Sanjharia, Ajmer Road, Jaipur -302042 INDIA
Discover Jaipur Differently
The region’s tapestry includes not just monuments but also the countryside, people, crafts and fauna.
Embark on a journey around Jaipur with an array of unforgettable adventures designed to immerse you in the vibrant culture and natural beauty of Rajasthan. From visiting traditional village households that offer a glimpse into rural life, to cross-country hiking and biking excursions, to scenic camel-cart rides through farms and open countryside, each experience promises a unique connection with the region. Explore the Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for bird watching. Wander through the iconic Pink City on a guided walk. Bond with elephants at Elefantastic, where you can interact with these gentle giants in a safe and ethical environment. Whether it is a day trip to the temple town of Pushkar, or a mindblowing visit to the stepwell at Abhaneri, these adventures provide an authentic taste of Rajasthan’s rich heritage.
Visits to Village Households
Whether you are walking across fields or through small hamlets, cycling down roads around Savista or doing a camel cart trundle, you will never find yourself far from people. Little boys who will wave to you cheerily, small children who will excitedly try out their English language skills on you ( it never goes beyond “What is your name” repeated over and over again!), or women who will flash their brilliant smiles as a sign of welcome. Everyone in the vicinity knows that you must be one of Savista’s foreign guests, which makes you an honoured guest to the whole region.
Camel Cart Trundle
Your camel cart will trundle through hamlets and farms. Everywhere, people will be eager to meet you. Since village folk rarely venture out beyond family and kin into the wide world, they see Savista’s overseas guests as bringing the world to them. And they are eager to reciprocate and show their friendliness, by offering you chai or peanuts ( if the crop is ready for harvest), showing off their sparkling kitchens or farm equipment, and having their own and their children’s photos taken and shown back to them.
There is no invasion of privacy or voyeurism involved here. More importantly, there is no economic transaction in these interactions. This is a fairly well to do region, and the local people do not subscribe to the practice of tips or gifts. It is simply an unmediated opportunity for integration with the local community.
Cross Country Hikes
River bed / ravine hikes and biking along the Sujalam river bed as well as village walks, are among the special outdoor activity options at Savista. The Sujalam is a now-dry river that once used to flow alongside the Savista estate. Along its course the river etched jagged ravines in the sandy soil, giving the area around Savista its undulating character.
Some sections of these ravines, in Savista’s neighborhood are wooded and full of bird life. They are regularly visited by nomadic herders who bring their camels, sheep, and goats to graze on the thorny shrubs and trees that grow there. Roaming herds of wild nilgai can also be sighted from time to time, particularly when crops are ripening in the fields.
Bird Watching
Over 80 varieties of common birds of the northern Indian plains can be seen in and around the Savista estate. Guests are invited to identify more that can be added to the list. Every year or so we discover a few new birds, possibly attracted to Savista by the organic practices we follow. You can see these and more if you combine your stay at Savista with a day trip to the Keoladeo National Bird Sanctuary.
Pink City Walks
For those who wish to go beyond the standard sights of the Hawa Mahal, City Palace, and Jantar Mantar (observatory), walking is one of the best ways to experience the crowded and energetic “Pink” walled city.
Although walking can be a bit challenging—the sidewalks being often broken in parts and overcrowded, and one has to keep hopping off on the road and back, to dodge the crush of pedestrians, hawkers, bicycles, cars, rickshaws, hand carts, cows, and shops that spill out of their premises – the only way to penetrate the tiny lanes and bazaars (flower market, spice market etc.) of the walled city is to do it on foot. And with a guide.
Rescued Elephants Sanctuary
Visit to an elephant sanctuary – ‘Elefantastic’ in Jaipur to interact with elephants and learn how to communicate with them, help bathe and feed them, and enjoy short rides on them.
Handmade Paper Factory
Jaipur is one of the very few places in the world where the valuable but dying craft of handmade paper has survived.
The history of this production goes back nearly 700 years. The factory you will visit continues to use rudimentary technology and locally available materials. The several hundred year old methods are labour-intensive, which makes it very appropriate for India. The materials used are organic wastes – paper, fabric, grasses/leaves/flowers – , which makes the paper environmentally appropriate. And production is for both the domestic and international markets.
A great visit for any lover of beautiful paper, and for artists in particular.
Day Trips
Pushkar, located around two and a half hours by road from Savista, with its holy lake and the hundreds of whitewashed temples built around it is one of the holiest cities of the Hindus. If you are keen to get a fleeting experience of “religious India” and are not planning to visit Varanasi (the most ancient and holiest of living cities), Pushkar is a reasonable substitute that is well worth a half day visit.
Other day trips that can be comfortably done from Savista are:
- The Sambhar Salt Lake, at Sambhar;
- The college for ‘Barefoot Engineers’, at Tilonia.
- Abhaneri Day Trip
- Pushkar Day Trip