Pushkar Fair/ Rajasthan ( 14th to 19th Nov, 2002)

At the time of full moon, a colourful and exciting festival takes place at Pushkar. The fair is an event of commercial and religious importance and is overwhelming in its magnitude and visual effect. The climax takes place on the night of the full moon when pilgrims gather to bathe in the holy lake. Accommodation at Pushkar will be in deluxe tented camp, with beds, toilets, and dinning facilities. Pushkar is 140kms from Jaipur and can easily be included into most of our Rajasthan programmes.

Hemis Festival/ Leh, Ladakh (20th to 21st June, 2002)

The 10th day (Tses - Chu) of the Tibetan lunar month is celebrated as the birthday of Padmasambhava (Guru Rimpoche), the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. The Hemis Monastery celebrates this event in the form of a 2 day festival. Its resident Lamas perform sacred masked dances. The festival takes an auspicious turn every 12 years in the Tibetan year of the Monkey, when the two-story high "Thankga" depicting Padmasambhava is displayed, is due in 2004. Accommodation in Hotel at Leh. Detailed itinerary will be provided on request.

Thrissur Pooram (Festival) / Kerala ( 23rd April , 2002)

A grand festival with elephants, parasols, drums and fireworks should not be missed. Several temples in town participated. Elaborated bedecked elephants (each temple allowed up to 15) specially decorated by lamps and palm leaves, process to the Vadakkunnathan temple carrying priests and deities to the accompaniment of extraordinary drumming, the festival terminates with huge display of fireworks. Accommodation at Kadappuram beach resort (25kms), beautiful tached roof cottages facing Arabian Sea.

Desert Festival / Rajasthan ( 14th to 16th Feb, 2003)

A unique cattle fair, held at Nagur and Jaisalmer. Local people travel from all over Rajasthan in colourful dresses to these two places to buy and sell livestock. Accommodation in Nagger is in deluxe tented camp and at Jaisalmer in Heritage hotels. Suggested itinerary: Delhi-Jodhpur- Nagur- Bikaner- Manvar-Jaisalmer-Rohet-Deogarh-Udaipur- Delhi or Mumbai.

Other Festivals In India

1. Dussehara in Kullu (Himachael Pradesh) from 13th to 15th October 2002. Accommodation in good hotels.
2. Holi (Festival of Colours) all over India during month of March.
3. Losar (Ladakhi New Year) in Leh on 15th Dec 2002, Accommodation in hotel.