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Day 01. Flight to India
(Delhi)
Today arrival in
Delhi. The cosmopolitan City and capital Delhi is
the main gateway for travelers. You are met by an Indo Vacations representative
and transferred to your Hotel. Overnight at Delhi
Day 02. Delhi -
Nawalgarh
(about 265 km / 6-7 hours)
Today morning we drive to Nawalgarh. Arrive
Nawalgarh by lunch time. Founded in 1737 A.D.
by Thakur Nawal Singh, a warrior statesman, whose name is enshrined
in history and folklore. It has one of the biggest groups of havelis
in the
Shekhawati. There are literally dozens of them to wander
into. Aath Haveli ("Eight Havelis”) is interesting, with amusing
European influence reflecting in its frescoes. Chhawehhariya and
Poddar havelis are perhaps the most splendid. The latter has been
converted into what must surely be the worlds most picturesque
school. Uttarian Haveli is notorious for its resident ghost. Here,
even the telephone exchange has frescoes that are worth seeing. But
the piece de resistance is Bala Quila Fort, whose frescoed kiosk is
perhaps one of the finest examples of the art in all of Shekhawati.
Rajasthan - Land of the Kings - is steeped in romantic history,
chivalry and valour. Formerly known as Rajputana, it boasts of the
finest fortress-palaces, built with sandstone quarried from the land
itself. In contrast with the pastel shades of the desert landscape
are the brightly coloured costumes of its handsome people. With its
turbaned men and richly jewelled women, its Havelis and villages,
its fairs and festivals, Rajasthan beckons you. In Rajasthan
especially, India’s Raja’s and Maharajahs of the past have turned
their palaces & fortresses in cities, hotch potch bazaars,
countryside and forests into Hotels. Heritage hotel is a grouping of
such 50 such gems, and for a dedicated India ‘buff’, prepared to
face the occasional technical imperfection and eccentricity of
service or understanding, a visit to such locations give a rare
insight into the world of princely India now largely lost. The
Safari tour incorporates some of these atmospheric locations. Royal
Welcome on arrival at the Roop Niwas Kothi with horses, camels, folk
music flower garlands and non alcoholic welcome drink. Roop Niwas is
just a kilometer from the town and is a fascinating blend of
European and Rajput style of architecture. The Palace has a lovely,
spacious lawns, a billiard room and a swimming pool.
Evening meet at the stables over tea, welcome gifts are distributed
and Devendra Singh Ji helps guest choose their horse and ride around
the palace grounds. Cocktails and detail briefing of the tour and
introduction talk on the arid region ecology followed by Dinner.
Overnight stay at Roop Niwas Kothi.
Day 03. Nawalgarh
In the morning we ride out with picnic breakfast around Nawalgarh to get
accustomed to the horses. Afternoon sightseeing to Nawalgarh town
by car / camel buggy with a guide.
Overnight stay at Roop Niwas Kothi.
Cross Country Safari Commences.
Average riding distances are 25-40 kilometers per day.
Day
04. Nawalgarh - Dundlod
(about 09 km)
The route will be through picturesque villages and farms. The Safari
will move about 20 to 30 Kms a day with a lunch halt and breaks for
tea coffee and refreshments. We ride from Roop Niwas Kothi to Dundlod
Fort. After having traveled through sandy tracks of Shekhawati we
enter the village of Dundlod. The village is famous for its two
impressive Goenka Haveli and its painted Goenka Chhatri or
cenotaphs. You will stay here as special guests in a quaint fort
which stands in the middle of the village, almost Scottish in its
design. Inside there is an interesting Mughal-style divan khana or
hall, with copies of Louise XIV furniture and old family portraits
of the local Thakur (chieftain’s) family.
Overnight stay at Dundlod Fort.
Day
05. Dundlod - Mandawa
(about 23 km)
Today we ride from Dundlod Fort to Mandawa Castle. We ride through the town onto dry sandy tracks
through
farmland and lunch will be in a desert woodlot of Ker bushes at Churi. At this time of the year most land is planted with crops
being raised by monsoon rain. Crops being bajra (millet) lentils and
guar.
Mandawa was founded in mid-18th century, it has interesting murals in
the large rugged fort (1755) built by Thakur Nawal Singh. The Goenka Haveli’s worth visiting include Laduram Tarkesvar (1878) and
Dedraj Turmal (1898); the Ladia havelis - Gulab Rai (1870) and Sneh
Ram (1906), Murmuria (1935), Newatia (1910) and the Saraf (1870)
havelis are interesting. The Siva temple here has a rock crystal
lingam. The Mandawa Haveli near Sonthalia Gate displays local craft.
Castle Mandawa was built in 1755 by Thakur Nawal Singh, a descendent
of Rao Shekha, the founder of Shekhawati. Two imposing gateways lead
to the central courtyard where canons stand as a reminder of the
past when they were used to repel the enemy. The Diwan Khana (Durbar
Hall) looks into the reception and lounge area and provides ample
space for the guest to relax over exotic refreshments. The
courtyards and the terraces come to life in the evenings with
enchanting candle-lit dinners and traditional fire dance. The rooms
are large and airy and retained the old flavor using period
furniture and local furnishing. They provide a blend of modern
comfort in medieval surroundings.
Overnight stay at Mandawa Castle.
Day 06. Mandawa - Mehansar
(about 26 km)
Today we ride from Mandawa Castle to Mehansar Fort. We ride through the town onto dry sandy tracks.
We visit a
typical local farmer families home at village Dhakas. Lunch halt is
near Nangli on a high sand dune "Gogameri". Here there is a temple
dedicated to famous folk hero "Gogaji". The area has a large
population of peacocks in the wild.
Mehansar was founded in mid 18th century. It is one of less visited
towns of Shekhawati, but definitely one of the most rewarding. Sone
Chandi ki Haveli (‘Mansion of Gold and Silver’) which belongs to
the Poddar family of jewelers has the finest frescoes in Shekhawati.
Don’t miss the frieze of the battle scene as delicate as a
miniature painting. The Raghunath Temple with beautiful paintings
resembling the Bikaner school of art are worth visiting. Overnight
stay at Mehansar Fort. A very charming simple basic family run hotel
serves delicious food .
Day 07. Mehansar - Desert Resort / Jainiwas Kothi
(about 110 km)
Today we ride from Mehansar Fort to Desert Resort / Jainiwas Kothi. The Desert
Resort is recreated in the style of a typical Rajasthani Village.
The mystery and romance of the desert are captured in the unusual
architecture of the Resort. Created by local craftsmen using mud and
brick, the cottages reflect the traditional harmony between man and
nature in the region.
Each cottage and room is furnished in a distinctive style. The
exteriors are decorated with traditional lime paste mandana or rice
flour patterns which are redone daily by women from the village,
while the interiors are ornamented with mirror-work and glass beads
in myriad colors.
Authenticity blends seamlessly with modernity. Each cottage has a
double bed, an intimate seating area, and a spacious bathroom
complemented by woven fabric and hand-made pottery. Apart from the
cottages guests can choose to stay in a spacious deluxe suite of
rooms furnished with old wooden furniture and designed to recreate
the royal ambience of the past.
The Jainiwas is a resort situated next to the desert resort
and is a horse ranch type of accommodation. The cottages have a
horse ranch type design .
Overnight stay at Desert Resort in Mud Cottages or Jainiwas Kothi.
Day 08.
Desert Resort - Naharsinghani
(about 21 km)
Today we ride from Desert Resort Mandawa to Kothi Naharsinghani. The ride
takes us through semi-desert farming country a typical Shekhawati
landscape - field dotted with Khejri trees - low sand dunes, small
villages with common grazing woodlots with desert flora and fauna.
The route will be Desert Resort to Phuskhani village - Churi
Ajitgarh - Mukangarh - Naharsinghani.. Picnic lunch en route. On arrival
stay at Naharsinghani Farm house. The Farm was a desert retreat of
the erstwhile Mandawa Family. It is a working farm. Evening
traditional folk entertainment around a camp fire followed by a
traditional Indian meal. A talk will also be given on the history of
the region and customs and traditions that are prevailing in India.
Overnight stay at Naharsinghani Farm house. (Accommodation in Rooms with
modern western style toilets) or in oriental Shamiana type tents
pitched in the courtyard depending on the weather.
Day 09. Naharsinghani - Nawalgarh
(about 14 km)
Today we ride from Kothi Naharsinghani to Roop Niwas Kothi Nawalgarh.
Overnight stay at Roop Niwas Kothi.
Day
10.
Nawalgarh - Delhi
(about 265 km / 6-7 hours)
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Departure
Today morning after breakfast we depart from Nawalgarh to Delhi by private car / coach to connect international flight the same evening.
About
Hotels:
We
provide you the accommodation as per your budget mentioned above in
the table of hotels category for any of the booked tour. Hotels
provided by us are from budget to luxury class hotels. Luxury hotels are
all five stars or of above standard. Deluxe would be a combination
of 3 and 4 star Hotels and standard would be a combination of 2 and
3 star or similar hotels. The criteria for selecting hotels by us
remains the best value of your money. We also provide you wherever
possible accommodation in heritage hotels. Heritage Hotels are old
Palaces, Forts and Grand mansions of Maharajas which have been later
renovated and converted into Hotels. Rooms are decorated all
individually. Rooms are comfortable, romantic and present the flair
of olden Maharaja days.
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