Jaisalmer Tales

Whenever I see a bird flying way up in the sky, I wonder what their world would be like. It will surely be way different from our world. They probably come wandering into our world but return to their own. Maybe! Living in Mumbai, working as an Editor in the film industry, I see the world in 24fps but to feel the real emotions, I always wanted to explore places, lives, and souls. Though I took so many voyages of fantasy every day working on different Visuals and storytelling, I still longed for a real flight.
One fine day, I decided that it was time for that bird’s view. I needed to satisfy the wanderlust within me. So I packed a few things in a rucksack and left without really charting a course. With absolutely no dots on a map, I didn’t even have a map

My Journey Begins

Untold Jaisalmer

My journey began from Mumbai, a 24-hour train trip to Jaisalmer, the desert town with the golden sand, located in the northwestern state of Rajasthan in India. The trip is incomplete if you are not exploring its sand dunes and Havelis. I stayed in the Jaisalmer fort to feel royal from within. The Jaisalmer fort is like a crown covering the city and providing a beautiful contrast with a landscape. I quietly sat at one corner of the fort and looked at the perfectly shaded yellow town and Sand dunes touching the city making it charming and mysterious.

The Jaisalmer Fort

A beautiful view from the Jaisalmer fort

While I was exploring the city, I came across something new at every narrow lane of the old Jaisalmer, from art and sculptures to local handicrafts to leather bags to puppets to local food. For me, a journey is incomplete without the taste of traditional flavours and recipes of the place. And to my luck, I met a local family, they offered me a mouth-watering home-cooked Rajasthani meal, "Dal Bati churma" the wheat bread balls were, dipped in pure ghee served hot was my all-time favourite, in the end, they served me Ghotua laddu a traditional dessert made with gram flour, mawa and ghee. It was yum and luscious. I ate a few of them but could not eat as many as i was willing to because it was sugary too. To tell you, staying with locals is a better way to connect with them and experience their culture and traditional way of living.

The Local, playing Ravan Hatta, a folk instrument of Rajasthan

 

Hand- Puppets

 

Untold Stories

Make your girlfriend more beautiful with the traditional attire :)

 

Overnight camel safari in the Thar desert took me back to my childhood days

The overnight camel safari and camping around Jaisalmer is what I was looking for. The idea about sleeping out open in the desert, under the stars, gave me goosebumps, and by any chance, I wanted to feel and experience it. So, I decided to book for one night and two days of camel safari. I still remember as a child, whenever there was a power cut in my locality, my father always prepared a bed on the terrace and made sure that each and everyone is comfortable in their space. I cuddle my mother while sleep with her under the moonlit sky counting endless stars in the stillness of the night hearing bedtime stories till my eyes close. This became my daily routine as a power cut in the north is so obvious, particularly in the time of summers. Just my background, I was born and bought up in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, City of Nazakat (finesse), Nafasat (sophistication) and Tehzeeb (etiquette).

 

My best pal Mooru

This trip took me to the region's most remote and non-touristic sand dunes. I left the hotel at 5:00 am and reached the Jaisalmer fort. The jeep picks six of us from the spot including fellow travellers from different countries and dropped at the place from where the safari begins. 

 

Camels getting ready for a safari

To my surprise, each individual was allotted one camel with a unique name. My camel was "Mooru", very friendly and understanding creature. Although I'm a hardcore animal lover, I never had the experience of handling a camel before. Initially, I was a little nervous about the behaviour of a camel but later I came to know from the camel's owner that they are a very social creature and known for spitting on people which is a defence tactic when they feel threatened by anyone. Quite interesting! Within half a day, Moru became friendly with me, thankfully, he never spat on me.

 

My pal Mooru

 

A forgotten and forsaken Kuldhara village

 After the morning breakfast, the rides into the desert was breathtaking, It was mid-December, the weather was chilly with a nip of coolness in the air. Although the sun was on top of my head it was soothing. After an hour, I reached Kuldhara village known as a ghost town because of its emptiness. The story behind this abandoned village is unknown. Although some locals claimed that due to the gradual decrease in water supply and an earthquake people deserted this village.

 

A journey into a forgotten and forsaken place " Kuldhara village

 

Empty Kuldhara village

 

Simple village life learned the traditional way of lassi preparation

The villagers lead a simple lifestyle devoid of any kind of modern equipment. The simplicity and quietness of rural life are striking and unpretentious.

The village I love

After spending a few hours in the village and exploring the culture and sustainable ruler lifestyle. The greatest and the best part was learning the traditional way of lassi preparation at one of the local's home. The lady was warm and hospitable. The family gave me so much love that it turned into a special bond. I left the place with abundant memories which will stay in my heart forever.

Learning the traditional way of lassi preparation

 

 

A warm goodbye

 

Sam Sand Dunes, Sunset and Dinner

 

The desert safari took me to the Sam Sand dunes of the Thar desert. After a long camel ride for almost two and a half hours, my base camp was finally set up on the "Sam Sand Dunes". I took a small walk towards the top of the dunes to experience a wider look at the vast expanse of pristine, barren land. I quietly sat there to watch the sundowner. My eyes got fixed on the warm colours of the setting sun which took me to the enchanted world. The sun was going down and the afterglow of sunset lingers on the horizon. It was just breathtaking.  

Setting Sun

After sunset, all of a sudden the weather had dropped. I came back to the base camp and sat near the bonfire, looking at the dinner preparation. The food was fresh and cooked well. Dal, paneer, chapati, and rice. After a good meal, I lay down in an open sky under the thousand stars, which took me back to my childhood days, the moment I waited for. A wave of nostalgia came over me. Nothing had changed, same stars, same sky and yes, exactly the same moment. I began to count the stars from where I have left in my childhood days. But this time, I was alone and I can see my mother shining up in the sky showering her love from there.

Dinner preparation on the sand dunes

Foggy Morning in the Thar desert

It had been an unusual morning. I woke up early wishing to see the sunrise, but it turned out to be a hazy day. The wind was blowing hard and to my surprise the desert was foggy and it was freezing. My bed was in the open space with just the small covering of the shrub. I have never imagined fog in the desert. The temperature dropped down to zero degrees. This weather condition in the Thar desert is a rare occasion, but the landscape looked magical and surreal. I was shivering under the blanket. Veeru, caretaker served me tea and snacks which saved my life.

Sleeping in the open and waking up to the foggy desert

 

Foggy Morning, Mooru with another camel

Collecting wood from the shrubs for morning breakfast

Too cold to handle

The fog stayed for a longer time than expected. So I decided to stay back till it gets warm enough for the fog to settle. Until about noon I could see the sun ascending brightly upon the dunes. This was my last ride with my pal Moore back to Jaisalmer city. I have never imagined that I will love the desert so much.

My last ride with Mooru

Bid Adieu




Travelling becomes more interesting when you know people closely and they accept you as their own. it's unforeseeable and sometimes confusing. But that's the beauty of it. You never really know what adventure is waiting for you when you leave home behind. 

Tales of India

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