Ride In The Sand Dunes Of Jaisalmer

Rajasthan

In the far western reaches of Rajasthan, deep in the heart of the great Thar Desert, lies the ‘golden city’ of Jaisalmer, famous for its majestic fort. With palaces, temples, residence quarters and markets, the Jaisalmer Fort is the only ‘living fort’ in India, whose beauty had inspired Satyajit Ray’s Sonar Kella (or the Golden Fortress). Jaisalmer also draws in wanderlust-filled feet as the gateway to the Thar Desert. And the best way to experience its haunting beauty is to drive half an hour west of Jaisalmer, through smooth straight roads into the Sam sand dunes. Here, the desert lies sprawled as far as the eye can see—its golden sand sifting in the wind, and occasionally casting mystical mirages in the light of the sun. The sand dunes of Sam are known for playing tricks to your mind, and the chances of losing direction here is high. So, perch atop a camel’s humped back instead, and set forth on a desert safari with a local guide.