Once a year we organize a horseback safari from Udaipur to the Camel Market and Pushkar Fair in this little town at the edge of the Thar Desert.

Program Duration (11 Days)

Being a certain highlight of our safari year, this safari is certainly most spectacular firstly for its great landscapes and secondly of course for the participation in the colorful Pushkar Fair, probably one of the most vibrant festivals of India. The safari trail leads from the Aravalli Mountains with its unique geographic features down into the great Thar Desert and the little town of Pushkar. Considered a holy town, once a year Pushkar sports the biggest Camel Market of India, which is also a religious festival and a handicraft fair. There are only a few places of interest along the way but the rather substantial change of landscape taking place is simply breathtaking. After leaving the Aravalli Mountains behind, the riders will enter the semi-desert stretching around the edges of the Thar Desert where man fights hard in order to make a living from the poor soil. Camels replace horses and cows and the stony terrain of the hills gives way to the sandy desert ground. A few highlights are along the route such as the interesting tribal culture of this region or the impressive fort at Kharwa, which our riders can visit.

The local noble family is much interested in horses and if at home, never misses a chat. But the real highlight of this safari is of course the Pushkar Camel Fair where every year around 25 000 animals, camels, horses and cattle, are traded. It is also a major festival so many people of the region come to Pushkar in order to enjoy the fair, take part in the religious ceremonies or indulge in purchasing all sorts of items. The first set of dates is our safari Udaipur to Pushkar. The second set of dates is our safari from Pushkar to Udaipur (Pushkar Return Safari). The time spend on the Pushkar Fair in both safaris is equal.

• 1
  

  Arrival in Delhi (Overnight at TIW)

  Meeting on arrival and transfer to The Indian Way guesthouse.
  
  

• 2
  

  Delhi/Udaipur

  Morning, transfer to the airport for flight to Udaipur.
  
  

  Sightseeing in the afternoon, overnight stay in comfortable Swiss Tents on our farm (with attached Bathrooms). Visit the City Palace of Udaipur and do a boat ride on Lake Pichola in order to enjoy Udaipur’s waterfront and have a closer look on Lake Palace.

• 3
  

  Deogarh

  After breakfast pick up from your hotel and transfer to Deogarh, the starting point of the safari and test riding of the horses in the afternoon. Overnight stay in our safari camp. In the morning we offer either a boat ride on Lake Pichola in Udaipur before the transfer or the sightseeing of the Eklingji/Nagda Temples on the way.

• 4
  

  1st Safari Day: Deogarh-Jormuda

  The first day ride goes through the lower hills of the Aravalli Mountains with lush vegetation, countless birds and fertile cultivation area. The terrain is rocky and some climbing has to be done. Arrival in the camp around late afternoon.
  
  

• 5
  

  2nd Safari Day: Jormuda-Kherda

  Another day riding through the hills. The landscape becomes somewhat drier and the underground rocky. After lunch the riders can visit some tribal villages on the way and their characteristic way of cultivation

• 6
  

  3rd Safari Day: Kherda-Lalpura

  The main range of the Aravalli Mountains lies behind and the terrain becomes more open and level. The riders still have to master a handful of ravines and canyons on the way into the Thar Desert. The landscape has changed and green trees and lush vegetation have given way to thorn trees and shrubs. In the villages camels become a common sight and cows are increasingly replaced by goats.

• 7
  

  4th Safari Day: Lalpura-Jawaja

  Today the riders enter the semi-desert which borders the vast expanse of the Thar Desert. Large areas of waste land with little more than thorn bushes have to be traversed. The ground becomes sandy and the predominant colours are now yellow and brown, compared to the previous green. The terrain is level and the hills are left behind. Open savannah invites for long trots, canters and gallops and occasionally antelopes such as Nilgai or Chinkara can be spotted.

• 8
  

  5th Safari Day: Jawaja-Kharwa

  Another day of riding through semi-desert dotted with occasional tribal villages. Close to Pushkar already, the riders will encounter herds of cattle, camels or sheep, going or coming from the Fair. The trading in Pushkar starts a long time before the actual fair and in the course of nearly a month thousands of animals are streaming into the otherwise sleepy town of Pushkar. The major attractions, such as horses and camels are however usually brought in the last and are thus mainly traded during the Camel Fair.
  
  

  Lunch is taken near the impressive Kharwa Fort which can be visited afterwards. The owners, horse lovers themselves, are usually very pleased to chat with our riders during or after the visit of their fort. Arrival in the camp around late afternoon.

• 9
  

  6th Safari day: Kharwa-Pushkar

  The last day ride before reaching Pushkar leads through first semi desert and then proper desert along a range of mountains, which offer breathtaking views. In the morning the riders cross a countryside dotted with thorn trees, home of Nilgai and Chinkara antelopes. Villages are rare and the underground is rocky with occasional stretches of sand. After lunch the trail leads along a major trade route to Pushkar and the riders will pass many animals, especially cattle, camels and occasional horses. Sand roads invite for fast riding, only broken by an occasional village.
  
  

  Pushkar is reached around early afternoon. In order to reach our safari camp, which is conveniently situated on a small farm at the outskirts of the town, the riders have to ride over parts of the Fair and can catch a glimpse of the colourful gathering.
  
  

  After arrival in our camp, a walk over the Fair or the participation in some of the evening activities are possible.

• 10
  

  7th Safari Day: Ride over the Pushkar Fair

  Today the riders have a chance of exploring the Pushkar Fair on Horseback. Starting in the early morning they ride over the trading ground and can observe the animals being watered and fed. Afterwards, the area around Pushkar is explored. Pushkar is situated at the edge of the desert in a spectacular scenery. A lonely mountain ridge of the Aravallis run from south to north and Pushkar is thus at a meeting point between desert and mountains. The countryside is dry and infertile and agriculture rather hard. Most farmers use camels as drought animals and they are a common sight. In the afternoon the riders have another chance of visiting the Camel Fair and participating in the cultural activities organised by the Rajasthan Tourism Board.

• 11
  

  Pushkar/Delhi

  Transfer to the Jaipur airport for flight to Delhi or transfer to station for train to Delhi for onward destination.