DAY 01: JODHPUR (DETAILS AWAITED)
Morning upon arrival at Jodhpur our Shikhar Travel Representative will transfer you to the hotel to check in. Later we take you to visit The Umaid Bhavan Palace. Afternoon we will take you for a jeep safari of Guda Bishnoi Village, Dhani Bishnoi Village – Interaction with the local villagers to know their day-to-day activities, Salawas (Especially famous for small families involved in manufacturing for Dari factories, you can also try out there hand in the durrie making process) with our photography expert to capture the various activities in our cameras. Evening return to hotel. Briefing session on full day activity.
Bishnoi is a community of nature worshippers in the state of Rajasthan. The sect was founded by Guru Jambheshwar (b. 1451) after wars between Muslim invaders and local Hindus. He had laid down 29 principles to be followed by the sect. Bish means 20 and noi means 9. Thus, Bishnoi translates as Twenty-niners. The Bishnoi community inhabits the village. The villagers are staunch worshippers of nature in all its forms, especially the sanctity of plant and animal life. They even pray to the green trees and animals that inhabit their land. In this world of exploitation everywhere, they make every effort to conserve the environment. Overnight in Jodhpur.
Meal Plan: Dinner.
DAY 02:IN JODHPUR
Today early morning at 0600 hrs. pre breakfast visit Charwahon Ki Gali (Famous for Tie Dye Work – explore the various methods involved in the Tie and Dye Work) capture the vivid colours of Rajasthani handwork in our lenses. Return back to hotel for breakfast.
Later, in theafternoon visit The Mehrangarh Fort which has a high stone wall protecting the well-fortified city. Within the fort are rooms with rich collection of palanquins, elephant howdahs, musical instruments, costumes, furniture, and armoury& Jaswant Thada.
Mehrangarh Fort- The most magnificent fort in Jodhpur is the Mehrangarh Fort. It is situated on a 150m high hill. Rao Jodha, the then chief of Rathore clan, constructed it in 1459. There are a number of attractions within the fort like several palaces, galleries, a museum, temples and so on. Overnight in Jodhpur.
Meal Plan: Breakfast + Dinner.
DAY 03: JODHPUR TO CHANDELO GARH (50 KM, 1 hrs.)
Today morning after breakfast at 0800 hrs. we will proceed to ChandeloGarh. Upon arrival check in at the Heritage Resort. Later we will take you to the Sunder Rang – A Women Welfare Centre where you will get the opportunity to shoot the workers in their workplace.
Chandelo Garh is the seat of the Chandelo Thikana - an estate in the kingdom of Jodhpur. At its peak, Chandelo Thikana covered five villages. From the Garh - or "kot" in the local language - the affairs of the estate were administered. The Chandelo family belongs to the Rathore clan and to the subclan Kumpawat, or "the sons of Kumpa". Rao Kumpa was one of the greatest generals of Marwar, as the princely state of Jodhpur was known. The Maharajah of Jodhpur is the chief of the Rathore clan. The present Thakur and your host at Chandelao Garh - Praduman Singh Rathore - is the 16th in line from Rao Kumpa. Rao Kumpa was one of two Marwari generals who led 6,000 soldiers against the 80,000 troops of Sher Shah Suri, the Afghan ruler of Delhi in the battle of Sumelgiri in 1544 A.D. Rao Kumpa nearly won the battle but was killed.
Seeing this brave Rajput General, Emperor Sher Shah Suri said, "for a handful of bajra, I nearly lost the kingdom of Hindustan". His meaning was that he nearly lost his entire kingdom for the small gain of a victory over Marwar, which he compared to a handful of millet. Chandelao Garh was built in 1744 by Rao Kumpa's grandson Rao Puranmal who had annexed Sirohi for the Maharajah of Jodhpur. The estate was granted by the Maharajah to Rao Puranmal for his bravery in battle and for providing a small cavalry for the Maharajah's army. The village population is of about 2,000 people, and like most villages in Rajasthan, the majority of the people are involved in agriculture. Many of the houses are still constructed of the traditional mud bricks, with a weatherproof coating of cow manure, painted white, red or blue. In some spots, newer houses constructed of beautiful red Jodhpur sandstone are being built. Overnight in Chandelo Garh.
Meal Plan: Breakfast + Dinner.
DAY 04: CHANDELO GARH TO JODHPUR(50 KM, 1 hrs.)
Today early morning, we will take you for a guided tour of Chandelo Garh Village. Meet the local Villagers to know their day-to-day life. Return for breakfast. Post breakfast we will indulge in the last leg of our photography brainstorming session. Post discussion depart from Jodhpur airport to catch onward flight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
