Exploring Rajasthan

You will be met upon arrival and transferred to the hotel.

(The Imperial - Heritage Room) 

Even when Bombay and Madras were mere trading posts and Calcutta a village of mud huts, Delhi had been the seat of an empire for five hundred years. Through the centuries, eight cities have been built on this site by Hindus, Mughals and the British, each adding their own flavor. In a matter of minutes you can be transported from a sprawling, elegant garden city to the ancient twisting alleyways of Old Delhi.

On your tour of “Old Delhi,” you will head out to explore this exotic locale with its narrow dirt roads, its myriad people and inexpensive, colorful bazaars that keep alive the traditional workmanship for which Delhi has always been famous.  Driving past the Red Fort,  trade your motor vehicle for a bicycle rickshaw, which will take you into the heart of Chandni Chowk (the silver square, so named because of the silver merchants). Negotiating alleyways, which seemingly get narrower and narrower, you end up at the Jama Masjid, the largest Muslim mosque in India.

This afternoon, explore New Delhi. Your guide will point out the Raj-era architecture in the city center, including the renowned India Gate and Edwin Landseer Lutyens’ and Herbert Baker’s monumental governmental building on the Raisina Hill.  From there, visit Humayun’s Tomb, where the 2nd Mughal Emperor is interred. This magnificent building was to serve as an inspiration for the Taj Mahal. The tomb is an exquisite example of early Mughal architecture.

This evening you are treated to a “home-cooked” Indian meal where you also have the opportunity of learning the nuances of various spices used in Northern Indian cuisine.

(The Imperial - Heritage Room; B, D)

After breakfast, transfer to Delhi airport to connect with flight to Udaipur. On arrival, drive approximately 3 hours to reach the rural village of Narlai. Above the village rises a massive 350 foot high granite rock, known as “Elephant Hill”, for the temple and life size statue of an elephant on the top of the hill. There are about 700 steps that lead to the top, offering fabulous sunrise or sunset panorama of the surrounding region that were once the private hunting reserve for the Maharajahs of Jodhpur.

We stay in Rawla Narlai, an elegant 17th century property that was the hunting lodge of the royal family of Jodhpur. The hotel features a historic and a contemporary wing, decorated with ornate artworks and antique furnishings.

In the afternoon we head out to explore the nearby settlements to visit and interact with the Meghwal and Satiyaa tribes.

(Rawla Narlai - Grand Heritage Room; B)

Early morning we have the option of climbing up ‘elephant hill’ to take in the sunrise or head to Seli Bandh, a nearby dam which is habitat for numerous birds.

After breakfast (back at our hotel) we head out to Ranakpur, home to some of India’s most exquisite Jain temple architecture. Situated in the lovely valley of Aravalli Hills, less than 40km away, are the ornately carved temples of Ranakpur. One of the holiest places for Jain pilgrims, the Chamukha temple is three-storied, 80 domes structure, supported by 1444 carved pillars, each different from one another.  This temple is dedicated to Adinathji.  We will leisurely explore the temple site and nearby villages before returning back to Narlai.

This evening we have our dinner by the 1000 year old step well.

(Rawla Narlai - Grand Heritage Room; B, D)

After an early breakfast we continue our overland journey into the heart of Rajasthan exploring small villages and ancient temples along the way. Tonight’s destination is the Jawai Bandh (dam) wilderness area where leopards and other mammals have found sanctuary.

The inhabitants around the water body belong to the ecologically minded Rabari tribe of Rajasthan. It is believed they originally migrated here over a millennium ago from Persia (today’s Iran).

In the afternoon we head out for our first encounter with leopards.

(Sujan Jawai - Tented Rock Suite; B, L, D)

Leopards across the world (including other parts of India) make the jungles and forests their habitat, but here the caves in the granite hills around the Jawai dam are home to 50-60 leopards (recent estimate for the Forestry department.) In addition to leopard the region is also home to hyenas, desert foxes, wild boars, antelopes and other smaller mammals.  During the winter months the banks of the dam hosts thousands of migratory birds, including the Demoiselle Cranes from Mongolia and the Greater Flamingo from other regions of Asia.

But it’s not just the unique habitat of the leopard that brings us here, but the jewel of the story is of local conservation and co-habitation of humans and nature.

Thanks to the booming economy and rampant growth of the last few decades, India, has changed beyond recognition and the pressure of population growth has seen an increase of wildlife-human conflict. In the first six months of 2021, over a hundred leopard had been killed by poachers and villagers across the country. However, like the Bishnoi people that we will visit in the next few days, here in Jawai, the semi-nomadic Rabari tribe who inhabit the lands along the river have lived peacefully with nature and not one killing of a leopard has been seen or reported in the last 150 years.

We will spend the day exploring the region on the lookout for leopards, while we also meet with Rabari folks and get an understanding of their way of life.

(Sujan Jawai - Tented Rock Suite; B, L, D)

Our longest travel day as we drive 5-6 hours, heading to the edge of the Thar Desert.  Our destination for the day is Suryagarh in Jaisalmer District.

Check-in on arrival with the balance of the day at your leisure to enjoy the nature setting of your hotel.

(Suryagarh - Pavilion Room; B)

We have two full days to leisurely explore this desert citadel.  Rise early and go to Gadsar Lake.  This lake once provided water to the entire city, but today it is greatly reduced in size.  It is still a picturesque spot and a great location to watch the sunrise on Jaisalmer Fort.  You will then walk back to the Jaisalmer Fort through back roads (a 20- to 30-minute walk), watching the bazaar come to life.

Later in the morning, you will take a walking tour to see the architectural dream that is the city of Jaisalmer.  In the narrow cobbled alleyways cluster havelis, mansions of the rich, wrought with stone carvings and latticework of breathtaking intricacy.  You then visit and explore the fascinating Jaisalmer Fort (pictured above), built overlooking the city in 1156, and the Jain Temple complex within it.

                                    (Suryagarh - Pavilion Room; B)

A 3-hour drive from the Jaisalmer further into the hinterland brings you to the “off-the-tourist-trail” region of Jamba, the stronghold of the fascinating Bishnoi tribes. All Bishnois follow the 29 (bis-noi) tenets laid down by the 15th-century guru Jambeshwar, affectionately known as “Jamba-ji.”  They fervently believe in the sanctity of animal and plant life so wildlife finds a natural sanctuary around their villages.

We spend two nights at the private Dera Dune Retreat.  This is an exclusive property, set atop a 130’ high sand dune with panoramic views of the Thar Desert.

The Retreat features exquisite examples of traditional Rajasthani architecture used throughout, with stonework and carvings using local design and sustainable materials and, most importantly, utilizing the skills of local craftsmen.  It has individual deluxe cottages, a swimming pool, spa and beautiful restaurant.

(Dera Dune Retreat - Stone Cottage; B, L, D)

We have two full days to explore the Jamba area. Using 4-wheel drive vehicles we travel cross-country on dirt and sand roads to continue your exploration of “Jamba-ji’s” land. These excursions introduce you to traditional Rajasthani hospitality, and give you a chance to witness rural Rajasthani life up close. The villages are built with painted adobe walls, and village life continues unaffected by the big cities nearby.

Bishnoi villages are immaculate, scrubbed daily by brightly clad women who are weighed down by silver jewelry and festooned with bangles stacked the length of their arms. By contrast, their tall men dress entirely in white, with their large turbans loosely swathed around dark skinned, weathered faces.

You will also have an opportunity, if you are so inclined, to go on a two- to three-hour camel safari or ride on a camel cart. Return to Dera Dune Retreat in time to watch the setting sun illuminate the desert.

When guests are in camp, musicians and dancers from nearby villages usually come to dance away the evening.

(Dera Dune Retreat - Stone Cottage; B, L, D)

This morning we drive to Jodhpur airport for our flight back to Delhi. Depending on your international departure time you will be transferred to the International terminal in time for your flight.

Transit rooms at airport hotel.

(B) B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner

Nomadic Expeditions reserves the right to change the above itinerary if necessary.