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Festivals of India 2015 - 2016 Distant Frontiers Tower B, Delta Square, T +91-124-470 3300 www.distantfrontiers.in MG Road, Sector 25 F +91-124-456 3100 Gurgaon - 122001, Haryana , India [email protected] KNOWLEDGE IS EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING ELSE IS JUST INFORMATION THIS ISSUE's COVER Sindoor Khela - A 400-year old playful tradition on the last day of Durga Puja, the Festival of the Mother Goddess which is best experienced in Kolkata. Photo: Aveek Das (Team Human Resource) 4 MAP INDIA & CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 5 Amritsar 1 Namkhan, Spiti, Himachal Pradesh August, 2015 >> pages 619 2 Pulikali Tiger Dance, Thrissur, Kerala August, 2015 >> pages 2029 3 Ganesh Chaturthi, Mumbai, Tarnetar and Rav September 2015 Gujrat >> pages 3037 Dear Travel Partners, 4 RIFF, Jodhpur, Rajasthan We bring to you a selection of festivals in India experienced rst-hand by us. October 2015 From small local community celebrations to festival which are centuries old >> pages 3845 that haven't yet aracted the hordes of tourists and retain their original essence. Our insiders will tell you how to plan your itinerary as well as provide tips on 5 Bateshwar Fair, Bateshwar November 2015 what not to miss while you are there. >> pages 4663 Come Explore with us 6 Bhagoriya, Gujarat March 2016 >> pages 6473 7 Hola Mohalla, Anandpur Sahib, Punjab Dipak Deva March 2016 CEO Destination Management >> pages 7481 India & South Asia Kerela Mountain National Park 6 DEMUL, SPITI, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA AUGUST 2015 7 Namkhan Sample Itinerary HIGHLIGHTS Elaborate ceremony to appease the village deity aer which the villagers ride on horseback to an auspicious spot believed by the locals to 6 August (Thursday) Arrive Delhi. Overnight Stay at the house all the 5 monasteries of Spiti in a world which can be seen only by enlightened beings. Claridges Visit to the auspicious place on Yaks a day before Namkhan. It has an amazing 360 view of the mountain ranges. Folk Dance by the girls of Demul. Remainder of your time at leisure. An insight into the Green initiatives of Demul their agricultural practices along with the intricate system of irrigation which ensures minimal wastage of water. A seamless blend of old world charm and the contemporary, your hotel is one of Meeting with the Nono (title for the King of Spiti), who prefers to be known as a progressive farmer. New Delhi's best addresses since the 1950's. Website: hp://www.claridges.com The Namkhan festival at the highland village of Demul at an altitude of 4350 meters in the cold desert of Spiti is wrapped around the agricultural practices of the village. The main objective of this small community festival is to appease and 7 August (Friday) Delhi-Kalka-Kandaghat-Shimla. Overnight pray to the Gods for a good harvest. Namkhan provides an interesting insight into the relationship and signicance of the village deity in the day to day life of the stay at the Clarkes Shimla village. Demul also happens to be the village where our Friends in Spiti has launched their O the Grid project. From lighting to water heating to room We start early today and catch the morning train to Kalka departing at 07:40 hrs. heating using Solar energy and cultivation of vegetables using Greenhouses, We arrive Kalka at 11:45 hrs to board the toy train to Kandaghat at 12:10 hrs. A Demul is being developed as a sustainable village. friend of Distant Frontiers will be on board to share the stories and legends surrounding the construction and the initial years of its running which is another Destination Demul, Spiti, Himachal Pradesh tale of its own. Festival Date 15th August, 2015 The train ride from Kalka popularly known as the 'toy train' takes us from the Travel Duration 15 nights / 16 Days foothills to the middle Himalayas through some beautiful scenery and a total of Group Size Ideal for FITs and small groups of 6 - 8 pax 102 tunnels. This train ride also features in the list of UNESCO heritage sites and was completed in the year 1903. Included in the Tour • An English speaking escort throughout • Meals, transportation, accommodation, all sightseeing as per We reach Kandaghat aer a 60 minute ride through many quaint stations each itinerary with a story of its own which our friend will happily share with you as you chug Excluded from the Tour Expenses of personal nature Programme subject to change. 8 DEMUL, SPITI, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA AUGUST 2015 9 slowly up. From Kandaghat we continue the rest of the journey (2 hrs) by surface. 9 August (Sunday) Sarahan to Kalpa by surface 6 hrs aprrox. On arrival we check-in to our hotel. Remainder of your time at leisure. Overnight stay at Kinner Villa Your charming hotel is one of Shimla's oldest and takes you back in time when Today we visit the Bhimakali Temple in the morning and head to Kalpa. Shimla was the summer capital of colonial India. It is located within a walking distance from the Shimla aractions such as the Viceregal Lodge, Gaiety Theatre Today's journey oers some of the most dramatic scenery of the Himalayas. Here etc. the Kinner Kailash range rises majestically from the river bed up through orchard forest and glinting glaciers to rocky pinnacles and snow-capped peaks. Website: hp://www.clarkesshimla.com We carry packed lunch with us. 8 August (Saturday) Shimla-Sarahan by surface - 6 hrs approx . On arrival we check-in to our hotel. Remainder of your time at leisure. Overnight stay at Hotel Srikhand Your hotel is the best available option in town and on a clear day you can enjoy the Today morning, we procure our inner line permits which will allow us to continue views of the Kinner Kailash range from hotel. our journey to Spiti along a route which is very close to the international border with China. Website: hp://www.kinnervilla.com Later we zig-zag our way through Himachal Pradesh's apple growing belt down to the Sutlej Valley below and continue to Sarahan famous for the Bhimakali Temple 10 August (Monday) Kalpa to Nako by surface 4 hrs aprrox. and its unique architecture; a curious mix of Hindu and Buddhist elements. Overnight stay at Kinner Camp We carry packed lunch with us. Today's journey is a transition in landscapes, beliefs and life styles. On arrival we check-in to our hotel. Remainder of your time at leisure. The journey moves into high altitude territory as we enter Khab, the conuence of the Sutlej and Spiti rivers. Tibet is a stone's throw from this point and the Shipki Your hotel, just opposite the Bhimakali Temple, is the best available option in ranges rise majestically on the eastern side. From here on it is the Spiti River that town. On a clear day you can enjoy the views of the majestic mountain ranges and will be our companion through some rugged back country. the Srikhand peak from your hotel. We will end our journey at Nako which is famous for its lake and monastery. We Website: No Website will visit both and spend the night at the Kinner Camps. Programme subject to change. 10 DEMUL, SPITI, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA AUGUST 2015 11 This tented facility is the best available option in town with the Reo Purgyal Peak 12 August (Wednesday) Tabo-Dhankhar -Lhalung -Pin Valley towering over it. by surface 5 hrs approx. Overnight stay at Hermitage Guest Website: hp://www.kinnercamps.com/nako.html House Today morning we shall meet our Friends in Spiti for an orientation on the 11 August (Tuesday) Nako-Giu-Tabo by surface 4 hrs approx. culture, history, ecology, development and conservation issues of the region. This will be followed by a brief interactive session. Overnight stay at Dewachen Later we make our way to visit Dhankhar, the erstwhile capital of Spiti. Dhankhar Today we head to Tabo which lies in the Spiti Valley. Enroute we will take a slight houses a 7th century Monastery perched precariously on a 1000-foot-high rocky detour and visit the village of Giu. Giu is the furthest and most isolated village of spur and in between unique wind eroded structures overlooking the conuence Spiti, lying close to the border of Tibet. of the Spiti and Pin Rivers. Here we will visit the village shrine which houses a 600-year-old mummy of a Lunch at the Dhankar Monastery Guesthouse. Buddhist monk. Aer lunch we head to Lhalung Village. Lhalung houses one of the oldest temples On arrival we check-in to our hotel and have lunch. and perhaps the oldest tree in the region, said to be over a 1000 year old. Aer visiting the temple we then make our way to the other main tributary of the Spiti Later in the aernoon, we visit 1018 year old Tabo Monastery referred to as 'the river, the Pin. The route is quite interesting and is full of geological formations. Ajanta of the Himalayas with its exquisite statues in stuccos, frescos and murals. Every inch of wall is covered with ne paintings in astonishingly well preserved We spend the night in the village of Phukchong, a truly unique village, completely condition dedicated to meditation. This is the village where nuns and monks come for 3 yearlong retreats. Website: hp://www.dewachenretreats.com/hotel_dewachen_retreat_tabo.php Website: No website Programme subject to change. 12 DEMUL, SPITI, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA AUGUST 2015 13 13 August (Thursday) Pin Valley locals and this is where all the horses will be heading to next day during the Namkhan Festival. Today's highlight is meeting a Bhuchen group and seeing their unique art form.