The Nagaur Fair Horse Ride
January - February each year

About the same time each year the horse breeders of Rajasthan gather for the Nagaur Horse Fair.  Join us on our annual horseback trekking experience for the ride of a lifetime on the majestic Marwari horse in Rajasthan. After days of trekking over varied terrain we arrive at the annual horse fair, like thousands of horse riders have done for centuries.

 

The luxury mobile camp has fully furnished oriental tents with comfortable camp beds complete with bed linen, floor covering, chairs, adjoining shared toilet and separate shared bath tent. We supply soap, towels and hot water for baths and washing morning and evening. A traditional large scale dining tent with table and chairs. All meals provide a choice of Indian and European dishes.

If you have a friend or partner who does not ride, we can provide a jeep and a guide for your non-riding friend / partner and the driver / guide will ensure that the jeep and the horses meet up as often as possible each day. The lunch stop is certainly designed for jeep and horse to meet up as well as the evening halt, of course. There is a 10% discount for non riders.

What some of our guests have said

 

Itinerary

Day 1 (1st February 2009) Arrive in Delhi. Optional Extra Services.  The services on this day are subject to your needs, e.g transfers / hotel etc with the cost being quoted to suit your requirements.

Day 2 Delhi  / Nawalgarh  Travel by train, private car or internal flight, most of the way and the final section by car to Nawalgarh in the Shekhawati region in Rajasthan. Where our tour leader will provide you with a welcome fit for royalty on arrival at Roop Niwas Palace (a Heritage Hotel). The palace offers a fascinating blend of European and Rajput style of architecture, with wonderful lawns, and features such as a billiards room and a swimming pool.  Soon we visit the stables and ride around the Palace grounds. Later we have cocktails and a detailed briefing about the ride and an introductory talk on the ecology of the area, followed by dinner.  Overnight Roop Niwas Palace. D.
                    
Day 3 Roop Niwas Palace   Ride out with our picnic breakfast to the countryside and after lunch we visit Nawalgarh town with it's interesting havelies. We then return to Roop Niwas and are given a guided tour of the palace and its grounds. Overnight Roop Niwas Palace. B, L, D.

An example of a finely decorated house (a havelie)

Day 4 Roop Niwas Palace Ride out with our picnic breakfast to the countryside and after lunch there is free time for you to relax inside or outside at the palace or to do some more riding in the local area. Overnight Roop Niwas Palace. B, L, D.

Day 5 Nawalgarh / Parasrampura / Lohargal (32 Km.)   Today we start the cross country horse safari programme riding in a south-easterly direction to Lohargal.  We follow a dry riverbed with plenty of acacia bushes in the area. The view of the Aravali range in the distance makes for a very interesting ride.  We have a picnic lunch among the acacia near the village of Parasrampuria. Our gourmet lunch has been transported to us by jeep, which also brings us some folk musicians. After our musical lunch we move closer towards the Aravali range. In the foothills of the Aravalli is the pilgrimage town of Lohargal.  This is a special place for Hindu pilgrims.  We take over the grounds of an ancient rest house and set up our kitchen amongst the many Banyan trees.  Overnight Birla Rest House. B, L, D.
 
Day 6 Lohargal / Rewasa / Sujas  (38 Km.)    After breakfast we ride in a south-westerly direction towards Danta, hugging the foothills of the mountains again as we ride along a dry riverbed to Raghunathgarh.  After lunch our trail passes through a large marshy tract with salt pans and by the tea time we reach our campsite. Overnight at our luxury mobile camp. B, L, D.
 
Day 7 Sujas / Kochor / Sulyas (35 Km.)   The terrain we see today as we ride is semi desert with plenty of Khejri trees dotted with occasional farmhouses and mud huts. We stop for lunch at Kochor Village. We camp near a small water reservoir.  Overnight at our luxury mobile camp. B, L, D.
 
Day 8 Sulyas / Ghatwa / Shyamgarh (42 Km.)  We ride along farm tracks then over a mountain pass at Roopgarh, we continue our ride and pass the village of Ghatwa.  Here a famous battle took place between Rao Shekha and Gour Rajputs where 25000 men lost their lives. The area is still known as “Godati” the area of “Gaurs” the erstwhile rulers. We ride up a high sand dune which adjoins the mountain and for our trouble we are blessed with a breathtaking view of five forts all laid out in front of us. Lunch is served at an ancient water hole.  Later we ride to Shyamgarh Fort where we set up camp amongst the ker bushes.  Overnight at our luxury mobile camp. B, L, D.
 
Day 9 Shyamgarh / Bhagwanpurs / Nawa Salt Lake (42 Km.)   This morning we ride towards Nawa Salt Lake. This section of the ride is the most picturesque of the whole itinerary. After lunch we ride around the shoreline of the 100 Sq. Kms Salt lake. You will meet many shepherds and their flocks at the lakes edge. Not to be missed here is the beautiful sunrise and sunset across the lake.  Overnight at our luxury mobile camp. B, L, D.
 
Days 10 & 11 Nagaur Fair  After breakfast we will travel by vehicle to Nagaur (a two hour drive).  The horses are boxed and transported behind us. Nagaur was a bastion of the Rathore rulers of Marwar.  Nagaur fort is now is restored and is operated as a private archeological monument. Once a year a large fair for buying and selling of the famous Nagauri cattle, Marwari horses and camels takes place in the Hindu month of Magha. The area is famous for the mathania variety of red chillies and herbs such as fenugreek.  Large markets of agricultural produce are also involved in the fair, as well as camel carts, metal trunks, water tanks and clothes, all being offered by the villagers in their very colourful clothes.  The scene is fascinating and exciting. 
 
The safari leader escorts you and comments on the horses on show and explains about the many facets of horse dealing. Your horses can be left with the grooms as you will want to walk around the fair.  Overnight at our luxury mobile camp which is set up about 2 kms away from the fair. B, L, D.

Day 12 Jodhpur After breakfast we drive to Jodhpur for a sightseeing tour of the town and in particular Mehrangarh Fort. Lunch at Mehran Café within the fort. After lunch we explore the old town of Jodhpur and finally dinner and overnight at the Ratanvilas Hotel. B, L, D.

Day 13 Return to Delhi or elsewhere  After breakfast we drive you to the station or airport (internal flights are optional extras) for your journey back to Delhi. No accommodation is included as many flights leave in the early hours of the morning. Train / car to Delhi included. B.

Day 14 - Optional Extra Services  We can provide a tailored service for the first and last few days of this itinerary to tie in with your flight out of Delhi. We can provide additional services, such as a hotel for the nights in Delhi nights plus transfers (hotel / airport). Additional tours short or long can be added before or after the ride (for example: 3 days / 2 nights to see the Taj Mahal / Fatehpur Sikri) - a personalised quotation will be provided for the extra services your require.