India
Rajasthan & Puskar Fair


India Photography Tour Details
Dates Oct 23–Nov 3, 2009
Leader Adam Jones
Fee $6,595 from Delhi, India
Deposit $400
Limit 16
Terms and Conditions

Nowhere is life lived more intensely than in Rajasthan, the western province of India, with its colorful ancient cities, stunning architecture, and the lively commotion of its bazaars and intriguing camel caravans. Rajasthan is one of India's brightest jewels, a vast desert territory where Rajput princes ruled for centuries in extravagant pomp and splendor. The Rajputs were great patrons of art and architecture—the finest examples being their forts, temples and palaces still famous for their ornately sculptured construction. Today, the region is also endowed with a wealth of
India Photography Tour - Taj Mahal
photogenic performing arts and traditional crafts.

Visually, Rajasthan comes as close to being "overwhelming" as any place you can visit on earth. Our Photo Safari is carefully designed to help you capture that pure vitality of India with your camera. From Delhi’s ancient World Heritage sites, to the vibrant "Pink City" of Jaipur, with its amazing Palace of the Wind, and Agra’s shining white jewel, the Taj Mahal—we visit these wonderful Indian treasures at their optimum time for superb photography.

India Photography Tour - Painted Elephant
We experience markets and mosques, palaces and parks—photographically experimenting with colors and textures and sharing these discoveries throughout our group. This tour is especially good for photographers who love to photograph people—and people are India’s number one resource! No matter where you travel here, the local inhabitants are more than pleased to cooperate with your photography. Occasionally you may find people forming a line wanting to pose for you! And in several locations we supplement the local people with models in traditional dress that we can place in dramatic settings at some of the famous Mogul monuments.

The finale of this incredible trip focuses on that grand event: the Pushkar Fair. On the full moon of November each year, hundreds of thousands of Hindu people come to bathe in the Pushkar Lake and worship at one of the few temples erected for Brahma, the Creator. It is also the occasion for one of the largest livestock markets in Rajasthan where thousands of cattle, camels and horses are bartered and sold. Hundreds of market stands, and the tents of their
India Photography Tour - Camels at Pushkar
owners, spread over the dunes west of the ancient town. The colors of many ethnic groups dressed in their traditional clothing, camels decorated for racing or sale, and the dazzling arrays of handcrafts are irresistible!

We enjoy a wide variety of delicious local cuisines, stay at splendid accommodations including luxurious tents at the Pushkar Fair, shoot the sunset over the Taj Mahal, photograph arriving camel caravans on sensuous undulating sand dunes, and meet many colorful and fascinating people along the way. Join Adam Jones in November for an unforgettable introduction to the splendors of exotic India!



Day 1
Depart home.

India Photography Tour - Humanyun's Tomb
Day 2 (Oct 24)
Arrive in Delhi late in the evening.

Day 3
Sunrise starts at the India Gate. We photograph two World Heritage sites in Delhi beginning with the Qutub Minar. In the afternoon we visit Old Delhi including the Chandni Chowk market and Humanyun's Tomb. (BLD)

Day 4
We drive to the ancient fort city of Agra, stopping at Sikandra, the Mogul emperor Akbar’s impressive sandstone and marble tomb. Finish the day photographing the famous Taj Mahal from across the narrow Jamuna River at sunset—the spectacular mausoleum reflected in the silvery water. This breathtaking monument was built by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Queen Mumtaz Mahal over a period of 21 years by 20,000 workers. (BLD)

India Photography Tour
Day 5
We photograph the Taj Mahal this morning, as well as capturing images of the incredible Agra Fort. (BLD)

Day 6
We drive to Jaipur stopping along the way at picturesque Fatehpur Sikri or Bharatpur, depending on the water level at this famous wildlife park. (BLD)

Day 7
Our photography locations today include the Amber Fort, the façade of the superlative Palace of the Wind, the City Palace, and the Royal Observatory with its huge sundials built by Maharaja Jai Singh. (BLD)

Day 8
We drive to Pushkar, a village in the Thar Desert. Along the way we see thousands of Rajput pilgrims making their way to the fabled Kartik Full-Moon Fair. When we arrive we settle into our luxurious tents with private baths. (BLD)

India Photography Tour - Humanyun's Tomb Through Archway
Days 9–10
For these two days we photograph one of the world’s great livestock fairs. Camels, oxen and horses are offered for sale as jugglers, acrobats, storytellers, musicians and magicians entertain the onlookers. It is a feast of color and sound—thousands of Rajputs dance and sing by their campfires. The excitement is palpable and the photographic opportunities endless. (BLD)

Day 11 (Nov 2)
We drive to Jaipur and fly to Delhi, where we have dayrooms at an airport hotel until we depart for home. (BLD)

Day 12
Arrive home.





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