The Desert Dairies: Jaisalmer

The Desert Dairies: Jaisalmer

The real beauty of Rajasthan indeed lies in the deserts, and Jaisalmer would be a treat for you, and it’s aptly named as "The Golden city", for its truly that royal to look at!

9 Things that you must do when in Jaisalmer:

1. Experience Dune Bashing and Offroading

 If you are still thinking, dune bashing is a popular adventure sports of the Gulfs and the Arabs, you should think again! Thar Desert areas near Jaisalmer are also considered as ideal locations for dune bashing and off-roading as well. The Sam Sand Dunes are thronged by thousands of adventure junkies who have a yearning for these two sports and make it part of their Jaisalmer trip.

2. Camel ride and desert safari

You miss a big chunk of the fun that can be experienced in  Jaisalmer  if you do not go for the thrilling desert safari. The biggest attraction and the closest place to the Thar Desert, Sam is widely stretched without any vegetation. You can also enjoy the camel hump rides in the desert, and then experience the awesomeness of the sunset, that paints the sky in amazing hues.

And spending a night in the camp is too good to be put into words. You have to be there to experience it.

The camel ride would cost you around Rs.300 per person for a nearly 2 hours ride, through the desert to the sunset point.

The cost of Camping (including dinner and breakfast) is Rs. 1500 per person.

3. Patwan-o ki haveli

The Patwon ki Haveli is considered to be one of the most important Havelis of Jaisalmer because of two important things: it was the first Haveli to be ever built in Jaisalmer and it is a cluster of 5 different havelis making it one of the biggest Havelis. The other name given to this Haveli is the “mansion of brocade merchants” because the Patwa family used to deal in gold and silver.

Currently, the Haveli is taken care of by the Rajasthan government. The gateways and arches of this Haveli are also masterpieces. The entire Haveli is made of yellow sandstone and the main gateway of this Haveli is brown.

 And if you are looking for shopping, then this is the place to be!

4. Salim Singh ki Haveli

This Haveli is slightly different from the other Havelis in terms of art and sculpture. The roof of this Haveli has been built in the form of a peacock. At the entrance of the Haveli, there are tuckers made of sand stones guarding the haveli.

This haveli has 38 balconies and each balcony has its own artistry. The name given to this Haveli is Jahaz mahal because of the front of the haveli resembling ship stern. It’s a perfect example of the taste of the Rajputs.

5.  Gadsisar Lake

Gadsisar Lake is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Jaisalmer. Leaving the crowd away, there is Gadsisar lake, which is the symbol of peace and prosperity. It was once a water reservoir to the whole of Rajasthan.

The major tourist attraction of the Gadsisar Lake is the lake surrounding temples and migratory birds. If you are lucky enough you might just be able to spot a migratory bird. There are a number of temples around it making it a famous pilgrimage spot.

6. Bhaang-and a Little more!!!

well, I don't know about any other place, but Jaisalmer has a legalized Bhaag store, where you get Bhaang laddoos and lassi. So, next time when you are in Jaisalmer, you don't need a holi-diwali excuse, but get a bit trippy, no one is going to stop you!!!

7. Kat-Katha, The puppet's tales

Jaisalmer has a lane full of the colourful Rajasthani puppets, and the stories of the puppet shows ranges from tales of history, to Bollywood stories. And of course, you can carry one couple back as souvenir.

8. The Jaisalmer Fort

Last but not the least, the main attraction of Jaisalmer is the fort, famously known as "Sonar kella" (The Golden Fort).

A five-storied structure constructed in a traditional Rajasthani method. The rich heritage of the Jaisalmer fort can be seen portrayed in the novel written by Satyajit Ray which was later turned into a movie. The architectural pattern this fort is divided into three layers of walls. The outside layer is made up of solid stone blocks. The forts of Rajasthan are very intricate in nature.

The second layer goes around the fort. The inward partition is the third layer which was used by Rajput warriors to hurl boiling water, oil, blocks of rocks on the enemies. This enigmatic structure is sure to keep your eyes wide open.

9. If you are a BONG, then here you go!!!! 

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"MCLEODGANJ: the land of Lamas"

"MCLEODGANJ: the land of Lamas"

"Once you've been to the mountains, there's no coming back. You belong to them."- Ruskin Bond.

It was quite late when we reached Pathankot from Delhi, and we booked a traveller to Dharamshala. It took us around 3hours, and it was pitch dark, and the chilly winds made the senses go numb! For the night, we took shelter in some guest house at Dharamshala.

The next morning, we boarded the Himachal Tourism bus for Mcleodganj. The curvy roads along the Himalayas, the little colorful cottages, the clouds that kissed the snow-peaks made me smile unknowingly... I was lost in thoughts...

The bus dropped us at the main market, and all of us were extremely hungry. Hot chocolate, chicken maggi, and steamy momos- what could have been a more perfect breakfast menu! A filled stomach instigates crazy ideas- we thought of taking bikes, and opted to go for homestay at Bhagsu, 3kms from Mcleod.

While taking a walk around, I met the locals, talked to them, and came to know a lot about the local culture. Majority of the people staying there are Buddhists, who migrated from Tibet and settled down there. This lady, called herself a "dream-catcher", was the most interesting person I met during the trip. She explained me how she and her husband makes these dream-catching devices, and they also give classes to the ones interested, and surprisingly, they have a batch full of foreigners who are learning this art.

The sunset at Naddi is something I can never forget. I saw the sky changing colors in every minute, the Snow-peaks turned silvery, and slowly everything got covered with the mist, the orange sky paved its way to darkness.

The next day, we went to Norbulingka Monastery, (some 70kms from Mcleod), and it was the best bike ride ever! We had the snow-covered Himalayas on one side, the cliffs and the little villages, and narrow streams flowing... for a while, I felt as if I was somewhere in Bhutan. the colourful prayer flags, the soothing chant, the vibrancy of the place transferred some positive vibes to each one of us. as i sat inside the monastery, staring at the huge Golden statue of Lord Buddha, I felt peace within myself.

Chinmaya Mission Tapovan is another place worth visiting. The Annapurna Ranges is clearly visible from Tapovan.

The next in the itinerary was trekking to Bhagsu waterfalls. Amazing experience it was, climbing up the cliff. My friends took bath also, in the freezing cold water! Coffee and cheese omelette at Shiva Cafe on the hilltop is a must.

The market at Mcleod is nice if you are looking to take back souvenirs. And there are lot of good places to eat, so binge! The momos, the bhagsu cake, the yak cheese cake, and the various types of maggi will make your taste buds go crazy!

Put it in your checklist, if you are in love with the mountains. Happy Traveling! :)

A SHORT TOUR THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHS....

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A food walk down the lanes of " Purani Dilli " ...

You saw it in Rakesh Omprakash Mehra's "Dilli 6", but there's a lot more in this area which you have to explore on your own... here's my little experience about exploring "the walled city" known as Shahjahanabad once, now popularly known as Purani Dilli...

The Red Fort and Jama Masjid are supposedly two of the mostly visited places in Delhi, be it the tourists, or by the folks dwelling in the city. But the whole stretch connecting the two is rarely explored, although its a treasure-land for people who are interested in history and FOOD.

History about Chandni chowk:

"Chandni chowk", one of the most busiest markets of Delhi, built in the 17th century by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, the market was once divided by canals (which are no longer there) to reflect moonlight, and it remains one of India's largest wholesale markets.

Chandni Chowk, or The Moonlight Square, was designed by Shah Jahan's favorite daughter Jahanara in 1650. The bazaar, which was shaped as a square, was given further elegance by the presence of a pool at the centre of the complex. In particular, the pool shimmered in the moonlight, a feature which was perhaps responsible for the nomenclature of the marketplace. 

One of the most interesting facts about this stretch is that it holds a link of all religions. With the most famous mosque of Delhi, Jama Masjid, built in 1650 in the vicinity, it is an unusual street that has several famous religious shrines, belonging to coexisting religions, lending the street a genuine cultural harmony. Starting from the Red Fort, the street has Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir, established in 1656; Hindu Gauri Shankar Temple, built in 1761; Central Baptist Church built in 1814; Gurdwara SeeshGanj Sahib, built in 1783; Fatehpuri Masjid built by Fatehpuri Begum in 1650, one of the queens of Shah Jahan. Apart from these, there are some beautiful havelis, including Mirza Ghalib's haveli.  The Delhi Town Hall was build by the British in 1863, portraying the British architecture.

Food FIESTA :

I was lucky to explore this area during the Ramzan days, when the lane gets more sparkling. The Paranthe-wali Gali and Karim's are quite famous and remains crowded almost throughout the year, but there are numerous other small shops which will make you lick your fingers!

• The "food walk" began with the famous chaat from Natraj's, which was established in 1940. You can try chaat from several shops that has popped up in the city, but Nataraj's has a taste of its own. I was surprised to see a flock of foreigners digging into a plate full of Dahi Bhalla, on a Sunday evening.
• The next stop was Ghantewallah's, which was established in 1790, and its the oldest shop here, serving the best Karachi halwa I've ever tasted. 
• Fruit chaat at Chaatwallah's (1923) was another delicacy to be tasted.
• Take a turn, and walk inside the Paranthe-wali-gali, offering you Paranthas with different types of fillings, starting from Bhindi to Tomato, to Aalo, and Papad, and  dry fruits and what not!! But I would suggest you to try two of them, the Dhuandhaar parantha (which is stuffed with chilly seeds) if you want something really hot and spicy, and the Rabri parantha (which has yummy rabri inside a crispy parantha) !
• Walking down the lane, taking a turn towards Khari Baoli, there's Kakke-di-hatti, serving varieties of naans, and dal makhni.
• Giani's icecreams and kulfis are famous, and has numerous branches all over Delhi, but the oldest one is just next to Kakke-di-hatti, and their speciality is Rabri Kulfi served with honey and dry fruits. And if you are there during the mango season, don't miss out the Aamras.
• The famous Jalebiwallah was our next stop, biting the crispy sweet jalebis.

That's a lot of food, and then you'll really feel like making a little space in your stomach to further go for another ride, a Non-veg one this time.

Walking down the narrow lane, which is usually the place for jewelry shopping, we sipped into fresh lime soda with jaljeera.

The street next to Jama Masjid's main entrance was the place be... thousands of people, the cacophony, the lights and the shamiyaana, and ofcourse, the aroma of kababs all around...

We started off with beef-kababs which were 20 bucks a plate, served with an exclusive chutney.

Next was Chicken reshmi kabab, which were dipped in a gravy of butter (yes, forget about calories and all)... the kababs were perfect, succulent with a tinge of smokiness.

Al-Jawahar was our next target, where we had to wait for some good 15-20 minutes to get a place to sit. Badam pasanda, chicken changezi, mutton korma, biriyani, mutton boti kabab are the must to be tried here, and no matter how full you are, you'll have to have a bite from all to satisfy your tastebuds.

Desserts are a must, and what can be better than firni and shahi tukra!

And finally, ended with a Paan from Chacha's shop next to the masjid.

The sunday evening was indeed an evening to Binge!!

P.S- This was organized by bookmyshow and SeekSherpa, and our friend Mohit Arora took us too all the food joints and showed us around.

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Exploring the beautiful and lonely Neil Island

Neil Island is located at a distance of just 40 Kms to the north-east part of Port Blair. Neil is relatively small as compared to Havelock Island. One can walk the whole island in about an hour or two and are a perfect distance apart to explore by bicycle.

The beautiful blue and green water and deserted beaches makes it an ideal place to chill and relax.  Neil Island is very peaceful.


Bicycles and two wheelers can be rented from the guest house or resort; this is the best way to explore the Island as you have the freedom to go to any place at any time.

Bharatpur is one of the most popular beaches in the Andaman and Nicober region.  This destination is very famous place for activities like coral watching, snorkeling and swimming.

.Laxmanpur beach with its white sand beach is perfect for evening walks.

Where to Stay:
Sea Shell Neil located 1km from Bharatpur beach and 2Km fro the ferry terminal, Kalpak Beach Resort at Laxmanpur are the deluxe hotels while Tango Beach Resort (Neil Island), Kaala Paani Beach resort, Pearl Park Beach Resort (Laxmanpur Beach) etc are some of the medium budget accommodation.

How to reach:
From Port Blair to Neil by ferry it takes 2 hours. Also you can get there from Havelock Island.

Tagged: #NeilIsland #Andaman #AndamanandNicoberIslands #Corals 

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