|
|
Home > Destinations > Far East > India > Royal Rajasthan Pushkar Fair Adventure
Royal Rajasthan Pushkar Fair Adventure
On the edge of the Thar Desert, Pushkar hosts Rajasthans most important agricultural fair and largest Hindu pilgrimages. This once-a-year nature and culture adventure traverses north central India from the depths of tiger country in Bandavgarh National Park, to the sacred city of Varanasi on the Ganges, and across Rajasthan from Agra to Jaipur and to the Pushkar Fair. Every year fair dates vary and we strategically time our arrival for the best photography before the main event starts when locals are setting up and there are more camels, more cattle and more decorative animals to photograph. We are there for the start of the main event and then depart before the tourist hoards arrive. Bandavgarh National Park is one of the best places to see tiger in India which adds to the photographic excitement of this itinerary.
*See note below: Strategy for best experience at the Pushkar Fair.
DAY 1 : OCT 25 ARRIVE DELHI
Arrival in Delhi where you'll be met and transferred to our hotel. Once the capital of the Moghul Empire, today Delhi is a sprawling metropolis - a fascinating blend of past and the present- which is an apt introduction to the composite culture of the entire sub-continent. Overnight at the Marina Hotel.
DAY 2 : OCT 26 EXPLORE OLD AND NEW DELHI
Our expert guide weaves us in and out of Old and New Delhi. We catch a rickshaw into the old walled city and walk through the bustling and crowded market of Chadni Chowk. Nearby we walk to the Friday Mosque, Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India, and then on to the Red Fort - once the most opulent fortified palace of the Moghul Empire. We drive along the ceremonial avenue - Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament House, the President's Residence, and to see the famous Tomb of Humayun, the second Moghul Emperor. The evening is free to walk around the bustling shops and restaurants of Connaught Place near our hotel. Overnight at the Marina Hotel. [BL]
DAY 3 : OCT 27 VARANASI AND AARTI CEREMONY
Morning flight to Varanasi. Known to devout Hindus as Kashi, said to have been founded by Shiva, Lord of the Universe at the beginning of time, Varanasi is one of the oldest living cities in the world and one of the most important pilgrimage destinations today. Located on the banks of the sacred River Ganges, a goddess herself, Varanasi has been a center of learning and civilization for over 2000 years.
Today we visit Sarnath, site of Buddha's first sermon at Bodhgaya, the most important Buddhist pilgrimage site in the world. Sarnath was at its peak in the 5th century ACE. The city was then known as Deer Park, after the Buddha's famous first sermon, The Sermon in the Deer Park. Deer still come very close and can be fed by buying a few packets of seed. This evening at Dashaswamedh Ghat, we maintain a respectful distance from the shore in our boat on the Ganges and experience the cremation Ghats, a living tradition of one of the world's oldest and most important religions. We watch a glittering Aarti ceremony: huge lamps are set ablaze as the multitude chants hymns. Overnight Gateway Ganges Hotel [B]
DAY 4 : OCT 28 GANGES RIVER
Today we wake very early and transfer to the ghats to take a dawn boat trip on the Ganges during which we watch the sun rise and view the morning Puja (prayer) at the various ghats. There is little one can say to adequately describe the place where every Hindu wants to die and have their cremated ashes drift down the mighty Goddess Ganga to the sea, and thence directly to Nirvana. A pilgrimage site second only to the Kabal in Mecca, pilgrims in their millions flood to Varanasi each year, and the city is one of the most exciting and lively places in the world.
Later in the afternoon make an excursion to Ramnagar Fort, situated on the opposite bank of river Ganga. Built in the eighteenth century of red sandstone, the Ramnagar Fort has a temple and a museum within the grounds dedicated to Ved Vyasa, who wrote Mahabharata, the great Indian epic. Legends have it that Ved Vyasa stayed here for a brief period. Overnight Gateway Ganges Hotel [B]
DAY 5 : OCT 29 BANDAVGARH NATIONAL PARK
Fly from Varanasi to Khajuraho, arriving in the early afternoon. Our 5 hour, 260km drive to Bandhavgarh National Park takes us through one of the many productive agricultural regions of India, with neat farms lining the roadside.
Set in the Vindhya Hills of Madhya Pradesh, the mixed habitat of bamboo, grassland, and deciduous forests make Bandhavgarh National Park one of the best places to see tiger in India. In addition there are at least 150 species of birds in the park, along with other mammals such as sloth bear, langur monkeys, wild boar, wild dogs, mongoose and 3 kinds of deer - chital, sambar and barking. Upon arrival at Bandhavgarh we check in to our lodge. Dinner and overnight at Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge. [BD]
DAYS 6-7 : OCT 30-31 BANDHAVGARH 4X4 AND ELEPHANT SAFARIS
During our visit in Bandhavgarh we have the opportunity to go on three jeep safaris and one possible elephant safari. After an early morning wake-up call followed by tea and coffee, dawn breaks and we depart the lodge in 4x4 open jeeps accompanied by a resident naturalist and community forest park guide acting as our scout. We take a field breakfast with hot tea/coffee or depending on sightings we have breakfast back at the lodge.
We have a chance to find tiger and get an up close view from elephant back (subject to availability). Because tigers have little fear of elephants, this is yet another way to experience tigers in the wild - tromping through the bush on an elephant to areas inaccessble by road. After lunch at the lodge we take our afternoon jeep safari. In the evening back at the lodge chat with your naturalist about the game sightings of the day. During one evening you can join a lecture about wildlife of India, focusing especially on the tiger and its natural history, threats of extinction, and conservation initiatives of the Sankhala family who have dedicated their lives to tiger conservation and ecotourism. Dinner and overnight Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge [BLD]
DAY 8 : NOV 1 KHAJURAHO TEMPLES
Return drive to Khajuraho for an expert guided walking tour of the magnificent Jain and Hindu temples and intricate stone sculptures. Known as the erotic temples, the craftsmanship exhibits images of gods and goddesses, celestial maidens and dancers, animals and musicians, all frozen in stone, many in the act of courtship. Khajuraho is a UNESCO World Heritage Site to preserve this collective glorification of life, love, and joy, and reflect the spirit of creativity and human relationships of the Chandela period (9th & 10th century CE). Overnight at the Jass Hotel. [B]
DAY 9 : NOV 2 ORCHHA AND TRAIN TO AGRA
Morning drive from Khajuraho to Jhansi Railway Station visiting Orchha en route. Orchha was the capital of the Bundela rulers in the 16th and 17th centuries. Today the palaces and temples retain much of their pristine glory. Jahangir Mahal, a tiered palace crowned by graceful domed pavilions, called chhatris, has a spectacular view of the soaring temple spires and nearby cenotaphs. This evening we'll take the Shatabdi Express train from Jhanisi to Agra (5:55pm-8:25pm) where we check into our hotel. Overnight at the ICT Mughal. [BL]
DAY 10 : NOV 3 TAJ MAHAL AND RED FORT
Early this morning we visit the Taj Mahal when it opens right after sunrise. The Taj is probably the most famous building on earth and unquestionably the most beautiful. It is an architectural wonder inspired by love - a white marble memorial to Mumtaz Mahal, wife of the great Shah Jahan, fifth Moghul Emperor and architect extraordinaire. Designed and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa, it took 22 years to complete and features stunning balance and symmetry, elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best inlay work ever produced. We return to our hotel for breakfast followed by an afternoon excursion to the Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site with massive 70-foot high walls 1.5-mile long, encompassing an astounding collection of well preserved buildings, many of them completed during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan (who built the Taj). Overnight at the ICT Mughal. [BD]
DAY 11 : NOV 4 TO JAIPUR VIA FATIPUR SIKRI
Depart this morning for Jaipur (260k/5 hrs) en-route visiting the ancient site of Fatehpur Sikri. The city was built by Emperor Akbar the Great, the consolidator of the Moghul Empire and most farseeing and tolerant of all the Mughuls. The entire city was deserted a few years after construction due to a dearth of water - posterity's gain, as the entire city has thus been preserved. We continue our drive to the pink city of Jaipur where we check in to Samode Havelli. Built over 175 years ago as the manor house for the royal family, Samode Havelli reflects the style and elegance of the family and the art and architecture of the times. Overnight Samode Havelli. [BL]
DAY 12 : NOV 5 AMBER FORT AND JAIPUR
Amber Fort is the classic image of the romantic Rajasthani palace. We arrive in the morning light for the best photography of its forbidding exterior that belies a beautiful inner fusion of Mughal and Hindu architectural styles with exquisite filigree and lattice carving. We drive back to Jaipur, the famed Pink City, painted pink to honor a British Viceregal visit in the late 19th century CE. The city palace is a delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture which sprawls over one-seventh of the walled city. We visit the museum, wander the palace to view the famed Peacock Gate, and visit the amazing Jantar Mantar - the largest and best preserved of the five outdoor astronomy observatories built by Jai Singh II still as accurate as a Swiss watch today. Walking throuigh the busy streets, markets and shops, we also view the Hawa Mahal - the "Palace of Winds", an ornamental five-storey sandstone faade of fine trelliswork, with 953 niches, windows and elaborate balconies. Overnight Samode Havelli [B]
DAYS 13-15 : NOV 6-8 PUSHKAR FAIR
Drive from Jaipur to Pushkar (140 km/3 hrs). Pushkar Fair lasts for seven days, and people from virtually all of India but especially from Rajasthan and neighboring states come here with their livestock to trade. We arrive at the same time that migrants are coming to the site and setting up ahead of most tourists, and then we depart soon after the fair is underway to avoid the peak of the tourist crowd. The fair is predominantly agricultural, with a gathering of camels, horses and cattle in their thousands. It is one of India's most colorful and exciting experiences with women wearing their most beautiful and spectacularly brilliant saris. There are tradesmen selling every kind of goods, from clothing and jewelry to horse shoes and medicine for camel ticks. But the main attraction is the camel sales. There are races and competitions, auctions and private deals.
The Pushkar Fair is also of great religious significance. Lord Brahma - The creator of the world, in his search for an abode on earth, performed the supremely spiritual Vedic Yagna at Pushkar, and Pushkar is the site of the only Brahma Temple in the world. During the festival this quiet country town caters for up to 250,000 visitors and 50,000 camels. Overnights Swiss Fixed Camp. [BLD]
DAY 16 : NOV 9 RETURN TO DELHI
Say a fond farwell to Pushkar this morning before driving to the Ajmer Railway Station for our Shatabdi Express train to Delhi (3:50pm-10:40pm). Upon arrival well be met and transferred to the Marina Hotel. [B]
DAY 17 : NOV 10 DAY IN DELHI AND DEPART
Your morning is at leisure, and this afternoon we have the option to visit Dilli Haat, a shopping complex reminiscent of a weekly market, or Haat. Artisans from around the country sell their wares at the Haat and shops are organized by region of the country. Enjoy dinner at a Connaught Place restaurant before transferring to the international airport for your flight home. [BD]
| - Prices, Departure Dates and Included Services - |
Days: 19 | Grade: I (click for grades definition) | | | | | 2012 Departure Dates | 2013 Departure Dates | | | (Please call for availability) | (Please call for availability) |
|
| | | Included: Airport transfers; accommodations as noted; private vehicle with English-speaking driver and guide in Delhi; fully escorted throughout by local guide; first class A/C trains KJH-Lucknow-Agra, private vehicle and English speaking driver / escort; all entrance fees to sites for touring as noted; meals as indicated [B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner]; services of inbound local ground operators and pre-departure services of Wildland Adventures. | | | Not Included: International flights; India visa fees; departure taxes; tips and gratuities; alcoholic beverages and bottled drinks; meals not indicated above; extra costs for optional excursions or services on own or to be paid direct; travel insurance; extra costs due to unanticipated changes in your itinerary for reasons beyond our control. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance. | | | Trip Notes: Strategy for the best experience at the Pushkar Fair.
This is a typical daily itinerary for the Pushkar Fair trip. Depending on local conditions, the exact day-to-day itinerary and sites visited may vary. The Royal Rajasthan Pushkar Fair Adventure is a once-a-year modified version of our Royal Rajasthan itinerary. Each year the dates vary and we carefully strategize to maximize your photographic and cultural experience in order to see the best of the events while avoiding the worst of the tourist hordes that flock here. For 2011 we recommend to check into Pushkar by Nov 6th and leave on the 9th. It is important for photographers to be there before the main event starts as pilgrims are arriving, settling in and greeting each other. Once it officially starts on the 8th the religious aspects start, and the livestock begin to leave. It is important to see one day of the official main event and then we depart before the entire crowd becomes more chaotic. While we will miss out on some of the religious aspects of the festival (although we experience similar religious events in Varanasi), there will be more camels, more cattle and more decorative animals to photograph before the religious events. Although the main holy bath happens on the 10th, on Nov 6th there is a mini bath which we can observe and photograph under less crowded conditions. | |
|
