March 12-22, 2019
In an explosion of vibrant color, thousands of people will gather from all over India to passionately celebrate Holi; a festival celebrating the new life and energy of the spring season. This is the most unique energetic festival in India, as even the strict rules of separation between castes are abandoned. Everyone can come together and celebrate with the throwing of colored powder, dye, song, dance, and competition. This itinerary not only drops you into the chaos of the action in the Braj region with an opportunity to capture stunning images, but you will also experience the widows Holi and Hola Mohalla in Amristar.
We will ease you into the action with an incredible day in “Old Delhi”, exploring its narrow dirt roads, myriad of people, and colorful bazaars that keep alive the traditional workmanship. This will give everyone an opportunity to get into the rhythm of India, work out any issues with gear, and recover from any lingering jet lag. In the evening, you will have special visit with a local family where we will enjoy a special home-hosted-dinner; an intimate experience that will make you feel a part of the culture and community rather than just a visitor and an observer.
With such a solid and experience ground team we don’t just bring you to the festivals we take you into the heart of the action for the best photographic opportunities. Our team has years of experience maneuvering through the crowds, gaining special access, and finding ways to get you in the best spots and out of the crowds for a breather. All which is critical in capturing such a wild event!
This is a very high-energy trip filled with amazing photographic opportunities, however we will be in the thick of the action, which can also be emotionally, and physically draining. Therefore, we have taken great care in choosing very comfortable accommodation where you can retreat at the end of the day to relax, recharge, and recover from the day’s excitement. We have also included all service tips for drivers, local guides, transport, meals, camp staff, etc into the cost of the trip, which can be a daunting task in figuring out who should be tipped and constantly trying to exchange currency for small notes.
We are limiting this exciting festival tour to ONLY 8 PARTICIPANTS
Portraits of the Sikh attending the Hola Mohalla. A huge event for Sikhs around the world, held during Holi where sikhs gather from all over India, camping out – listening to kirtan, music, and poetry, while enjoying various displays of fighting prowess and bravery.
Itinerary
Day 1, March 12, 2019 – Arrive Delhi
Upon arrival into Delhi, you will be met and greeted by our representative and privately transferred to the hotel. Arrival can be any time on March 12, 2019. Your room will be ready by 14:00. If you arrive early, we will be happy to request an early check-in. This is a long travel day for many, so the afternoon and evening are free for you to relax and prepare for the awesome journey ahead. Dinner is on your own this evening.
Accommodation: Le Meridien
Day 2, March 13, 2019 – Delhi
Rise early this morning for a warm cup of coffee or hot tea. We will all meet for a welcoming breakfast and a detailed briefing about the Holi Festivals and what we will be experiencing during this exciting trip. We will have plenty of time to prepare for a wonderful day in Delhi. This will give us the opportunity to get into the rhythm of India and work out any problems with our gear or techniques before heading into the craziness of one of the most exciting festivals in India.
After lunch at a local restaurant, we will head out to explore “Old Delhi” with its narrow dirt roads, its myriad of people, and its colorful bazaars that keep alive the traditional workmanship for which Delhi has been famous. We will enjoy a Heritage walk in the heart of Chandini Chowk (the silver square, named because of the silver merchants), navigating between alleyways which seemingly get narrower and narrower, ending up strolling through the fascinating vendor section.
This evening we will visit a local family and enjoy a special home-hosted dinner with them; an intimate experience that will make you feel a part of the culture rather than just an observer.
Accommodation: Le Meridien – BLD
Day 3, March 14, 2019 – Delhi/Vrindavan
After an early breakfast, we will visit the spice market and get our first glance at the colors of Holi.
After lunch, we will begin our 3-4 hour drive to Vrindavan, our home base for this part of the Holi Festivals. Once checked in, we will meet to prepare the cameras for the Holi Festival.
Accommodation: Nidhivan Sarovar Portico – BLD
Day 4, March 15, 2019 – Virndavan – Barsana
This morning you will rise for an early breakfast and then head to Barsana to photograph the Lath Mara Holi. Let the colors start flying, along with the opportunity to create some of the most vibrant and striking creative images you can imagine! Thousands of people from all across India will gather in the nearby villages to celebrate with intense passion and chaos.
This Holi celebration is the fight between friends of Krishna and Radha. When the men from Nandgaon Village reach Barsana, they throw colors on the women, who fight back with batons. The men are well padded because they cannot hit back and can only try to keep the women off by sprinkling colored water on them. If a man gets trapped, he is made to dress like a woman in a sari with all cosmetics and then must dance like a woman. The objective of the men is to install a flag on the temple of Radha at Barsana and claim victory. Each year, new methods are employed to outsmart each other, so every celebration is full of surprises, is unpredictable, and is thrilling to capture!
Accommodation: Nidhivan Sarovar Portico – BLD
Day 5, March 16, 2019 – Virndavan – Nandgaon
This morning you will rise slowly, have a leisurely breakfast, and prepare for the afternoon activities. After an early lunch, we will drive to Nandgaon (about 45 mins) to witness and participate in their Lath Mar Holi Celebration. In Nandgaon there is the return visit of the Gopas of Barsans to play Holi against the Gopis of Nandgaon. The men of Barsan will carry a flag from their village to the Shriji Temple in Nandgaon, and the men and women of Nandgaon will try to stop them.
In the evening, we will again retreat to the tranquility of our luxury accommodation to recover and engage in lively discussions about all the action of the past two days, preparing for the huge festivities tomorrow.
Accommodation: Nidhivan Sarovar Portico – BLD
Day 6, March 17, 2019 – Vrindavan – Bankey Bilhari
After a restful night’s sleep and a warm cup of coffee or tea, we will meet for breakfast and prepare for another amazing day! Bakey Bihari Temple, built by Swami Harida in 1864, is the highly revered shrine of Vrindavan, and is our prime attraction. Common throughout the temple is the chant of “Radhe Radhe”. On Holi, Bankey Bihari is supposed to play Holi, where the whole town of Brindavan gets SUBMERGED in colors… and us too if we are in the thick of it all!
We will also get a chance to visit the “widows of Vrindavan” although photographing them is extremely challenging.
Accommodation: Nidhivan Sarovar Portico – BLD
Day 7, March 18, 2019 – Vrindavan/Amritsar
After breakfast, we will begin our 3-4 hour drive back to Delhi and to the airport to catch our flights to Amritsar. We will use these hours to relax, catch our breath, and discuss all that we have experienced in the past four days. Greg and Ashim will do their level best to answer all your questions about the celebrations, culture, and photographic challenges.
Upon our arrival, we will settle into our luxury accommodation, have our dinner, and rest up for all that is ahead.
Accommodation: Hotel Hyatt – BLD
Day 8, March 19, 2019 – Amritsar
In the early morning, we will visit the Golden Temple, also known as Sri Harmandar Sahib. It was initiated by the fourth Guru of Sikh, Guru Ramadas Jee, and was completed by his successor Guru Arian Dev Jee in 1601. There is such a spiritual embodiment of the higher being that even the non-believer is seduced by the hypnotic melody of the Paath. We will follow this up with a visit to Jalian Wala Bagh, where people pay homage to all the soldiers.
In the afternoon, we will take a short drive up to the Wagah Border for the “changing of the guards” ceremony held by the Pakistani Rangers & Indian BSF. It is one of the most amazing displays of protocol, which is followed by the two armies, and everyone always enjoys this!
After dinner, for those who still have the energy, there is the option to return to the Golden temple at night when it is all lit up.
Accommodation: Hotel Hyatt – BLD
Day 9, March 20, 2019 – Amritsar/ Anandpur
After breakfast, we will begin our journey to Anandpur to be back in the
thick of it and revel in the amazing spectacle of Hola Mohalla. We will be staying in proper canvas tents right at the fairgrounds. Each tent has an ensuite bathroom with hot and cold water, proper beds, and electricity which runs off generators for several hours in the morning and evening.
In the afternoon, with cameras in hand, we will have a walking orientation tour of the fair.
Accommodation: Aagman Camp – BLD
Day 10, March 21, 2019 – Anandpur
Early this morning you will have the opportunity to visit the tent camps of the pilgrims and photograph the men as they get ready for the Hola Mohalla Festival.
After lunch, you will spend the afternoon at the Hola Mohalla Festival, where we’ll witness all the colorful festivities, which include dramatic mock martial arts battles (known as Gatka), as well as impressive displays of weaponry, archery, and wrestling. There is also music, poetry, prayers, singing, and chanting. Food is served to pilgrims from all castes and creeds by women from neighboring villages who set up langars (community kitchens). This is impressive and humbling to watch because regardless of caste, all Sikhs sit together.
There are also exciting horse riding displays from the Nahib Sikh Army where the riders gallop bareback, performing tricks like riding astride two horses. One of the main attractions is the Nehangs – a prestigious armed Sikh order who wear a striking blend of blue and orange, with twisted moustaches and staggeringly large embellished turbans.
Accommodation: Aagman Camp – BLD
Day 11, March 22, 2019 –
This morning we will enjoy our breakfast before driving to Chandigarh airport to board our flights to Delhi. Upon arrival, we will be transferred to a hotel near the airport for dayrooms, so that you have time to organize and clean up for your flights home.
Transport to Delhi International Airport to board your flight home. B
Is this trip for you?
The Holi Festival, known, as the “festival of colors”, is one of India’s most exciting festivals, filled with unbelievable photographic opportunities. Although it is a thrilling experience, it is NOT for everyone. This trip is best suited for those who enjoy adventure, are flexible, and can have a good sense of humor among chaos and big crowds.
This trip was designed to give experienced photographers the best opportunity to capture stunning images at the Holi Festival. The images like the ones on this page require being in the thick of the massive crowds, as well as being covered with colored dust, water, and dyes. We have a very experienced ground team with extra local guides who have years of experience maneuvering through the crowds, gaining special access, and finding ways to get you in the best spots and out of the crowds for a breather. Should you wish to pull back from the crowds and shoot from above, our ground team will be there to assist you. You will want to be prepared for a few days which can be quite warm and physically challenging.
You’ll need to make sure you wear old clothes that you don’t mind being ruined. It is recommended to cover yourself with a hat, scarf, long-sleeves, long pants, and to wear some kind of eye protection. We will provide you with camera protection bags, tape, and a lot of guidance, but if you choose to be in the thick of it, there is always a risk of damage to your gear. With that said, everyone’s gear made it through the 2018 festival just fine. You may choose to stay out of the thick of the crowds and try shooting from the higher ground, where you can also produce great images, but there will still be a risk as previously stated.
Although we are happy to extend an invitation to all levels of photographers, beginner photographers would probably find this trip extremely frustrating and very challenging. This particular trip is best suited for the experienced travel photographer who has good working knowledge of their equipment, who has previously been on photography tours to India or other festivals around the world, and who is comfortable as an independent shooter. Although Greg will be sharing as much photographic information as possible and he will be there to assist you with any problems, we are on the go and do not have any formal teaching planned.
If you are coming to India for the first time, you may want to view our Incredible India Itinerary filled amazing experiences and photographic opportunities.
If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Piper Mackay with your questions prior to registering.
Important Details
Price:
The price of the Holi Festival India based on double Occupancy (sharing a room) is 6,495.00
The price of the Holi Festival India based on single Occupancy is 7,790.00
If a solo guest wishes to share a room, we will do our best to match them with another guest of the same gender. If we cannot match a solo guest with another guest of the same gender, then the single supplement of $1,295.00 will be charged.
Payment Terms
- USD $1,995.00 non-refundable depositto confirm your place on this photo tour
- Final payment/balance is due December 10, 2018
We highly recommend trip and cancellation insurance.
Included
- 10 nights’ accommodation
- Use of Day room on March 22
- Meals + tips, as noted on the itinerary –B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
- 2 in-country flights
- Airport transfers on the arrival and departure days as listed on the itinerary
- Meals + tips, as noted on the itinerary –B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
- Comfortable climate controlled Mini coach with a qualified driver and assistant – including tips
- Entrance fees to monuments and forts listed in the itinerary
- Camera fees for two cameras at monuments as listed in the itinerary
- 02 local camera protection bags with sufficient covering tape
- Services of English speaking local guides including tips
- Bottled drinking water during lunch and dinner meals and in transport vehicles
- Professional photographer leader
- Professional, experienced, and knowledgeable Indian tour leader
- Government Service Tax
Not Included
- International flights
- Visa
- Gratuities for main Indian tour leader
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
- Travel Medical and Evacuation insurance (Required)
- Personal purchases (including shopping, spirits, laundry, internet fees, phone calls, etc)
- Accommodation before or after the tour
- Transport before the arrival day or after the departure date
REGISTRATION AND DEPOSIT
If you are excited to join this photographic adventure now is the time to secure your spot as these 7 spots will go quickly! Use the buttons below to fill out your online e-registration form and to make your deposit. We must receive both your completed registration form and your deposit/s to confirm your spot.
Registration form – Please complete all the required fields. At the end of the form you will be asked to confirm your email address, which will complete the registration. A copy of your registration will be emailed to you and to Piper Mackay Photo Safaris.
Deposit– Use the button below to make your deposit. You do not need to have a Paypal account to use this payment service. You may make more than one deposit at a time by changing the quantity on the purchase details.
