stunning natural landscapes, friendly local people, and an exceptional dinner by the ancient stepwell lit up by hundreds of oil lamps. While continuing to your last destination of Udaipur, we recommend a stop on the way in Ranakpur to visit the richly-carved Jain temple, with 1,444 unique pillars; it’s quite a sight to behold and a fascinating place to stretch your legs. In Udaipur, you’ll soak up splendid lakes and palaces while staying in the fairy-tale-like Taj Lake Palace, a dazzling, 270-year-old palace that dreamily floats in the middle of Lake Pichola.
This evening, soak up a private Bhopa performance – a rare Rajasthani art form that combines dancing, singing and painting. Afterwards, enjoy a traditional thali dinner (a bit like tapas, a thali presents you with several small plates. It’s a great way to get a taste of Rajasthan and try things you perhaps wouldn’t have otherwise ordered). Our past guests have found this a very culturally rich experience and a highlight of their stay.
In the afternoon, continue into the labyrinthine lanes of the old city on a guided tour by your choice of foot, tuk-tuk or bicycle. Clustered around an early 20th-century clock tower is the maze of streets in Sadar Bazaar. They’re fascinating to explore, with little shops and stalls selling everything from silver jewellery to camel leather shoes to puppets and sweets and spices.
Later, you’ll be steering off the usual tourist route to a beautiful village in rural Rajasthan for a two-night stay at Rawla Narlai. Dating back to the 17th-century, Rawla Narlai is a converted fort with a selection of comfortably rustic rooms adorned with plenty of local charm and character while offering modern hotel’s facilities. The inner courtyards are blooming with bright pink bougainvillaea and fragrant frangipani. The surrounding village and landscapes are beautifully picturesque. Rawla Narlai is a special place and quite a hidden gem.
To end the day, we suggest Rawla Narlai’s signature Stepwell Dinner, which is the highlight of a stay here for many of our guests. The magical supper offers four courses of local specialities served beside a 1,100-years-old stepwell, spectacularly lit by hundreds of oil lamps and accompanied by soulful folk songs performed by a local musician on a tambura.
When arriving in Udaipur, you’ll take a short boat ride across Lake Pichola to the fabulous Taj Lake Palace. Dating back over 270 years and floating majestically in the middle of the water, this is the ultimate Indian palace hotel experience for many like-minded visitors, and we’d have to agree! The palatial interiors have been carefully restored to their former glory when the palace served as a summer retreat for Maharaja Jagjit Singh, who ruled Jaipur in the 17th century. Other favourite hotels of ours in Udaipur you may wish to consider are The Oberoi Udaivilas, The Leela Palace, and RAAS Devigarh.
The tour of Jodhpur, Narlai and Udaipur we’ve described here is merely a starting point to share a flavour of the possibilities. While this is a route much-loved by our guests, it’s entirely flexible, and we’ll design every detail around you. For example, you may like to continue to the desert city of Jaisalmer and the Pink City of Jaipur (in that case, check out our Rajasthan with Boutique Hotels Tour). For first time visitors to the region, this itinerary pairs well with our Luxury Golden Triangle Tour. If you like the look of Narlai, you may also find our Classic Rajasthan Tour with Heritage Hotels inspiring, our Favourite Boutique Hotels in Rajasthan, and our Favourite Hideaways in Rural Rajasthan. All our tours are private and tailor-made to complement your taste and interests. In essence, the itinerary described above is just a starting point, and together we can refine it into your ideal Indian experience.
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