India Travel Notes

By: JASSI

ADVENTURE TRAVELING -PART-III (RAJASTHAN)

Horse Safaris, Rajasthan

Amid the havelis of Shekhawati, the fort at Nawalgarh is the base for Shekhawati Brigade Horse Safaris. A well-oiled operation brings you the best of riding experiences: 22 Marwari, Kathiawadi and Sindhi horses can take you cross-country in unspoilt terrain. A team of one outrider, an ex-army cooks, a camp in charge, and folk musicians escort you through semi-desert terrain, forests,

Photograph by Raghuram Ashok

salt lakes, marshes and flat grasslands. Camp is a luxurious affair, though you must bring your own chaps, helmet and boots. Confident riders best enjoy this holiday, though there’s no bar against beginners; you’ll cover 25-40 km a day. In November, you can join the Pushkar Fair Horse Safari (3-17 November, 8N/9D).

Pushkar Resort

And you thought it would be all sand. Try15 acres of green, 40 luxury airconditioned cottages with private sit-outs (single $50, double $60), restaurant, conference facility, golf driving range, swimming pool, a royal Kafila safari, telescopic star gazing, ayurvedic massages, sand volleyball, traditional Rajasthani performances… you can visit Pushkar’s sites of interest and crafts-shop till you drop. If you can make it in time for the Pushkar camel fair (November 16-19 this year) it’s well worth it. GETTING THERE from Delhi takes the NH-8 (400km, 7hrs) to Ajmer or the Shatabdi (Ajmer station is 11 km from the resort). You can also fly to Jaipur (130km/ 2.5hrs away) and drive down from there. Just ask for Motisar Road, Pushkar.
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