The 'Golden City' of Rajasthan Jaisalmer (Part 4)

...continued from Part 3

Authors Advice: All along the road to Sam, you will a number of young men chasing you to stay at their resort and how and why their resort is better than others. I would suggest you to stay put and keep moving. There are a number of resorts by the end of the road. Bargain for the best deal i.e. maximum facilities in minimum prices. The package generally includes a Swiss tent/cottage (AC or Non- AC, your choice!), a camel ride, evening tea share, dinner, morning breakfast and a cultural program in the evening.

We checked in one, ‘K. K. Resorts’, which is a government recognized resort and booked a Swiss Tent. We freshened up and met the Manager in regard to the Desert Safari. Apparently, only Camel Safari is what one gets in the package. One needs to pay extra for the Jeep Safari. One of my friend who had been to the place had strictly asked me not to miss out on the Jeep Safari and hence, we got a Jeep booked and zoom! We went inside the desert. Exactly! Like the one you get to see on Discovery Channel or in some romantic number from a YRF movie, we were in a Golden Heaven. ‘Mahindra Thar’, the perfect jeep for a Desert Safari and a perfectly trained driver, ensured we had a paisa-vasool safari. Sam’s Sand Dunes are the biggest and tallest dunes in the Thar Desert. And post our Safari, we definitely couldn’t deny this. The driver took us to the top of a dune and then bamm! Straight down you go. You haven’t even completed your breath and before that there’s another stunt performed by him. He goes all round and round in the desert, blowing as much sand as he can with you standing behind inside the Jeep, praying that you return back to the resort in a single piece! It’s like you go for the Safari as a human being, and return back looking somewhat ‘like a human being!’ But, all said and done! If you miss out on this, you basically came to Jaisalmer to learn History! This is an adventure of a lifetime. Period.

Mahindra Thar : Your Friend for the Desert Safari

Jeep Safari at Sam Sand Dunes

Back to the resort, we were welcomed by little girls dressed in typical Rajasthani costumes. Next on the itinerary is the Camel Safari. The camel safari takes you to an altogether different location called the ‘Sunset Point’. You reach the Sunset Point – sit on the sand bed – take a halt – look at the setting sun - and Peace!

Sunset Point

Camel Safari at Sam Sand Dunes

Back to the Camp, we had our evening tea share and sat for the cultural program. The program included folk music and dance followed by a DJ after which the dinner was served. Post the dinner, people went back to their tents, we sat outside ours and Cheers! <clinging of glasses>

Next morning, we left back early for Jaisalmer. Back in Jaisalmer, we returned the bike, went around the local market to pick up some stuff for friends and family and gorge on some more Rajasthani food before 5:00 PM when finally we bid adieu to the Golden City and took a train back into our regular lives!

FEW OTHER TIT BITS:

1)      FOOD: For non-vegetarians, Lal Maas is the specialty of Jaisalmer. Do try it! For vegetarians, the typical Rajasthani Thali including Bajre Ki Roti (Millet Flour Flatbread), Kadi (Indian yogurt gramflour curry), Ker Sangri (seasonal vegetable), Gatte ki Subzi (curry prepared with gram flour as base ingredient), Dal (lentils), Baati (hard bread made up of wheat powder) and Choorma (the sweet dish- coarsely ground wheat crushed and cooked with ghee and sugar) is a must have.  And yes, before I forget….The Mirchi! Food in Jaisalmer is extremely spicy. For the locals, having food minus red chilies is equal to having no food! So, in case your eyes start burning and your nose start watering, it’s advisable to tell the waiter beforehand to use as less chili as possible. You will still get it in your food, but this time it will be bearable. And if it still doesn’t work, do what we did. Couple it with some chilled beer and for non-drinkers, try lemonade or Masala Chaajh (spiced buttermilk)!

Typical Rajasthani Thali

2)      BOOZE: Too cheap! If compared to someone hailing from Uttar Pradesh. So drink as much as you want and as much as you can! The beer and wine shops closes at 8:00 PM, sharp but then again there is always the option of ‘under the shutter’ purchase. 

3)     COMMERCIALISATION: Due to heavy tourist traffic, Jaisalmer is becoming more and more commercialized by the day. So, buyers beware! Bargaining and striking the right deal is one thing you should learn before heading to Jaisalmer.

4)      ENTRY FEES: There is entry fees at almost every monument you visit in Jaisalmer, including Kuldhara! And there are separate charges for camera. So do keep change in hand.

About Parth:

A graduate from the National Law University, Lucknow. Parth writes about the history, culture and 

food choices of the places, he travels.  Travelling is not just his hobby but his passion. He likes to 

explore the unexplored. Mountains, "supposedly" haunted destinations and bike trips are things that 

give him the adrenaline rush. A certified trekker by the Youth Hostel Association of India, he dreams 

to cover the Himalayas on his bike someday!

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