Holy cows, camels and other festive delights on 17-day tour of Rajasthan, India

For the India that you see in the movies — of spectacularly colorful saris against a desert backdrop, of camels sauntering into the sunset, of ancient forts and even a city of blue — you must explore the state of Rajasthan. A popular region among tourists for good reason, it’s a feast for the senses.

In the festival-rife land, there is no shortage of vibrancy any time of the year — but some fall festivals are particularly noteworthy. A very popular one, and another that’s less well known, are featured on the itinerary of a tour by reputable San Francisco-based tour operator Geographic Expeditions.

[Click on the photo above to view other images of Rajasthan.]

Tour: During the 17-day “Festivals of Rajasthan” tour, you’ll hit the Pushkar Camel Fair, which draws throngs who participate in or observe the frenzied buying and selling of camels and cows, goats and sheep, jewelry, pottery and more. More than 50,000 camels can be seen in Pushkar for this extraordinary event, according to Geographic Expeditions.

Not quite as prominent on the tourist radar is the Kolayat festival, near the city of Bikaner. Very significant on the Hindu calendar, this festival draws sadhus and other pilgrims who gather on the banks of a holy lake and take a dip, among the religious rituals.

Other tour stops include Jodhpur, known as the “blue city” for its conglomeration of blue-painted buildings; the ancient, desert fort city of Jaisalmer; Jaipur, with fascinating architectural and historical sites; and the unforgettable lakeside city of Udaipur, where James Bond’s “Octopussy” was partially filmed — a fact that some of the restaurants and hotels in town will never let us forget.

And before even setting foot in Rajasthan, you’ll explore Delhi (old and new) and, naturally, the Taj Mahal.

When: Oct. 21-Nov. 6

Cost: The land cost of the trip is $10,695 to $11,995 per person, based on double occupancy. This includes “best available” accommodations, meals noted in the trip itinerary (you can have this e-mailed to you via the website), all ground transport in India, the services of a Geographic Expeditions guide and local English-speaking guides, entry fees at temples and monuments, any gratuities to local staff, and travel insurance.

The cost of your flights within India is extra, estimated to be about $550. Your international flight to India is not included either.

Book by Aug. 15 to receive a $1,700 discount. Call for details.

Contact: Geographic Expeditions, (800) 777-8183

– Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times

[Photo: Camels at sunset during a recent year's Desert Festival in Jaisalmer; this festival is not included on the aforementioned tour itinerary. Credit: Amanda Jones / For The Times]

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This entry was posted on Sunday, July 19, 2009 at 9:49 am by Susan Derby and is filed under Asia, India. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.