Nature & culture in Gujarat and Rajasthan
Superlatives are needed to describe India. It is unprecedentedly rich. Intriguing. Diverse. Those who tour the immense country fall from one surprise to another. Amazing and surprising is also the wildlife in India. Few know that the lion lives not only in Africa, but also in Asia. Come face to face with the rare Persian lions found only in the Gir National Park in the state of Gujarat still live in the wild. Keep your eyes peeled for the lions too for leopards, four-horned antelopes and swamp crocodiles.
You will travel on to Velavadar National Park where herds of Black Buck antelope graze the steppes and show off their fast agility and the endangered, endemic bird Little Indian Bustard lives. Dasada borders the Little Rann of Kutch, Rann means "salt desert" and that is what you see. The first encounter feels surreal. The ground is cracked. The air is dry. mirages. Large swamp terraces and dry landscape full of thorny bushes. And there - at sunrise and sunset - you spot the endangered Indian wild donkeys. The final safaris are at Bera, a small hamlet located in the Aravali Mountains of Rajasthan and surrounded by lakes and dams, where leopards hunting cattle constantly clash with villagers. And yet here, man and beast have found a way to harmony.
After nature, the amazement continues in the cities. The colorful chaos of Jodhpur over which hangs a veil of magic. Fairytale palaces, secret courtyards, one of India's largest forts and the beautiful blue houses in the old center that give the city the nickname "The Blue City. Unwind in Nimaj, located in the heart of the Aravali Hills. The trip ends with a stay in Udaipur, the Venice of the East and, according to many, the most romantic city in India.
TIPS & TOPS THE WILDLIFE OF INDIA
- The lions in Gir National Park were given protected status in the early 1900s by the then Nawaab of the princely state of Junagadh. The felines are well represented in this park. In addition to lions, one of India's largest groups of leopards also lives here
- Around dusk, the sky over Velavadar National Park turns black with harriers. After a long day, these hunters seek the safety of the park to spend the night
- Little Rann of Kutch is one of the most remarkable a unique landscapes in the world. Once an arm of the Arabian Sea until geological forces separated it from the sea. Now it is a vast plain of dark silt with inlaid salt crystals
- On the plains of Little Rann of Kutch, you will find small "bets. These are small embankments on the former seabed covered with grass and an ideal hide-out for game
- Jawai is home to the fascinating Rabari herdsmen who have been sharing their land with wildlife for centuries. Experience for yourself at how this lifestyle combines both conservation and protection of their own culture well
- When the villagers of Bera go into prayer, the leopards sit quietly and seem to observe. An incredible sight
- The old center of Jodhpur is surrounded by a 10-kilometer wall containing eight gates to reach the new center
- Amidst the blue houses of Jodhpur stands a charming and graceful white Hindu temple with a marble black and white checkered floor and colorful little temples. From the roof you will have one of the most beautiful sunsets over the city
- Udaipur is one of the most relaxed cities in India. Take a boat ride on Lake Pichola and stop at the Jag Mandir Palace, one of two island palaces that stand in the lake. Or spend an afternoon wandering through the winding downtown and enjoying the beautiful murals
