Rajasthan - Lifestyles…
This tour is specially for all categories of 'People' Photographers. The emphasis
would be on visiting colorful spots and the stress would be on lifestyles, people at work
and interaction with locals. The trip is delicately planned so as to enable each
individual to pursue his own brand of photography without interfering with or holding up
anybody else. It is for this reason that the destinations selected in the trip do not have
a dearth of good subject matter.
Day 1. : Arrival / Delhi
Late afternoon arrival. Traditional welcome with garlands as your representatives
welcome you aboard your Luxury Car. The ride to your hotel, The Connaught, is a short
drive during which time your representative would introduce, India as well as some common
Indian customs and courtesies.
Upon arrival at the hotel, whilst our representatives organize your check in, a
refreshing welcome drink is served to you - 'Namaste' and welcome to India !
Overnight At The Connaught
Day 2. : Delhi
After a leisurely breakfast and then a visit to Old Delhi. We walk through the small
shops, where their owners display the wares on the pavement and the customers jostle with
one another for a good bargain. We also visit the wholesale fish market, which is as
chaotic as the proverbial 'Fish Market'. All varieties of fish - big and small - are
auctioned here. When the deal is done the retailer carries his booty away in a basket over
his head. We spend a couple of hours here independently after agreeing to meet back at an
appointed spot.
Next, we visit some of the shantytowns of Delhi. Thought the people living here are
quite poor, they are always cheerful and friendly. Their sense of hygiene is also of a
high standard. We see people doing their daily laundary, filling up clay pitchers from the
community tap or just sitting cheerfully munching peanuts on their string cots. Another
couple of hours visiting these towns and then back to our hotel.
Overnight At The Connaught
Day 3. : Delhi / Mandawa (260 Kms.)
Following breakfast, we check out of our hotel and ride into the heart of the Thar
Desert to Mandawa, which used to be a medieval Indian trade city and still has beautifully
preserved houses of medieval Indian traders in typical Rajput (Rajasthani) style.
Upon arrival, check into Castle Mandawa, which is a curious mixture of the old and the
new. Medieval turreted towers, palanquin-roofed balconies, blend with modern comforts in
old-world rooms. Family portraits, antique cannons and arms add to the charm of this
family-run resort where tradition still runs strong. Even time is measured by a different
clock... a huge brass gong struck by the resident timekeepers at the fort every hour.
Afternoon, we walk through the main (and the only) street of the town. We visit some of
the ancient and beautifully preserved 'havelis' (mansions). They would give us an idea of
how families lived in those days. The havelis have beautiful paintings depicting
mythological themes on the walls. Made from vegetable dyes these paintings have lasted
centuries and still are quite sharp. Today, the world comes to this storybook town to see
its colourful frescoes on every subject under the sun, that is, ranging from the religious
to the erotic; from copies of popular English prints to witty social satire, rendered in
the inimitable style of the local artist
Overnight at Castle Mandawa.
Day 4. : Mandawa
After your introduction to the place & people yesterday, you could plan your safari
today at your own pace & select your own subjects & spots. A visit to the local
school would be interesting. The school is no more than a compartmentalized courtyard with
children sitting on coir mats. They wave at you frantically & shout at the top of
their voice deliriously as soon as we walk in. Sure enough, we have managed to create an
enjoyable pandemonium for some time. Walk into the bye-lanes, but watch out for the donkey
carts. The street corner barbers, the tea stall on the pavements, gypsy women in their
colorful dresses are all a small part of this greatly vibrant town.
Overnight at Castle Mandawa.
Day 5. : Mandawa / Fatehpur / Bikaner (225 Kms.)
After breakfast we bike for 30 Kms to Fatehpur, a small town which used to be an
important stop in the medieval Indian spice route to Central Asia. Though the glory has
disappeared, Fatehpur continues to remain a small self-contained town, with its local
school and temple. The lives of people here are simple and most of their needs are
fulfilled from the colourful and busy local bazaars. We spend a couple of hours biking
through the market and residential portions of the town.
We drive onto Bikaner. Welcome drink served upon arrival at the Lalgarh Palace Hotel -
the palace of the maharaja of Bikaner, only parts of which have been used as a modern
Hotel.
In the afternoon, we visit the heart of the old part of the Bikaner to have a measure
of the picture that could be taken here tomorrow.
Overnight At Hotel Lalgarh Palace
Day 6 : Bikaner / Deshnoke / Bikaner (80 Kms)
We spend an hour and a half in the city centre amongst vociferous hawkers &
vegetable and fruit vendors. The nearby main bus stand is also a good venue for pictures.
People inside buses, on the roofs, on the footboards or at the stand in their colorful
traditional dresses could be interesting objects for our cameras. We also visit some of
the residential square where people sit in front of their houses on string cots gossiping
away and kids playing noisily and posing in mockery before your cameras.
After lunch we visit a small ans obscure little village, 40 kms from Bikaber near
Deshnoke. People live here in small thatched houses which are plastered with cow dung (WHO
said Bulshitting is bad???). There are no roads here, only dung trails where donkey or
camel carts occassionaly move up and down. Noisy children scamper about while groups of
women either broom the community courtyard, fill water in clay pichers from the community
tap, light coal and wood ovens outside their gates or just huddle together and gossip.
Overnight At Hotel Lalgarh Palace
Day 07 : Bikaner / Jaisalmer (300 Kms)
Early morning we drive our way to Jaisalmer with packed breakfast. The drive is through
desert country with scantly vegetation and life stock in view. Water is scarce here, we
would see long trains of woman fetching water by nearby wells in bright brass pitchers.
Welcome drink upon arrival. In the afternoon, we visit the residential portions of the
fort where one third of the population of the old city lives. The design of houses
remains, as they were a couple of century's back and so are the lifestyle of people
occupying them. This is because most of the families continue to work for generations for
the rural (though only titular now) hence there is a sense of continuity. The houses are
arranged in narrow lanes and have small windows from where the shy child or the girl
peeps. This is the city believed to be the home of the most handsome men and women in
Rajasthan.
Overnight At Hotel Lalgarh Palace
Day 8 - Jaisalmer / Sam (40 kms)
After breakfast, we drive to Sam, a dessert outpost. We need to carry with us only what
we would we need for one night. On our way we visit a few typical dessert villages, which
have a sprinkling of huts. The rough terrain here does not support cultivation. Hence the
entire village work as casual labourers in road works or other public utility projects.
Inspite of their poverty, these beautiful people are very friendly and hospitable -
inviting you to come and have a look at their stone huts, sit on their string cots and
share a cup of tea with them. We arrive at Sam at mid - afternoon and proceed on a camel
safari, which is perhaps the best way to explore the undulating dunes and craters of the
dessert. The experience of the setting sun in the distant horizon, with camel trains and
dunes in the foreground is quite unchanting. Today we would camp in the dessert, amidst
bonfires and folk dances.
Overnight In Tents
Day 9 - Sam / Jaisalmer / Jodhpur
After leisurely breakfast we drive back to Jaisalmer. We would have a couple of rooms
for wash and change. The afternoon is free for independent activities. Perhaps you could
go back to the fort or visit the city outside the fort - especially the potter's village.
After dinner, we connect an overnight train to Jodhpur (D-2210, A-0730-next day).
Accommodation would be first class cabins and bed rolls/blankets would be provided.
Overnight on Train
Day 10 - Arrival - Jodhpur
Meeting and assistance upon arrival and transfer to hotel Ajit Bhawan Palace. After
breakfast we pick up our bikes to visit the massive Jodhpur Fort, set on top of a hill.
The biking would quite steep from the foot of the hill to the Fort - 3 Kms. It is most
impressive and formidable fort, in a Fort studded Rajasthan. Inside the Fort, there are a
whole series of courtyard and place apartments. The later have a fantastic collection and
elephant howdahs, miniature paintings, folk music instruments, the inevitable Rajput
armoury, palanquins, furnitures and costumes. The palace apartments are beautifully
decorated and have delicately carved red sandstone and lattice work windows. In the
afternoon we bike 9 Kms to Mandore, famous due to its extensive gardens with huge rock
terraces. The dinner at our palace Hotel is something special. Served in an open courtyard
by ethnically dressed waiters, accompained by folk music and dance and the maharaja mixing
with the guests in his flowing robes.
After a leisurely breakfast we spend the rest of the day in the old parts of the city,
visiting the busy clock tower bazaar area and the narrow streets & lanes which lead to
the blue hutment of the city. The clock tower bazaar is one of the most colorful &
vibrant markets in India - plenty of pictures here.
Overnight At Ajit Bhawan Palace
Day 11. : Jodhpur / Sherga / Pali / Udaipur (275 Kms.)
The drive Jodhpur to Udaipur is through several interesting towns. Of special mention
are the two above towns - Sherga & pali. They are small but extremely busy traditional
business centres. The scenario is lots of colorfully dressed men & women, noisy
children, hawkers, venders & pedie cabs. We spend some time in each of these towns
before proceeding to Udaipur where we arrive in the evening.
Upon arrival check into the hotel Paras Mahal, which is located on one of the most
prime real estate areas of Udaipur. This hotel offers you the best of two worlds:
traditional Indian hospitality and all the modern conveniences.
Overnight At Hotel Paras Mahal
Day 12. : Udaipur
After leisurely breakfast, we indulge in photographic pursuits at the brick works of
Udaipur. The mixing of clay by hand, moulding of bricks again by hand, young girls
carrying mud & clay in overhead baskets, setting up of brick kilns, little houses of
the workers are very interesting subject matter for the camera - especially in the
backdrop of the red brick kilns & their wiff of smoke.
After lunch we visit a steam locomotive shed just outside Udaipur. Skilled workers
working on steam trains & doing jobs no longer done by hand in the west, are quite
fascinating sights of pictures.
Overnight At Hotel Paras Mahal
Day 13. : Udaipur / Delhi (Overnight Train)
The day is free for independent activities, Perhaps a re-visit to the brickworks or
walk through the attractive bazaar sprawling at the foot of the City Palace.
In the evening we connect an overnight train to Delhi. Accommodation would be on
airconditioned sleeper compartments and bed rolls would be provided.
Overnight on Train
Day 14. : Arrival - Delhi
Transfer to the hotel upon arrival. Afternoon free for independent activities.
Overnight At The Connaught
Day 15. : Arrival - Delhi
Transfer to the international airport for your onward flight.
END OF TOUR
We also offer customized tours to destinations in Rajasthan. We will be happy to
customize this tour for you to suit your interests and convenience. |
