During the course of this extraordinary journey, the riders become a part of the breathtaking landscape, almost 'at one' with the surroundings, and get to see historical monuments and scenery which might be missed on a more conventional Safari. Add to this, the expertly schooled horses and professional guiding, you will have the Safari of a lifetime…

Your ride starts near Jodhpur - the capital of the erstwhile state of Marwar. A town with an immense history and great architecture - the Mehrangarh Fort and Umaid Bhawan Palace being the more prominent among them. The ride moves through the Bishnoi tribal belt, the eco conservationists of the desert, who would die protecting an animal, which is why you get to see blackbuck and the Indian gazelle in plenty in the areas they inhabit. Next we move into dry farmland, where you can see the multifarious use of oxen in ploughing, carting and irrigation.

As dusk falls, we arrive at a Fort, Palace or Rawla (a small mansion of erstwhile nobility). All these properties are still owned by genteel aristocrats, who have gracefully converted their homes to classic heritage hotels - combining luxurious modern amenities with timeless traditional charm. What enhances the experience is the personal touch by the owners.

As we approach the Aravalli hills, we begin to encounter the Rabari herdsmen - the colorful nomadic shepherds, who travel thousands of kilometers with their flocks searching for pasture for their sheep. The lakes near the hills abound in migratory waterbirds and the odd crocodile basking in the sun.

We are now in a predominantly Jain belt and we get to visit some marvelous temples like the one at Ranakpur. As we start to ascend into the hills, we encounter hundreds of species of exotic forest birds and fauna such as bear, wolf & leopard. The end of the ride brings us into the erstwhile state of Mewar at the historic fort of Kumbhalgarh.

We have been travelling at a pace that nature intended - relating to the country, the people - and truly imbibing the lifestyle and philosophy which is India...