Price:
- Sufi Festival only itinerary price (given in US Dollars) from US$2,080 per person, based on two people travelling together for travel 25 February - 01 March, 2010. Domestic Air fare from US$556 per person, subject to change until time of ticketing. Single Supplement price from US$1,092.
- Sufi and Holi Festivals itinerary price (given in US Dollars) from US$3,325 per person, based on two people travelling together for travel 25 February - 03 March, 2010. Domestic Airfare from US$556 per person, subject to change until time of ticketing. Single Supplement price from US$1,435.
- Please contact our UK office for departures from the UK & Europe at # 0207 487 9111 or email sales@greavesindia.com for costs and itineraries.
- Optional supplement to stay at Umaid Bhawan Palace (Palace Room) instead of Bal Samand Palace (Deluxe Room) would be US$280 per person, sharing a twin room on bed and breakfast basis. Single room supplement US$505. This cost inclusive of transfers to and from the Bal Samand Palace to meet the group for meals and activities.
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Validity:
Price valid for travel only on the above-mentioned itinerary for travel dates 25 February - 01 March, for Sufi Festival only, or 25 February - 03 March, 2010 for Sufi Festival and Holi Festival.

Please note: This tour is limited to 20 total travellers. Contact Greaves today to reserve your place on this exclusive program.

Inclusions:

• Domestic flights in economy class using Jet Airways or Air India flight from Delhi to Jodhpur and Jet Konnect flight from Jodhpur to Mumbai
• Hotel accomodation in a double/twin/single room for 1 night at Bal Samand Palace and 2 nights at Nagaur
• A light lunch on arrival, breakfast on The Terrace and lunch by the Swimming Pool at Bal Samand Palace
• Gala dinner and drinks at Mehrangarh Fort
• Breakfast, buffet lunch, cocktails and dinner at Nagaur
• Passes to the Sufi festival
• Cocktails and brunch at Umaid Bhawan Palace on 28th February
• Hotel accomodation in a double/twin/single room for 2 nights including breakfast
• Dinner at The Terrace or Peacock Fountain on 28th February (included for those staying on for Holi Festival)
• Holika Dahan Ceremony with cocktails and dinner with Royal family at Umaid Bhawan Palace on 29th February (included for those staying on for Holi festival)
• Transfers and excursions by an air-conditioned private Toyota Innova Car
• Visit to Buland Darwaza and Nagaur town by Tuk Tuks
• Room for wash and change at The Leela Kempinski Hotel/Mumbai
• Buffet dinner at Citrus restaurant at The Leela Kempinski Hotel/Mumbai (Beverages extra)
• Porterage at airports
• Mineral water in the car

Exclusions:

• Any international flights
• Any donations to Mehrangarh Museum Trust
• Alcohol and beverages at meals where not included
• Meals other than stated above
• Any accomodation in Delhi
• Telephone, laundry or any personal item
• Any gratuities
• Any change you may choose to make during your holiday
• Travel Insurance
• India visa charges

Bal Samand Palace Hotel
This hotel exemplifies flawless traditional Rajputana architecture surrounded by lush green and manicured gardens. Built out of special Jodhpur red sandstone, the palace was originally conceived as the summer resort of the Jodhpur royalty. The Balsamand Lake is an artificial reservoir, built in the 13th century, which provided drinking water to the city.
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The Royal Tented Camp:
Tent-making is an ancient Rajasthani skill, greatly favoured by Maharajas and Moghuls alike. Whole tented cities used to be erected for weddings and for durbars and splendid camps were set up for shikar and safari expeditions. His Highness, the Maharaja of Jodhpur always wanted to recreate the splendour of the Royal Camps from the times of the Maharajas. The Shikar tents are all made with water-resistant cotton canvas outerfly and with specially developed wood-block and screen prints, woven mosquito nets, furnishings and durries using a soft neutral palette of natural vegetable dyes. Each tent has en-suite private bathrooms with hot water. The furniture is made out of the local Shisham wood with a wax finish and natural canvas or durrie upholstery. Everything has been crafted by hand using all natural local materials.

Umaid Bhawan Palace:
This magnificent art deco palace set amidst 26 acres of lush gardens still remains the residence of the Maharaja of Jodhpur, is truly fit for a king. Named after Maharaja Umaid Singh, grandfather of the present Maharaja of Jodhpur, this golden-yellow sandstone monument was conceived on the grandest possible scale. After 15 years in construction, the 347-room palace was finally completed in 1943 - and has served as the principal residence of the Jodhpur royal family since.

The Leela Kempinski Hotel:
Located in close proximity to North Mumbai's commercial center and export zone, The Leela Kempinski Mumbai is an oasis of tranquility amidst this bustling metropolis. It offers all the facilities the discerning traveller would expect from a 5 star luxury hotels in Mumbai with an experience of the essence of India. The Leela Kempinski Mumbai is a convenient 5 minutes drive from the Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport and 15 minutes drive from the domestic airport in one of the best Mumbai hotels.

As the name suggests, the Sufi Festival will feature the most beautiful expressions of Sufism. World renowned Sufi Qawwals, folk musicians from desert villages of Rajasthan, and yet unheard but mellifluous all-women singer group from North-eastern India, classical interpretations from Agra, Sufi Kalams from Punjab, as well as performers from Iran, Egypt and Turkey... enchanting performances of creative minds transcending all man made divides of class, caste, language, gender, history, geography and religion.
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Qawwali is the most well known form of Sufi music, common in India and Pakistan. However, music is also central to the whirling dervishes and the ceremony of Sema, who use a slow, sedate form of music featuring the Turkish flute, the ney. The West African gnawa is another form, and Sufis from Indonesia to Afghanistan to Morocco have made music central to their practises. Some of the Sufi orders have taken an approach more akin to puritan forms of Islam, declaring music to be unhelpful to the Sufi way.

Sufi love songs, are often performed as ghazals and Kafi, a solo genre accompanied by percussion and harmonium, using a repertoire of songs of Sufi poets.

Holi is possibly the most colourful and joyous festival of the Hindu calendar and is celebrated at the end of the Winter season to welcome Spring.
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At this festival destinctions of caste, class, age and gender are forgotten as people have fun throwing paint and coloured water at each other. As many of the colours derive from natural plants, and the festival takes place during a seasonal change, it was believed that the plants and their colours had a medical significance. (Guests are advised to use Vaseline or oil on their hair and skin and to wear clothes that are easily washable or dispensable.) The festival is due to a legend of King Hiranakashyapu who wanted to be worshiped as a god; most of his people did but not his son Prahlad whose devotion was to Lord Vishnu. The king's sister led Prahlad to a bonfire where she burnt and he didn't. Bonfires are lit the night before the festival to highlight the triumph of good over evil.