Rajasthan is deservedly our most popular India destination: because of its tangible culture (romantic, knightly, chivalric), its natural and human charms (looming deserts and fabulous architecture), and perhaps most of all because of its great festivals, where all of the region’s mad color and what Jung called India’s “complete life” come together in celebration.

On this bustling trip, we delve first into Rajasthan’s most famous and colorful celebration, the Pushkar Camel Fair. On the rising of the year’s 11th full moon, what seems like all of Rajasthan assembles to worship and buy and sell vast collections of goats, sheep, cows, jewelry, pottery, and, of course, camels, great rumbling oceans of camels. We visit Pushkar during the gathering’s early days, well in advance of the Nikon Brigades, and stay in a private camp that is within walking distance of the festival.

After the fair, we drive to “blue” Jodhpur, the old fort city of Jaisalmer, and then to the seldom-visited Kolayat festival near Bikaner, a perfect contrast to camelcentric Pushkar, with an abundance of religious rituals, Bhakti songs, local handicrafts, and waves of pilgrims who come to bathe in the local lake. Of course, we also include visits to Udaipur by the lakes, princely Jaipur, and the Taj Mahal.

Days 1 & 2: USA to Delhi • Day 3: Delhi • Day 4: Delhi to Agra • Day 5: Agra to Jaipur • Day 6: Jaipur • Day 7: Jaipur to Pushkar • Day 8: Pushkar Camel Fair • Day 9: Pushkar to Jodhpur • Day 10: Jodhpur • Day 11: Jodhpur to Jaisalmer • Day 12: Jaisalmer • Day 13: Jaisalmer to Bikaner • Day 14: Kolayat Fair • Day 15: Bikaner to Udaipur • Day 16: Udaipur • Day 17: Udaipur to Delhi • Day 18: return to USA.

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