Festivals / Special Interest Tours in India »

THE PUSHKAR CAMEL FAIR

The Pushkar Camel and Cattle fair, a festival of sounds and colors, is held annually on the banks of Lake Pushkar. Traders and Pilgrims flock to Pushkar for livestock trading, camel racing and other festivities and, to Westerners, it is perhaps, one of India's most famous fairs. Nestling on the edge of the desert, this small place transforms itself from a peaceful, rural community, into a vast tented village with a lively, colorful and noisy market place.

The nights will be spent in the Royal Tents. They have en suite bathrooms, electricity, twin beds, hot and cold water. The camps are expertly staffed and come with their own, fully catered kitchens although, due to obvious restrictions imposed by the nature of a camp site, the range of cuisine is limited.

Pushkar Fair Dates till 2010:

Festival date 2007: 21st to 24th November.
Festival date 2008: 10th to 13th November.
Festival date 2009: 30th October to 02nd November.
Festival date 2010: 18th to 21st November.

Suggested itineraries:
1. Delhi - Varanasi - Agra - Jaipur - Pushkar - Ajmer - Delhi (10 Days).
2. Delhi - Agra - Ranthambore - Jaipur - Pushkar - Jodhpur - Udaipur - Delhi (12 days).
3. Delhi - Ranthambore - Pushkar - Jaipur - Mandawa - Bikaner - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Udaipur - Delhi
(18 days).

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Lamayuru Festival (Ladakh).
The Lamayuru " Yangdrung" gompa is remarkably built on a rock, around 125 kms west of Leh. Lamayuru belongs to the Drigungpa order of Tibetan Buddhism. The history of the monastery begins with the visit of Arahat Nimagung to this place, when there was merely a lake here. It is said that Arahat made a prophecy that " the monastery will come up at this spot " and he made offerings (prayer with grains of corn) to the Nagaserpent spirits. The corns mixed with earth and formed in the shape of Swastika (Yangdrung), later it came to be known as Yangdrung Monastery. The great translator Rinchen Zangpo constructed a temple here in 11th century. And Naropa also visited Lamayuru and meditated here. Lamayuru have been taken care by Gelukpa or Kadampa school or Tibetan Buddhism, but later , it was taken over by Digungpa order. This spectacularly sited monastery celebrates its annual Monastic festival, local people gather from all the corners of the Ladakh and Zanskar to witness and participate this remarkable festival. The masks worn by the lamas during the dances represent guardian divinities from the Dringungpa pantheon.

Festival date 2005: June 23rd to 24th.
Festival date 2006: July 12th to 13th.

Suggested itineraries:
1. Delhi - Leh(fly) - Hemis - Tiksey - Shey - Alchi - Lamayuru - Leh - Nunra Valley - Leh - Delhi
    (12 days).
2. Delhi - Nalagarh - Manali - Keylong - Sarchu - Leh - Alchi - Lamayuru - Leh - Delhi - Agra
    (16 to 18 days).

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TEMPLES & TRIBES OF ORISSA
The tropical state of Orissa, on India's eastern coast, lures the adventurous traveller with its mystery of indigenous tribes and ancient temples. Orissa is generally the destination for third-time visitors to India - those who have seen the famous monuments of the north and the natural beauty of the south. Accommodation here is basic and the roads can be rough; but for those with a passion for travelling 'off-the-beaten-track', Orissa is a rewarding experience.

Duration: 16 days

Itinerary at a Glance:
Kolkata (Calcutta) - Bhubaneshwar - Konark - Puri - Chilka Lake - Gopalpur - Taptapani - Raagada - Kothgarh - Jeypore - Onukudelli - Vishakhapatnam - Calcutta.

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TIGERS & TRIBES: KANHA - KWARDHA - KALINGA
This outstanding adventures journey travels through the hart of India to the interiors of East Coast in search of Tigers, Tribes and Ancient Temples, giving you ample time at each location to discover the wonders on this least visited area.

Focus: Mammals, Birds, Tribes and Ancient Temples.

Route:
Mumbai- Kanha-Kawardha-Raipur-BhubaneshwarKonark-Puri-Taptapani-Raygada- Jeypore-Vishakapatnam-Mumbai.
Best Time:
November to April.

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