List of Amazing Desert Experiences in India

Jaisalmer literally means ‘the Hill Fort of Jaisal’. It is also called the ‘Golden City’ because of the yellow it receives from the yellow sandstone that was used for construction as well as the yellow sand of the Thar desert. Fascinating sand dunes of the Thar desert, magnificent havelis, bewitching palaces and stunning Jain temples make Jaisalmer one of the bustling cities of Rajasthan.

Khimsar is located between Bikaner and Jodhpur in the Nagaur district of Rajasthan. Once an independent kingdom, Khimsar is most famous for its Nagaur fort. It was constructed by Prince Rao Karamasji, the eighth son of Rao Jodha, the founder of Royal Dynasty of Khimsar, in 1523 with the intention of providing strong defense to the village from invaders.

The walls and the parapets of the 450-year-old structure still stand proudly today as do the finely carved balconies of the Zenana Mahal. Still home to the erstwhile royal family, the Khimsar fort has been converted into a heritage hotel. The royal garage at the Khimsar Fort houses a row of vintage cars and is a must visit.

Khimsar is a convenient stopover between Pushkar and Jaisalmer and the Nagaur Festival (January-February) is a major attraction for travelers. The Panchala Black Buck Reserve is the other tourist attraction here.

Famous for its sand dunes, Khuri is a small village about 50 km south-west of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. Khuri is less crowded and provides a more enjoyable experience. Yet to make a prominent mark on the tourist map, Khuri has escaped commercialization and the hordes that descend to visit the sand dunes. Khuri Sand Dunes of Thar Desert can be reached from the village within 30 minutes or so. Sam Sand Dunes are about 38 km from Khuri and are famous for camel safaris.

Signs of development are visible in Khuri as more people discover it. Locals have also been quick to exploit the increasing popularity of the village. Staying in houses made of mud and straws is the USP of several homestays in Khuri. Visitors to Khuri split their sojourn into a night in the village and one in the desert. A night in the desert offers an ideal setting to star gaze. To entice the visitors, bonfires accompanied with folk songs and Kalbeliya dance routines are common.

Camel and horse safaris on the Khuri sand dunes is a memorable experience. The spartan splendour of the desert is to be experienced. One can have a look at the houses of mud and straw decorated like the patterns of Persian carpets.

Kutch, India’s Wild West, is a geographic phenomenon, full of rustic beauty. What appears an endless desert plain running dead straight into the horizon, is in fact a seasonal island. It resembles a Katchua or Kachbo, meaning tortoise and is surrounded by sea water. Ancient temples, attractive palaces, rugged forts, flamingos, wild asses, harsh sunlight, moderate rainfall and the cool evening breeze — you have it all in Kutch.

The arid lifeless landscape is dotted by villages that produce some of India’s finest textiles glittering with exquisite embroidery and mirror work. The district is also famous for the ecologically important Banni grasslands, which with its seasonal marshy wetlands form the outer belt of the Rann of Kutch. The Rann of Kutch is divided into the Great Rann Of Kutch and the Little Rann Of Kutch. The Great Rann of Kutch spans an area of 7505.22 sq km. It is home to a wide array of flora and fauna. During diverse weather conditions migratory birds find a home here.

Situated about 38 km northwest of Khuri, Sam sand dunes are very popular for camel safaris on the Thar Desert. The sand dunes at Saam are a magnificent stretch of sweeping dunes with barely any vegetation

Kutch Desert wildlife Sanctuary is divided into the Little Rann which has a 4,950 sq. km Wild Ass Sanctuary, created in 1973 and the Greater Rann which is a 7,850 sq. km desert wildlife sanctuary. Together they form the largest adjoining tracts of wild life territory in India.The wildlife Sanctuary includes forest area, wasteland and territorial area of the Arabian Sea. The bird population includes spoonbill, stork, crow, sparrow, osprey, and vultures to name a few. The most prominently seen animals include nilgai, chinkara, wild boar, porcupines, fox, wolf, jackal and wild ass. Reptiles like snakes and wild lizards are also seen here.Tourists from all over India visit the Rann Of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary. Foreign tourists have also taken keen interest in the desert sanctuary. It is advisable to visit the sanctuary during the months of October and March and avoid visits during the monsoon season.Summers are more preferable as the floods from the sea which dampens the soil, gets dried up giving rise to salty crusts which harden enough for a jeep to be driven on it. The climate is extreme with an average temperatures ranging from a maximum of 42-degree C and a minimum of 7-degree C. A visit to India is incomplete if you have not been to the Rann of Kutch as it epitomizes India’s incredibility and vibrancy.