Our Aravalli-Nature-and-Wildlife Safari is a horseback safari into the heart of the Aravalli Mountains. It includes two of the major sights of Southern Rajasthan, the mighty Kumbhalgarh Fort and the most exquisite Jain Temple of Ranakpur.

The riders start directly in Udaipur and climb from the city up into the mountains, deeper and deeper every day. Leading over rocky slopes and through long beautiful valleys, this trail is one of the most varying of our safari trails, offering steep climbs as well as open stretches of countryside to go for endless gallops.

It is also a trail along a historic tradition. The riders will pass the ancient Hindu temples of Nagda and Eklingji, situated on a mountain plateau, ride through the scenic Haldi Ghati Valley, once a famous battle ground and up to the mighty fortress at Kumbhalgarh, perched on the top of the highest peak of the Aravalli Mountains in the area. Kumbhalgarh was once built as a place of retreat in times of danger for the rulers of Udaipur and it has been defeated only once in its history and even then it took the armies of three major kings and treachery, as the besieging army poisoned the water supply of the defenders. All these battles have long passed, but especially Kumbhalgarh brings home the formerly warring spirit of the Rajputs to even the most rushed visitor.

The lonely mountains around Kumbhalgarh have been converted into a Wildlife Sanctuary and are famous for its population of wolves and the peculiar sloth bears.

Both species are to shy to let themselves be seen, but marks can be seen and occasionally the riders can hear a wolf howling in the night.

Most common in the sanctuary and around are monkeys, mongoose and the majestic peacocks and occasionally one of the speckled Cheetal deer can be spotted.

The final highlight of the safari is the most beautiful Jain temple of Ranakpur, situated in a small valley in the Aravalli Mountains, far away from any major town or city.

Renewed for its white splendor it attracts many tourists and pilgrims from India and abroad. The trail ends in the tiny hamlet of Narlai on the Marwar side of the Aravalli Mountains.

Program Duration (8 Days)

Aravalli-Nature-and-Wildlife Safari is a horseback safari into the heart of the Aravalli Mountains.

• 1
  

  Arrival in Delhi

  Meeting on arrival and transfer to The Indian Way guesthouse.
  
  

  Overnight at TIW

• 2
  

  Delhi / Udaipur

  Arrival in Udaipur, we collect you from the airport/train station and bring you to our farm around 8 km outside Udaipur where we have comfortable Swiss Tents with attached bathrooms and AC for our riders. In the afternoon sightseeing Udaipur..
  
  

  Overnight stay in Swiss Tents

• 3
  

  Udaipur – Eklingji

  After breakfast start your ride from Udaipur, near Fateh Sagar Lake and climb up into the Aravalli Mountains, enjoying the great scenery and views over Udaipur and its surrounding valley. Visit the ancient Eklingji and Nagda Temples on the ride and stay overnight in our safari camp on the shore of a small lake in the hills.

• 4
  

  Eklingji – Haldi Ghati

  Today you will ride through the long beautiful valley of Haldi Ghati (which means Yellow Valley due to the color of the soil). Famous for its scenic beauty it was once upon a time the place of a great battle between Maharana Pratap, the king of Udaipur and the army of Moghul emperor Akbar. Visit the battlefield of Haldi Ghati and the Chetak Chabutra and learn about the historic deeds done by Chetak, the white Marwari stallion of Maharana Pratap. When time permits it is possible in the late afternoon to see the Maharana Pratap Museum in Haldi Ghati.
  
  

  Overnight stay in our safari camp.

• 5
  

  Haldi Ghati – Kumbhalgarh

  Enjoy the last virgin dry deciduous forest in Rajasthan and ride through the unique scenery of the Aravalli Mountains. Today horse and rider have to do a lot of climbing as the trail leaves Haldi Ghati Valley and winds up into the higher reaches of the Aravalli Mountains. Ascending on narrow mountain paths, quite often through thick jungle vegetation, the riders leave the little villages behind and come into wild country, home to the last wolves and sloth bears of Rajasthan. The final destination of this day is the little town of Kumbhalgarh. After the ride you can visit Kumbhalgarh Fort.
  
  

  Overnight stay in our safari camp.

• 5
  

  Kumbhalgarh – Ranakpur

  Descending from the height of Kumbhalgarh Fort down into the valley of Ranakpur you will cross the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary and have a chance of glimpsing a large number of wildlife such as antelope, deer (Cheetal and Samba), smaller mammals such as mongoose or rabbits and with some luck you might be able to spot a sloth bear or a leopard. Besides you can observe countless birds singing above you in the treetops such as nightingales, kingfisher, meena, peacocks or jungle fowls. The sanctuary accounts for a great variety of more than 250 different species of birds. After your arrival in Ranakpur, visit the famous Jain temples there.
  
  

  Overnight-stay in our safari camp near Ranakpur.

• 6
  

  Ranakpur – Narlai

  Today you will ride through the beautiful Ranakpur valley on the Marwar side. Here the countryside is much more arid than on the Southern side of the Aravalli Mountians towards the former kingdom of Mewar (Udaipur). The route will lead you through little villages and along fields where farming is still done with a pair of oxen. The safari ends near the village of Narlai, famous for its pretty havelis and fort which has been converted into a Heritage Hotel.

• 7
  

  Return to Udaipur

  We bring you back to Udaipur after breakfast. Arrival there around Midday. The afternoon can be used for sightseeing or shopping.
  
  

  Overnight stay in Swiss Tents

• 7
  

  Udaipur/Delhi

  After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flight to Delhi for onward destination.