Experience the real India on this horse safari in Northern India, Rajasthan - you have the unique chance to visit the big annual camel market in Pushkar. Riding to Pushkar on horseback is certainly a very special way to experience this festival, and by the way, it is a horse safari that is especially scenic and you will enjoy it on the famous Marwari horses! The trail starts in the Aravalli Mountains and leads through initially hilly and forested terrain over steppe to the desert landscape of Pushkar. The riders experience small villages and encounters with locals, forts and castles on their ride. But the highlight is certainly the Pushkar festival. On the evening of arrival the riders have the opportunity to see the cultural programme and spend another full day in Pushkar. Depending on the riders´ wishes a ride over the market or in the closer surroundings of Pushkar can be organized. Departure is the following morning. The camel market in Pushkar is certainly one of the most interesting Indian festivals, a mixture of pilgrimage festival and cattle market. It has managed to keep its original character and is still one of the most important cattle markets in India. Every year about 20,000 camels and 10,000 horses and cattle are traded, buyers come from all over India to buy coveted Marwari horses, riding and load camels and Nagaur cattle. The small town of Pushkar is situated on the edge of the Thar Desert and the market takes place on some large sand dunes outside.
Besides the cattle market, the Pushkar Fair is also, above all, a religious festival of the Hindus, who take a bath in Pushkar Lake on the night of the full moon. This is supposed to cleanse them from all sins and promise them a rebirth in a higher caste. Of course the Pushkar Fair also has a folk festival character. Hundreds of small stalls sell simply everything, in the evening there is a fair with a shooting gallery and a big wheel and everywhere artists, performers or acrobats show their work of art.
The Rajasthan Tourism Authority has recognized the potential of this festival and has been organizing its own program of dances, competitions and cultural events for several years. In addition, there are horse, camel and chariot races, breeding shows and demonstrations such as horse dance or Revaal performances (the Revaal is the 4th gait of marwari horses, similar to the tölt).
So it is worthwhile to stay in Pushkar for a few days and enjoy all the performances and the colourful hustle and bustle.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Pushkar and transfer to a cozy tented camp on the edge of the camel market. The accommodation offers permanent tents with their own private bathroom, a dining tent and an evening campfire with dancing and music. First opportunity to discover the Pushkar Fair or town . Everything is within walking distance, transit is available.
Day 2: Today you will explore the camel market. After a hearty breakfast, you will walk or ride a camel through the market and into the old town of Pushkar. You will visit the holy Pushkar lake and the ghats together and walk through the large cattle market, where you can watch the hustle and bustle. Performances and camel and horse breeding shows take place in the arena throughout the day. Dinner and overnight stay in the tented camp.
Day 3: Today you leave Pushkar after breakfast and drive to Udaipur. Beforehand, however, a drive through the market at sunrise is on the program to experience the market as it wakes up.
On the way to Udaipur, you will pass and visit the temples of Nagda and Eklingji, a wonderful example of pre-Islamic culture, before arriving in Udaipur. In the afternoon, you will get to know the horses for the first time and go for a short ride, if there is enough time. You will spend the night in the guesthouse with swimming pool on the farm or in the Hotel Boheda Palace in the old town of Udaipur.
Day 4: Day's ride through the Aravalli mountains around Udaipur. You start the ride after breakfast from the farm and to ride into the mountains, through small river valleys and along narrow mountain paths. Passing small tribal villages, you continue through the mountains. At lunchtime you have a picnic at a small lake and to ride in a wide arc back to the farm, past a small white mountain temple to the war goddess Durga. Afterwards, dinner together and overnight stay at the farm/hotel Boheda Palace.
Day 5: After breakfast, you will be taken to the starting point of the first day's stage, approx. 40 km from Udaipur, at the Badwei-lake . Here you will meet your horses and the guide. Today's ride leads from Badwei-lake to Mangalwad, another shallow water lake of the Malwa plain. The landscape here is flat and fertile. You pass through many small villages and fields where chickpeas, wheat, mustard or even opium grow, depending on the season. Many small and large lakes are home to water birds such as kingfishers, herons, ducks and cranes. Again and again you will spot small herds of the less shy Nilgai antelope. You will come across water buffalo and goats and you will be welcomed enthusiastically in small villages time and again. Long, soft paths invite you to take long gallops. Arrival in Mangalwad at the tented camp is in the late afternoon. The camp is located on the farm directly on Lake Mangal. You spend the night in tents with proper beds. A simple bathroom is at your disposal.
Day 6: Mangalwad-Sahni Mahraj-Mangalwad
After breakfast to ride you ride around the village Mangalwad and, after a ride through green fields lined with palm trees, finally arrive in an open savannah landscape. With a bit of luck, you may spot Nilgai antelopes or even gazelles. The route continues through small villages and past colorful temples. After a picnic on the plain, we turn back and arrive back at camp in the late afternoon. Overnight stay at the safari camp.
Day 7: Mangalwad-Talau-Mangalwad
Today's riding day takes us across a dry plain with plenty of opportunities for long gallops. The terrain is open and the ground is sandy. Occasionally you will pass through small villages and to ride fields. There are many herds of nilgai in this area and you will see this largest Indian antelope species again and again. The antelopes are not allowed to be hunted and are more curious than shy, so that horses and rider can often come very close. Today you will have a picnic at Talau lake, one of the largest lakes in the area. Like all shallow lakes, this one is artificially created with a dam to provide rainwater for the fields all year round. The dams are often several hundred years old and were built by the maharajas to allow several harvests per year. On the way back to ride you will pass the colorful Palod Temple, another Hindu temple of the goddess Durga. Overnight stay at the safari camp at lake.
Day 8: End of program after breakfast and drive back to Udaipur or transfer to Udaipur airport.