...bridging cultures since 1999

PUSHKAR CAMEL FAIR 2 017 28 TH OCTOBER – 05 TH NOVEMBER 2017

The Annual Fair has everything you can expect from a traditional Indian festival. It is colorful, vibrant, chaotic and astonishing. The biggest attractions of this fair are the decorated camels. As many as 30,000 camels participate in this fair.

Pushkar Fair or Pushkar Mela is a 100 year old tradition. Participating in the fair is a great opportunity to experi ence the vibrancy and colors of . The annual fair is celebrated for five days from the Kartik ekadashi to Kartik Poornima (the full moon day in the month of Kartik). In 2017, the Mela will be held from 28 October – 04 November. The full moon day i s the most important day of the festival. According to popular legends, the was created by Lord Brahma on this day. Because of this reason, thousands of people take a dip in t he holy waters of this lake on this day. For tourists, the biggest d raws are the exhibition of livestock and various cultural programs.

Pushkar Fair is a complete entertainment package. A number of acclaimed dancers, musicians, acrobats and snake charmers perfo rm at the fair enthralling the audience. The Fair also offers one a glimpse into the culture and traditions of Rajasthan.

ITINERARY

Day 1 Saturday 28 October 2017 Arrive Delhi Welcome to India and the start of your holiday! Upon arrival you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Delhi.

Day 2 Sunday 29 October 2017 Delhi sightseeing - Old & New Today embark on a full day sightseeing tour of city, kicking off in the hustle and bustle of Old Delhi. Here we will see the famous Red Fort, the towering minarets and marble domes of Jama Masjif – one of the oldest and most impressive mosques in the city, and government buildings. Later we head into New Delhi, with its wide boulevards, plentiful parks and majestic parliament buildings and palaces. View t he lofty Qutab Minar tower, and the 16th century Humayun’s Tomb. Overnight in Delhi

Day 3 Monday 30 October 2017 Delhi - - Pushkar Early this morning we take the train to Ajmer. Upon arrival in Ajmer, we embark on a sightseeing tour of the area with visits to the Muslim Sufi Saint Chisti Mausoleum, the town centre, college area and market place before driving north the Pushkar which is just 11km away. Overnight in Pushkar.

Days 4 - 5 Tuesday Wednesday 31 Oct & 01 Nov 2017 Pushkar Camel Fair - Jaipur Pushkar - Jaipur. Once a year the sleepy lakeside town of Pushkar erupts into a frenzy of activity, as hundreds of thousands of cattle traders, pilgrims, breeders, herdsmen, farmers and travellers descend upon the town for the annual Pushkar Camel Fair. Here you can wi tness the se rious business of livestock trading as well as watch (or take part) in some fun activities, such as a game of tug of war, a c ricket match, a competition for the longest moustache, and a camel beauty - pageant. There are also plenty of market stalls with loca l wares on sale, including bracelets, clothing, and fabrics.

As well as the colourful activities of the fairground this annual event also carries some religious significance. According t o legend, while searching for a place to perform a fire sacrifice th e Hindu god Brahma made Pushkar Lake appear out of thin air and as such on the day of a full moon during the fair thousands of pilgrims flock to the Ghats of the lake to bathe in its sacred waters. Our sightseeing today inc ludes Pushkar Lake and Brahma Tem ple before we head over to the fair grounds in the afternoon.

The following morning is free to continue enjoying the delights of the Pushkar Camel Fair. Later we drive to Jaipur, the bust ling capital of the state of Rajasthan. Overnight in Jaipur

Day 6 Thursday 02 November 2017 The Pink City of Jaipur Today we explore the Pink City of Jaipur. We start the day with a jeep ride up to lofty Amber Fort. Once inside the sheer roc k walls we explore palaces, gardens, temples and opulent private apartments that were once home to Mughal rulers. In the afternoon we enjoy a city tour of Jaipur. Here we will see the remains of the Hawa Mahal palace, visit the ancient Jantar Mantar observatory, and explore the v ast City Palace, with its many courtyards, gardens and m ajestic buildings. There will also be the chance to browse several museums and art galleries. Overnight in Jaipur 1 Terralaya Travels • PO Box 20 • Head Post Office • 737101 Gangtok • Sikkim • India [email protected] www.terralaya.com [email protected] www.sikkim.ch M: India: +91 94343 82036, 98320 79320, 97330 06595 www.yetilaya.com O: India: +91 (0)3592 252516 www.himalayanhomestay.com M: Switzerland: +41 79 937 33 20 SKYPE: helen.kampf

...bridging cultures since 1999

Day 7 FRIDAY 03 November 2017 Jaipur – Fatepur Sikri - Agra. This morning we drive to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. En route we visit the deserted Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri which was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569. Thanks to the very durable red sandstone from which it was built, Fatehpur Sikri still remains well - preserved and is a fascinating place to explore. The behemoth complex is d ivided into four parts - the women's quarter, emperor's quarter, a quarter for princes and noblemen and weapons housing. Upon arrival into Agra we check in to our hotel before heading over to the imposing Agra Fort e arly this evening. This 16th century san dstone fortress was once home to Mughal rulers, and within its fortified walls you can still find evidence of the empire’s grandeur with a number of enchanting mosques and stunning palaces. Overnight in Agra

Day 8 SATURDAY 04 November 2017 Agra - Delhi Today we visit the beautiful Taj Mahal at sunrise, which truly is one of the wonders of the world. The Taj Mahal is a monumen t of love built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan in 1630 for his Queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. For twenty - two years 20,000 men laboured day and night to build this masterpiece, which has held the world awe - struck ever since. This afternoon we drive back to Delhi where we spend our final night. Overnight in Delhi

Day 9 SUNDAY 05 November 2017 Depart Delhi Today we say goodbye to India as our tour comes to an end. After breakfast and check - out you will be transferred to the airport for your onward travel.

2 Terralaya Travels • PO Box 20 • Head Post Office • 737101 Gangtok • Sikkim • India [email protected] www.terralaya.com [email protected] www.sikkim.ch M: India: +91 94343 82036, 98320 79320, 97330 06595 www.yetilaya.com O: India: +91 (0)3592 252516 www.himalayanhomestay.com M: Switzerland: +41 79 937 33 20 SKYPE: helen.kampf