Jaisalmer: The Desert City of Rajasthan

Sam Sand Dunes Jaisalmer

In midst of the colossal deserts of the Rajasthan, lies a City known as the “Golden city” or we call it the “City of Deserts”. Situated 223 Km’s from Jodhpur, 327 Km’s from Ajmer, and 487 Km’s from Jaipur, Jaisalmer has been an architectural highlight of the Yellow sand stonework, which is very much visible in the lands of Jaisalmer. Jaisalmer has named after the Rajput Ruler Raja Maharwal Jaisal Singh, who founded the city in 1156 AD.

Rajasthani Men in traditional dress

Rajasthani Women in traditional dress

Jaisalmer has been an important contributor to the majestic Rajasthani culture. That is much visible when you walk down the streets, man in white or colorful turbans, woman in colorful Saris wearing silver jewelries highlighting the Rajasthani culture. Jaisalmer is always full or artists or travelers, traveling through the streets exploring best of all the places.

Traditional Cloths

Traditional Toys

The city is always full of travelers, exploring traditional shops, food joints, hotels and tourist spots, which are at every corner of the city. Few of the spots that counts among the best of places are, Patwon Ki Haveli, Sam Sand Dunes, Bada Bagh, Jaisalmer Fort, Gadisar Lake, Amar Sagar lake, Tanot Mata Temple and various Jain temples across the city. During my stay at Jaisalmer I was not able to cover all the 5 star spots, but yes made an attempt to a few of them, including Jaisalmer Fort, Sam Sand Dunes, Patwon Ki Haveli and the huge traditional market of the golden city.

Jaisalmer Fort - Exterior

Jaisalmer Fort - Interiors

Jaisalmer Fort

Jharoka at Jaisalmer Fort

Experiencing Jaisalmer was altogether a different achievement for a photographer, there were moments of happiness while capturing the streets, moment of proud, and royalty while capturing the Jaisalmer Fort and Patwon Ki Haveli. What amazed me about the fort was, how lively people have made it, there are food joints, museums, hotels and traditional markets inside the fort only making it a vivacious place. As I was capturing the fort, I saw an artist painting the outer wall of restaurant inside the fort. Eager to see what he was painting, I climbed the stairs to know what exactly it was. I see a foreigner painting a portrait of Rajasthani men with a colorful turban. I asked him, what makes you do so, he answered I keep traveling to new places and keep meeting new people and Rajasthan, India feels the home to me. Therefore, further he continued by saying, I am learning Hindi and Sanskrit in India and for a matter of fact I keep visiting Jaisalmer every few weeks because of the people out here and the culture which makes me a happy person. 

Potrait of a Rajasthani Men - Painted by the artist

Later in the evening, I walked down the narrowed lane from the fort, connecting to Patwon Ki Haveli. As heard the place gets you experience the beautiful colors of Jaisalmer in the evening. The Patwon Ki Haveli is an interesting piece of Architecture and is the most important among the Haveli’s in Jaisalmer. This is precisely because of two things, first that it was the first Haveli raised in Jaisalmer and second, that it is not a single Haveli but a cluster of 5 small Haveli’s.

Patwon Ki Haveli - Exteriors

Patwon Ki Haveli - Interiors

The Patwon Ki Haveli is a symbol of the architectural work, which Rajasthan has recognized for, the carvings, the stonework highlights the royal Rajasthani culture and the great work and hardship of the workers of that era, which is difficult to see these days.  While I was standing at the rooftop of the Haveli, the yellowish/orange sky filled with birds sailing around the sun fascinated me to capture every bit of the sky. Apart from this the Haveli gives you a splendid view of the fort, the golden fort is enlightened with the sun rays spreading yellow color to its edges and to the vibrant city of Jaisalmer.

Patwon Ki Haveli - Terrace

Jaisalmer Fort - View from Patwon Ki Haveli

Sunset @ Patwon Ki Haveli

Architectural heritage of Jaisalmer amazed me at one place, what left was the immense desert of the "Desert City Jaisalmer". Therefore, next evening I planned an outing to the part of Thar Desert, known as Sam Sand Dunes. The place was full of Travelers, Photographers, Tourists, and Camel riders waiting for people to join them to experience the camel ride with a view of the sunset and vast experience of the Thar desert. As you reach the sunset point, you get an amazing view of the desert, I suggest if you’re a photographer, do not forget to carry your camera, as you would not want to neglect the photo shots at the moment. Apart from this, ask your Camel riders to get you an experience of the Camel race and ride to the other spots of Thar Desert.

Camel @ Sam Sand Dunes

Sunset at Sam Sand Dunes

Sunset at Sam Sand Dunes

Moreover, when you are over with the camel safari, do not forget to proceed to the restaurants nearby, to experience the traditional Rajasthani Dance form, Rajasthani food, and a few melodies of Rajasthani folk music. You would come across the one of the best dance forms of India, you will be surprised to see, how without a reaction the artists perform in pain, and making sure, the customers are delighted with the performance. 

Dance Performance by Rajasthani Artist

Note for Travelers: Do not pay more than 150 for camel ride; 300-400 for dinner + Rajasthani dance performance, cab will cost Rs 1200, if you are going to the sand dunes. Auto rickshaws are cheapest mode of travel in the city. 

Pushkar: A Liberal Town

Pushkar Lake

Pushkar situated in Rajasthan, approximately 2.5 hours from Jaipur and 30 minutes from Ajmer has become one of the vibrant places of India. Tourist comes throughout the year to receive Holy blessings, to see a liberal India. On a higher note to be a part of rich color that Pushkar has turned out to be in the past few years.

Artist

Traveler/Artist

Pushkar is a land full of Artists, Travelers, Readers, and Photographers and of course religious people sharing their thoughts and life experiences making an enthusiastic conversation. This time I traveled down the streets of Pushkar with my much-loved camera capturing moments and understanding the liberal culture out here that I have been hearing out. I experienced a different relation this time amongst the people out there; no matter if, he was an Englishmen or a Traditional Artist, they all shared their thoughts or somehow enjoyed the moments over smile making it a joyful go.

Camel at the Desserts

Therefore, people and their beautiful thoughts are at one place making the city a joyful place. Apart from this, there are more than 100 temples full of worshipers praying to their idols. There is a desert full of camels, travelers, photographers, and people from all over the world celebrating moment of happiness. Pushkar Lake, which is sacred, and is one of the most visited places, filled with travelers and readers sitting at the ends in search of peace. In the evening, the lake looks more stunning as the place is full of people lighting the diyas followed by the prayer making the place more beautiful in the night as well.

As every place has its charm, Pushkar has its as well, the 2 km long market featuring, traditional cloths, accessories, herbal food items, holy accessories and small food stalls making your taste buds alive. Be it the shops, or the road, it is full of vendors selling their products. Pushkar has access to more than 100 hotels, so if you are planning a stay, I would suggest two of them, first one being Ananta Spa and Resorts, located at the outskirts resulting into a 15 min drive by a bus or car. Another one being Master’s Paradise, which is 500 meter walk from Gurdwara. I have experienced one of the best hospitality at these two hotels. There are many good hotels, but yes, I would go on recommending these two.

Saint outside the Temple

There are many attractions in and nearby Pushkar, but the ones that I have enjoyed were, the camel rides, the lake, the temples and of course the splendid market. These attractions are at one place, but the conversations with localities and their stories was the experience I would search for in places. Travelling through the streets, capturing moments was one experience I would ask photographers to get a feel of, as there are new things, that diverts camera in that direction forcing you not to miss the capture.

Rajasthani Traveler

I sat down near a temple in search of good shot. Minutes later a religious person wearing a turban and a holy dress passed by, I thought of taking a candid shot for the same, seconds later he turned around and posed for my camera. I was shocked, as people rarely do not allow capturing them, but his reactions gave so much of respect to my camera and me.  

A person wearing Sikh attire

Therefore, stunned by his reaction, I followed him to the temple in search of what exactly makes him go to the temple, as I am not the one who would visit a temple in search for god. So eager to meet him, I sat near the stairs waiting for him, so finally he was there. I asked him if I can have a small conversation with him, he called me without any question on his face and told let us sit and talk about what is there in your mind. I asked him, what makes you go to the temple, with a smile on his face he answered, to find peace. We can find peace anywhere in the world, if our motive is in the right direction, temples are just to help people find their inner peace and to practice their love for god. He continued with a flow, that god is one; it is just that we the people have made different meanings to god, which now has turned out into religions. Religion was a medium to help people pray to the god, but a different meaning has emerged out of the same. Though he wore attire worn by the Sikh’s, but his words were so delightful, it seemed as if no religion exists for him, it was all one for him. 

Antarda – Rajasthans Hidden Destination

Amer Fort, Jaipur

Rajasthan, the State of Royals, a Culture full of Heritage surprises and the Mysterious Palaces and its History has a huge significance among the tourist. Rajasthan has been the home to great Indian Rulers (in Hindi we call them Shurveer or Mahan) like Maharana Pratap, Sawai Mansingh and the list could go on. Therefore, the stories of these great Indian Rulers have been so much of significance to people that Rajasthan has become the most attracted tourist spot in India

City Palace Jaipur

We have all heard about the popular cities of Rajasthan, starting from Jaipur as the capital city highlighting the tourist attractions as Amber Fort, Hawah Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Nahargarh Fort, Pink City itself and of course, the streets are itself an attraction once you are at the right place.  Udaipur, known as the city of Lakes is a beautiful city in itself, followed by Jodhpur once also known as Marwar has its own significance and as well followed by other cities like Ajmer, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, etc.

Amer Fort View from inside the Palace

As mentioned above, Rajasthan, mainly known for its heritage and Royal culture, therefore one symbol of it is the Royal Haveli’s of the Rajput and Marwari merchants that we will mostly come around in the regions of Fatehpur Shekhawati. The region is known for its vast spread of Haveli’s and its significant factor being the architectural work done by the great workers of that time.

Antarda - View from the Fort

Therefore, we have known much of the famous landmarks of Rajasthan, but the true essence of the travelling comes by knowing and understanding the mystery and trying out new places that you have not heard of. Hence, six months back me and my friends visited a place Antarda. Antarda is 40 Kilometers from World Famous Ranthambore Tiger Reserve & Fort. Therefore, while we were in Ranthambore, we came to know about this mesmerizing village of Antarda. It is famous in Hadoti Region for its scenic beauty. As one of my friends, who was with us on the trip belonged to the Royal Family of Antarda, he knew much about the place and we thought that this could be the best of Royal experience we could get in Rajasthan.

Garh - Where the Maharaja Stays

We visited the place, the same day we heard of it. So we were prepared to face the Royal treatment at Antarda at its best. When we reached, we entered into a big gate further leading to a Garh (new palace), where the current ruler of Antarda stays. The Garh is about 400 years old, with 15 rooms and a water storage tank in the middle of the Garh. Therefore, as we entered the Garh, we were hoping Maharaja to dress up as a King used to be, reflecting a sign of Royal culture. However, when we met them, they seemed to be very much simple like as we all are. The Royalty that we were expecting did not turned out from their clothes or their Garh; it came from what we experienced over the talks, a sign of calmness and a welcoming nature was something that I experienced there.

Garh

Even though being with the top most authority of the village, I felt as if I was home, because we experienced the home cooked food at the Garh, something I would always want on the tour as well. However, the ruling period was over a long ago, but still they were the rulers for us, because their talks inspired us so much. We discussed about their history and bravery, and having known much about them, gave our tour so much of respect that we never thought we would get out of Rajasthan.

Antarda Fort

Therefore, the next morning we were to proceed for the fort, so it was not more than a kilometer from the Garh, but we had to trek up the mountain to get there. Hence, it took us nearly 10 minutes to reach the fort. The fort is perched on the Aravali Hills, which is about 200 feet high. The fort is about 800 years old and unfortunately, most of its parts are damaged, but there are still remains that highlight the significance of the fort. The temple in the fort is still in a good condition and could be clearly seen in the night as well. The fort gives an excellent view of the village and the lake.

Water Storage - view from the Fort

View from the Fort

Antarda Fort - with Friends

Antarda is the example to the Royal culture and heritage I have experienced in Rajasthan over the years, because not only we stayed with the Royal family, but also what we experienced with the them was unforgettable. Our discussions were so respectful that it gave so much of importance to the whole trip. The experience was as if, the Royal family was ours and we were home to them. 

With the Royal Family