" The triple J trip "

The Exquisite Hawa Mahal

Nature manifests its beauty in countless forms, shapes and colours and some lucky enthusiasts get the opportunity to explore more and more from this vast menu.

I consider myself lucky in the sense that I’ve explored various aspects of nature’s beauty such as the myriad mountains, scenic oceans, dense rainforests, vast grasslands and running rivers which are young and vivacious in mountains and are calm and serene in plains.

Somewhere in between 

My untouched aspect was visiting a desert and feeling that warm sand underneath my feet which mysteriously keeping folded many mysteries in their vast nothingness since thousands of years. India is a beautiful country and one cannot touch every part of it in a lifetime. But yes people like me are lucky. To see the sand dunes was one of my childhood dreams.

Amer Fort and desert moon

Finally in January ’15 we grabbed the opportunity to set off on a spell binding road journey to the “Thar”. The journey started with the new age city of Delhi and kept unfolding the chapters of history as we crossed the ‘Pink city Jaipur’, ‘city of Sun Jodhpur’ and finally our destination ‘the Golden city of Jaisalmer’ spending a night each in these great cities.

Beautiful Jalmahal

Jaipur doesn’t need any introduction. Named after its ruler Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, Jaipur is a blend of modern society and their deep rooted traditional culture. We reached Jaipur in the evening and were awed by the Magnificent Jal Mahal. It is built in mid of Man Sagar Lake and looks stunningly beautiful with its reflection in serene water of the lake. Before that it was Amer fort which grabbed our attention but unfortunately it was closed for the day (Please note that all forts and palaces in Rajasthan are open from 9:00am to 5:00 pm only). In night we went to Chokhi Dhani, a place where you can get a glimpse of Rajasthani culture, taste their food and enjoy their folk dance and music.

Amer fort from another angle

one more angle of the fort

Chokhi Dhaani at night

Rajasthani traditional food 

We started our onwards journey with a fresh enthusiasm on the second day and reached Sun city Jodhpur. Mehraangarh fort of Jodhpur is my personal favourite of this whole journey. The view from fort is breath taking and you can just sit there and watch the city or the skyline for hours and we actually did that.

Mehraangarh Fort

Can you see those blue houses? That's why Jodhpur is also called blue city 

The next day we started for our destination Jaisalmer. Believe me the feeling of entering the ‘Thars’ was more like entering Al-dorado with sprawling view of golden sand expanding upon the horizon. The beautiful dunes with golden ripples and footmarks of camels seem to have imbibed everything in their vastness except the vibrantly coloured dressing of the natives and enthusiasm of tourists which touches the peak even at the first glimpse of desert.

A camel all dressed up for desert festival

No wonder why those mighty kings preferred to settle in these isolated heavens and to create some of the most amazing and beautiful palaces on this planet. We reached Sam sand dunes which is 50 kilometres ahead of Jaisalmer. The beauty of dessert starts from there. 

Marching camel troop of BSF returning from Delhi after performing in Republic day parade

We sat on the warm sand for few hours and it was quite refreshing to feel the warm sand beneath your feet. Kilometres of land was covered with sand and all you can see people riding on back of camel going deep inside the desert. 

Ripple Effect

There were arrangements for the night stay in tents but I’m not that adventure kind so we returned back to the city but I’m sure if you are in a group you can take a chance. 

Everything available there was a bit on costlier side as we can understand there were no vegetation and everything has to be transported and the tourism is seasonal. Life is tough but at the same time it’s vivid. 

Playtime :)

Camel Safari

Jaisalmer Fort

Yes that's me and Jaisalmer fort in background :)

While travelling through Rajasthan one can easily get an impression that after seeing nothingness for hundred kilometres, it seems that we have reached the end of the globe and that nothing lies ahead, but the deeper you explore, the bigger is the reward as the history is lying everywhere in Rajasthan waiting to be explored.