Jodhpur Trip Overview
This is not an ordinary tour, and I am not an ordinary tour guide. I am an academic and a cultural anthropologist, and I have been working with the Gypsies of the Thar Desert for more than 30 years.
The itinerary I have suggested here is *advisory* and the precise details of the trip may change. This is because the Thar Desert Gypsies are still a Nomadic People, and their location is dependent on the time of year. The tour I can offer is private and also customisable.
I created this tour because I want to share my knowledge and expertise, which is based upon three decades of research and experience with these Gypsy communities. My academic specialisation is on the nomadic gypsy performer community, and in particular the Kalbeya snake charmer gypsy community, who have been listed as a Unesco World Heritage Community.
This tour is for people who want to experience the authentic rural life of Rajasthan, such as cultural anthropologists, photo journalists, or interested individuals.
Additional Info
Duration: 4 days
Starts: Jodhpur, India
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Jodhpur Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
This is not an ordinary tour, and I am not an ordinary tour guide. I am an academic and a cultural anthropologist, and I have been working with the Gypsies of the Thar Desert for more than 30 years.
The itinerary I have suggested here is *advisory* and the precise details of the trip may change. This is because the Thar Desert Gypsies are still a Nomadic People, and their location is dependent on the time of year. The tour I can offer is private and also customisable.
I created this tour because I want to share my knowledge and expertise, which is based upon three decades of research and experience with these Gypsy communities. My academic specialisation is on the nomadic gypsy performer community, and in particular the Kalbeya snake charmer gypsy community, who have been listed as a Unesco World Heritage Community.
This tour is for people who want to experience the authentic rural life of Rajasthan, such as cultural anthropologists, photo journalists, or interested individuals.
Itinerary
Day 1: Gypsy Musicians
Stop At: Thar Desert, India
On the first day we will visit a remote village which is renowned for its Gypsy Musicians, which are amongst the most talented in the region. We will be able to introduce you to the musicians of this community and you will be able to learn about their distinctive musical instruments and musical styles. In the evening the musicians will perform a traditional concert in their houses, which are typical Rajasthani mud huts.
Duration: 5 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 2: Kalbelia Village
Stop At: Thar Desert, India
The second day we may visit a remote Kalbelia village. The Kalbelia are a snake charmer community, now recognised by UNESCO for their culture and traditional dances.
You will be able to observe the everyday life of the snake charmers, and at lunch time they will prepare a Kalbelia lunch for you. In the evening you will be able to observe the traditional Kalbelia performance, where the women wear colourful dresses and the men play the Pungi, a traditional instrument. The dance of the Kalbelia is extremely distinctive, as it mimics the movement of the snake. You will be able to dance and sing along with the Kalbelia.
In the evening we will see the sunset at the sand dunes in the Osian Village.
Duration: 5 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 3: Heritage Walk and evening concert
Stop At: Mehrangarh Fort, Fort Rd., Jodhpur 342006 India
During the day we will have a walk through the historic areas of Jodhpur, starting at the Fort.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Jodhpur District, Jodhpur District, Rajasthan
From the fort will we walk and spend time in the spice market
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Jodhpur District, Rajasthan
From the spice market we will go towards the narrow streets of the blue city, which are similar to a Moroccan Bazar.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Thar Desert, India
In the evening we will visit a village around 20km from Jodhpur, where a gypsy musician will perform a traditional Rajasthani story, known as Pabuji Ki Phad. Is this one of the only surviving ancient folk art forms, where the musician narrates a story on a canvas, illuminated by light.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 4: Bishnoi Village
Stop At: Thar Desert, India
On 4th day we will visit a remote Bishnoi village in the centre of the Thar Desert.
This is an opportunity to understand and spend time with the BIshnoi, who live closely with nature and their belief systems ensure they protect the natural world. Because of this there are a variety of wild animals that live in and around Bishnoi communities, particularly deer, who often spend time in the Bishnoi houses and environs.
The Bishnoi women will prepare a lunch for you, where you will be able to see the recipe and how the food is made and served.
Duration: 5 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.
