Meeting the Rabaris in Rajasthan & Gujarat
€2700
per person
This 24-day trip takes you to the lands of the fascinating Rabari community in Rajasthan and Gujarat to discover the very specific culture of this people with very ancient roots.
The Rabaris are said to be descendants of people from the Iranian plateaus and to have migrated to India in the 4th century in the region of Marwar (Rajasthan) then to Gujarat.
Originally, the Rabaris were nomadic and camel breeders only who would traveled from village to village. At present, there remain only 30% of nomadic or rather semi-nomadic Rabaris, leaving their villages during the dry season. Camel breeding having gradually been devalued in India, the Rabaris then converted to sheep, goat and cattle breeding in order to survive.
There are two large groups of Rabaris: the Rabaris of Rajasthan (also known as Raika, Dewasi, Desai) – mainly inhabiting the region of Marwar (Jalore, Pali) and Gowar (Sirohi, Mount Abu) – and the Rabaris of Gujarat (North region, Saurashtra and Kutch) called simply “Rabari”. These two clans are themselves divided into 133 groups. In the Kutch region, for example, there are three subgroups of Rabaris: the Vagadiyas, the Kachhis and the Dhebariyas.
This trip, departing from Udaipur, will first take us to the Jawai Bandh region, stronghold of the elegant Rabaris Raika, whose men wear large royal red turbans. After sharing precious moments with them and visiting the main sites of interest (Sirohi, Narlai, Ranakpur), we will head towards Gujarat and make a first stop at Poshina where we will meet other Rabaris Raika as well as indigenous communities such as the Garasias.
We will continue our route towards Ahmedabad, making several “architectural” stops, in Siddhpur, Patan and Modhera, then, near Ahmedabad, we will visit a farm run by a Rabaris Raika family who have been breeding for around twenty years. endemic breeds of camels and cattle.
We will continue our route towards Dasada and the small Rann where we will stop in several Rabaris villages then we will land in Bhuj, the administrative capital of Kutch. From there, we will travel the region to meet other Rabaris communities: the Vagadiyas and the Dhebariyas known for excelling in the art of embroidery.
After this enriching stop in the Kutch region, we will explore a completely different part of Gujarat, that included around Dwarka and Gir to meet the Rabaris Saurasthra while discovering the many important monuments of the region. We will then return slowly to Ahmedabad, stopping at Gondal, the former principality of Kathiawar.
[This tour is the result of years of experiences with the Rabari community, so the names of the villages are not specified in order to maintain our exclusivity and to reserve some surprises for you! ]
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ETHNIC / PHOTOGRAPHY
Ethnic journey to meet the different people of Gujarat. From Poshina at the north of the state to the Kutch region at the southwest and through the visit of places of interest : Modhera sun temple, Patan and Ahmedabad.
14 days
HERITAGE
Grand cultural tour to the most beautiful sites of Gujarat: the amazing havelis of Siddhpur, Sun temple of Modhera, the step well of Patan, the archaeological sites of Champaner then Ahmedabad, Palitana and Junagad.
12 days
PILGRIMAGE
Journey to the most sacred sites of Gujarat: Pavagadh the ancient site of the goddess Kali, Palitana and its hundreds Jain temples, Somnath and its most revered lingam of light, Girnar and its sacred hill and Dwarka, home of Lord Krishna.
12 days
Day 1
Arrival in Udaipur, the romantic city of lakes
Namaste! Welcome to Udaipur, the city of lakes. We warmly welcome you at the airport then transfer at your hotel.
Depending on arrival time, visit to the historic center of the city.
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At the end of the day, we will leave for a boat trip on Lake Pichola to admire the palatial architecture of the city magnified by the soft color of the sunset. Night in a heritage boutique hotel on the banks of Lake Pichola.Day 2
Udaipur - Narlai
After breakfast, we will leave for Narlai, a small idyllic village located at the foot of a huge rock and with several ancient temples.
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Along the way, we will stop in the village of Molela, famous for its unique style of ceramics represented by votive wall plaques not found anywhere else.*
Arrival at Narlai at the end of the day. Overnight at the boutique hotel Rawla Narlai, a former hunting mansion belonging to Jodhpur royaltyDay 3
Narlai - Nadol - Garhbor - Narlai
In the morning, we will take a stroll through the streets of Narlai and visit its beautiful Jain temple dedicated to Shri Adeshwar, then we will leave for the Garhbor region.
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Garhbor, stronghold of the Gujjar rural community, is known for its Charbuja temple, located in the center of a typical village where time seems to have stood still. We will then stroll through the village to meet its charming inhabitants. (NB: this village is particularly interesting during the Holi festival).*
Return to Narlai in the afternoon and visit the ancient Ashapur temple of Nadol, dedicated to the Shakti “who fulfills the wishes of sincere devotees”. Night at the Rawla Narlai boutique hotelDay 4
Narlai - Rawla Bisalpur
Departure for the Jawai Bandh region known for its leopard reserve and stronghold of the Rabari pastoral community.
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On the way, we will make several stops in typical Rabari villages all around Jawai bandh.*
Arrival at Rawla Bisalpur where you will be welcomed like great lords by the Singh Deora family in their old family fort converted into a boutique hotel. Overnight in Rawla BisalpurDay 5
Visit of Jawai Bandh
After a tasty breakfast at the fort consisting of local produce, we will go on a safari in the Jawai leopard reserve, then wander through several Rabari villages.
Overnight in Rawla Bisalpur
Day 6
Rawla Bisalpur - Sirohi - Ajari - Poshina (Gujarat)
We leave this beautiful region for Poshina, our first leg in Gujarat.
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On the way, we will stop at Sirohi, to visit the temple fort of Sarneshwar dedicated to Shiva and Kuldevi of the Deora Chauhans royal family. In addition to its impressive architecture, the sacred building has a historical link with the Rabaris: it is there that they fought alongside the Maharaja of Sirohi against the Sultan of Delhi Alauddin Khalji to recover the deity (a lingam) which had been stolen in the Siddhpur sanctuary in Gujarat.*
We will make a second stop at Ajari which includes several interesting Hindu temples including the one dedicated to Saraswati, more than 500 years old.*
Arrival at the end of the day at the Poshina Palace where you will also be welcomed as honored guests by the descendants of the sovereigns of the region.Day 7
Visit of the region of Poshina
After a hearty breakfast served in the courtyard of the old ladies' quarter, we will set off, with the owner of the place as our guide, to discover the famous sanctuaries of terracotta horses lined up by the hundreds under century-old trees. This is a unique feature in India.
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We will also visit some indigenous villages. On the road, it is very likely that we will meet several women from the Garasia community who wear outfits worthy of great designers.*
We will end the day on the banks of the tranquil Lake Lakhia. Night at Poshina PalaceDay 8
Poshina (continuation)
We continue our discovery of the region and, today, we will go to lunch with a Rabari Raika family and spend some quality time with them.
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On the way back, we will stop at Ambaji, one of the most revered Hindu temples in Gujarat, as well as Koteshwar Temple, an ancient shrine dedicated to Shiva.*
We will end the day at the Garasia community market in Poshina village itself. Night at Poshina PalaceDay 9
Poshina - Siddhpur - Patan - Modhera - Ahmedabad
In the morning, we will leave the elegant Poshina Palace for Ahmedabad.
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On the way, we will visit Siddhpur, a town that is still not very touristy but which nevertheless has a singularity: the Bohra havelis, residences built in a very colorful Victorian baroque style.*
We will also stop at the magnificent Modhera Sun Temple and Patan, famous for its world heritage stepwell and its patoli saris. Arrival in Ahmedabad at the end of the day*
Night at the Mangaldas haveli, an extravagant 150-year-old villa, renovated in a contemporary style, sister to the House of MG.Day 10
Visit of Ahmedabad
The “city of Ahmed” retains a unique heritage from its past as a merchant city. The old town and its numerous pols with finely carved wooden mansions bear witness to its former wealth.
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We will first visit the old city: the Pols (partitioned districts), the havelis and chabutros, the Jumma Masjid mosque, the Swaminarayan Kalupur temple and the Siddi Saiyyed mosque.*
In the afternoon, we will continue our visit to the Hatheesingh Jain temple and Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram.*
In the evening, Gujarati dinner at Manek Chowk in the old town. Night in AhmedabadDay 11
Ahmedabad - Rabari farm - Dasada
We leave Ahmedabad to go a few kilometers further to a farm run by a Rabari Raika family who have been breeding endemic breeds of camels and cattle for around twenty years.
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Along the way, we will stop at Dada Harir Vav, a splendid five-story gallery well built in 1485 by King Bai Harir.*
After spending a good part of the day with the Raika family, we will head to the little Rann of Kutch.*
Night in Dasada in a typical resortDay 12
Visit of the "Little Rann of Kutch"
In the morning, we will visit the "Little Rann of Kutch" sanctuary, the last refuge of Asian wild donkeys. We will also go and observe the salt workers in the Agaria salt pans.
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In the afternoon, we will stroll through a few villages to meet the Rabaris, Bharwad and Banjara communities. Night in Dasada in a resortDay 13
Dasada - Gandhidham
In the morning, we will head towards Gandhidham, known to be the economic capital of the state of Gujarat.
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On the road, we. may meet a few typical characters, caravans of Rabari nomads or men from the Ahir community who never hesitate to strike a pose. Night in GandhidhamDay 14
Gandhidham - Rabari villages - Bhuj
From Gandhidham, we will go to several villages where we will meet different Rabaris communities, the Vagadiyas and the Dhebariyas in particular who will show us their meticulous embroidery work.
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Arrival at the end of the day in Bhuj, night in an old Parsi charming homestayDay 15
Visit of Bhuj
We will start the day with a visit to Bhuj: the Swaminarayan temple and the Aina palace among others, but we will mainly spend time in the city's bazaars where many communities come to do their shopping: Rabaris, Ahirs and Fakiranis among others.
Night in Bhuj in a Parsi residence
Day 16
Bhuj - Hodka
Departure for Banni, a region of Kutch comprising several typical villages. Along the way, we will stop at Nirona to admire the “rogan” style paintings made by the Khatri community.
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Installation in a resort with traditional huts in Hokda.*
In the afternoon, visit the village of Bhirandhiaro to admire the beautiful, brightly painted houses of the Meghwar community. Meghwar women wear very colorful, finely embroidered dresses and impressive nose rings. The interior of Meghwar houses is simply unique, painted all white with embossed patterns and inlaid mirrors, real fairytale abodes.*
At the end of the day, we leave for the Rann of Kutch, the great salt desert of Gujarat to watch the sunset. Night in a resort.Day 17
Hodka - Mandvi
Departure for Mandvi via some typical villages of the Banni region. Arrival in the afternoon. We will then go for a stroll on the Mandvi page at sunset.
Night in Mandvi in a beautiful resort overlooking a private beach
Day 18
Visit of Mandvi
This day will first begin with a visit to the Mandvi shipyards where boats are still built by hand in the traditional way.
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Then we will go to see the beautiful palace of Maharaja Rao Vijayrajji which has often been the scene of filming for Bollywood film productions.*
We will return to the hotel where an Ayurvedic treatment awaits you, then relax on the hotel's private beach. Night in Mandvi.Day 19
Mandvi - Wankaner
We say goodbye to Kutch district and head towards the Saurashtra region.
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We will stop for the night at the Ranjit Vilas Palace in Wankaner, a historic palace converted into a boutique hotel where the heirs of the Maharana Raj Shri Amar Singh Ji still live there.Day 20
Wankaner - Dwarka
Today we head to Dwarka, a very sacred town for hindous, linked to the god Krishna
Overnight in a hotel with a view on the river
Day 21
Dwarka and the Rabari Bhopa
We will start our day with a visit to Dwarka and its many temples including that of Dwarkadeesh, the most revered of all.
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Then, we will go to several surrounding villages to meet the Saurashtra Rabari, who have other customs, particularly clothing, than the other Rabaris communities that we have met before. Return to Dwarka at the end of the dayDay 22
Dwarka - Gondal via Rabari villages
Departure for Gondal our last stage of this journey into the Rabari land.
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Along the way, we will stop at several Rabari villages.*
Arrival in Gondal in the afternoon. Gondal was one of the eight princely states of the "Kathiawar Agency", ruled by a Rajput Jadeja dynasty.*
We will stay at the "Orchard Palace", built as an annex to Huzoor Palace, the family residence of the princes of Gondal, in the late 19th century to accommodate the personal guests of the Maharajas.Day 23
Gondal - Ahmedabad
After visiting Gondal's Naulakha Palace and several other places of interest, we will leave for Ahmedabad.
End of the journey... Unless you continue the adventure with us! Namaskar.