The Rural Day Drive Experience Explore an unknown side of India during your Overlander experience. The unspoilt, simple, and pure rural side in its full glory. You traverse barren landscapes and witness colourful communities with varied wildlife and avian life. You experience the simplicity and purity of the Indian village life that inexplicably will make you question the complexity of your own. This unique and authentic rural experience is complete with the opportunity to interact with different people from different communities first hand, visit their dwellings, understand their lives, sample rural cuisine and witness other aspects of their day. The Overlander India Rural Day Drive takes place south of Jodhpur and is best suited for visitors to Jodhpur or the surrounding areas. Our Rural Day Drive, is a full or half day excursion from Jodhpur at the end of which you return to your hotel or spend a magical night at our safari tented camp. You undertake this adventure in new 4x4 vehicles that have modified for optimum safety and comfort.
Itinerary Drive on the highway 25 km from Jodhpur to get to open rural terrain Start off-roading and commence with a thrilling dry riverbed drive The dry riverbed drive is a unique signature experience of Overlander India. Experience 4x4 exhilaration first hand as you power and navigate your way through the cracked crevasses and uneven challenges of a dry riverbed. Various species of birds and some antelope like black buck can be observed as part of the natural habitat. Visit a small village with 3 different communities living there See an elementary village school
A visit to a quaint village with a tiny population shows you the modest yet clean homes of various communities and how they coexist with each other peacefully. Children of a small rural school greet you with a cheerful good morning as you find your way to visit the local craftsmen, the shepherd and understand the art of milking a cow! Visit the homes of a carpenter and a shepherd Visit to the Dhani of a family from the Bishnoi community Agricultural communities live in family hamlets of hutments in the midst of their lands. A visit to such communities including the Bishnois, who are known for their conservation and preservation of the environment, provides you with the rare inside into the lives of the world s first environmentalists and the founders of the Chipku movement.
Visit to the Dhani of a family from the Pittal community See a rural kitchen in action with bread making and sampling Inspite of being a desert void of fresh produce, the Thar is known for its delicacies, flavours and spices. You get the privilege of seeing a functioning rural kitchen and sample freshly made local breads. Your lunch comprises of vegetables grown in our very own organic garden, but made in a smoked wood village stove. Learn how to craft and Indian chapatti with your hands and enjoy lunch in the pure village air. Picnic lunch at a peaceful and tranquil setting
Visit to a village to witness an age old Rajasthani ceremony To end your rural experience, we give you the rare opportunity of witnessing an age old ceremony of camaraderie and friendship along with the village elders inside the home of a village chief. Traditional welcome at the village chief s home The traditional western Rajasthani ceremony of friendship and brotherhood
After a truly unforgettable experience you return to your hotel by sundown with memories of a rural visit completely off the beaten path unlike anything else you will experience during your visit to India. Your hosts who are your personal escorts, belong to Rajasthani nobility and their family has been part of the history of this region from the 16 th century. The goodwill and respect they enjoy from local communities is built on years of involvement in their lives, helping the villagers in education, health and guiding them to better their own lives. Ajit Rana Uday Bhan Singh