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Letter Randocheval

Why travelling with Randocheval ?

INDIA / RAJASTHAN - TRAIL RIDE ON MARWARI HORSES WITH RAJPUT PRINCES AND TRADITIONAL MAHARAJAHS LUXURY TENTED CAMPS...

Itinerary - Extensions - Horses and required riding level
Guiding - Accommodation - Dates and rates - More infos / booking

Breathtaking trails in a breathtaking country, and we stay objective!! * Idian MARWARI horses, famous for their body, their mind and of course their ears in circle!! * A Palace where horses are leaving very well treated and where you will be home at the beguining and the end of the trail. * Nights in camp with as confort and luxe as a Maharajas house, thanks to a great team. The remind of those exceptional camps in the heart of the desert around camp fire, where horses share with us every moments of the day and the night so close to men will be in our mind for a long long time... Shekawati region, situated between Jaipur and Bikaner, in the heart of Rajasthan,is famous for its Havelis, beautiful painting houses and for its ancient prince's Palace whose grandson will be your guide and the responsable of the logistics of the trail.

This region gives you the unique oportunity to discover an unic architectural patrimony, while you are in the authentic India, and all that in a small area. Fantastic!

• Shekhawati in camp - Black Buck Sanctuary (Febuary 27th to march 10th and September 25th to october 6th 2008)
• Special Balotra Fair (March 24th to April 6th 2008)
• Special Naugar Fair (Febuary 3rd to 17th 2008)
• Special Pushkar Fair (october 26th to november 9th 2008)
  

ITINERARY

Shekhawati in camp - Black Buck Santuary

Day 1
Departure to Delhi. Arrived in Delhi during in the end of the evening. Welcome and transfert to the hôtel for the night. (The dinner isn't included because of the late arrival)

Day 2
You will be drived to Nawalgarh (5-6 h driven distance).
Nawalgarh is situated in Shekhawati area, famous for the painting houses, called "Havelis", listed to the Mondial Patrimony of the UNESCO. Set up at Roop Niwas Palace,Devendra's one, who will be your guide.
After lunch you will visit the Palace and the stables. If the weather is good you will do your first horse tour in the region. Informations about the trail... Dîner and night at the Palace.

Day 3
Complete day ride to Naharsinghani, the frist Mandawa's boss's farm.We ride on a desertic contryside very typical for Shekhawati, with Khejri trees, and very small cities.Lunch at the farm.Then we will visit some farms where womens are encouraged by some non governmental organizations to use ecological culture ways, more efficients. Night at the Roop Niwas Palace.

Day 4
Morning ride around Nawalgarh. During the ride visit of farm houses and village homes of people who homes at local horse breed the Marwari horse. Visit of the stables and discussion with the farmers. En route picnic lunch. During the afternoon meeting with Dr Rathore, a specialist of Marwari horse. And before the dinner presentaion of "Salotra", an ancient hand written horse medecine book.Interactive discussion on how to encouraged local horse lovers to continue keeping Marwari horse. Diner and night at Roop Niwas Palace.

Day 5
We leave Nawalgarh for a 26 km ride in the typic contryside of Shekhawati. En route picnic lunch. We cross Churi Ajitgarh, then Nabipura where we will set our camp.

Day 6
30 km morning ride to Fatehpur Beed. Picnic near a typical Shekhawati architecture water tank called Johda.
The Fatehpur Beed reserve was created 300 years ago. This area of 70 km² homes today all the spaces who lives in the Thar desert.We will maybe have luck and see desert fox one of the space who is in the region. Night in camp.

Day 7
Departure to the around 28km riding distance Bikaner 's state. Picnic lunch.The landscape has radicaly changes and we will cross very big sand dunes. After lunch the ride pace will be slower. Night in camp on Parihara dunes.

Day 8
Today a 24 km ride, leaving the sand dunes will make us come to flat ground. The most of the ride will be on Tal Chappar's territories, if we are allow, it has largest herds of "Black Buck" antelope. Scarfs and turbans will be useful as fine dust rises when you ride past this flat ground. Night in a camp near the sanctuary.

Day 9
Full day ride to explore the area around Tal Chappar Wildlife Sanctuary, which homes the largest herds of "Black Buck" in India, besides chinkara gazelle, desert cat, desert fox and other dry land wildlife. Picnic lunch. We will see too birds as sand grouse, quails, cream coloured desert courser.Come back to the camp and diner and night.

Day 10
Today we continue our ride to the North in the desert, hard for horses who will, as every day, take us to our target. The camp is close to Dhadheru.

Day 11
Early morning ride around Dhadheru, to say goodbye to our horses. After breakfast transfert to Bikaner (2h30 drive). At the arrive lunch at Kharni Bhawan Palace. Day use rooms will be available to have a break.
In the afternoon visit of Bikaner Fort and of the camel farm. In the evening transfert to the train station to take your train to Delhi.

Day 12
Early in the morning arrive in Delhi, transfert to the hotel where day use rooms are available, day and meals free. In the end of the day transfert to Delhi airport to your return flight to your country.

Day 13
Arrival in your country.

BALOTRA FAIR

An exceptional experience: Balotra fair is the bigest one in India, but there is no tourists b

Day 1
Departure to Delhi. Arrive in Delhi in the end of the day. Welcome and transfert at the train station to be transfered to Jodhpur (diner is not included).

Day 2
Welcome and transfert to the Ratan Vilas Palace. Meeting with your guides.
Night in Ratan Vilas Palace.

Day 3
In the morning, visit of Jodhpur. In the afternoon, transfert to the camp where horses are wainting for you. Then you will choose your horse for the trail and first ride around the camp. Night at Ratan Vilas.

Day 4 - Beguining of the trail.
You will have a daily riding distance of 25 to 30km per day, crossing farms and villages.
We will meet many Bishnoi villages, a community which turned protection of the environment into a religion.
Ride to Satlana. Night in a luxurious camp.

Day 5 - Ride to Ghana. night in a luxurious camp.

Day 6 - Ride to Karmavas. Night in a luxurious camp.

Day 7 - Ride to Asotra. Night in a luxurious camp.

Day 8 - Ride to Tilwara, Balotra fair site (big meeting of around 5-7000 horses, 15-20000 camels and 30-40000 cows). Exploration of this site. Farmers comes from neighbour states to build their camp in this desertes éleveurs viennent des Etats voisins pour établir leurs campements dans ces étendues désertiques. Night in a luxurious camp.

Day 9 - Complete day in Balotra Fair. Ride during the morning and the evening. During the afternoon do a walk on the site to see the outstanding shows of horse sellers, who make their horse do some technicals exercices to warn the client's attention on their body, their mind...
Night in luxurious camp.

Day 10 - Complete day in Balotra Fair. Many test of models are organized during the day ( date unknow for the moment) presidated by the Maharajah of Jodhpur. Night in a luxurious camp.

Day 11 - Morning ride on the site of the Fair. After lunch you will be drive to Jodhpur (4h). Diner at Ratan Vilas where day use rooms will be available to have a break. Then night train to Delhi. The dinner is not included.

Day 12 - Transfert to the hotel near the airport, day use rooms available to the evening. Then return flight to your country.

Day 13 - Arrival in your country.

NAUGAR FAIR

Day 1 - Flight to Delhi. Arrival during the evening. Welcome and transfert to the hotel for the night.(The dinner is not included because of the late arrival).

Day 2 - You will be drived to Nawalgarh (5-6 h driven distance). Nawalgarh is situated in Shekhawati area, famous for the painting houses, called "Havelis", listed to the Mondial Patrimony of the UNESCO. Set up at Roop Niwas Palace,Devendra's one, who will be your guide. After lunch you will visit the Palace and the stables. If the weather is good you will do your first horse tour in the region. Informations about the trail... Dinner and night at the Palace.

Day 3 - Morning on horseback, to socialize with those Indian Horses (Marwari). In the afternoon, visit of Nawalgarh. Night at Roop Niwas Palace.

Day 4 - Ride to Lohargal. Picnic lunch at Acacia. Lohargal is an important city for Indian people. You will spend the night at Birla Rest House.

Day 5 - Horseback through typical scenery of Shekawati's region, to Danta. Then after a good meal you will ride to the camp, to spend the night.

Day 6 - 35 km on horseback today, in a half desertic scenery, springle with many farms and houses done with dry mud. Midday stop at Kochor. Then night in camp near a water tank.

Day 7 - 42 km ride today, first through mountains to Roopgarh, then to Ghatwa. During the trail you will have a beautiful view on the 5 forts of the region. Lunch near a old water tank. During the afternoon ride to your camp. Night in camp.

Day 8 - Ride to the salt lake of Nawa. Today is the day the more picturesque one in our trip. After lunch we will follow the lake and meet some shepherd and their herds. Sunset and setoff are really exceptional in this region.Night in camp.

Day 9 - After breakfast riders will be drive to Naugar, where horses and camp will arrive later. Night in camp.

Day 10 - Complete day on the fair...

Day 11 - After breakfast, transfert to Jodhpur and visit of the city. After lunch you can visit the old town. Dinner not included.

Day 12 - Day at leisure, then in the evening you will take the night train to Delhi. The dinner is not included.

Day 13 - Transfer to the hotel near the airport, day use rooms available to the evening. Evening transfer to aiport. Then return flight to your country.

PUSHKAR FAIR

Day 1 - Flight to Delhi. Arrival during the evening. Welcome and transfert to the hotel for the night.(The diner is not included because of the late arrival).

Day 2 - You will be drived to Nawalgarh (5-6 h driven distance). Nawalgarh is situated in Shekhawati area, famous for the painting houses, called "Havelis", listed to the Mondial Patrimony of the UNESCO. Set up at Roop Niwas Palace,Devendra's one, who will be your guide. After lunch you will visit the Palace and the stables. If the weather is good you will do your first horse tour in the region. Informations about the trail... Dîner and night at the Palace.

Day 3 - Morning on horseback, to socialize with those Indian Horses (Marwari). In the afternoon, visit of Nawalgarh surounds. Night at Roop Niwas Palace.

Day 4 - Ride to Narsighani, with picnic breakfast and return to Roop Niwas Palace for lunch. In the afternoon visit of Nawalgarh in car with guide.

Day 5 - Today we start our ride to Pushkar fair. Ride to Lohargal. Picnic lunch at Acacia. Lohargal is an important city for Indian people. You will spend the night at Birla Rest House.

Day 6 - Ride to Sujas (38 km). To the south-west to Danta, we live Sikar. Picnic lunch. In the afternoon we will ride to the camp, which is in a desertic area, where are many dry salt lakes. Night in camp.

Day 7 - Ride to Sulyas (35 km). in a half desertic scenery, springle with many farms and houses done with dry mud. Midday stop at Kochor. Then night in camp near a water tank.

Day 8 - Long ride to Shyamgarh (42 km). We will follow the herd tracks, through mountains near Roopgarh, then we will join Ghatwa village where a famous battle took place between Rao Shekha and Rajputs it costs the life at around 25 000 mens. Lunch near a water point. From a big sand stone, you will enjoy the view on the 5 famous forts. In the end of the day we will arrive to our camp situated near fort Shyamgarh. Night in camp.

Day 9 - Ride to the salt lake of Nawa. Today is the day the more picturesque one in our trip. After lunch we will follow the lake and meet some shepherd and their herds. Sunset and setoff are really exceptional in this region.Night in camp.

Day 10 - Ride to Salemabad (45 km). We will cross the lake on 8-10 km, before taking a track in the mountains to our picnic point. After lunch we will cross some diferent area and we will arrive to a vast grass place (Kuncha) where is our camp. This site is one of the most beautiful of the trail. Night in camps.

Day 11 - Ride to Mayapur (35 km). We arrive to a zone where are many farms most of the farmers are Gujar. We will visit one of their house. We ride in a valley and through a mountain to join our camp where we will spend the night.

Day 12 - Arrival in Pushkar (25 km), cercled by farms, and roses, Pushkar shows its typical white houses near a sacred lake. Visit of Fair place. Every breeders meet one to each other to show their most beautiful animals and to participate at camel races... Night in camp.

Day 13 - Ride in the morning and in the evening to avoid the sun. And complete day on the fair.

Day 14 - Early in the morning drive to Jaipur (3h). Visit of the city and free lunch. In the evening we will take night train to Delhi. Dinner free.

Day 15 - Transfer to the hotel near the airport, day use rooms available to the evening. Evening transfer to aiport. Then return flight to your country.

Day 16 - Arrival in Europe.

EXTEND YOUR TRIP

HORSES AND REQUIRED RIDING LEVEL

To participate to those rides will offer you the unique and fabulous oportunity to ride authentics Indian horses: MARWARI horses with their famous ears in half circle.

Those horses have a hard mind, they are really vifs, they are ideal horses for experienced riders.

Their names have already a travel sense: Kesar (safran), Chandrika (moon rayon), CHABILI (malicieux et flamboyant), RADHA PRIYA (Fiancée de Krishna), DIL PANSAND ("adorée de mon coeur"...).

We advise you to arrive at the Palace a few days before we start the trail (this few days at horse will be free) so you will have a little time to learn about Marwari, and to find your horse between the 22 ones who are at your disposal.

During the ride the other horse follow the group to replace a horse or to give a new horse to someone who want to change.

Tack : The tack is Idian "Sawar", strong, comfortable for both rider and horse. This type of tack was used by English cavalry in India. All this tack is in a very good state.

Riding level: To enjoy the best of this trail and this Indian horses you should be in a good health, and ready at the three paces. We ride between 25km and 40 km per day.

What to Bring: chaps, boots and a hat, a small gourd, raining coat...

YOUR GUIDES

BHANWAR DEVENDRA SINGH OF NAWALGARH
He guides the tour and he is the proud owner of the beautiful horses you will ride.
He is the greatson of Rawal Madan Singhji of Nawalgarh. Nawalgarh was a little state of Shekawatti, which was opposed to Jaipur state.
Bh. Devendra Singh is a very good rider, he fall in love with horses. He lives with horses since since his young age, because of this esceptional stables his family had.

THAKUR DURGA SINGH OF MANDAWA
He manages the camp, meals, transports... If you need anything he will find it for you. Mandawa was equaly a little state. Mandawa and Nawalgarh families are cousins.
His long experience turned him very strict concerning his team.

RISALDAR JASWANT SINGH
He manages the horses and the stables during the trail. During the day (on horseback) he carry Nawalgarh's flag, a strange but beautiful tradition.

SHRI DEVI SINGH
He manages the camp installation. He did Indo-Pakistanian war, and was in the peace force in Sri Lanka. So you can understand wy our camp is a child game for him !

MR. RAMESH SHARMA
The cooker ! he come from Garhwal in Himalaya and know how to feast your senses with real indian cook.

RAMLAL and his wife PATASI, our musicians !!!
The Bhopa musicians of Rajasthan are singing in couples with the "RAVAN HATHA", a traditional instrument. Their songs refers to legendar heroes, kings, and of course love histories. "Patasi", the name of Ramlal's wife means "candy shugar" !

GADU RAM, the barber !
You just have to contact him to have a massage...
Gadu Ram is famous all over the Shekhawati for his special way of decoration for horses and camels: he makes slim drawings with a special technical of shaving !

GOPAL
He is reponsable of the water ! Every morning and every night, he start a fire to heat up the water for bath ! He will clean boots which will be leted out of the tent every day.

Don't forget the others who complete this maravellous team !

It is a team around 25 to 30 persons for each trail, and as a rider said :" I was treated as a prince by princes !"

ACCOMMODATION

One of the big particularyties of this trail is that you camp every night, without current water or electricity but with Maharadjas comfort ! The camp is colourfull and gives you a good view of anciant Maharadjas's camp. Each tents are really well furnished.

One tent for bath another for toilets are at you disposal.

The restaurant tent is furnished with tables, chairs and you will eat some indian or european food. In the center of the tent a place is free for shows as Indian cooking, dacing... Or just to permit a discussion between riders, on particular themes as equine medecine in India....

DATES AND RATES

Flight Europe - Delhi

According to the date and the city of your departure, we will propose you the best available tariff at the time of your registration. Consequently, the tariff above is indicative and might be reduced or increased at the time of your registration.

Single supplements :

- Puskar Fair : 430 €
- Shekawati camp : 170 €
- Naugar Fair : 300 €
- Balotra Fair : 250 €

The single supplement will be automaticly added if you are traveling alone.

Small group supplement :
On all rides, the minimum is of 4 riders (except on the Shekawati in camp ride for which 2 riders is the minimum). If less than 4, there will be a small group supplement of 110 € per rider.

RATE INCLUDING

RATE NOT INCLUDING

BOOKING - INFORMATION

Contact us for any inquiry !

PRATICAL INFORMATIONS

COUNTRY

LENGTH

LANGUAGE

GROUP SIZE

ACCESS

CLIMATE

Winter months from October to March are really good time to go there. Summer can be really warm.
During the second part of March days are warmer.

Please note the rainy season is from July to September.

Formalities
Valid passeport + visa

Check with your local Embassy according to your nationality.

Vaccines-Health
None vaccine is mandatory, however the tetanus and the typhoid vaccines are recommended. A collective first-aid kit is provided, but each participant will have to allow an individual little first-aid kit according to his habits and tolerance concerning certain medicines.
It is necessary to be up to date concerning your usual vaccinations, in particular for the tetanus vaccine. Remember that a repatriation travel insurrance is compulsory.

Anti paludean treatment is recomended.

These informations are given for French citizens for information purpose only. For citizens of other countries, please ask your embassy. You must hold identity and sanitary elements necessary for the entrance in the visited country.

REFERENCE :ch66-rajasthan-en