Tourism takes a horse ride in Punjab
Sanjeev Singh Bariana in bathinda
Have horses will find a way. And Punjab has lots of horses, so here you go on a weeklong countryside seeing, 150km on horseback along the lower Shivaliks.
The last Hola Mohalla celebrations at Anandpur Sahib would remain etched in the memory of 15 foreign tourists. They began their unique journey from Ramgarh Fort in Haryana. Their routine was like this: the day starts at 6 am. After the breakfast, the ride begins at 9am. It ends around 6 pm with a two-hour rest in between. The fee: 2,000 pounds per person including five-day stay and sightseeing.
On the way they found a rich culture and heritage of Punjab, the combination of camping in the wild and a peek into the countryside. The variation in landscape only added to the charm as the riders along the lower range of the Himalayas, the riverbeds and the hinterland.
In the Saddle, a reputed horse travel organiser, usually chooses routes in the desert of Rajasthan and tea gardens of Assam. The company has organised horse travels in Argentina, Botswana, Brazil, Morocco, England, France, Spain, South Africa, Tanzania and USA.
"I am very impressed with the idea of promoting horses. Places of historical interest like Chhapan Chhiri (near Mohali) and Anandpur Sahib have immense tourism potential," says Sohan Singh Thandal, Punjab Minister for Tourism.
The tourists first gathered at Ramgarh Fort a night before the travel and charted the travel plan for stopping at specific sites including heritage complexes, mingling with villagers and resting. Beginning from Mehtab Mari village (near Pinjore), the team chose to start early in the first week of April. Riding over the grasslands, they were interested in the history of dry beds of 'çhoes' (seasonal rivulets) which, in the past, had water even after the monsoon, says Sarpartap Singh, the team leader for the tour.
Owlen Law, company executive, says: "The tourists are impressed with the festivity colours during the Pushkar Mela in Rajasthan making it our favourite destination. Our local collaborator, Raghuwinder Singh Dundlod, a leading organiser of horse riding camps in Rajasthan, offered us a new destination this year.
Jane Poole who was accompanied by her husband John and daughter Lucy, found the experience unforgettable. "Along the way were nihangs performing gatka in their signature blue attire. It was fascinating," said Lucie. She plans to return in the near future.
Another tourist, Susan, spoke about the warmhearted hospitality of Punjabis. "We were treated like special guests by local villagers particularly women and children in all the villages where we stopped. People virtually forced us to accept food, tea and small presents. And it was not just at one place, but along the entire route."
Kevin Mcloughin and Charlotte Koster plan to come for more such safaris in Punjab. "I have travelled on horses in different parts of the world. This one is among the best, particularly, the warm hospitality of the locals," said Mcloughin. "Safaris, here, have a great potential given the availability of good horses and impressive tracks".
