India

Riding in Rajasthan offers a rare glimpse into the way rural communities survive this harsh climate as well as offers a chance to partner a horse that is truly unique – the majestic Marwari. Comfortable and even luxurious accommodation in ensuite tented mobile camps and heritage hotels “havelis”. You will enjoy a mix of colonial and Indian cuisine with every dietary requirement catered for. There are a great number of riding areas and destinations in Rajasthan – all offering a superb holiday on horseback. The “expedition” safaris of Pushkar and Balotra riding ancient pilgrim routes are particularly special.

India’s protected indigenous breed of horse – the Marwari – is undoubtedly noble and proud. These “warrior horses” fearlessly rode to battle and today, that spirit and courage give an unequalled ride. They are perhaps best known for their distinctive and unusual lyre-shaped ears, which curl inwards at the top, meeting in the middle above the poll, though they are not physically joined. They are able to rotate up to 180 degrees – so nothing gets past these horses! They come in all sorts of incredible colours and whilst perfect for endurance, they are robust and broad chested, no larger than 15.2hh.

The vast country of India has had a colourful past and this is reflected greatly in the state of Rajasthan: “the Land of Kings” where the most exciting horse safaris take place today. This unique region has a wealth of history, culture and tradition with a great diversity of past influences including tribalism, Aryan “noblemen”, the Huns and, importantly from an equestrian perspective, the Rajputs “Children of Kings” who became a warrior race to fend off enemy invasion. Their third largest Kingdom was called: Marwar after which their treasured horses were named.

Rajasthan is a desert region and whilst much of the country for most of the year is dry, the monsoons in summer provide a relief to rural farmers and city folk alike. However, this is a hot and humid time of year for visitors and riders, so safaris generally take place from August-April seasonally.
Modern Delhi airport is a pleasure to arrive to and depart from and is easily accessed from most major international airports. From here, depending on where you start and end your ride, there are safe, clean and organised transfers by airconditioned bus or train journeys. Please enquire for more details.
Most visitors to India require a visa. These are easily obtained online and must be organised before your journey. Please contact us for assistance on how to go about this.

Please contact your doctor or specialist medical clinic for advice on inoculations required. These can take several weeks to become effective, so please plan ahead! It is also recommended that you bring a well-stocked first aid kit with you for your own peace of mind.

On safari, meals are freshly prepared to all requirements and to the very highest level of hygiene (though beef does not feature in general in Rajasthan for religious and cultural reasons). However, when travelling elsewhere be mindful of the fundamental guidelines for safe eating in any foreign destination. Please contact us for more info on this.

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