“The desert is so huge, and the horizon so distant, that they make a person feel small, and as if he should remain silent.”
– Paulo Coelho.
Desert- a drying of landscape, a browning of land and a slow disappearing of trees and shrubs and signs of life. When used in reference to India, the image of a sea of golden waves of sand that appears to have no beginning and no end, bumpy walks of camels, people clad in vibrant colours, Forts and Palaces, bonfires, tribal camps everything flashes in front of our eyes. But the word “Desert” in India also means The Cold Mountain Desert of the Trans- Himalayas, The White Salt Desert of Kutch and The Sandy Thar Desert.
Indiaatour takes the backpacker in you to the unparalleled trekking trails on the rugged awe-inspiring snow clad mountains to the desert wilderness, from pristine lakes embedded in the mountains to white lands of the Kutch through different zonal tours.
THE DESERTS OF NORTHERN INDIA
The Cold Desert Cultural Landscape of India is situated in the Trans- Himalayas and stretches from the regions of Leh- Ladakh and Spiti of Himachal Pradesh The region constitutes a Cold Desert biome because of its location on the leeward side of the Himalayas, which makes it a rain-shadow zone and it’s very high elevation.
LADAKH is the capital city of Leh. Leh is an old trading town on the Silk Road that linked India with Tibet. The moon-like landscapes, desert mountains with splashes of green, snow peaks, monasteries and stupas are a few of the many sites that exemplify the beauty of Ladakh. Ladakh is the Buddhist Kingdom, dotted with a number of colourful monasteries, picturesque gompas, meditational mani walls and multi hued flags. Major attractions being Leh Palace, a nine storey structure in dun colour; witness the surreal magic of Pangong Tso lake. Here one can indulge themselves in different adventure sports else can rejuvenate themselves while hanging out with the natives or the monks for a deeper understanding of Buddhism.
SPITI VALLEY– The name ‘Spiti’ means ‘The Middle Land’ – the land between Tibet and India. A Cold Desert mountain valley, perched on the leeward side of the mighty Himalayas, Spiti is home to some of the starkest, most stunning landscapes made by the bare brown mountains changing their hues every second, is definitely a sight to behold. Sitting at an altitude of 3000 m, Spiti serves post-card perfect hamlets, stretched landscapes, trekking trails, monasteries, scenic lakes, prayer flags fluttering in the air and a large number of monks praying with their prayer wheels. The azure waters of Dhadkan and Chandratal lake and awe inspiring passes like Kunzum and Barchala Pass can further transport you to the fascinating beauty and unadulterated environment of the valley.
THE DESERTS OF WESTERN INDIA
THE WHITE DESERT OF THE WEST:
Rann of Kutch is the largest salt desert in the world, spread across 7,500 sq. km. Gujarat is a massive expanse of cracked earth, inland from the sea.
“why people go to the moon when they can see the moon here
on earth in Kutch during the full moon ” – Mr Bachan.
One of the most popular festivals of this white salt desert is Rann Utsav, a three month long Celebration where the entire tent city is set at the edge of white Rann in the kutch region. Where one can witness the indigenous cultural and ethnic flavour of the people.
Spend your evening in the white sandy desert. Watch The sun, a fiery orb, calmly receding into the horizon. The sky filled with an assortment of shades, hues of reds, oranges and yellows. The white sand below your feet mirrors the effect- making the horizon look like the meeting of two worlds. The White Rann looks particularly ethereal during the night of the Full Moon. The Rann festival includes daily cultural and musical performances, kite flying. One can pick adventure activities here, such as Paramotoring, parasailing, Segway rides, ATV rides, camel cart rides, etc.
THE GOLDEN SANDS OF THE THAR DESERT:
The Great Thar Desert is the world’s seventh-largest desert and a part of Saharasia. The Thar Desert also called the Great Indian Desert, is a region of endless sand hills and lies in the state of Rajasthan in the north-western part of the country. It is sprawled over an area of 200,000 sq km. where the vegetation changes from herbaceous or stunted scrub to thorny bushes to no vegetation at all. A home for many migratory birds, flora and fauna and long-legged, decorated camels are the frequent sights in the Thar Desert.
Thar hosts India’s most popular, royal, culturally rich and majestic cities.
Jaisalmer – Amidst the long stretched sand dunes is hemmed a city, tall on a hill called Jaisalmer. The Rajput “Walled Desert City” or the” Gold City” is like a Golden Jewel, shimmering above the hard sand. Most of the structures, from palaces to temples to houses in the city are made of yellow sandstone. Jaisalmer Fort, which rises like a mirage out of the sands of the Thar Desert. The sandstone structures consist of the Jain temple, the Maharaja’s Palace, lovely Havelis, intricate facades and sweeping panoramic views from Cannon Point making it the largest living fort.
Sail on the camel back through golden sand dunes to reach the heart of the Thar Desert. The evening is set in the vast desert against the backdrop of dunes, mesmerising folk singers, Kalbalia Dance performances (tribal dance). The food is prepared on site is glorious; the ambience is majestic as music floats and the stars shine down on you, a night like this is an unmatched experience. One can Indulge in desert camping by staying in the tented camps.
Located in the midst of the desert is another splendid city, that of Bikaner, also called ‘ The Camel Country’. Nestled in the Thar desert, this ancient city is adorned with gigantic and spectacular forts and palaces. The legacy of the city includes – Junagarh Fort, famed for being a reminder of the opulence of medieval times. Bounded by a moat, Junagarh fort has a prodigious structure. Gajner Palace and wild life sanctuary, Karni Mata Mandir-famed as a rat temple witness to the rich glory of the region. A mouth watering snack of Bikaneri bhujia and Bikaneri rasgulla are world fame delicacies that one must not miss upon when in Bikaner.
Another gem hidden in the mysterious Thar Desert is the “Blue City” of Jodhpur. The City is flooded with sapphire-blue painted houses and Mehrangarh Fort, perched high on a perpendicular cliff, piercing the blue of Jodhpur. The intricate carvings on the walls of the Umaid Bhawan; the sprawling courtyards, cenotaphs and manicured lawns of Mandore Gardens; its impressive history, striking palaces, museums and galleries enjoy a languid pace of life.
Jodhpur is world famous for its zest in celebrating different festivals of Gangaur, Nagaur, World Sacred Spirit Festival, Holi etc. Jodhpur is a heaven for the gastronome in you who loves to taste different cuisines, the city is exclusively famous for its exotic mango – “Jodhpuri Aam” and traditional Indian sweets “Jodhpur Sweets”.
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Which is on your travel radar from the listed deserts of India?
Planning a family vacation in the deserts ? or a Honeymoon Package in some village lost in the desert wilderness?
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