Route: DELHI(1N)-BIJAIPUR(3N)–MOTIPURA(1N)–PANGARH LAKE(1N)–BIJAIPUR(2N)–UDAIPUR(2N)–PUSHKAR(1N)–DELHI(1N) (Optional Extension to PUSHKAR–JAIPUR–AGRA–DELHI)
Date: You choose (between September and April)
Note: This itinerary is fully customizable as per your wish.
This is our best sold equestrian holiday in India
One of my favourite routes in Rajasthan is through the southern fringes of the Aravelli Hills – a region famous for plains and plateaus, juniper forests, unspoilt villages, lakes and ancient temples. Your expedition begins in the historic town of Chittorgarh. Home to India’s largest fort complex, it is a sight to behold!
Ride to Bijaipur Palace for your first overnight stop after an expert-led tour of the 7th century fort. Although quite rustic in nature, this 16th century royal residence offers an authentic Mewari experience with warm hospitality and delicious food.
Over the next five days you will explore the eastern highlands, riding through amazingly varied terrain and off the beaten track places such as the Bassi Sanctuary, Nahargarh, the deserted village of Bhagwanpura, the Dorai plains and dam, Pangarh and Lake Kama Kirta.
As well as incredible scenery, highlights along the way include the region’s unique wildlife, including antelope, wild boar, hyena, jackal, blue bull, wild cat and panther; remote villages; ruins of a 5th century AD Hindu temple; and a Bhill tribal settlement in an area famous for its opium and mahua trees.
At the end of this exhilarating safari, you can spend a few days in Udaipur, also known as the ‘City of Lakes’, where you can stay at one of India’s most iconic and luxurious heritage hotels – the Taj Lake Palace Hotel. The Taj Lake Palace Hotel is beautifully situated on the shores of Lake Picchola.
Celebrating Christmas and New Year during your Ride
Celebrating Christmas and ushering in the New Year in a very special way with a magnificent ride through the sandy desert tracks of Rajasthan on the native and temperamental Marwari horses. Discover the spirit of the Marwari breed, enjoy long canters and a well-trained horse, stay in some of Rajasthan’s finest heritage hotels, witness the glory of its royal past and camp under the stars in rural Rajasthan during this 8 day, 10 night ride on these forward thinking, hot-blooded indigenous horses of India.
You can choose your dates so that Christmas and New Year fall during this period of your travel. This will make your trip amazing and special, which you’re bound to remember for a long time to come!
Code: CAHS1
Arrive Delhi, meeting and assistance upon arrival, transfer to hotel. Overnight.
Before Bijaipur stop for a visist of the biggest fort of India, Chittorgarh Fort, which has a glorious history of Rajput valour. Welcome and check in on arrival.
Dinner and O/N at the Bijaipur Castle (a 360-year-old castle which is now a listed heritage hotel and is run by the local ruling family).
For the next two days we will be riding in the mornings and evenings. The afternoons will be free. For those wishing to learn, one of our experienced guides will give lessons and take beginners out into the countryside along the old farm tracks to see India at its most beautiful. For those who can already ride, guides are available to take you further afield. In the afternoons there will be cycling, cooking lessons, massages and the pool. Every evening we'll have dinner under the stars. We will also be doing a couple of village tours and picnic trips in the old vintage jeeps.
After breakfast we head through the Eastern Highlands with lush green fields dotted
scattered among the hills. At 'Damru', a beautiful spot, we stop for lunch. After lunch we will continue our ride through the plains of Guner. In the evening we will be at the Motipura lake where the staff of the safari camp will be on hand to welcome us.
Overnight at Motipura Lake in tents. Our safari tents are canvas tents in the Mughal style. The size of the tent is 3 metres x 3 metres x 3 metres. Each tent has two beds with mattresses, bed linen, blankets etc. etc. The toilets are in separate tents.
Good to know:
Today we will ridel southwards. Ride through the least populated area. We will have lunch at the old Rawat Lake. After lunch, we will travel through forests and come across few people. We will visit the abandoned village of Bhagwanpura, which has been empty for about 60 years. Finally, we will arrive at Pangarh Lake, a man-made lake that is over 1000 years old. The place is adorned with remnants of a fort and a few temples, which enhance its beauty. The lake is a haven for bird enthusiasts. Spend the night at 'Pangarh Lake Retreat' (a luxurious camp managed by Castle Bijaipur Hotels)
Good to know:
We ride through the village and through the many valleys to the north after breakfast. This valley has fantastic riding grounds and pleasant villages. We will have lunch near a village called Modia before taking a brief rest and continuing our journey to arrive at Bijaipur in the evening. The staff and family at Castle Bijaipur will eagerly await our arrival.
We will spend the night at Castle Bijaipur.
Good to know:
Today is free to relax in this wonderful ambience of this medival fort. Write your postcards, bask in the glory of the Sun at the swimming pool or go for a rejuvenating ayurvedic massage.
You are at leisure for the rest of the day to explore on your own. This charming village brings alive the royal past of Rajasthan with many artisans still pursuing the ancestral profession of creating clay and wood structures, and carving metal among others.
We will have dinner and spend the night at Castle Bijaipur.
The Horse Rideing trip will end here. Today you can fly back to Delhi from Udaipur to connect your international flight back home from Delhi. OR You can add the following extension to this trip. In this case the trip continues from Bijaipur day 8 as described below
After breakfast drive to Udaipur. On arrival in Udaipur, check-in at a hotel for your overnight stay.
Afternoon you will gon on a guided Heritage Walk through the lanes of the old city. Its quite an experience.
Dinner and Overnight
After breakfast, proceed on a sightseeing tour of Udaipur. Drive around Fatehsagar Lake, built by Maharana Fateh Singh in 1754 AD. Visit Jagdish Temple, the largest and the most venerated temple of Udaipur. Further on, continue to Garden of Maidens – ‘Sahelion-Ki- Bari’, consisting of an ornamental pool with delicately carved ‘chhatries’ (umbrellas) of black and white marble and soft stone. Also, tour the Maharana's City Palace, an imposing edifice of granite and marble. In the evening, enjoy a boat ride on Lake Pichola, taking in the brilliant scenery of hills, temples and palaces surrounding it. After a memorable day of sightseeing, return to your hotel and spend the night.
Dinner and Overnight.
Morning after having breakfast drive to Pushkar holy city. On arrival check-in at your hotel. Later visit various temples and ghats and holy Pushkar Lake. There are more than 400 hundred temples in Pushkar but the main attraction being the temple of Lord Brahma, the only temple in India dedicated to Brahma. If it is the month of October/November then you are lucky to enjoy the world famous cattle fair of Pushkar. Rest of the time completely free to explore the Pushkar on your own. Over night in your hotel.
Dinner and Overnight.
In the morning drive to Jaipur. On your arrival to the charming Pink City of India check-in at your hotel. Time free for leisure. This is the only city in the world symbolizing the nine divisions of the universe through the nine rectangular sectors subdividing it. In the evening take a walking tour of the colorful streets and bazaars of Jaipur City. The beauty of Jaipur is that its unique architecture and town planning is visible at even the most common places such as its squares and lanes. Night stay in your hotel.
Dinner and Overnight.
After breakfast, proceed on a full-day sightseeing tour of Jaipur. Tour the Amber Fort - the capital of the state till 1728. Visit Jagmandir or the Hall of Victory that glitters with thousand mirrors, Jal Mahal and Temples of Kali. Enjoy an elephant ride on your ascent to Amber Fort and behold panoramic views of the city along the way.
In the afternoon, visit the Maharaja’s City Palace and Jantar Mantar, drive past Hawa Mahal or The Palace of Winds and past the rose-pink residential and business quarters of Jaipur. After a day of sightseeing and discovering the different colors of Jaipur, return to your hotel and spend the night.
Dinner and Overnight.
After breakfast, drive to the city of Taj, Agra.
We will stop at Fatehpur Sikri on the way to Jaipur. Fatehpur Sikri, located 40 km from Agra, is an abandoned city built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 to honor the great Saint Sheikh Salim Chisti. The saint blessed Akbar and prophesied the birth of three sons to the then childless emperor. Akbar used Fatehpur Sikri as his capital and the city was active for 14 years. Sadly, it eventually became deserted and ruined after Akbar left the city. Water scarcity caused this city to be abandoned. You can see the stunning, intact structures in the 'Ghost City' that embody the grandeur of the Mughal empire at its peak. These include the Jama Masjid, tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal Palace, and other palaces.
Afternoon go see the impressive Red Fort. Emperor Akbar laid the foundation of the fort in 1565 and the construction continued until the time of Shahjahan. The tall red stone structure extends for approximately 1.5 miles, commanding a turn in the river Yamuna to the northwest of the Taj Mahal. The building is noteworthy for its seamless fusion of Hindu and central Asian architectural designs.
You will be visiting the Taj Mahal at sunrise, built in 1630 by Shah Jahan to honor his queen Mumtaz Mahal. We will start at 6 am. This impressive building is a beautifully crafted work of art made from white marble. It shows the incredible ability of 20,000 craftsmen who came from Persia, Turkey, France, and Italy and worked together for 17 years to complete this "Love Poem in Marble." Return to the hotel for breakfast.
Drive to Delhi after breakfast.
Evening/night flight back home. In case your flight is on the next day, we will book a room in Delhi for you.
EN 
DE