thinkersstable: RIDERS OF THE STORM

Publication: Times Of India Jaipur;

Date: May 13, 2008;

Section: Times City;

Page: 4

RIDERS OF THE STORM

Horses for causes: Riding winds of change

Equestrain rides through Rajasthan's villages are set to give tourism new turn, reports Rachna Singh

    Horses have since time immemorial have had a symbiotic relationship with both soldiers and deserts. What, for instance, comes to mind when one is reminded of great sieges and greater annexations in histoy? Warriors and kings galloping astride untiring horses — Rana Pratap and Chetak is an undying image. No wonder, then, that Rajasthan with all its history and heritage is pinning hopes of a travel and tourism resurgence on horses. Peg this with social concern and cause, and the cocktail is explosively attractive.

    For starters, there is the `Ride and Adopt' tourism package that will see travellers trotting through unchartered trails in the wild countryside of the desert state. While there are several horse riding safaris that cater to the tourists' quest to explore rural India, this one comes with a difference. The Thar Marwari Horse Safari is working out ways to take visitors, both Indians and foreigners, through villages and dsserts with an option to adopt and sponsor a social cause.

    To begin with, The Thar Marwari Horse Safari has identified two villages enroute Ranthambhore. The first one to be benefited by this proposal is Magri near Kishangarh, Ajmer. Those keenly observing the progress of the scheme feel that the tiny village, which lacks basic amenities and has a large section of the poor and unprivileged, will see a lot of good happening to it. The other one is Rehlana, where school going children do not have adequate space even for classrooms, forget the luxury of midday meals.

    "The riders that we get are largely from the UK and US and own horses back home. Most of them ride thoroughbreds and are fascinated riding Marwari horses which are pretty much like the Arab ones,'' said Arvind Chawdhary, ride leader of the safari and a keen polo player. "Traveling through the state on a horse back,

the entourage has to go through small villages where the riders get an opportunity to interact with local residents, getting a feel of the lifestyle in remote villages.''

    It was during a safari in Nagaur sometime back that the riders saw children travelling long distances to attend school. ''That is how this entire project came into being,'' confirmed Chawdhary. "Every year we undertake a back-to-back horse safari with about six circuits. Each one stretches from seven to 18 days that go through the forest trail with small villages enroute,'' Chawdhary added. Encouraged by the response, another circuit has been added to the existing ones that would go from Pushkar to Ranthambhore, making it the longest at about 353 km.

    "Being horse lovers the riders essentially value camaraderie besides the thrill of adventure. Moreover, they are people who are full of passion and ride for a cause, not only for them but also for the people who surround them,'' Chawdhary quipped.