Locations: Delhi /Ajmer / Pushkar / Jaipur / Agra / Delhi

Pushkar Fair with the Golden Triangle Tour is planned to let you have a glimpse of India.
 

 Opt for this Golden Triangle tour for it being the most preferred tour and the added extension of Pushkar Fair adds to its charm.
 

 The Pushkar fair brings together pilgrims, visitors and camel traders to participate in one of the season's most colorful social events.
 

 

Arrive at International Airport. Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to your hotel.

Delhi is a bustling metropolis, which successfully combines in its folds the ancient with modern. Its strategic location was the prime reasons why successive dynasties chose it as their seat of power. In fact, more mythological cities are believed to be here, like the city of Indraprastha from the Hindu epic Mahabharata, founded around 5000 BC. Numerous monuments were built over several centuries by different rulers like Qutub-ud-din Aibek, Alauddin Khilji, Tughlaks, Humayun & Shah Jahan, who built the Walled City Shah Jahanabad.

Later in first half of 20th century, much of New Delhi was planned by Sir Edwin Lutyens who laid out a grandiose central administrative area as a testament to British rule in India. The division in walled city and New Delhi also marks the division in life styles.

Overnight at Hotel

 

In New Delhi, we visit Raj Ghat, memorial to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. It is a simple black marble platform that marks the spot of his cremation on 31 January 1948. Further we drive past India Gate, memorial built in the year 1931 to commemorate the Indian soldiers who died in the World War I & the Afghan Wars. The names of the soldiers who died in these wars are inscribed on the walls. President's House, the official residence of the President of India, built in the year 1931. Until 1950 it was known as Viceroy's House & served as the residence of the Governor-General of British India.

We will also visit Humayun's Tomb, memorial of Mughal Emperor Humayun, built in the year 1562. The complex is a World Heritage Site & the first example of this type of Mughal architecture in India. Qutub Minar, built in the year 1206 by Qutub-ud-din Aibek. It is the tallest (72m) brick minaret in the world, an important example of Indo-Islamic Architecture. Qutub Minar & its monuments are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Overnight at Hotel

 

Today we transfer in the morning to the train station to board our train for Ajmer, situated in the green oasis wrapped in the barren hills; it has been a witness to an interesting past. The city was founded by Raja Ajay Pal Chauhan in the 7th Century AD & continued to be a major center of the Chauhan power till 1193 A.D. when Prithviraj Chauhan lost it to Mohammed Ghauri. Since then, Ajmer became home to many dynasties which came & left leaving behind indelible marks of their culture & traditions on the city's history, converting it to an amalgam of various cultures & blend of Hinduism & Islam. We arrive Ajmer just around lunch time, then we drive to Pushkar to our hotel.
Pushkar, is an enchanting small town located exactly on the edge of the desert but is separated from it by Nag Pahar, the Snake Mountain. The town frequently visited by devotees lies to the side of the small Pushkar Lake with its multitude of bathing ghats & temples. It also holds the most unique fairs of its kind in the world. It is a combination of an animal fair & the religious fair. Both the fairs are enchanting & have their own unique aspects & quality. As per the Indian calendar,  the fair is held in the first lunar cycle in the month of Kartik culminating on the Kartik Poornima (Full moon).

Overnight at Hotel

 

Whole day visit of Pushkar Fair.

Pushkar Fair
The pulsating beats of vivid images of the Sacred Brahma land, Pushkar brings alive the rich tradition of Rajasthan enhancing the glory of the golden sand on the Spectacular Fair Ground in the month of Kartik (November month), with bedecked Camels, decorated cattle, adventure competitions, breathtaking events, jostling rustic crowds, meditating sadhus, holy dips, vivid stalls, exotic fair, colorful desert, so typical, so obvious that it can be nothing else but the Pushkar Fair.
An amalgamation of a marvelous juxtaposition of commerce and devotion, Pushkar Fair is a lifetime experience in this Holy Land. Most people associate the Pushkar Fair with the world's largest camel fair. But it is much more than that. It is an occasion for villagers from far and near to gather together and enjoy a welcome break from their harsh life of the arid desert. And enjoy they do in dazzling style and colors.

It is an occasion for Hindu pilgrims to converge for a holy dip in the sacred Pushkar Lake to "wash away the sins of a lifetime" and pay obeisance at the only Brahma temple in the world. The function of Brahma - creating the world - has been completed while Vishnu (the preserver) and Shiva (the destroyer) still have relevance to the continuing order of the universe. Brahma is also a God of the Aryan invaders and during Vedic times, his cult temporarily displaced the more ancient indigenous Shiva and Shakti cults. With the passing of the period of major Aryan influence, these deities reemerged in a more powerful manner than before.

Cattle Trading
Pushkar fair is synonymous to the cattle fair. So there are camels, horses, cows, goats, and sheep; all decked up to be sold and purchased. The proud cattle owners throng Pushkar, traveling across the golden sands of the various places in Rajasthan. There is bargaining, presence of several popular breeds and the parading of the well bred, highly decorated cattle. As is believed about Pushkar Fair, it is the world's largest camel fair.


Competitions
Talking about Pushkar Fair, the most striking feature is the cattle competition. Imagine the entire limelight on beautifully decorated cattle when they race their ways into the audiences' heart or the manner in which they play musical chairs. The Pushkar Fair watches the best-bedecked camel in parade winning the beauty contest. But the most hilarious competition of all makes large numbers of people sit on the camels back and usually fall down, of course! The camel that accommodates the maximum number of people on its back wins the competition.


Stalls and Shopping
During the Pushkar Fair, numerous make shift stalls offer a variety of items for the cattle and humans. For cattle, there are items ranging from saddles, saddle-straps and beads to strings of cowries. With so many women around at the Pushkar Fair can the jewellery and the garment stalls be far! Check out the colorfully clad women buying silver ornaments, bead necklaces from Nagaur and garments of patchwork, printed textiles from Ajmer and tie 'n' die fabric. That is not the end of fashion at the Pushkar Fair; there are beautiful body tattoos that you can get made as per your choice!


Recreation

The colorful culture of Rajasthan comes alive in the form of the folklores, music and dance performances besides the captivating turbans of the men. The bards and the poets enchant the

audiences with the tales of gallantry. Cultural shows, exhibitions and movies add to the fun at the Pushkar Fair.
Besides the celebrations of the Pushkar Fair, the town of Pushkar offers several places of tourist interest too like its temples, Pushkar Lake and ghats.


Temples
Pushkar boasts of the only temple in the world dedicated to Lord Brahma. Thus a visit to the Jagat Pita Shri Brahma Mandir is a must. Then there is the Savitri temple on the hilltop that you must take the hour-long trek to for the spectacular view of the Pushkar Lake that it offers. The Varah temple, Mahadeva temple and the Ramavaikunth temple are the other must visits in Pushkar. Here it is noteworthy that all the gods are believed to revisit Pushkar during the fair and bless their devotees.


Lake and Ghats

The sacred Pushkar Lake is believed to wash away the sins of a lifetime, cure several diseases and even bestow salvation! No doubt pilgrims travel from far to take a dip in the magical waters of the Pushkar Lake. There are as many as fifty-two bathing ghats that run down the Pushkar Lake that sees the devotees offering coconuts, flowers and cash to the lake and the priests.

In the evenings the Pushkar lake, flooded with lighted earthen lamps that float on the holy waters like twinkling stars, offers a spectacular sight. The most auspicious day to be at Pushkar is considered to be the Kartik Purnima.

Overnight at Hotel.

 

Today we drive to Jaipur, popularly known as the Pink City, the flamboyant & colourful capital of Rajasthan. With its rich & colourful past, resplendent with tales of valour & bravery, it is now one of the most important heritage cities in India. The city was founded in 1728 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber. It remains the only city in the world symbolizing the nine divisions of the universe, through nine rectangular sectors.

Overnight at Hotel

 

Today we take an excursion to Amber Fort, the palace complex which stands to this date, was commenced under the reign of Raja Man Singh. The elephant ride that we take to reach the Fort situated on the hill is an overwhelming experience.
Later, we visit the City Palace, a perfect blend of Rajasthani & Mughal architecture. The center of the palace is a seven-storied building called Chandra Palace, with fine views over the gardens & the city. Further, we visit Jantar Mantar, the Solar Observatory, an astronomical treasure house, with solar devices that give accurate predictions till date. We now visit Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), a five-storied structure of pink sandstone. It was built in year 1799 so that veiled royal women could peer down unseen by the world through its 593 stone Jharokas (mini windows).

Overnight at Hotel

 

Today we drive to Agra, en route we will visit Fatehpur Sikri (Ghost Capital), the political capital of India's Mughal Empire under Akbar's reign, from 1571 until 1585, when it was abandoned, ostensibly due to lack of water.
Further, we continue our drive to Agra, beautifully situated on the banks of river Yamuna. It achieved prominence as the capital of the Mughal Emperors from 1526 to 1628 and it remains a major tourist destination because of its many splendid Mughal-era monuments, most notably the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort & Fatehpur Sikri, all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Overnight at Hotel

 

Today we visit Taj Mahal, symbol of eternal love, which stands on the banks of river Yamuna. It was built by the 5th Mughal emperor, Shah Jehan in the year 1631in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It was completed in 22 years. Further, we visit Agra Fort, taken over from the Lodhis by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the late 16th century. The Fort can be more accurately described as a walled palatial city. It was built from red sandstone, often inlaid with white marble & intricate decorations.
We will also visit Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb, built by Nur Jahan between 1622 and 1628. It belongs to the father of Nur Jahan, Ghiyas-ud-Din Beg. He was the Wazir (Chief Minister of Emperor Jehangir). This tomb was the first complete white marble Mughal structure.

Overnight at Hotel

 

Today, we drive to Delhi. On arrival, transfer to airport to board the flight for onward destination.

N.B. The Pushkar Fair dates for 2015 and 2016 are as follows:

2015    November 19 - 25
2016    November 08 -14

 

 Also on this tour, explore the magnificent forts and palaces exhibiting royal legacy of the bygone years and the most sought after monument to love, Taj Mahal, of course!