This tour is specially for all categories of 'People' Photographers. The emphasis would be on visiting colorful spots and the stress would be on lifestyles, people at work and interaction with locals. The trip is delicately planned so as to enable each individual to pursue his own brand of photography without interfering with or holding up anybody else. It is for this reason that the destinations selected in the trip do not have a dearth of good subject matter.

Day 01 : Arrival / Delhi

Late afternoon arrival. Traditional welcome with garlands as your representatives welcome you aboard your Luxury Car. The ride to your hotel, The Connaught, is a short drive during which time your representative would introduce, India as well as some common Indian customs and courtesies.

Upon arrival at the hotel, whilst our representatives organize your check in, a refreshing welcome drink is served to you - 'Namaste' and welcome to India !

Overnight At The Connaught

Day 02 : Delhi

After a leisurely breakfast and then a visit to Old Delhi. We walk through the small shops, where their owners display the wares on the pavement and the customers jostle with one another for a good bargain. We also visit the wholesale fish market, which is as chaotic as the proverbial 'Fish Market'. All varieties of fish - big and small - are auctioned here. When the deal is done the retailer carries his booty away in a basket over his head. We spend a couple of hours here independently after agreeing to meet back at an appointed spot.

Next, we visit some of the shantytowns of Delhi. Thought the people living here are quite poor, they are always cheerful and friendly. Their sense of hygiene is also of a high standard. We see people doing their daily laundary, filling up clay pitchers from the community tap or just sitting cheerfully munching peanuts on their string cots. Another couple of hours visiting these towns and then back to our hotel.

Overnight At The Connaught

Day 03 : Delhi / Mandawa (260 Kms.)

Following breakfast, we check out of our hotel and ride into the heart of the Thar Desert to Mandawa, which used to be a medieval Indian trade city and still has beautifully preserved houses of medieval Indian traders in typical Rajput (Rajasthani) style.

Upon arrival, check into Castle Mandawa, which is a curious mixture of the old and the new. Medieval turreted towers, palanquin-roofed balconies, blend with modern comforts in old-world rooms. Family portraits, antique cannons and arms add to the charm of this family-run resort where tradition still runs strong. Even time is measured by a different clock... a huge brass gong struck by the resident timekeepers at the fort every hour.

Afternoon, we walk through the main (and the only) street of the town. We visit some of the ancient and beautifully preserved 'havelis' (mansions). They would give us an idea of how families lived in those days. The havelis have beautiful paintings depicting mythological themes on the walls. Made from vegetable dyes these paintings have lasted centuries and still are quite sharp. Today, the world comes to this storybook town to see its colourful frescoes on every subject under the sun, that is, ranging from the religious to the erotic; from copies of popular English prints to witty social satire, rendered in the inimitable style of the local artist

Overnight at Castle Mandawa.

Day 04 : Mandawa

After your introduction to the place & people yesterday, you could plan your safari today at your own pace & select your own subjects & spots. A visit to the local school would be interesting. The school is no more than a compartmentalized courtyard with children sitting on coir mats. They wave at you frantically & shout at the top of their voice deliriously as soon as we walk in. Sure enough, we have managed to create an enjoyable pandemonium for some time. Walk into the bye-lanes, but watch out for the donkey carts. The street corner barbers, the tea stall on the pavements, gypsy women in their colorful dresses are all a small part of this greatly vibrant town.

Overnight at Castle Mandawa.

Day 05 : Mandawa / Fatehpur / Bikaner (225 Kms.)

After breakfast we bike for 30 Kms to Fatehpur, a small town which used to be an important stop in the medieval Indian spice route to Central Asia. Though the glory has disappeared, Fatehpur continues to remain a small self-contained town, with its local school and temple. The lives of people here are simple and most of their needs are fulfilled from the colourful and busy local bazaars. We spend a couple of hours biking through the market and residential portions of the town.

We drive onto Bikaner. Welcome drink served upon arrival at the Lalgarh Palace Hotel - the palace of the maharaja of Bikaner, only parts of which have been used as a modern Hotel.

In the afternoon, we visit the heart of the old part of the Bikaner to have a measure of the picture that could be taken here tomorrow.

Overnight At Hotel Lalgarh Palace

Day 06 : Bikaner / Deshnoke / Bikaner (80 Kms)

We spend an hour and a half in the city centre amongst vociferous hawkers & vegetable and fruit vendors. The nearby main bus stand is also a good venue for pictures. People inside buses, on the roofs, on the footboards or at the stand in their colorful traditional dresses could be interesting objects for our cameras. We also visit some of the residential square where people sit in front of their houses on string cots gossiping away and kids playing noisily and posing in mockery before your cameras.

After lunch we visit a small ans obscure little village, 40 kms from Bikaber near Deshnoke. People live here in small thatched houses which are plastered with cow dung (WHO said Bulshitting is bad???). There are no roads here, only dung trails where donkey or camel carts occassionaly move up and down. Noisy children scamper about while groups of women either broom the community courtyard, fill water in clay pichers from the community tap, light coal and wood ovens outside their gates or just huddle together and gossip.

Overnight At Hotel Lalgarh Palace

Day 07 : Bikaner / Jaisalmer (300 Kms)

Early morning we drive our way to Jaisalmer with packed breakfast. The drive is through desert country with scantly vegetation and life stock in view. Water is scarce here, we would see long trains of woman fetching water by nearby wells in bright brass pitchers.

Welcome drink upon arrival. In the afternoon, we visit the residential portions of the fort where one third of the population of the old city lives. The design of houses remains, as they were a couple of century's back and so are the lifestyle of people occupying them. This is because most of the families continue to work for generations for the rural (though only titular now) hence there is a sense of continuity. The houses are arranged in narrow lanes and have small windows from where the shy child or the girl peeps. This is the city believed to be the home of the most handsome men and women in Rajasthan.

Overnight At Hotel Lalgarh Palace

Day 08 - Jaisalmer / Sam (40 kms)

After breakfast, we drive to Sam, a dessert outpost. We need to carry with us only what we would we need for one night. On our way we visit a few typical dessert villages, which have a sprinkling of huts. The rough terrain here does not support cultivation. Hence the entire village work as casual labourers in road works or other public utility projects. Inspite of their poverty, these beautiful people are very friendly and hospitable - inviting you to come and have a look at their stone huts, sit on their string cots and share a cup of tea with them. We arrive at Sam at mid - afternoon and proceed on a camel safari, which is perhaps the best way to explore the undulating dunes and craters of the dessert. The experience of the setting sun in the distant horizon, with camel trains and dunes in the foreground is quite unchanting. Today we would camp in the dessert, amidst bonfires and folk dances.

Overnight In Tents

Day 09 - Sam / Jaisalmer / Jodhpur

After leisurely breakfast we drive back to Jaisalmer. We would have a couple of rooms for wash and change. The afternoon is free for independent activities. Perhaps you could go back to the fort or visit the city outside the fort - especially the potter's village.

After dinner, we connect an overnight train to Jodhpur (D-2210, A-0730-next day). Accommodation would be first class cabins and bed rolls/blankets would be provided.

Overnight on Train

Day 10 - Arrival - Jodhpur

Meeting and assistance upon arrival and transfer to hotel Ajit Bhawan Palace. After breakfast we pick up our bikes to visit the massive Jodhpur Fort, set on top of a hill. The biking would quite steep from the foot of the hill to the Fort - 3 Kms. It is most impressive and formidable fort, in a Fort studded Rajasthan. Inside the Fort, there are a whole series of courtyard and place apartments. The later have a fantastic collection and elephant howdahs, miniature paintings, folk music instruments, the inevitable Rajput armoury, palanquins, furnitures and costumes. The palace apartments are beautifully decorated and have delicately carved red sandstone and lattice work windows. In the afternoon we bike 9 Kms to Mandore, famous due to its extensive gardens with huge rock terraces. The dinner at our palace Hotel is something special. Served in an open courtyard by ethnically dressed waiters, accompained by folk music and dance and the maharaja mixing with the guests in his flowing robes.

After a leisurely breakfast we spend the rest of the day in the old parts of the city, visiting the busy clock tower bazaar area and the narrow streets & lanes which lead to the blue hutment of the city. The clock tower bazaar is one of the most colorful & vibrant markets in India - plenty of pictures here.

Overnight At Ajit Bhawan Palace

Day 11 : Jodhpur / Sherga / Pali / Udaipur (275 Kms.)

The drive Jodhpur to Udaipur is through several interesting towns. Of special mention are the two above towns - Sherga & pali. They are small but extremely busy traditional business centres. The scenario is lots of colorfully dressed men & women, noisy children, hawkers, venders & pedie cabs. We spend some time in each of these towns before proceeding to Udaipur where we arrive in the evening.

Upon arrival check into the hotel Paras Mahal, which is located on one of the most prime real estate areas of Udaipur. This hotel offers you the best of two worlds: traditional Indian hospitality and all the modern conveniences.

Overnight At Hotel Paras Mahal

Day 12 : Udaipur

After leisurely breakfast, we indulge in photographic pursuits at the brick works of Udaipur. The mixing of clay by hand, moulding of bricks again by hand, young girls carrying mud & clay in overhead baskets, setting up of brick kilns, little houses of the workers are very interesting subject matter for the camera - especially in the backdrop of the red brick kilns & their wiff of smoke.

After lunch we visit a steam locomotive shed just outside Udaipur. Skilled workers working on steam trains & doing jobs no longer done by hand in the west, are quite fascinating sights of pictures.

Overnight At Hotel Paras Mahal

Day 13 : Udaipur / Delhi (Overnight Train)

The day is free for independent activities, Perhaps a re-visit to the brickworks or walk through the attractive bazaar sprawling at the foot of the City Palace.

In the evening we connect an overnight train to Delhi. Accommodation would be on airconditioned sleeper compartments and bed rolls would be provided.

Overnight on Train

Day 14 : Arrival - Delhi

Transfer to the hotel upon arrival. Afternoon free for independent activities.

Overnight At The Connaught

Day 15 : Arrival - Delhi

Transfer to the international airport for your onward flight.