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Published: February 25th 2016
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It was Diwali Vacation in November, 2015. We three Assistant Professor’s from three different colleges, of course past and present friends from our college time decided to visit somewhere in Rajasthan. And here again planning job was given to me. Googling a long I ended up to Jaisalmer and Jodhpur for three day trip. Searching on make my trip, I got one contact of an owner of a small hotel named Karan Palace. Because of heavy rush in Diwali vacation, most of the hotels were full. So I booked with this hotelier for Jaisalmer. He provided us a day package in non AC Bolero; local sightseeing for 300 per person and a package for desert safari for 1500 per person in Sam dunes, which is considered a real desert in Jaisalmer. Room stay cost was 500 rupees per night. We booked our bus tickets for Jaisalmer from Ahmedabad on 13
thNov (Bhai Bij).
Day 1: We reached Jaisalmer by 9:00 hours in the morning. While journeying to Jaisalmer in morning, I noticed so many wind mills in about hundreds of number spread around a wide area of desert region. With very little vegetation one can see upto the horizon, I guess
J. So by reaching Jaisalmer, we were welcomed by Mr. Amin. He picked up in his Bolero from Bus stand and made us reach to the hotel. Room was a bit small for three of us to accommodate but we managed for the same. After freshen up and breakfast we headed for local sightseeing in Jaisalmer. As of now there are six points to visit in Jaisalmer, but the place is not too wide that you actually need a guide to visit. One can manage by his own in auto also. It would be cheaper than what we paid for three (900/-). So first place in our visit list was gadisar lake. It is a beautiful lake excavated by Rawal Gadsi Singh in 1367. It is surrounded by small temples and shrines of Amar Sagar. After getting clicked in various poses we moved ahead for another place that was Patwaon Ki Haveli. These beautiful havelis were built by Patwa Gumanlal Bafna in the beginning of 19
th century. All paintings, carvings, decor etc are rich and beautiful. With narrow passages at some places, overall building was just awesome making me imagine living of those people in there. Finishing the haveli we
just sojourned the market sideby. The colourful ‘katputlis’ , jewelleries and other items made the street full of color. Then we moved ahead towards Nathmal Ki Haveli, both were at near by distance to each other. Nathmal Ki Haveli is not open for tourists. One can only go in the mid open space and take photos, we did the same. Then the destination was another haveli, Salimji Ki Haveli, another master piece with beautiful carvings, paintings, decor and all. Part of the haveli was used as hotel and rest was open for tourists.
After finishing all these things we were told to move for desert safari at around 16:00 hrs. Sam dunes are located at a distance of 40 km from Jaisalmer. There is a village named, Sam around which fall this desert area. We travelled through a broad highway in mid of barren land with almost no vegetation. I was able to see more number of windmills in comparison to bushes grown :D. When I asked Mr. Amin about what Jaisalmer people do after tourist season. He told us that they then work with government on contract basis for the work related with wind mills like transportation and some other labour work. With all those chit chat we reached our destination. But what I saw was not exactly a desert again. It was a barren land with comparatively more amount of dry sand. First activity of ours was a jeep safari in the desert. And truly speaking this was the most thrilling experience in that barren land viz. Real desert now with all ups and downs of dry sand. We were just moving ahead with no less speed than a roller coaster 😉. It ran butterflies in our stomach. Speed, fun and fear all ran simultaneously. Finishing the thrill there was now arrangement of calm ride of king of desert, a royal camel safari. Camels were beautifully decorated and we had a ride of about 2 km on the sand. They dropped us at the sunset point in desert. I have noticed, there is atleast a sunset point at every tourist place 😉. However we reached early, so we spent a quality time in sand, clicked ourselves. It was desert, a real one which I used to see in movies J. Sunset was beautiful and then we headed towards one of the resort in which our desert safari booking was done where there is arrangement of tents and in between folk dances and some acts with fire, blade and glass our shown to spectators. It was entertaining and really an appreciable act by all of them. Finishing our rajasthani dinner we moved back to Jaisalmer at around 22:30 hrs. In between we again had a chit chat and what I found that most of the Jaisalmer people don’t send their children to school and they have to depend on all such labour work. I gave him a full 20 min lecture on that and we departed at our junction.
Day 2: Jaisalmer fort and Jain temples, another sightseeing point are located in one campus and were at walking distance from our hotel. So after check out we went to Jaisalmer fort. The fort is large but to my wonder many people is living in the fort. There are shops and houses built in. Only a part is kept for tourists. Finishing another beautiful monument we moved outside, had lunch. However a lone drive in desert till border was left this time but no worries, it is kept for someday next time. With this we moved ahead towards our next destination to blue city, Jodhpur. Boarded with Hanuman travels at 15:00 hrs we reached Jodhpur by 21:00 hrs. Hotel booking was done previously so it was a relief to move inside and rest.
Day 3: In one day we had to finish Jodhpur main attractions, hence I made a quick short itinerary for the day and we followed the same. After filling our tummies we moved first to the Mehrangarh fort. It was a huge fort built in by Rao Jodha around 1460 A.D. The fort is situated at height of 410 ft from the city. The museum in the Mehrangarh fort is one of the well-stocked museums in Rajasthan. The fort stands firm as if it is ever ready to bear the wounds of any future battles to come. At the right side of fort there is a temple of Chamunda Mata. It took us 4 hours to finish the fort. Moving down the fort another point of visit is Jaswant Thada which is at near distance, but auto are not easily available for the same. However, we managed to have one. Jaswant Thada is a cenotaph built by Maharaja Sardar Singh of Jodhpur state in 1899 in memory of his father, Jaswant Singh and serves as a burial ground for the rulers of Marwar. The mausoleum is built out of intricately carved sheets of marble. Finishing the another master piece we headed back to the city area in the market of Jodhpur, had lunch and went to Umaid Bhavan Palace. It is one of the worlds largest private residences. A part of palace is managed by Hotel Taj, a part houses a museum for tourists visit and rest with 347 rooms serves as the principal residence of the erstwhile Royal Jodhpur family. There are several vintage cars in the museum used by the royal blood in prior time. Part of the land around the palace is kept for sale in order to build bungalows, but the condition is that one has to use only Jodhpur stone to build it. Finishing the sightseeing of Royal building we managed to have an auto back to Jodhpur city area, as it is located at far distance auto availability is rarest. So our last point was the market itself. We walked till the end of market where there was a large clock, ghanta ghar. It was built by Maharaja Sardar Singh (1880-1911) from whom the market takes it name. In fact, the tower dominates the entire scenario. It's a 70 mm cinemascope with unknown and faceless humans in the lead roles for many tourists, most of whom are filming it live. Finishing it we moved back to hotel, collected our bags and catch the bus for Ahmedabad, again previously booked.
With an A-awesome trip, all cheers from three musketeers... Keep smiling and keep wandering.. J
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