URBAN E NOMADS INDIA. Pushkar Festival

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1 INDIA Pushkar Festival This itinerary, designed to coincide with the Pushkar Camel Festival, also works very well as an off-beat introduction to India s cultural and natural riches.

2 INDIA Pushkar Festival This itinerary, designed to coincide with the Pushkar Camel Festival, also works very well as an offbeat introduction to India's cultural and natural riches, covering its mythically ornate Jain temples in Ranakpur with village walks amongst the Raika tribe as well as the staples like the Taj Mahal and the cultural attractions of Jaipur, before ending the trip against the serenity of Lake Pichola in Udaipur. As there will be a week-long horseback trek, this is certainly an adventurous (and fulfiling) way of approaching northern India. The accommodation range is fascinating from resplendent Art Deco palaces to former hunting lodges of Maharanis, heritage hotels that formed the base for the likes of Bruce Chatwin and William Dalrymple as well as quaint 17th century palaces in the more remote corners of Rajasthan.

3 1 Delhi Arrive in Delhi, met at airport and transferred to hotel. The Imperial Hotel, a veritable institution in Delhi, is situated at Connaught Place, right at the heart of Lutyen s Delhi. 2 3 Delhi After breakfast, take a leisurely visit of Old Delhi, visiting the imposing Red Fort, the Jama Masjid as well as the Raj Ghat on Yamuna River(where Gandhi was cremated). A rickshaw ride around old Delhi is in order. An optional tour of old Delhi as accompanied by a scholar and followed by breakfast in a famous pratha joint in one of the corners of Old Delhi is an optional addition to this trip. Agra Transfer to Agra today. Your base will be the Oberoi Amarvilas, the most luxurious hotel in Agra, where every room comes with a view of the Taj Mahal. Photo Courtesy of Vikram Sheel

4 URBAN E NOMADS 4 5 Jaipur Taking advantage of your proximity to the Taj Mahal, an early morning visit to the Taj is in order. After a leisurely breakfast, transfer on to Jaipur, with a visit, en route to Fatehpur Sikri. Make a wish at Fatehpur Sikri, a site built by Akbar in honour of Salim Chishti, a famed Sufi saint. It is at Fatehpur Sikri where the legends of Akbar and his famed courtiers, the nine jewels of Navaratnas, were born. Tonight you will be based at the Taj Rambagh Palace, a tony, well-located former palace in Jaipur. Jaipur Photo Courtesy of Supreet Vaid Explore Jaipur s Amber Fort (wake up early morning and you get to get to the top by elephant!) followed by the Hawa Mahal, the latter a wondrous exercise in symmetry. Shopping is also a favourite pastime in Jaipur, being one of the places in India synonymous with sarees and gems. Photo Courtesy of Ketan Bakhshi

5 6-8 Pushkar Travel on to Pushkar today for the Camel Festival. The world s largest camel fair, the fair takes place on the banks of the Pushkar Lake. The congregation of people and general festivities making for spectacular photographic opportunities, the Pushkar festival is one of India s most colourful and iconic Jodhpur Departing Pushkar, we go on today to Jodhpur. The Umaid Bhawan is quite distinctive from the Moghul style that dominates much of the landscape in Jodhpur in its distinctively Rajput influence. Built with the intention of being the new symbol of a Jodhpur that was at the cusp of a new era, designed to replace his ancestor s Meherangarh Fort, the project was commissioned to Henry Vaughn Lanchester who articulated Maharaja Umaid Singh s desires to depart from Mughal architectural influences, twinning instead, the prevalent art-deco aesthetic of the time with Hindu architectural influences. Tomorrow you will visit the Meherangarh Fort, the Umaid Bhawan s predecessor as the architectural symbol of the Rathore Clan, which also contains a museum considered one of the best in Rajasthan, with Rathore arms, palanquins and paintings and period rooms on display. Photo Courtesy of Tick Ramirez Photo Courtesy of Hawkey

6 10-12 Rochet Rohet Garh, the most famous accommodation in equine-related tourism in India, will be your base whilst in Rohet. Marking the start of your equine adventure in India, Rohet Garh is significantly the base for William Dalrymple when he wrote City of Djinns, a book on Mughal-era Delhi(and indeed the hotel is mentioned in the book) as well as Chatwin s seminal Songlines. On your second day at Rohet, be treated to a picnic, post-safari- a grand recreation of a bygone era, where you are waited upon by liveried attendants. The food is served hot on tables with crisp linens as you sit on large mattresses with bolsters and soft cushions by a body of water. Take the chance to experience the Marwari horse, a unique horse distinguished by its curved ears, at Rohet Garh. 12 Korta Drive on to Korta today, marking the official beginning of your horse safari. Evening tea followed by a visit to temple, village walk in raika tribe. Late evening cocktail & dinner. You will be based at Korta Escape is a theme cottage development on 27 acres of farm, peacefully set between two small hills.

7 13 Korta Riding Distance 28km. After breakfast, get acquainted with horses in the outdoor arena of korta escape we set on a fun ride around 10 o clock. Riding through dry riverbed towards the historic temple of mother goddess. On reaching to the temple, we serve freshly cooked mixed cuisine lunch. After relaxing and enjoying the view, we start riding back. Riding through fields and passing through small villages of tribes, we reach back to Korta. 14 Korta Jungle camp dist 24 k.m In the morning take the trail towards the hills to get up to the passes crossing some shepherd village. A very different ride also crossing some hill dunes, lunch organized at a farm. Ride towards the destination jungle camp near forested patch in the middle of dry riverbed. Many antelopes all around. Evening cocktails with bonfire.o/n Jungle camp (deluxe cottage tents with attach bathrooms.)

8 15 Korta Korta - Leopards lair. Riding Distance 30km. In the morning after breakfast, we ride through the village and age-old tracks passing green fields, leaving peaceful and beautiful Korta escape behind we reach a cool and shady lunch place. After a relaxing lunch we head towards aravali hills, passing through rocky and romantic hills & crossing few remote villages, we reach a beautiful site, Leopards lair (Deluxe cottages) with all modern amenities belonging to the nobles of that area.o/n Leopards lair. 16 Ranakpur LEOPARDS LAIR -Ranakpur. Riding distance 26km. After a beautiful night, we start riding as the sun rises in the east and reflection in the water fills you with positive energy. Enjoying the sight, passing through the age old track with lush green fields the mountains and tribal belts inhabited by Grasiyas, found only in the jungles of aravali hills in India we reach our lunch spot,a beautiful lake in the mid forest all around. Crossing the forest trail, we reach ranakpur our destination for the night. After check in we take a drive to world famous ranakpur Jain temple, which is a 15th, century marble carved temple with 1444 pillars to support this massive structure. Photo courtesy of Dr Zatrok

9 17 18 Ghanerao Ranakpur to Ghanerao Castle. O/N Dist- 28 k.m starting at in the morning after breakfast we move parallel to the Aravalli range one can notice the change in the land as we are heading towards the ranges.. We move forward crossing through dry riverbeds and sandy terrain we reach a very small shepherd village where we stop for a few minutes to catch some amazing moments in your camera. Crossing through dam and thorny forest tracks, we reach Ghanerao, an amazing 17th century castle, where we will be spending the night. Kumbhalgarh Ghanerao Castle to Kumbhalgarh. Mount on the horses at around 9.30 and move into the forest this is a declared wildlife sanctuary housing sloth bears, leopards, antelopes, deer s and a variety of Birds we stop at the forest lodge with the par anomic view of the dam beneath, crocodile basking in the sun an d hundreds of migratory birds in the lake after lunch we move for Kumbhalgarh crossing the thick forest we have to get down from the horse at some steep climbs (walking and leading horses for about 1km) we reach Aodhi in Kumbhalgarh once a hunting lodge of the Maharana of mewar. After breakfast drive to Udaipur. Photo courtesy of Gordon Stubbs

10 Udaipur Based at the Taj Lake Palace, you will be treated to views of Lake Pichola. Wander down the streets of Udaipur, filled with artisanal stores selling intricate Mughal-style paintings. Rise early the next morning for a meditation or yoga session in a spa tent. Take some time off by night to witness the dancers perform in the main square of the hotel. Options(extra cost) would be to have a spa treatment on Lake Pichola itself as well as a boat ride on Lake Pichola, passing by the ghats. Lunch(or dinner) at the Devi Garh resort also comes highly recommended. Delhi Fly to Delhi. The last night in Delhi. Again based at the Imperial Delhi, we suggest trying the different restaurants here on your last night. 23 Delhi Transfer to airport for onward international flight.

11 accommodation Delhi The Imperial Agra Oberoi Amarvilas

12 accommodation Jaipur Taj Rambagh Palace Pushkar Pushkar Resort

13 accommodation Jodhpur Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace Rochet Rohet Garh

14 accommodation Ranakpur Maharani Baag Ghanerao Ghanerao Castle

15 accommodation Kumbhalgarh Aodhi Udaipur Leela Kempinski

16 Total Price (Indicative Only): USD6980 per person on double occupancy basis Price includes: All domestic transfers and tours mentioned. Accommodations on bed and breakfast throughout. Price excludes: All gratuities and tips, tours not mentioned and items of a personal nature.

17 Important Notes Trip Grading/Difficulty: This itinerary is done at a relaxed pace, with no strenuous or overtly physical activities and is suitable for all ages. Flights: It is essential that you give us your air schedule at least 60 days prior to departure, so that we may confirm your arrival and departure hotels. Health: You are strongly advised to contact your own GP or vaccination centre in respect of required vaccinations for India. Check on recommended immunizations as least a month before travel. Among the items you might pack are: sun creams (factor 12 and above), insect repellent, sting relief cream, antiseptic cream, a lightweight hat and sunglasses. Important Note: While we endeavor to make the itinerary as accurate as possible, it should be considered an approximate schedule of activities rather than a rigid schedule of events. Trip itineraries are subject to revision due to weather, road and trail conditions, government restrictions and other factors beyond our control.

18 Booking Conditions Booking your tailor-made holiday: A booking is accepted only after we receive the completed signed booking form and/or the non-refundable deposit required. If the booking is made within 60 days of departure, then full payment is required at the time of confirmation except over the Christmas & New Year period when the full itinerary amount must be made at the time of booking. The balance of payment due for your travel arrangements must bepaid by you not later than 60 days before departure; otherwise we may treat the booking as cancelled. Methods of payment: Payments for deposits and final monies for Travel Arrangements may be made by bank transfer. Cancellation: All cancellations must be advised in writing and will take effect the day we receive it. Urbane Nomads refunds all recoverable costs after cancellation, subject to third-party cancellation and refund policies and a USD500 administration and travel planning fee. In some cases hotels require prepayment in full for hotel rooms and services in the peak period. In such cases these deposits are non refundable. Travel Insurance It is a condition of booking the Travel Arrangements that You are adequately insured for the full duration of the your travel arrangements in respect of illness, injury, death, loss of baggage and personal items, cancellation and curtailment. The choice of insurer is the sole discretion of You. In signing the Booking Form or paying for your holiday you confirm to us that you either have or will have procured such insurance before the commencement of your travel arrangements. Further Terms and Conditions apply. In signing the Booking Form or paying the deposit you confirm to us that you have accepted the booking terms and conditions.