Horseback Riding Vacations in India

Discover what India has to offer

Indien ist "Diversity, Colour and Supreme Spirituality"

If you visit India on your horseback riding vacations in Asia, you’ll find a combination of colonial magnificence and authentic local culture, with hustling cities and peaceful villages equally.

India occupies a huge area in South Asia, being the seventh-largest country in the world (3.29 million km²) and the second-most populous country in the world behind China.

It is organized in 28 states.

Its capital city is Delhi. However, the most populous city is Mumbai, India's economic capital and the second-most populous city in the world.

Some historical facts

Home to some of the first civilizations in the Indus Valley, India soon became a commercial route connecting the East with the West.

It was gradually annexed by the British East India Company at the beginning of the 18th century and colonized by the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century.

India became a modern nation state in 1947 after a long struggle for independence.

Today, India is a multiplicity of some the largest religions, ethnic groups and historical traditions in the world.

Gandhi's pacifist struggle led India to independence, after centuries under the rule of the British Empire. He is considered a national hero in his country and a symbol of pacifist revolutions around the world.

Geography

India’s geography is traditionally divided into three parts:

• The Himalaya Mountain Range: in the north, separates India from China, Bhutan and Nepal. Here is the Kanchenjunga (8,598 m), India’s highest peak.
• The northern plains: running along the Arabian Sea on the west and the Bay of Bengal on the east. They comprise the combined delta of the Brahmaputra River valley, the Ganges (Ganga) River and the Indus River valley. These plains are bordered by Bangladesh and Burma to the east, and Pakistan to the west. The Ganges is the longest river in India (3,000 km).
• The Deccan plateau: covers most of the country. Triangular in shape and with an average elevation (450 to 1,200 m), it is bordered to the west and east by the Ghats, small mountain ranges that join the Nilgiri hills in the south. The Western Ghats (between 1,000 and 2,400 msnm) are higher than the Eastern Ghats (600 m).

India has two main drainage basins. The Ganges River in the north, with its tributaries such as the Brahmaputra, the Yamuna and the Ghaghara among others; and the Indus with the rivers of its basin, the Jhelum, the Chenab and the Sutej.

According to Lonely Planet, Assam is the ultimate wildlife destination. This state is one of the last strongholds of the one-horned rhinoceroses and is home to the Hoolock Gibbon, the only ape that lives in the Gibbon Conservation Area, in India.

A region we’d like highlight is the beautiful Brahmaputra Valley in Assam, with its lush green tea gardens.

Climate

The climate is tropical monsoon except in the Himalayas, which have a high mountain climate.

The landscape is varied and you can see very arid areas, such as the Thar Desert next to Pakistan, or the forests and grassy savannahs that occupy one-fifth of the Indian territory.

Cities and Monuments

Indian architecture is rooted in its history, culture and religion. /p>

The myriad of sacred places and ancient rites give evidence of the country's exciting and sometimes tumultuous religious history. In the north, the historic monuments of the Mongol Empire include Delhi's Red Fort and the huge Mosque of Jama Masjid, along with the iconic Mausoleum of the Taj Mahal in Agra.

In India, we find numerous important cities of religious pilgrimage.

The city of Vanarasi is considered the spiritual capital of India and draws Hindu pilgrims who bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges River and perform funeral rites. Bodh Gaya, the holy place for Buddhism, where you can see the tree under which Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.

Rajasthan is a real collection of kingdoms, some of them dating back to the 6th century.

These kingdoms were once independent and they represent a rich architectural and cultural heritage, which can be appreciated today in their numerous forts and palaces (Mahals and Havelis) with characteristics of Islamic and Jain architecture.

Equestrian tourism in India

India has a wide variety of landscapes, a true joy for the senses of any rider that visits this country.

India is a vast land of big contrasts, with over 3,000 km² and countless trails for horseback riding.

You can ride in the desert, on immense beaches or in impressive mountains such as the Himalayas. Explore the deserts and hills of Rajasthan, or the Brahmaputra Valley trails in Assam. There is a wide range of riding possibilities in this great country.

The Marwari horse

Loyal, tireless and competitive, the Marwari horse has evolved from one of the oldest breeds in the world and today it presents itself as a new archetype of beauty, intelligence and personality.

In India, Marwari horses were considered a gift from the gods and therefore those who profess the Hindu faith describe them as sacred animals.

The Marwari horse has acquired its name from its original breeding place Marwar in Rajasthan.

The Marwari is descended from native Indian ponies crossed with Arabian horses. The ponies were small and hardy, but with poor conformation; the influence of the Arabian blood improved the appearance without compromising the hardiness.

The exotic beauty and vigour of the Marwari horse are its main characteristic. This horse is easily recognized by its proud carriage, upright graceful neck and distinctive aquiline head with deep expressive eyes; the crowning glory are the unique lyre or scimitar shaped ears set high on the poll, touching at the tip, and without exception unique to this noble Indian horse.

Horse riding holiday proposals in India

Ampascachi Horse Riding Holidays has selected some suppliers of Equestrian Tourism that should be taken into consideration to know the best of India on horseback.

Royal Horse Safari

Their founding directors Mr. Shakti Singh and Mr. Bhanu Pratap established Royal Horse Safari in 2009. Their aim was to provide highly personalized and specialized horse riding safaris to show the hidden beauty of India, and its rich variety of landscapes, and consistently beautiful scenery to riders from all over the world.

Its main office is in New Delhi but they have rides in their eight programs all around India.

Royal Horse Safari India provides 1 to 15-day horse riding holidays for intermediate to advanced riders in their fixed Horse Trek itinerary but as per your requirement, they can customize a horse safari tour.

His horses

All their horses are incredible and have been carefully selected by them. Their guides will help you find the best horse for you, suitable for your riding skill and preference.

They use Marwari Horses in their safaris because this breed is good in speed and stamina and the best suitable for long rides in this region.

In their “Himalayan Horse Safari”, they use Zanskari Horses, for their ability to work, run adequately and carry loads at high altitude.The predominant body colour is grey followed by black and copper.

The Himalaya Safari

It is a high altitude horseback safari in the high mountain ranges of Changthang located in Eastern Ladakh.

Its two mountain ranges, the Great Himalaya and the Karakoram are popularly known as "the land of numerous passes of mystic Lamas".

Ladakh is the highest inhabited land in the world. Peaceful Buddhist monks live there and its medieval monasteries, fluttering prayer flags, pretty villages, treks in very high passes, dramatic mountain scenery and surrounding countryside.

Route characteristics:

• The duration of the Safari is 10 nights and 11 intense days (4-7 hours per day).
• The best time to do it is between June 15th and September 10th.
• It is for intermediate and advanced riders and there is a weight limit of 85 Kg.
• The maximum size per group is 10 riders.
• While riding you have the opportunity to get a close-up look at Himalayan birds and mammals.

Discover details of this route and its other 7 rides visiting its web site: >www.royalhorsesafari.com.

Dundlod Fort

Dundlod Fort is a privately owned equestrian property nestled in rural Rajasthan.

Built in 1750, this spectacular fort is home to Kanwar Raghuvendra Singh Dundlod, known as Bonnie, a direct descendant of Dundlod nobility and owner of Dundlod Safari’s. Bonnie pioneered horse back safari’s in Rajasthan over thirty years ago.

The Fort of Dundlod is an embodiment of cultural amalgamation of Rajputana and Mughal School of Art and Architecture.

Its motif of flowers and foliage, minarets, mythological paintings, archaic furniture, wall hangings of arrows and shields have remained unchanged since hoary past.

If you prefer you can enjoy the “Risala Camp”, a luxurious and spacious tented accommodation situated at the stables of the Royal Equestrian and Polo Centre.

Its horses

The Royal Equestrian and Polo Center is the only horse safari centre in the country that is a recognized member of the Equestrian Federation of India.

Dundlod stables is one of the largest and most prestigious Marwari breeding yards in India, as Bonnie leads the Indigenous Horse Society of India, which aims to conserve, promote and raise awareness of India’s six marvellous native horse and pony breeds.

They have a special program of the Marwari breed improvement, and it is called Marwari Bloodlines.

His horses are mainly Marwari with a few Kathiawari and Sindhi horses.

The Marwari is one of the most famed indigenous breeds, known for their inwardly curling ears, their stamina, intellect, and spirited nature. The Dundlod Marwari’s are eager, naturally forward going, and well trained, making this a unique opportunity to see rural India from horseback.

They are slim but very fit horses, and that’s why they are perfect for desert safaris.

Its routes

The trail routes vary, and popular itineraries include the Jaisalmer Marwari Trail ride, Pushkar Fair, and the Shekhawati Desert Ride.

The accomodation is a mixture of Dundlod Safari’s ‘glamping’ sites, and beautifully restored heritage forts and palaces that transport you back to Rajasthan’s regal past.

The riding is fast paced, as the sandy terrain of the Thar Desert is perfect for long, sweeping canters. Riders need to be able to control a forward going horse in the open, and be competent at riding at a pace in groups.

The days of the ride vary from 3 to 12, depending on the time you wish to spend in the saddle. A distance of about 25-30 km is covered in a day with hot lunches served enroute.

Horse India

A riding holiday with Horse India will find you staying in old Palaces, bespoke haveli Hotels or re-creating the days of the Indian kings by sleeping in fully equipped tents that they used during the hunting season.

You can go on daily rides, take a village walk or look for leopards from the roof terrace. The farm is situated at a riding distance between the blue city of Jodhpur, the lake city of Udaipur (2.5 hours to each), and near the pink city of Jaipur.

Riders can join group rides of 7, 10 and 14 days on fixed dates or book a private ride on a customized date. You can book directly at Horse India or via a travel agency that sell their rides.

The riding tours were carefully chosen to show you the real rural India - riding off the beaten track, you have the chance to interact with rural communities and tribes along the way. The best climate and temperature to travel is from September to March.

Horse India uses Marwari horses that are native to India. They have unique curly ‘lyre’ shaped ears that rotate 180 degrees and touch at the tip! They are desert horses, ‘slight’ in build.

If you travel with non-riding companions and look for a unique experience, you have the option to stay at the rural Marwari horse farm where you awake to curly eared horses as they greet you from their stables with marble columns.

If you want to get more information about this equestrian tour operator, visit their website: www.horseindia.com.

From the towering snow-capped peaks of the northern mountains, to the exotic deserts of Rajasthan or the sweltering sun-drenched beaches of the south coast, this is an ideal land for horseback riding. Discover its colourful cities, with its temples, its festivities and its exquisite food, and let yourself be carried away by the magic of this immense country.

Are you also passionate about the idea of travelling the world on horseback?

Argentina is a country with a long-standing tradition of horses. Exploring the country on horseback is something unique – a highly recommended experience. In our eBook "Discover Argentina, the Land of the Gaucho, on Horseback" you will find our options to enjoy Argentina on horseback.