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women in saris at pushkar camel festival. image © david buffington

photographic tour to the taj & rajasthan, india
with Jeremy Woodhouse & Satyendra Tiwari
Sunday 6 Nov, 2011 - Tuesday 15 Nov, 2011

This classic Rajasthan tour has been designed to provide you with great photographic opportunities in Northern India. For the duration of the tour, we will be accompanied by local guide and friend, Satyendra Tiwari. We have eliminated all charges from middlemen and are providing you with the opportunity to see this incredible part of India at a very affordable rate.

We will spend three days at the oh so colorful Pushkar Camel Fair before heading to the historic old town of Jaipur. We will finish up at the immaculate and essential Taj Mahal.

tigers
with Jeremy Woodhouse and Satyendra & Kay Tiwari
Tuesday 31 Oct, 2011 - Saturday 5 Nov, 2011

We are also offering a five-day pre-tour extension to photograph tigers at Bandhavgarh National Park. We will stay at a family lodge in Tala, a small community at the edge of the park, and the tour will include all your meals, transport and guides and entry into the park. We are limiting this part of the tour to 5 people

itinerary
Nov 6 – Arrive Delhi and fly to Jaipur and transfer to Pushkar
You may decide to arrive in Delhi a few days early to acclimatize to the hectic pace of India and to work off the jet lag. If this is the case we will provide you with a list of hotels close to the centre near Connaught Place which will give you good access to some of the popular sights of new Delhi.
Overnight: Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation A/C Huts or similar B, L, D

Nov 7 – Pushkar Camel Fair
Pushkar Lake and its precincts become very heavily populated during the annual Pushkar Fair or Pushkar mela, which has both a religious as well as an economic aspect. During the fair, a very large gathering of pilgrims takes a holy dip in the lake and the camel fair is an adjunct celebration. Pushkar Fair commences on Prabodhini Ekadashi, the 11th lunar day in the bright fortnight and ends on Kartik Poornima – the full Moon day in the month of Kartik (October-November), the latter being the most important day of the fair. This fair is held in the honour of god Brahma. A ritual bath on Kartik Poornima in the Pushkar Lake is considered to lead one to salvation. It is believed circling the three Pushkars on Kartik Poornima is highly meritorious. Sadhus, Hindu holy men, gather here and stay from the Ekadashi to full moon day in caves. The Pushkar fair is also Asia’s largest camel fair. The colourful and lively Camel Fair reportedly attracts 2 lakh people and 50,000 camels. In this fair held on the banks of the lake, camels are very colourfully decorated and paraded in the sand dunes on the southern part of the lake. Tribes from several neighbouring villages are seen in their traditional colourful costumes. The fair on Kartik Poornima, the day when Brahma is believed to have concluded his Yagna establishing the lake. It is organized by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC), Pushkar Municipal Board and the Animal Husbandry Department of Rajasthan. The fair is a colourful cultural event also with folk dances, music, camel races and the cattle fair. The tug of war is a popular entertaining sport held during the fair. This event is held between the Rajasthanis and foreigners; locals invariably win the event.
Overnight: Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation A/C Huts or similar B, L, D

Nov 8 – Pushkar Camel Fair
Overnight: Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation A/C Huts or similar B, L, D

Nov 9 – Pushkar Camel Fair
On this day we will experience the spectacle of hundreds of Sadhus, or Indian holy men taking a dip in the Pushkar lake. According to the Hindu mythology, the holy Pushkar Lake was created by the lotus petals, which fell from the hands of Lord Brahma. The lake is considered as one of the most sacred spots. It is called the Tirtharaj, the king of all Tirthas. It is believed that no pilgrimage is complete without a holy dip in the sacred lake at Pushkar. People say that one dip in the Lake on Kartik Purnima corresponds to performing yagnas for several hundred years. The tranquil and beautiful lake amidst the hills has fifty-two bathing Ghats, built around the lake. The Lake is semi-circular in shape. The water around each Ghat is supposed to have special powers. The Naga Kund is belived to give fertility, Roop Tirth gives beauty and charm, Kapil Vyapi Kund helps in curing leprosy and a dip in the Mrikand Muni Kund endows wisdom. Pushkar Lake is surrounded by 52 bathing ghats (a series of steps leading to the lake), where pilgrims throng in large numbers to take a sacred bath, especially around Kartik Poornima (October–November) when the Pushkar Fair is held. A dip in the sacred lake is believed to cleanse sins and cure skin diseases. Over 500 Hindu temples are situated around the lake precincts.
Overnight: Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation A/C Huts or similar B, L, D

Nov 10 – Drive to Jaipur (approx. 3 hrs drive)
Sawai Jai Singh, the sovereign of Amber, built Jaipur in the eighteenth century. At about the same time the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb died and the decline of the Mughal Empire set in. Jai Singh had started distancing himself from the affairs of the Mughal Court and he began concentrating building the magnificent and spectacular fort at Amber. His search for a safe place for the increasing population of Amber resulted in Jaipur. It was planned in a gird system with wide straight avenues, roads, streets and lanes and uniform rows of shops on either side of the main roads, all arranged in nine rectangular city sectors (chokdis). The city is surrounded by a wall having seven gates and was built for protection from invading armies and the wild animals that lurked just outside in the jungles that surrounded the city in those days. Today it is a teeming place packed with culture and history and commerce and the Capital of Rajasthan State.
Overnight: Hotel Alsisar Haveli or similar B

Nov 11 – Jaipur
Overnight: Hotel Alsisar Haveli or similar B

Nov 12 – Drive to Agra (approx. 4 hrs drive)
On our road trip we will visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Fatehpur Sikri. Built during the second half of the 16th century by the Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory) was the capital of the Mughal Empire for only some 10 years. The complex of monuments and temples, all in a uniform architectural style, includes one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid.
Overnight: Hotel Howard Park Plaza or similar B

Nov 13 – Agra
The Taj Mahal was built by the Muslim Emperor Shah Jahan, (died 1666 C.E.), as a mausoleum and in the memory of his adored wife and queen Mumtaz. It is an “elegy in marble” or some say an expression of a “dream”. The grave of Shah Jahan was added to it later. The queen’s real name was Arjumand Banu. In the tradition of the Mughals, important ladies of the royal family were given another name at their marriage or at some other significant event in their lives, and the public commonly used that new name. Shah Jahan ascended to the throne in 1628. The Taj Mahal was constructed over a period of twenty-two years, employing twenty thousand workers. It was completed in 1648 C.E. at a cost of 32 Million Rupees. Regarded as one of the eight manmade wonders of the world the Taj has a certain and indescribable magic to it that you can only understand when you experience it. Built entirely of white marble, at dawn and sunset the colours are spectacular and in the moonlight it is quite otherworldly.
Overnight: Hotel Howard Park Plaza or similar B

Nov 14 – Agra
After an early morning shoot on the banks of the Yamuna River we will visit The Tomb of Akbar the Great, another important Mughal architectural masterpiece, at Sikandra, a suburb of Agra. The grounds are a precise 690 m square, aligned with the points of the compass, surrounded by walls, and laid out as a classic charbagh garden style. A gatehouse stands at the center of each wall, and broad paved avenues, laid out in Mughal style with central running water channels representing the four rivers of Paradise, lead from these to the tomb at the center of the square. The south gate is the largest, with four white marble chhatri-topped minarets which are similar to (and pre-date) those of the Taj Mahal, and is the normal point of entry to the tomb. The tomb itself is surrounded by a walled enclosure 105 m square. The tomb building is a four-tiered pyramid, surmounted by a marble pavilion containing the false tomb. The true tomb, as in other mausoleums, is in the basement. The buildings are constructed mainly from a deep red sandstone, enriched with features in white marble. Decorated inlaid panels of these materials and a black slate adorn the tomb and the main gatehouse. Panel designs are geometric, floral and calligraphic, and prefigure the more complex and subtle designs later incorporated in Itmad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb.
Overnight: Hotel Howard Park Plaza or similar B

Nov 15 – Drive to Delhi (approx. 04-05 hrs drive) and transfer to International airport in time for flight leaving for abroad.

To book your place on this tour, please contact jeremy@pixelchrome.com

Cost of the trip: approx $3,250 sharing (single supplement $550) plus your air fare to Delhi. Deposit $750 to secure a spot. Limited to 12 people

Tiger pre-tour extension $1,995 sharing which includes transport and transfers to Tala where we will be staying. Deposit $750 to secure a spot. Limited to 5 people

included
The cost includes all accommodation bed & breakfast except in Pushkar where it will be full board (all meals), all transfers and sightseeing by air-conditioned Car/Van, services of an English speaking guide in Jaipur and Agra, all monument entrance fees in Jaipur and one visit entrance fees of Taj Mahal, Agra.

Accommodation in Pushkar is close to the Fair ground so you will have more opportunities to visit the fair.

not included
Meals in Jaipur and Agra except breakfast, monument entrance fees in Agra except for a single visit to the Taj Mahal, items of personal nature like tips, laundry, drinks, camera fees etc.

colorful saris at puskar camel fair. photo © david buffington

rajasthan – the facts
Delhi: Capital of modern India, of the British Raj and the Mughul empire, Delhi – the City of Djinns – is a fascinating place to explore, bursting with centuries of colourful history, of old imperial splendour and modern manic mayhem. From the chaotic, narrow alleyways of the old town to the relative tranquillity of the new, at almost every corner there is something – a fort, a mosque, an imperial palace – to excite and amaze the visitor. To wander unhindered down Rajpath – the Kingsway – from India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhawan, stopping for a while in the shade of the sheltering neem trees to feast your eyes on Lutyens’ extraordinary work of architecture will have even the most seasoned traveller gasping in awe. But just as impressive, and arguably a lot more fun, is to take a walk through the old town; down the bustling Chandi Chowk and off into the narrow, sunless alleyways that make up Shahjehanabad. Here, among the jewellery, fabric and wedding bazaars you will find a world barely changed from that of the Moghul times. With plenty more sight-seeing trips available to the Qutab Minar, Lodhi Gardens, the Lotus Temple or the awesome Humayan’s Tomb – inspiration for the Taj Mahal; shopping expeditions on Janpath, Santoshti or Khan Markets; or a quiet cup of tea at the Imperial…Delhi can have you busy for days.

Agra: The Taj Mahal was built by the Muslim Emperor Shah Jahan, (died 1666 C.E.), as a mausoleum and in the memory of his adored wife and queen Mumtaz. It is an “elegy in marble” or some say an expression of a “dream.” The grave of Shah Jahan was added to it later. The queen’s real name was Arjumand Banu. In the tradition of the Mughals, important ladies of the royal family were given another name at their marriage or at some other significant event in their lives, and the public commonly used that new name. Shah Jahan ascended to the throne in 1628. The Taj Mahal was constructed over a period of twenty-two years, employing twenty thousand workers. It was completed in 1648 C.E. at a cost of 32 Million Rupees. Regarded as one of the eight manmade wonders of the world the Taj has a certain and indescribable magic to it that you can only understand when you experience it. Built entirely of white marble, at dawn and sunset the colours are spectacular and in the moonlight it is quite otherworldly.

taj mahal, agra, india

Jaipur: Sawai Jai Singh, the sovereign of Amber, built Jaipur in the eighteenth century. At about the same time the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb died and the decline of the Mughal Empire set in. Jai Singh had started distancing himself from the affairs of the Mughal Court and he began concentrating building the magnificent and spectacular fort at Amber. His search for a safe place for the increasing population of Amber resulted in Jaipur. It was planned in a gird system with wide straight avenues, roads, streets and lanes and uniform rows of shops on either side of the main roads, all arranged in nine rectangular city sectors (chokdis). The city is surrounded by a wall having seven gates and was built for protection from invading armies and the wild animals that lurked just outside in the jungles that surrounded the city in those days. Today it is a teeming place packed with culture and history and commerce and the Capital of Rajasthan State.

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groove-billed anis bathing

I have just spent the past 11 days with clients on the Santa Clara Ranch in South Texas. It was certainly a challenge with temperatures over the 100 mark every day. Our patience and commitment paid off though and I think everyone took home some really memorable images. I will be planning trips in the future particularly in May 2011, so if you are interested in coming along, please contact me.

Please check out my link to Facebook for a gallery of some of my favorite images so far.

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the parroquia, san miguel de allende, mexico

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dallas skyline at dusk

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Mad Men. With out a doubt this has got to be the best show on TV. Clever, witty and so un-Hollywood it is refreshing.

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the westin, los cabos

a taste of baja
with Jeremy Woodhouse
November 26 – December 3, 2010, & April 2011 (dates to be announced)
Limited to 8 people
application form

Join me for an eclectic week of photography, food and fun at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

We will spend the first 4 nights at the Westin Los Cabos, a 5-star beach resort which offers great photographic opportunities – very colorful and graphic. This is about a 30 minute drive from Cabo San Lucas. During our stay here we will make excursions to Cabo san Lucas to photograph the Marina, hire boats/kayaks to photograph the arch, visit Lover’s beach (only accessible by boat), and to eat fresh seafood. If you want to try your hand at deep-sea fishing you could do this but at your own expense.

The next 3 days will be spent in Todos Santos, a thriving artist community and Magic Town on the Pacific coast, about an hour and a half from Cabo san Lucas. We will stay at the Hotel California, a wonderfully quirky boutique hotel in the heart of town, which again is another great photo location.

hotel california, todos santos

colors are everywhere at the hotel california

detailed itinerary
Day 1 – Travel from the US to the International Airport of San Jose del Cabo. Here you will be picked up and transfered to your hotel. Dusk photography session on the beach and around the resort.
Overnight Westin Los Cabos B

Day 2 – Photography and the beach around the resort. Relax until mid afternoon when we will drive to the town of San Jose del Cabo. It is here that we will have our first gourmet meal at Don Emiliano presented by Executive Chef Margarita Carrillo de Salinas.

About the Restaurant
Don Emiliano Restaurant features delicious Mexican haute cuisine and offers an unforgettable gastronomic experience. Chef Margarita Carillo de Salinas is an internationally-known chef who has created and promoted Mexican cuisine throughout the world. To complement their exceptional cuisine and service, they have a specially selected wine cellar with well-priced fine Mexican and imported labels. Their objective is to make all their customers feel like they are honored guests in their home. Their goal is to reach perfection and be the finest gastronomical Mexican experience in Los Cabos.
Overnight Westin Los Cabos B, D

Day 3 – Morning photography at the resort. Mid afternoon we will take an excursion to Cabo san Lucas to photograph the sights. We may rent a fishing boat or kayaks to visit the famous arch. We will shoot dusk in the harbour then have dinner at one of the numerous restaurants that line the marina.
Overnight Westin Los Cabos B

scenes around the marina in cabo san lucas

Day 4 – Early morning photography around the resort. After breakfast you are free to relax at the beach. We will decide among the group what we would like to do in the afternoon.
Overnight Westin Los Cabos B

the westin is a riot of color

Day 5 – Today we will make the approx 2 hr drive to the Magic Town of Todos Santos. After lunch we will explore the town and plan our dusk photography.
Overnight Hotel California, Todos Santos B

Day 6 – Early morning photography in the streets of Todos Santos. After breakfast we will visit some of the galleries which have helped put Todos Santos on the map as a Arist Community. Dusk photography at the hotel.

there is a treasure-trove of images in this boutique hotel

Later in the evening we will have our second gastronomic feast at Café Santa Fé, an Italian restaurant described to me by a friend who once lived in Cabo San Lucas, as the place he would go to if he had just one more meal to eat before he died. “The seafood is of course fresh and they grow their own organic vegetables. We’ve eaten there several times and always get the same thing: appetizer of tuna carpaccio, caprese salad of imported buffalo mozzarella, tomato and basil, AND lobster ravioli in a cream sauce with extra pieces of lobster meat. Can you tell I love it?” – Don Sibley.
Overnight Hotel California, Todos Santos B, D

Day 7 – Early morning photography in the streets. After breakfast we will head out in the van and look for some scenic opportunities around Todos Santos. We will have lunch at a beach a few miles south of town.
Overnight Hotel California, Todos Santos B

Day 8 – After an early breakfast we will head back to the Airport at San Jose del Cabo to catch our flights back to the US.

tour fee: $1,995
Includes
• 7 nights accommodation with buffet breakfasts included based on shared rooms
• all transport and transfers
• 2 gourmet meals up to a value of $75/meal pp (beer and wine separate)
• Photo tuition
To book your place on this tour, please contact jeremy@pixelchrome.com
Deposit: $750 due to secure spot
Limited to 8 people

Did the Eagles ever come to Todos Santos? Did Don Henley write the song while staying at the Hotel California in Todos Santos, during the hippie heyday of the late 1960′s and early 1970′s? Sometime in the mid to late 1980′s, the word got out that Todos Santos was home to “the” Hotel California made famous by the Eagles’ song in the 1970′s. In the 1990′s, the rumor had reached “hipper” journalists in the US and the first articles started appearing in major newspapers, like the Detroit Free Press article in 1996. As other journalists heard of the rumor, momentum increased and the story soon became a full fledged urban legend. New writers used the original articles to justify and support their conclusions. Journalists would come to Todos Santos and do “research”, but they already knew what they wanted to write and so they sought out people who would verify what they had already accepted as fact. No real investigative reporting ever occurred – source: www.todossantos-baja.com

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