Jodhpur, INDIA
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Camels padding on golden dunes, exuberant folk festivities, mouthwatering food, prolific history and opulent architecture…the montage of Rajasthan is crammed with cultural bounties. Embark on an expedition beyond the blue city of Jodhpur to sink into the undisturbed oasis of Osian, embedded like a sparkling jewel in the vast expanse of the Thar Desert. Home to some of Rajasthan’s oldest Hindu and Jain temples, Osian exemplifies the extraordinary heritage of the state in a novel way.
Labelled as ‘Gateway to Thar’, the ancient desert town of Osian lying 40 miles (65km) north of Jodhpur has an impressive lineage, from the time when it lay on the route for camel caravans of the Gupta dynasty. As a trade centre during the 8th to 12th centuries when it was called Upkeshpur, the town flourished under the affluent Oswal Jains, who built an ensemble of exquisitely sculpted shrines, crediting it with the nickname 'Khajuraho of Rajasthan’. Even today, the dusty town, standing drenched in the sweltering sun of the desert, manages to captivate one and all with its faded mystique.
Commanding centre-stage is the impressive hilltop walled complex of the Sachiya Mata Temple, a spiritual hub for both Hindus and Jains, adorned with graceful statues of deities and gods. Osian’s piece de resistance is the iconic 2000-year old Mahavira Temple, reputedly made of sand and milk and coated in gold. An open-air pavilion supported by carved pillars, a dome sculpted with celestial nymphs, and a Torana (architrave) decked with fine engravings makes it a peerless specimen of craftsmanship. Many other temples are scattered around, each with a different story to narrate.
Switch from the splendour of temple architecture to the bewitching blanket of the Thar, while listening to fascinating fables of the region. Notch up the game with a camel trek and trudge at a slow pace along the dunes, like the desert dwellers. As the unforgiving heat ebbs away and the sun melts into the sands, indulge in a memorable sunset dinner to witness the surreal landscape transforming. The stage is set for revelry with a traditional folk dance in the village, enlivened with rhythmic twirling and choreographed pirouetting.
Transport: Private Car 
Activity level: Easy
Accessible to wheel chair: Yes 
Kid friendly: Yes 
Languages: English and Local Language 
Inclusions: Guide + Entrances (If any) 
Exclusions: Meals, Personal Expenses and Souvenir. 
Gratuities: Not included in tour cost;payable at guest's discretion 
Meet up location: Hotel Pick Up 
End of tour location: Hotel Drop Off Duration: 8 Hours Price: upto 2 adults ₹6840 | Price upto 2 adults | : ₹6,840 |
| Children | : Complimentary for children below 10 years |
25% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 15 to 10 days prior to the tour date.
50% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 9 to 5 days prior to the tour date.
No refund if cancelled less than 5 days prior to the tour date.
For group size more than 4 adults, write to us at info@footprintholidays.com
We can arrange other language speaking guides based on your request and availability
The tour can be customised to suit your needs like change of time, change of pick-up point, etc. You can write to us to info@footprintholidays.com customise your tour as per your preferences.
I will begin by saying that I had a FANTASTIC time in India. It was one of the best trips I've ever taken and I'm truly looking forward to hopefully having you book other trips for me in India.
I must say everything was planned to perfection. Each guide in every city was knowledgeable; especially the guide you arranged for us in Udaipur. We really enjoyed getting to know our guides Musheer and Kishore. We experienced the real India and appreciated the detailed itinerary your team created for us. The hotels were fantastic! In every hotel, the chef paid us a visit to make sure that we had meals suitable for us. We also enjoyed all the extra shopping excursions that were suggested.
The trip was a mega success and your team did a great job. Thanks to Footprint for everything. The entire family had a great time! The exclusive kalaripayattu demonstration was absolutely engaging and we loved every bit of the special private stand-up by Alex Babu (of Alex in Wonderland fame).
Thank you for a great trip! We especially enjoyed driving through the desertland into Jaisalmer; we also thoroughly enjoyed Bikaner, its Havelis and the Fort. Catching the daily life in Mumbai was a unique and eye-opening experience! All the hotels chosen are excellent with wonderful staff. Thank you!
Thank you for a wonderful trip to Kerala. We loved the village life walk and Fort Cochin walk. The backwater cruise in a traditional country boat was an incredible experience. A meal with the local family, living on an island in the backwaters, offered us an excellent opportunity to interact, learn and share. We loved every minute of our holiday! Thanks!
As a solo traveller, I felt safe and was exceptionally well taken care of. The cooking class in Jaipur was extremely enjoyable. The food, chef, and his wife were all exceptional and made for a lovely evening. Also, our expectations were definitely exceeded at a private residence, spending time with the elephants and lunching. Thanks!!
I loved India and thank you very much for arranging everything. It was a fabulous trip. Big kudos to you and your team. The tour guides and drivers were excellent. I loved the artisan walk, discovering the artistic treasures of Udaipur, meeting local potters and painters.
Thanks for arranging everything to precision – it was super smooth and we had a very good darshan!
Thanks for organising a great trip to Lucknow and Varanasi. The hotels at both the places were excellent; we had a great guide in Varanasi who went beyond the designated tour route and showed us around. The food tour in Lucknow was amazing and re-discovering the Awadhi Cuisine was a great experience – the kebabs were out of the world!
It was a terrific experience to spot the King of the jungle in all their glory at Gir. We had a very good experience overall.
It was a perfect leisure getaway – thanks for organising this! We loved the French Connection Trail; the guide took us through the French quarter sharing some incredible stories from the colonisation. We enjoyed the hotel and the service!