The Pushkar Cattle Fair in India’s northern state of
Rajasthan is perhaps the most colorful and exotic jamboree of man and
animal that you can experience. Many thousands of people gather in the
sacred Indian town of Pushkar, during three days around the full-moon to
trade farm animals, shop for clothes and jewelry for the women and bathe
in the lake at Pushkar, one of the five most important pilgrimage sites
for Hindus. The amazing sights, sounds and smells that pervade this
small town on the edge of the desert is an experience not to be missed.
Spend a couple of days at the Pushkar Fair during this small group tour
of Rajasthan and north India and also experience some of the other
spectacular facets of this fabulous destination. Visit the Taj Mahal as
it turns from crimson to dazzling white in the light of the rising sun,
shop for exquisite silver jewelry and handicrafts in the bazaars of
Jaipur, sample some extraordinary Indian food flavored by exotic herbs
and spices (cooking lessons can be arranged) and spend a few nights
sleeping in palaces and castles of former Maharajahs and noblemen.
Pushkar, Rajasthan
Trip Highlights include:
3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Rickshaw ride in Delhi
Romantic Taj Mahal
Fatehpur Sikri, abandoned 16th century town
Bazaars and palaces of Jaipur, Rajasthan
Pushkar Festival and Cattle Fair
Overnight stays in forts and palaces of
Maharajahs
Royal city of Udaipur with its famous lakes and
hills
Jain marble temples of Mount Abu
Ahmedabad, blend of Hindu and Muslim
architecture
Stopover in Singapore
Tour Itinerary
18 Oct '09: USA to Singapore
Shortly after noon today, catch your Singapore
Airlines flight to Asia. Arrive in Singapore two days later after
crossing the International Dateline.
19 Oct '09: Singapore
The day is free for you to enjoy Singapore, a
modern city and yet distinctly Oriental. A special visitors’ pass is
included for transportation and entrance fees to important sights
around the city. Leave Singapore this evening and fly to Delhi,
India’s capital.
20 Oct '09: Delhi
This morning, enjoy a brief tour of Old Delhi,
riding in a rickshaw just like the locals, through the narrow
streets and teeming bazaars. Visit the grand mosque before
continuing to New Delhi, for other sites such as Humayun’s Tomb and
some free time for shopping etc.
21 Oct '09: Delhi to Agra
Travel by a chauffer driven car to Agra. Another
highlight of your trip awaits you, the Taj Mahal! Twenty thousand
master craftsmen labored for twenty years to build this awesome
memorial for one man to honor the memory of his wife. Stop at the
majestic Agra Fort .
22 Oct '09: Agra to Jaipur
Visit the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri and
continue to Keoladeo National Park , once a Maharajah’s private duck
shooting grounds and now a haven for migratory birds from Central
Asia. Later, continue by road to Jaipur.
23 Oct '09: Jaipur
Jaipur’s elegant buildings and palaces reflect
its past wealth and grandeur. Visit the elaborate ‘Palace of Winds’,
which is not a palace but merely a façade, behind which the ladies
of the royal household could watch processions and street festivals
without being seen themselves! Spend the afternoon walking through
Jaipur’s bazaars – famous for their silver jewelry and handicrafts.
Visit Amber Palace just outside the city – a hilltop fortress,
accessed in appropriately royal style on elephant back!
24 Oct '09: Jaipur to Pachewar
Travel today to a typical Rajasthani village,
Pachewar, which is dominated by a 300-year old fort. Now converted
into a hotel, enjoy a restful break in this peaceful village far
away from the hustle and bustle of Jaipur! See how the villagers
live, visit the local craftsmen (well known for their blue pottery
and metal work) and soak in the atmosphere of the fort.
25 Oct '09: Pachewar to Pushkar
Pushkar is a sacred town for Hindus who come from
all over the country to bathe in its lake and is also has the only
temple to the Hindu god Brahma in the entire country! Of course at
this time of the year, during the auspicious full moon is the time
for Pushkar’s biggest event - the annual cattle fair. People from
far and wide gather here to trade in all kinds of cattle and farm
animals, but especially camels – an amazing sight and incredible
experience! Your accommodation will be in comfortable tented camps,
equipped with beds, lighting and fans, with separate 'shower tents'
and 'toilet tents'.
26 Oct '09: Pushkar
You have the whole day to flavor the atmosphere
of the place - get some instant expertise in valuating camels and
then haggling for the beasts, buy a handful of souvenirs for the
folks back home and shoot more photos than you ever thought
possible!
27 Oct '09: Pushkar to Deogarh
Leaving Pushkar we travel to nearby Ajmer,
another sacred town, but this time for Muslims all over the
subcontinent. Visit some of the many historical buildings in the
city before heading for the small town of Deogarh, the site of
another charming 17th century castle, now converted into a hotel.
Most guest rooms are decorated in the local style with lots of
period furniture, antique and objets d’art. Relax with a drink as
you soak in the magical atmosphere of the castle and transport
yourself back to a bygone era of Maharajahs and kingdoms.
28 Oct '09: Deogarh to Udaipur
Drive through the Rajasthani countryside to the
town of Udaipur, surrounded by hills and mountains and set on the
edge of three lakes. Famous for its whitewashed houses with brightly
painted exterior walls, Udaipur has a rich historical and cultural
heritage with an abundance of elaborate palaces and ornate temples.
29 Oct '09: Udaipur
Enjoy a free day to explore Udaipur on your own
or catch up on some shopping perhaps.
30 Oct '09: Udaipur to Mount
Abu
Set amidst the lush forested hills, Mount Abu
provides a striking contrast to the arid, desert landscapes of
Rajasthan. Stop here to check out the Dilwara Jain temples, built
with white marble and decorated with exquisite sculptures.
31 Oct '09: Mount Abu to Ahmedabad
Travel to Ahmedabad, the former capital of
Gujarat and Mahatma Gandhi’s birth place, a city where Islamic and
Hindu traditions, culture and architecture have blended together
through the centuries.
1 Nov '09: Ahmedabad
Explore the unique architecture of Ahmedabad
during a morning tour of some of the more interesting neighborhoods
in the city. The afternoon and evening is free to catch up on some
last minute shopping, before you are transferred to the airport for
your overnight flight home.
2 Nov '09: Ahmedabad to USA
Arrive in Singapore early this morning,
where you can take a connecting flight to the US, arriving the same
day.
