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Balotra Horse Fair Safari |
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| Ride from Jodhpur to the heartland
of the famous Marwari horse to visit India's biggest rural horse
and cattle fair at Tilwara (Balotra). |
| The safari recreates the age-old
charm of horseback travel. Let your senses sway to the romance
of the desert as you pass forts, palaces and historical landmarks.
Gallop on the deserts, plains, canter through the hills or just
get off and trek along. Spend evenings in camps and swing to
the folk dances.
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BALOTRA HORSE FAIR SAFARI JODHPUR TO TILWARA |
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| No. of days |
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12 nights 13 days |
| Dates |
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MARCH/APRIL |
| Grade |
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Moderate |
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| Itinerary |
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 Day
01: Arrive Delhi |
You will arrive Delhi International Airport.
Following customs & immigration formalities and baggage
collection, a Mountain Trails representative will meet you as you EXIT
the ARRIVALS TERMINAL building after which you would be transferred
to your hotel.
Upon arrival at the hotel, proceed for check-in to your rooms.
Overnight at the hotel The Park, Delhi. |
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02: Delhi |
Today you will have a full-day city
tour of Old and New Delhi.
Delhi has long been a centre of power almost continuously
since the 13th Century. No fewer than seven cities have
been built on this site, side by side. The huge city is
divided into Old and New Delhi; the former also comprises
the seventh city, Shahjahanabad and the areas further
north; the latter has at its core the plan of the capital
created by the British in 1911. |
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Sightseeing
of Old Delhi will include the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and
Raj Ghat. The Red Fort was built by Shah Jahan on the
eastern edge of the city along the Yamuna River. The entrance
through the fort is via the imposing Lahori Gate which
leads to a roof passage known as Chatta Chowk. At the
end of this is the Naquar Khana (drum house) which marks
the entrance the royal enclosures. There are six main
palaces but one of the best known is the Diwan-I-Am, the
hall of public audience which was dominated by the legendary
jewel-studded Peacock Throne.
Sightseeing of New Delhi includes the Jama Masjid, the
largest mosque in India, which was built by Shah Jehan.
Also see Raj Ghat which is a memorial to Mahatma Ghandi.
The tour continues with India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan,
Humayun’s Tomb and Qutub Minar. Rashtrapati
Bhawan was once Viceregal Lodge on Raisina Hill and is
now the residence of the President
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of India. The 16th century Humayun’s
Tomb is one of the finest examples of a garden tomb and is of
a style which was perfected at the Taj Mahal at Agra. Finally
visit the five storied Qutub Minar which was built in 1199 and
is now one of Delhi’s landmarks.
Overnight at the hotel The Park, Delhi. |
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03: DELHI/JODHPUR |
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Flight to Jodhpur.
CD 7471 0610 / 0800 hrs / OR / JET AIRWAYS.
Assistance on arrival. Transfer to Hotel Ratan Vilas Palace.
Built in 1920, by Maharaj Ratan Singh of Raoti, a keen
horse lover and one of the greatest Polo players of his
times, Ratan Vilas with its imposing Red Jodhpur sand
Stone carved exterior and simple yet comfortable interiors
is a genuine heritage edifice in sylvan setting.
The villa continues to be the home of the grandson of
Maharaj Ratan Singh, Maharaj Bharat Singh and his family.
In order to utilize this beautiful place the family decided
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| take in guests and now Ratan
Vilas is a family run Hotel. AFTERLUNCH drive45 minutes to the
base camp where our horses and safari team have arrived from
nawalgarh .The guests are welcomed with folk music and given
welcome gifts . The safari riding leader helps the guests pick
and choose their horses ---riding around the countryside . Return
to hotel Ratan Vilas Jodhpur for dinner and over night. |
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04: JODHPUR |
Morning sightseeing of Mehrangarh fort
and explore parts of the old city of Jodhpur with car and guide.
Late afternoon drive to the base camp riding in the countryside.
Jodhpur is on the eastern fringe of the Thar Desert and serves
as the gateway to the wonderland of sand dunes and shrubs, rocky
terrain and thorny trees.
Rao Jodha established the Rathore Dynasty in Jodhpur in 1459
AD. The spectacular Mehrangarh Fort was hewn out of the rocks
and the city of Jodhpur emerged out of the sands of the Thar
desert to form the flourishing kingdom of Marwar, encompassing
some 36,000 square miles and strategically placed on the trade
route between Delhi and the Middle East. It was also a flourishing
trading center of wood, cattle, camels, salt and agricultural
crops. The past, in fact, is never very far behind in Jodhpur
where palaces, forts, temples and other elegant monuments of
architectural and historical worth vie with each other for attention.
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Mehrangarh Fort spreads
over five kilometers on a hill. It houses a palace intricately
adorned with long carved panels and latticed windows exquisitely
wrought from red sandstone. It also has a museum with
a rich collection of palanquins, howdahs, royal cradles,
miniature paintings of various schools, folk music instruments,
costumes and impressive armory.
Overnight Ratan Vilas Palace.
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05: JODHPUR/LUNI/SATLANA |
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| Morning drive to base camp to commence
your safari. The ride goes through dry flat area. The
lunch halt is in a small rain catchment area besides a
temple to folk divinity ‘mamoji’. Then ride
through flat arid region you reach the dry riverbed of
the LUNI. |
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| Enjoy the performance
of the camps folk musicians. A Camp barber who also does
massages will be available to relieve you of any aches
and pains of the hard days ride. . Overnight stay in deluxe
luxury camp. |
During the safari you
will pass through many settlements of the Bishnoi community
who have made environmental protection their religion.
The Bishnoi people follow 29 principles laid down by Guru
Jambhoji, who made environmental and wildlife protection
a "religion" in the fifteenth century. Common
throughout Rajasthan and Gujarat they are renowned for
a concern for nature, particularly their refusal to harm
the black buck, which now survive only in Bishnoi villages.
Bishnoi beliefs came to the political forefront in 1730,
when the king of Jodhpur ordered his men to collect wood
for his new place. Despite the pleas of Bishnois, felling
commenced in the small village of Khejadali near Jodhpur.
In desperation Amritdevi, a Bishnoi women, hugged a tree.
The fellers, assuming that the King’s request was
to be respected, ignored her plea. She and 362 of her
fellow people lost their lives trying to protect the forest.
On hearing the news the king recalled his men and accorded
state sanction to the Bishnoi religion, a turning point
in the history remembered each September when thousands
attend a festival at Khejadali. |
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06 : SATLANA/GHANA |
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Riders go upstream
in the large expanse of the dry LUNI riverbed. Being very
sandy the going is slow leaving the river bed the ride
takes you through villages and dry scrub country the festival
of colour holi has just passed so in this region people
are still celebrating with dancing and drum music…
Before reaching the camp the ride crosses 8/9 kms of protected
bush land which is the protectorate of the Ramdeoji Temple.
Such temple protectorates are |
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| called ‘Oran’. |
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| The camp is in the field of
a farmer in the evening we may have the farmers family or other
ladies of the nearby village come visiting our camp. Overnight
in Camp. |
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07 : GHANA/KARMAVAS |
| The ride on this day will take you through
flat dry desert land arid but not sandy. Riders will be surprised
at the clean well-maintained clay houses of the villagers. The
movement will be west / northwest and as they approach the camp
site low hills of the Aravali ranges will be visible on the
horizon typical desert flora will be seen on this day. Overnight
in Camp. |
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08 : KARMAVAS/ASOTRA |
Riding towards the
hills passing acacia clusters you cross the village of
Mangala the lunch spot is in the backdrop of the hillock
facing the dry Luni riverbed. We are lucky to find few
trees of the ‘Jaal’ which offer cool shade
for rest after Lunch ride on to Asotra a big surprise….a
green belt.
Around ASOTRA aquifer created by the ancient saraswati
river basin from 2000 BC has been
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| discovered. As a result farmers pump water
by electric pumps and raise crops and riders will go through
this fertile oasis belt. Our camp is in a farmers field and
riders are able to meet the villagers and the family. Overnight
in Camp. |
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09 : ASOTRA/BALOTRA FAIR (TILWARA) |
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| Ride on to Balotra to reach the
exiting fair. Lunch en-route just beyond Jasol. Evening
reach Tilwara. Explore exploring the fair grounds on arrival.
Evening campfire and folk entertainment. |
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| BALOTRA
HORSE & CAMEL FAIR |
In southwest
Rajasthan 145 Kms. From Jodhpur on the banks of the dry
seasonal river Luni is a small village "TILWARA".
The closest town 19 Kms. From Tilwara is Balotra falling
in district Barmer of Rajasthan.
It was here many centuries ago that the famous ruler MALLINATHJI
ruled. He is worshipped as a divinity. The temple to Mallinathji
is located on the opposite bank of the dry river Luni
from Tilwara village.
Every year in the first fortnight of the Hindu month of
"Chaitra" a large fair is held here. Horses,
camels, bullocks and in the last phase donkeys come to
the fair. The fair according to the Christian calendar
falls in the month of March./April.
The owners of the animals camp in the dry riverbed. They
may use their carts or make temporary dwellings from acacia
bushes. The prosperous horse owners and traders bring
their tents and attendant staff, cooks etc.
The animal owners occupy the dry riverbed for many kilometers.
They cook, sleep & trade in these temporary dwellings
called "AALI" in the local dialect. At sunrise
and sunset horse owners display their horses riding up
and down the riverbed. Audiences and buyers cheer them.
Any body can accost the riders and bid or negotiate the
deal.
Now the state government organizes horse-judging competitions.
The function last year was presided by The Maharaja of
Jodhpur. The fair is held in the heartland of our Indian
breed of horses. The 'Marwari', some very good horses
come to the fair. People from far away states the Punjab,
Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat & Maharashtra come to purchase
animals to this fair. |
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10 : BALOTRA FAIR |
| Morning and evening ride. Afternoons
explore the fair grounds. Evening campfire and folk entertainment.
Overnight in Camp. |
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| Day
11 : BALOTRA FAIR |
| Morning and evening
ride. Afternoons explore the fair grounds. Evening campfire
and folk entertainment. Overnight in Camp. |
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12 : BALOTRA FAIR/JODHPUR/DELHI |
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| Morning ride around fair ground.
After lunch drive to Jodhpur (4 hr). Dinner at Ratan Vilas.
Rooms will be available for Wash & change. Later transfer
to airport for flight to Delhi.
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| CD 7472 1920 / 2110
hrs in case evening flight non-operational then guests
may have to leave very early and connect the morning flight.
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| On arrival
you will be met and transferred to The Park, Delhi. |
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13 : DEPARTURE DELHI |
| Depart
Delhi for onward journey or fly back home. |
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Balotra Horse Fair Safari
