Expeditions to India

Award-winning photographer Carole Devillers, the expedition leader, first went to India in 1989 on a spiritual quest and since then has returned to the Indian sub-continent over a dozen times. She met our professional English-speaking chauffeur-guide, Vikram, in 1999 and has traveled with him throughout Rajasthan. A native and resident of Jaipur, Vikram has been in the tour business for the past twenty years - he knows everybody and everybody knows him. He is reliable, courteous and very knowledgeable and his love for his people transpires when we stop along the road to speak to villagers.
With the two of them you will embark on a trip tailored specially to photography and culture enthusiasts, that will sharpen your photographic skills while deepening your understanding of India .

"Photography is, for me, a spontaneous impulse coming from an ever attentive eye which captures the moment and its eternity."
Henri Cartier-Bresson (French photographer 1908-2004)

RAJASTHAN AND PUSHKAR CAMEL FAIR - Discovering the rich and colorful culture of this princely state

DATES: November 1-19, 2008, 19 days/18 nights
PRICE: $3,995 (land arrangements only, based on single occupancy).
ARRIVAL: November 1, 2008 in Delhi. You need to leave the USA on October 31st to arrive Delhi the next evening.
DEPARTURE: November 19, 2008 from Delhi if your flight leaves shortly before midnight; November 20 if your flight leaves after midnight. (Flights leave Delhi in the middle of the night). You will arrive in the USA on November 20. Please check with us before you book your flight, to avoid any error!
GROUP SIZE: 2 to 6.
This expedition is also a great trip for non-photographers.

OPTION: AGRA & FATEHPUR SIKRI 4 days/3 nights extension, Oct 29-Nov 01 (with departure from USA on Oct 28).
Price: $599 p.p.
For details see INDIA- AGRA EXTENSION.

NOTE: DEADLINE TO REGISTER: JUNE 30, 2008!!!
Please email us after that date to check availability.
The earlier you register, the better, as space is limited. You also get better airfare the earlier you book your flights.

JAIPUR, PUSHKAR, BUNDI, CHITTORGARH, UDAIPUR, RANAKPUR, JODHPUR, JAISALMER, BIKANER, MANDAWA... we'll explore the princely Rajput state of Rajasthan, known for its valiance and chivalry, in the comfort of our own private air-conditioned chauffeured vehicle, making impromptu stops along the road to photograph and talk to villagers as they fetch water or work in their thatched huts compounds, and we'll marvel also at the diverse species of animals that linger or walk nonchalently by the busy roadways: camels, cows, donkeys, dogs, sheep, goats, elephants, monkeys, peacocks - you name it, it is there.
We'll admire the many sandstone castles, forts and palaces, step back in time to the Maharajas' era and stay in restored havelis, the magnificently decorated merchants mansions converted in heritage hotels.
The richness of Rajasthan's cultural heritage with its vibrant colors, costumes, music, arts and crafts, cuisine, people and customs will delight our eyes and senses as well as our camera lenses.
Embark with us for the trip of a lifetime!
"Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind." Seneca

Saturday November 01: DELHI (1 night)
You arrive Delhi International Airport in the late evening and will be met by our chauffeur/guide who will drive you to our hotel.

Sunday November 02: JAIPUR (3 nights) (B,L,D)
We spend a leisurely morning in Delhi before taking the road to Jaipur (4 to 5 hours). Check into Heritage haveli hotel.

Monday November 03: JAIPUR (B,L)
We spend the day in the Pink City as the walled city of Jaipur is called, visiting the City Palace built by the Rajput Maharaja Jai Singh II. Located in the capital of Rajasthan, the City Palace of Jaipur is an imposing blend of traditional Rajasthan and Mughal architecture.
We also visit the Hawa Mahal or Palace of the winds, built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh whose original intention was to allow royal ladies to observe everyday life in the street below without being seen. Indeed, the side facing the street outside the palace complex has 953 small windows, and the breeze (hawa) which circulates through these windows gives the palace its name, and keeps it cool even in hot months.
Dinner on your own.

Tuesday November 04: JAIPUR (B,D)
Morning and lunch on your own to rest, shop or photograph. In the afternoon we visit the Amber Palace outside of Jaipur, taking an elephant ride to negotiate the uphill ramp to the palace. (ok, it's for tourists, but your one chance to ride an elephant!).
Built in the 16th century by Raja Man Singh, the fort stands as a proud reminder of the artistic building skills of the artisans of the past.
We'll also go to the Nahargarh Fort (Tiger Fort) that offers a magnificent panoramic view of Jaipur.

Wednesday November 05: PUSHKAR (2 nights) (B,L,D)
After a leisurely breakfast, we drive to Pushkar, and check into Pushkar Lake Palace, overlooking the lake. Pushkar is a lovely little town nestled around a lake and surrounded by hills. It is also an entirely vegetarian city where no alcohol is served because it is dedicated to Brahma, the Creator and first God of the Hindu trinity. Afternoon stroll through Pushkar, then evening at Sunset Point to watch the sun setting over the lake and hundreds temples.

Thursday November 06: PUSHKAR (B,L)
We spend the day at the camel fair, a ten-minute walk from our hotel. For over 600 years, cattle fairs in Rajasthan have been a colorful and rich tradition. They are unique in style, full of vibrant colors, music and festivities. The biggest camel fair in India takes place in Pushkar, with some 20,000 camels being sold and traded. We'll witness the arrival of the turbaned desert people in their colorful garb with their carts, camels and oxen, their setting camp on the sandy grounds, their home for the next few days, and their trading customs. Sunset on the fair grounds. Dinner on your own.

Friday November 07: BUNDI (1 night) (B,L,D)
Early morning at the camel fair grounds if desired. Later on we drive to Bundi, a charming small city off the beaten path that makes us plunge right into the heart of India. Check into haveli hotel.
Visiting Bundi, the City of Springs as it was named in the past for its dozens intricately carved stepwells, is like walking back in time to the medieval era. A city of palaces and forts, Bundi also offers to the photographic eye its old streets lined with blue buildings, its many murals, street scenes and bazaars.

Saturday November 08: BASSI (1 night) (B,L,D)
Morning in Bundi. After lunch we leave for Garardha where prehistoric rock paintings have been recently discovered, then on to the ancient city of Bijolia and to the beautiful wooded gorge of Menal.
We arrive in Bassi village in the evening and check into our hotel.
Bassi is a lively traditional village with many artisans, off the tourist beaten path.

Sunday November 09: UDAIPUR (2 nights) (B,L,D)
We leave Bassi after lunch and spend the afternoon at Chittorgarh, visiting its 7th century fort, one of the most impressive forts of Rajasthan and today a symbol of the legendary resistance of the Rajput kingdom against all invaders, whose heroic people prefered death to surrender.
Chittorgarh is also associated with the well-known Indian princess, mystic saint and poet Mirabai who spent part of her life there.
We continue to Udaipur, also known as the City of Lakes. Check into haveli hotel.

Monday, November 10: UDAIPUR (B,L,D)
With its marble palaces, beautiful gardens and lakes, Udaipur is one of the most romantic cities in India. It was named after its founder Maharana Udai Singh who, overcome by the many Mughal attacks on his old capital Chittaurgargh, shifted his capital to the banks of Lake Pichola.
We'll explore the City Palace and walk the narrow lanes of the Old City lined up with whitewashed buildings and wander through the bazaars. Afternoon cruise on Lake Pichola around the white marble Lake Palace standing in the middle of the lake (and which was the setting for the movie Octopussy).

Tuesday, November 11: RANAKPUR (1 night) (B,L,D)
After breakfast, we drive through the Aravalli mountain range (the world's oldest mountain range) to Ranakpur where we marvel at the magnificent Jain Adinath temple made of 29 halls supported by 1444 stone pillars, each carved with a different motif. Built in the 15th century, the Adinath temple is one of five great holy sites of the Jain faith. (Jainism was founded in the 6th century BC and preaches non-violence towards all beings, including insects).
We spend the night in Ranakpur.

Wednesday, November 12: JODHPUR (1 night) (B,L,D)
We continue our journey, via Kumbalgarh, to the ancient city of Jodhpur, established by the Rathore Dynasty in l459. The city strategic location on the trade routes between Europe and Asia gave it great importance in the past centuries. This was the time when merchants made their wealth with the commerce of silk, spices, indigo, opium and built their impressively decorated mansions called havelis. Check into haveli Heritage hotel. Visit of the Mehrangarh Fort overlooking the city in the afternoon.

Thursday, November 13: JAISALMER (1 night) (B,L,D)
This morning we stroll in the Brahmins' section of Jodhpur where buildings are painted a striking blue. Before traveling on to Jaisalmer, we make a quick stop in the park to photograph the monkeys running wild. Onwards to Jaisalmer, the Golden City, afterwards. After a desolate stretch of desert road, Jaisalmer's rich architecture rising from the desert is a surprising sight to behold.
Check into haveli Heritage hotel. Night shoot of illuminated Jaisalmer Fort.

Friday, November 14: JAISALMER DESERT CAMP (1 night) (B,L,D)
We spend the morning in Jaisalmer, photographing the famous old havelis. The facades of these wealthy merchants mansions, several stories high, are an intricate display of balconies, awnings, balustrades and windows in finely chiseled sandstone. The rendition is absolutely extraordinary and leaves one in awe.
In the afternoon we drive to the great Thar Desert for a camel ride in the dunes at sunset, and an overnight at Desert Camp where we will be accommodated in beautiful and comfortable Swiss tents with attached bathrooms and running water. Dinner and evening of folkloric music and dance performed by Kalbeliyas and Langas tribespeople end the day.

Saturday November 15: BIKANER (2 nights) (B,L,D)
We return to Jaisalmer after breakfast for a stroll along the lake (or boat ride on lake if time permits and if desired). Then we're off to Bikaner, with impromptu stops to photograph along the way.
Arrive Bikaner, in camel country, in the afternoon. Check into haveli Heritage hotel.

Sunday November 16: BIKANER (B,D)
Morning at leisure (you may wish to visit the Junagarh Fort built by Raja Rai Singh in the 16th century)and lunch on your own. In early afternoon, we'll go to Deshnoke (20 miles south) to visit the well-known Karni Mata temple, where hundreds of holy rats scurry freely inside the building. According to legend, they are the reincarnations of children of a certain caste and therefore people are very devoted to them and give them offerings. If you're not inclined to go inside (and you have to take your shoes off!), the exterior architecture of the temple with its silver gates and marble carvings offers good photo opportunities.
On the way back to Bikaner we'll visit the National Camel Research Center and breeding farm, the largest in the world and only one of its kind in India. Hundreds camels returning from grazing and baby camels frolicking provide great photo ops. You may also try camel milk ice-cream if you wish.

Monday November 17: MANDAWA (1 night) (B,L,D)
Today we enter the Shekhawati region, famous for its havelis decorated from top to bottom with painted frescoes. We'll first make a short incursion at Fatepurh to visit the Haveli Cultural Center Nadine Le Prince. This 1802 impressive mansion was bought and entirely restored by French artist painter Nadine Le Prince and is well worth a visit that will leave us quite amazed.
If time allows, we may go to the Tal Chhapar sanctuary known for its large population of blackbuck and chinkara antelopes. Rajasthan is a haven for a wide variety of wildlife ranging from mammals to reptiles and birds that include migrating cranes, and we'll take our chance at seeing these during a stop at the reserve.
We continue on to Mandawa, with its abundance of frescoes and painted havelis and check into a haveli Heritage hotel.

Tuesday November 18: JAIPUR (1 night) (B,L,D)
Morning in Mandawa and Nawalgarh, photographing the many old havelis.
We drive back to Jaipur in the afternoon, with stops en route to photograph rural life (great afternoon light in the fields). Arrive Jaipur in the evening and check into haveli Heritage hotel.

Wednesday November 19: DELHI (departure) (B,D)
Leisurely morning and lunch on your own in Jaipur.
We drive to Delhi in the early afternoon. Farewell dinner in Delhi and transfer to airport in the evening for night flight (reserved for either 11/19 for a departure before midnight or 11/20 for a departure after midnight**). Please check with us for the correct date if you're unsure, to avoid any error. Once your flight is booked, it's difficult to change without airline penalty.

**For example, AA#293 leaving at 12:55 AM (55mn past midnight) has to be booked for 11/20.

NOTE: This itinerary is subject to slight changes as necessary and flexibility is appreciated from all participants. There is no pressure on anyone to visit all the sites mentioned as we certainly don't want you to get a Fort indigestion, and participants who wish to take time off or rest may do so whenever we stop at a destination. However no refund will be given on excursions or services not taken.
Our meals will be taken either at our hotels restaurants, at local restaurants or at roadside restaurant stops when en route.

Expedition Cost: $3,995 (land arrangements only, based on single occupancy, except on Desert Camp night). If you are two persons booking together and sharing a double room, the cost is $3,495 per person. Slight adjustment may be made if the Rupee/Dollar exchange rate fluctuates too much.
Reservations: A $1,000 per person deposit is required to secure a place on this expedition (non refundable after deadline of June 30, 2008) which can be paid via Paypal or by check (preferred). The balance is due 60 days prior to beginning of expedition.
Group Size: minimum 2, maximum 6.
Under 4 sign-ups, a small-group supplement of $400 p.p. will be requested; under 2 sign-ups the expedition will be cancelled.

Expedition Cost includes:
Hotel accommodations in 3-star hotels, Heritage hotels and historic havelis; desert camp night (camel ride, tent, dinner and entertainment); chauffeured transportation by Ambassador car (2 participants) or mini-van (for bigger group); transfers from and to Delhi airport; breakfasts throughout and most meals as indicated; bottled water available in vehicle; entrance fees at Amber Fort in Jaipur, Chittorgarh Fort, Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur; elephant ride at Amber; lake cruise at Udaipur; services of chauffeur-guide and expedition leader.

Cost does NOT include:
Airfare to/from your home city and Delhi, taxis or public transportation taken on your own, alcoholic beverages, meals taken on your own (no refund given on meals included in itinerary), items of personal nature and incidentals, luggage porters, mandatory travel insurance, entrance fees not mentioned above, camera fees at various venues, passport and Indian visa fees, tips, gratuities to chauffeur-guide and expedition leader (not expected, but graciously accepted).

NOTE: A tourist visa is needed to enter India. Indian consulates in the USA have recently changed their processing measures and you now need to apply on line through Travisa Outsourcing, unless you live in a city where they have a consulate and where you can apply in person.
Once you are registered, we will send you additional information necessary for your visa application and for your trip.
Please let us know if you have questions.

For complete details, see our General Information page.

Comments received about this expedition:
"Your friend Carole is a SUPERB photographer. The photos are great. So is her tour. It is reasonably priced, very in-depth (it is really a thorough tour of Rajasthan, probably the most popular destination for tourists [except for Agra], not a general tour of India), small (essential for a good tour). If I weren't already going to India and if I hadn't already been to Rajasthan quite a bit (but she is going places I haven't gone), I'd be pushing [...] to sign up. So, if you are interested in this sort of thing... sign up."
Henry D. Shapiro
Professor Emeritus of Computer Science
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM
website: http://www.cs.unm.edu/~shapiro

To register for this expedition go to the Registration page.