Rajasthan Safari Trip Dossier

• Highlights
• Factfile
• Itinerary
• Hotel Meeting Points
• Supplementary Tour Information
• General Information

Highlights

• 5 nights at fabulous heritage hotels
• Camel safari into the Thar Desert
• Desert City of Jaisalmer
• Lovely lakeside city of Udaipur
• Experience rural life in Chandelao village

Factfile

Code: HTRS
Style: Traveller
Maximum group size: 15
Staffing: Fully escorted by Imaginative Traveller Tour Leader, services of local guides & safari crew.
Transport: Private air-conditioned coach, train, camel, boat ride on Ganges
Accommodation: 12 nights tourist class hotels, 5 nights heritage hotels, 1 night tented camp, 3 nights sleeper train.
The single supplement does not apply to nights spent on the sleeper train.
Activities: Desert camel safari, jeep safari in Chandelao
Meals: As per itinerary (Breakfast - B, Lunch - L, Dinner - D). Please allow US$15-20 per day for additional meals.
Entrance fees: Included for all sites listed as part of the itinerary. This does not include entrance fees on optional excursions.
Tipping: To avoid embarrassment and save you money all tours operate a tipping kitty. Please allow US$15-20 per week of the tour for this. This does not include a tip for the tour leader which is entirely at your own discretion.
Additional sightseeing and Optional activities: If you wish to visit a wide range of sites and take part in a variety of optional activities please allow approx US$70.

Pushkar Fair departures: Please see detailed dossier for further details.

For comparability, all prices in this dossier are quoted in one currency. We use the US Dollar since that is familiar to most. However, once on tour you will need to pay for all goods and services in the local currency. See your Country Dossier for details of exchange rates.

Local Payment

There is a local payment of INR13,000 for this tour which must be paid in Indian Rupees to the tour leader on Day 1 of the tour. 

Country Dossiers and Pre-Departure Information

This Trip Dossier is designed to be read in conjunction with our India Country Dossier and Pre-Departure Information. Pre-Departure Information is available in sections online or as a booklet from your booking agent. (Please note those who book online will not be sent a Pre-Departure Booklet and will need to download it). It is essential that you read this dossier, the India Country Dossier and the Pre-Departure Information in full before you travel

Arrivals

For details of arrival transfers or making your own way to the tour meeting point, please refer to the Country Dossier and your Pre-Departure Information.

Free Arrival Transfer

Arrival transfers are included for all clients arriving in Delhi on Day 1 or before Day 1 if extra accommodation is booked with The Imaginative Traveller. If you have booked your flights separately from your tour please ensure that you inform your tour booking agent of your flight details at least one month before departure to avoid payment of an administration fee.

Tour Briefing

Once all the members of your group have arrived, your tour leader will organise an introductory briefing (usually at noon on Day 1). This meeting will give you an overview of all the exciting things you will be seeing during your tour and include lots of practical information on how to get the most out of your time in India. You will need to bring with you your passport, all tour vouchers and a copy of your insurance policy to this briefing so that your tour leader can obtain important details that are essential to the running of the tour.

Important Note: it is a condition of joining our tours that you are in possession of a comprehensive travel insurance policy. If you do not have a policy you will be required to purchase one from your tour leader in order to join the tour.

Hotel meeting Points

Start Point:

The Suncourt Hotel Yatri

8A/33,W.E.A Channa Market Karol Bagh New Delhi 110 005

End Point:

Itinerary

Day 1 - DELHI

Arrival transfer to hotel.

Delhi
Delhi is the capital of India, divided into an ancient and a modern part. Old Delhi was the capital of Moghul India between the 12th and the 19th centuries. You will find here many mosques, monuments and forts relating to this period of India's history.

The medieval atmosphere of the bazaars of Old Delhi contrasts sharply with the open, spacious streets of New Delhi, the imperial city created as the capital of India by the British. Here you will find most of the airline offices, banks and the various state tourist offices.

Our hotel is situated in the busy market area of Karol Bagh, with lots of shops and restaurants just a short stroll away. Outside the hotel, there are always taxis and rickshaws handy, so it is easy to go and visit places during any free time here.

Day 2 - DELHI

Tour of Delhi. Overnight sleeper train to Jodhpur. Approx. 11 hours train journey. (B)

New Delhi City Tour
See some of the main sights of New Delhi. We see India Gate, a war memorial arch, the impressive Parliament Building and the Rashtrapati Bhawan, once the imperial palace of the British viceroy and now the official residence of the President of India. We visit the extravagant Birla Temple and a Sikh temple before ending our tour at Rajghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.

Day 3 - CHANDELAO

Drive to the small heritage hotel of Chandelao Garh. Afternoon jeep safari to the surrounding villages.

Chandelao Garh
Just an hour’s drive away from the bustling city of Jodhpur, is the small village of Chandelao. Here you will find no other tourists, and the place therefore offers a great chance to the see village life, interact with the local community, and to learn about the art, culture and heritage of Rajasthan. We stay in a 300 year old fort, the Chandelao Garh, which belongs to the Takhur of the village, Praduman Singh. With our support, Praduman has renovated fifteen rooms and furnished them with genuine period furniture from the family’s own collection. No two rooms are alike, and they have been kept as original as possible, except the bathrooms which are modern. The food is often supervised by Praduman’s mother and is wholesome and freshly prepared.

Praduman has been personally involved in many welfare projects in his village and surrounding areas. His knowledge is deep and his genuine concern for the people of this area is evident. He personally escorts our visitors on a village safari. You will see the local craftsmen at work, the potter, the blacksmith, the goldsmith and the weaver. There are three beautiful lakes which offer great bird watching. You can also visit a medieval step-well where village women in their traditional attire come to fetch water.

Imaginative Traveller strongly believes that a stay in Chandelao should not only be enriching experience for our travellers but also for the local community. We therefore aim to be beneficial to Chandelao village by supporting development projects which help to create job opportunities and improve people’s livelihood. Along with a local NGO, we play an active role in supporting girls' education, revitalizing and promoting local Rajasthani arts & crafts, and contributing to the improvements in water collection systems in Chandelao school and its surrounding villages. Chandelao village is one of Imaginative Traveller's responsible travel projects, with your donations we can improve the village facilities and create a better standard of living.

Day 4 - JODHPUR

Continue to Jodhpur. Afternoon visit to the Meherangarh Fort, one of India's most impressive. Approx. 1 hour driving. (B).

Jodhpur
Standing at the edge of the Thar Desert, Jodhpur is the second largest city in Rajasthan after Jaipur. The city is dominated by the massive Meherangarh Fort that sits atop a sheer rocky ridge right in the middle of town. The old city is still surrounded by a 10 km long wall, built about a century after Jodhpur was founded in 1459 by the Rajput chief Rao Jodha. The clock tower is a popular landmark in the old city. Narrow alleys lead from here to bazaars for textiles, silver and handicrafts. It's a fascinating jumble of winding streets of great interest to wander around.

Meherangarh Fort
This huge impregnable structure sits on top of a huge rock, and is surrounded by many miles of walls and a series of seven gateways set at an angle so that armies could not charge them with any success. Past the gates, the fort palace has huge courtyards surrounded by wings of palatial buildings, part of which is now turned into a fabulous museum. From the ramparts of Meherangarh there is a superb view over the houses of the Old City, many of which are painted blue. You can also see the art deco Umaid Bhawan Palace, home to the erstwhile royal family as well as now a luxury hotel. Below the fort are the markets of the Old City.

Day 5 - CAMEL SAFARI

We drive into a remote part of the Thar Desert to start our camel safari. We spend the night in a beautiful tented camp. Approx. 5 hours driving and 3 hours camel riding. (BD)

Camel Safari
The best way to explore the Thar desert is on an overnight camel safari - camping out in the desert is an unforgettable experience, and will be a highlight of your holiday. You ride on the camel for approximately 3 hours. We pass tiny villages inhabited by nomadic and pastoral tribes, largely unaffected by modern civilisation. Our staff look after you well; they set up camp and prepare all meals during the safari. You need a small backpack to keep some clothing and personal belongings. Tents, mattresses, blankets and sheets will be provided.

Day 6 - JAISALMER

Cross the desert to the walled medieval city of Jaisalmer. Approx. 4 hours driving. (B)

Jaisalmer
Your first view of the ancient fortress city of Jaisalmer, perched on top of a sand coloured rock surrounded by the endless expanse of the Thar Desert, will be one of your abiding memories of India. The ancient fort of Jaisalmer is unique in that it is still lived in, rather than simply preserved as an ancient monument. The best, in fact the only, way to explore the narrow lanes is on foot. You will come across many ancient temples, and palaces, carved from the local sandstone that gives Jaisalmer its name - the Golden City.

Day 7 - JAISALMER

Morning walking tour of Jaisalmer. Free afternoon to explore this amazing city with its medieval atmosphere. (B)

Walking Tour
Founded in the 12th century, the fort stands on an 80m high hill, enclosed by a thick wall of over 10 m high and reinforced with 99 bastions. Within these bastions is a complete township of cobbled streets strewn with palaces, havelis or mansions of rich merchants, and Jain temples built between the 12th and 15th centuries. Jaisalmer, with its narrow cobbled lanes, is a wonderful place to wander around on foot. Walking through the narrow lanes lined with exquisitely carved havelis, it has an extraordinarily medieval feel. Don't miss the most elaborate and magnificent haveli, the Patwon Ki Haveli, best known for its latticed facade. The 300-year-old Salim Singh Ki Haveli has a beautiful arched roof with carved brackets in the form of peacocks.  

 Jaisalmer Market
In the central market you may look for some interesting things to buy. Jaisalmer is famous for embroidery, Rajasthani mirror work, rugs, blankets, old stonework and antiques. Tie dye and other fabrics are made at the Khadi Bhandar, north of the city.

Day 8 - BHENSWARA

Drive through rarely visited areas of Rajasthan to Bhenswara. Optional leopard safari in the evening. Approx. 8 hours driving. (B)

Bhenswara
In the remote village of Bhenswara, we stay at a traditional Rajput family home. Located only 16km from Jalore, and surrounded by temples and step wells, Bhenswara was granted to Thakur Jagat Singh Rathore in the 16th century because he saved the life of his Maharaja, Man Singh of Jodhpur. The castle with a Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds), Zenana Chowk (market place) and Sirai Mahal (palace), has now been converted into a heritage hotel run by the members of the former Royal Family.

Day 9 - RANAKPUR

Drive to the beautiful Jain temples of Ranakpur. Approx. 3 hours driving. (B)

Ranakpur
Ranakpur consists of a fortified temple complex that was built by the Jains who served in the courts of the rulers of Udaipur. It is one of the biggest and most important cluster of Jain temples in India. The Chaumukha temple, or Four Faced Temple, is the main temple in the complex and dates back to the 15th century. Built in marble, the temple has 29 halls supported by more than 1,400 pillars, no two of which are alike.

Day 10 - UDAIPUR

Drive via the formidable Kumbhalgarh Fort to the lake city of Udaipur, one of the most romantic cities in India. Approx. 4 hours driving. (B)

Kumbalhgarh
Kumbhalgarh is famous for its 15th century fort. The huge stone bastion of Kumbhalgarh has 33km of walls, in some places over 25 feet thick.

Udaipur
Set around the vast Pichola Lake and dominated by dramatic palaces, Udaipur is surely Rajasthan's most picturesque city. High whitewashed houses and narrow, winding alleys lend it an almost medieval charm.

Day 11 - UDAIPUR

Morning sightseeing tour of Udaipur. Free afternoon. (B)

City Tour
The huge City Palace, still the residence of the Maharana, is carved out of yellow sandstone and stands on the banks of Lake Pichola. From here you have fabulous views over the lake and the famous Lake Palace Hotel. The main part of the City Palace is now preserved as a museum with a large and varied collection of mosaics, glass and porcelain figures, miniatures and paintings. Nearby is the Jagdish temple, a centre of constant activity. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple was built in 1651 by Maharana Jagat Singh 1. One of the highlights of this city is simply wandering the narrow lanes of the Old City with its whitewashed buildings built on the shores of the lake and to wander through the bazaars to look for souvenirs.

Day 12 - JOJAWAR

Drive from Udaipur to the attractive small village of Jojowar. We spend the night in the beautifully restored Rawla Jojawar, a heritage hotel. Approx. 3 hours driving. (B)

Jojawar
Jojawar is a pleasant small town midway between Udaipur and Pushkar, seperated from the highway by a small range of hills. There is a friendly bustling bazaar, at the centre of which, set back in large grounds, is the Rawla Jojawar. Recently renovated, this small and welcoming Heritage Hotel is an ideal place for both relaxing and discovering the unspoilt town of Jojawar. Rawla Jojawar has been beautifully restored in traditional Rajput style and the comfortable rooms are bright and airy with colourful local furnishings. There is the chance to take an optional village safari by jeep, or a unique “train safari” , where we board a local train for a short but scenic journey through the nearby hills.

Day 13 - PUSHKAR

Drive to Pushkar, a desert oasis on a holy lake. Approx. 4 hours driving. (B)

Pushkar
By Indian standards Pushkar is a small and peaceful place. It is set on the banks of a holy lake and has many temples, including the only one dedicated to the Hindu god Brahma in the whole of India. Strolling through the bazaar street on the shore of the lake is fun, and the views over the lake and the surrounding desert from one of the hilltop temples are well worth the climb. Every year around the full moon in October/November Pushkar comes alive with the sights and sounds (and smells) of the Pushkar Camel Fair, one of India’s most famous and enjoyable festivals.

Day 14 - PUSHKAR

Day at leisure in Pushkar with its many holy men, pilgrims and temples. You may also like to take a hike into the surrounding hills. (B)

Day 15 - JAIPUR

Continue to Jaipur, the Pink City. Afternoon excursion to the Amber Fort. Approx. 3 hours driving. (B)

Jaipur
Unlike most cities in India, which have developed in a haphazard way, Jaipur is a planned city. Though it is rapidly expanding and has long ago outgrown the confines of its ancient walls, the Old City of Jaipur is still a fascinating and unique place. Known as the Pink City for the colour of these city walls, the street life has to be seen to be believed. A chaotic mix of pedestrians, bicycles, cars, buses, trucks, camels and everything else besides - best experienced by taking a ride on a cycle rickshaw.

Amber Fort
Amber Fort is situated 11km north of Jaipur. There is a steep path which leads to a magnificent complex of palaces, halls, pavilions, gardens and temples built over a period of 125 years by successive rulers.

Day 16 - JAIPUR

Morning Jaipur city tour. Free afternoon. (B)

City Tour
The City Palace, the principal residence of the former royal family, also houses a museum for textiles and costumes, miniatures, carpets and manuscripts, and arms and armour. Nearby is the Jantar Mantar, a stone observatory created by an astronomer king in the 18th century to measure everything from altitude to time, and map the movement of the planets and the stars. The ‘Palace of the Winds', or Hawa Mahal, is the pink sandstone facade of a palace with a profusion of windows and stone screens. The windows enabled cool air (hawa) to circulate and the women of the royal zenana would sit concealed behind these screens to see life in the city beyond the walls of the city palace.

Day 17 - AGRA

Drive to Agra by coach via the ancient Moghul capital of Fatehpur Sikri. Approx. 5 hours driving. (B)

Fatehpur Sikri
35km to the south-west of Agra is the deserted Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri, a complex of forts, palaces and mosques built in sandstone. Fatehpur Sikri served as Akbar's capital for only a short period of twelve years before the capital was abandoned, apparently due to a lack of water supply. Today Fatehpur Sikri is a ghost city, its architecture is in a perfect state of preservation, and wandering through the palaces it is easy to imagine that this was once a royal residence and a dynamic cultural centre. The white marble Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti, Akbar's spiritual adviser, is now observed as a Muslim pilgrimage spot.

Day 18 - AGRA

Visit the Taj Mahal, one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Overnight sleeper train to Varanasi. Approx. 11 hours train journey. (B)

Agra
Agra is home to possibly the most famous and beautiful building in the world : the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Built in the 17th century by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb and memorial for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, it is a spellbinding sight that never disappoints. No picture or description of this magnificent white marble mausoleum can ever do it justice, and it is worth spending many hours in the gardens that surround the building, to see it from different angles and in different lights.

Alongside the river Yamuna is the impressive Red Fort from where there are fantastic views of the Taj. The Red Fort was the capital of the Moghul Empire and thus of India during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Day 19 - VARANASI

Arrive Varanasi. Afternoon excursion to Sarnath. This is where Buddha preached his first sermon, 2,500 years ago, and there are extensive ruins of Buddhist temples and stupas, set in a serene deer park.

Varanasi
If you like India, you will love Varanasi. Even if you don't, you will certainly never forget it. Possibly the oldest city in the world, Varanasi occupies an especially holy place on the banks of the River Ganges. All Hindu's should come here at least once in their lifetime to bathe in the river. Watching the religious rituals (best at sunrise and sunset) and everyday life of this chaotic, crowded, but most fascinating of Indian cities, is a unique and profound experience.

Sarnath
Buddhist pilgrims also flock to Varanasi to visit one of Buddhism's most important sites 10km away at Sarnath. It was here that Gautama the Buddha preached his first sermon 2500 years ago. The Archeological Museum is worth a visit to view unique Buddha masterpieces.

Day 20 - VARANASI

Sightseeing tour of Varanasi. Overnight sleeper train to Delhi. Approx. 12 hours train journey. (B)

Ganges Boat Trip
The principal attraction of Varanasi is the long string of bathing ghats, which line the west bank of the Ganges. Ghats are the steps which lead down to the river from which pilgrims make their sin-cleansing dip in the holy river and on which bodies are cremated. A boat ride on the Ganges at dawn, when it is full of pilgrims, is an amazing experience.

Bazaars of Varanasi
Wandering the bazaars of Varanasi is a great experience. You will see many shops offering beautiful brocades in silk and gold or silver threads. The city is also famous of exquisite lengths of handloom silk.

Day 21 - DELHI

Arrive and free time.

Day 22 - DELHI

Tour ends. (B)

Itinerary Notes

PUSHKAR FAIR An amended itinerary will operate for Pushkar Fair departures. See the trip dossier for details.

Please note that owing  to the likelihood of train delays, we recommend that passengers do not book departure flights departing within 6 hours of the arrival time at the tour end point for day trains, and within 8 hours for overnight trains.

Supplementary Information

Visas

You will need to obtain the following visas for this tour. Contact your travel agent for current prices:

Required in Advance

• India Single entry

If the visa application form requires a contact address in the destination, please give either your meeting point hotel or the address of our local contact (which you will find in the India Country Dossier).

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of the correct visas for your holiday and onward travel. The Imaginative Traveller cannot accept responsibility for anyone who is refused entry to a country because they lack the correct documentation.

Border Taxes

There are no entry or exit taxes payable when entering or leaving India by air.

Special Luggage Requirements

The Pre-Departure Information includes an extensive luggage checklist. On Adventurer tours it is very important that you do not bring too much luggage as you will find it extremely difficult to get on/off buses and trains etc and there is a fair amount of walking to/from hotels. You are also likely to encounter many cobbled streets and dirt roads so luggage on wheels is unsuitable.

Availability of helmets
Protective helmets of a reliable standard are not available locally and as a result we are unfortunately not able to supply these. If you intend to take part in activities such as bike, horse, donkey or camel rides, and would like to wear a helmet, you should therefore consider bringing one with you.

Fitness

None of the activities featured in this trip require special training or skills, just a reasonable level of fitness and a willingness to participate. If you are in any doubt contact your doctor for advice.

Transport

Private Coach: To travel between cities in India by road we privately chartered air-conditioned coaches. There is a NO SMOKING policy on all our tour buses – however there are tea and toilet breaks every couple of hours or so. The only exception to this rule is the driver. Distances are not always great, but generally road conditions are not good and progress can be slow. We have noted approximate driving times in the itinerary.

Overnight Train: The Indian Railway system is one of the most extensive in the world. Considering the volume of passengers it is reasonably efficient, however delays do occur, and they can be lengthy. Our itineraries have been designed with this in mind, and it is unlikely that any delays will have a major impact on the sightseeing content of your tour. We travel in air-conditioned sleeper carriages with either two or three level of berths. They are arranged in door less sections each of four or six berths. Broad-gauge, three-tier sleeping carriages also have a row of two-tier (upper and lower) berths along one side. A conductor ensures that nobody without a reservation gets into the carriage. Each carriage has two "squat" style toilets on either end. Bedding is available but it cannot always be guaranteed so we suggest that you bring a sleeping sheet. Meals are not included during overnight train journeys, but food is available, and your tour leader will advise you during the tour

Accommodaion

On this tour you will stay at Heritage hotels in Chandelao, Jodhpur, Bhenswara and Jojawar. These hotels are full of character, and staying at them invariably proves to be a highlight of the tour. Travellers should however be cautioned against expecting princely comfort!

Single Supplement

It may not always be possible to guarantee a single supplement on every night of the tour. If this does happen, you will be given a refund locally. 

Your Tour Leader

Your tour leader is someone who we’ve chosen for their ability to manage groups and situations effectively. We are often asked whether our tour leaders are local or western. In fact we have always used a mixture of local and non-local tour leaders in almost every destination, as we find that both have different strengths and attributes to enhance the experiences of our travellers.

We find that local tour leaders, having been born in the country where they are working, can add unique insights into the local culture. Employing local tour leaders forms a core part of our Responsible Travel policy. We ensure that our local tour leaders are treated and paid equally to our western tour leaders. We also acknowledge that many people become tour leaders to fulfil their own travel desires and it is a key part of our tour leader recruitment policy that we offer all our leaders the opportunity to work in a variety of destinations. This includes those recruited locally and we have had Turkish leaders working in Egypt & India, Nepali leaders working in Vietnam and Egyptian leaders working in India & Turkey, all with great success. However, for tours which visit multiple destinations it is often not possible to employ local tour leaders as they simply cannot get the necessary visas in the time available and so we use western leaders rather than provide a different leader for each country the tour visits.

One of the great benefits of our integrated team of tour leaders is that although each brings different skills to the job, they all learn from each other. It is this exchange of culture and knowledge that ensures that our travellers get an authentic, in-depth travel experience and a unique insight into a place.

General information

Price includes:

• Staffing as shown in the 'Factfinder'
• Accommodation, meals, transportation, and sightseeing excursions as per itinerary.
• Transfer to hotel on arrival.

Price does not include:

• Local payment
• Visa costs
• Border Taxes
• Entrance fees
• Drinks, tips, laundry and other items of a personal nature.
• International flights
• Departure transfers
• Meals other than those listed
• The single supplement does not include the three nights on the sleeper train.

Are You Ready To Go?

Before you travel it is essential that you read ALL of the following documents which you can obtain from your booking agent:

• Trip Dossier (this document)
• India Country Dossier
• Pre-Departure Information

The itinerary and supplementary information has been compiled with care and provided in good faith. However it may be subject to change, and does not form part of a contract between the client and The Imaginative Traveller.