Friend of IT Tala Katner is traveling around Asia. After stops in the Himalayas and Kathmandu, she visited India's state of Rajasthan, and took a camel ride in the Thar Desert.
My number one recommendation after a tour of Rajasthan: spend one night under the stars in the desert dunes of western India. Less than an hour from the golden city of Jaisalmer, near the Pakistan border lays a little desert village called Khuri. Here, my Arabian Night fantasies came alive as a red-turbanned and blanket-clad camel driver took me to watch the sun set over the wind-rippled dunes from the back of the huge animal.
After watching the sunset, I took a two-hour camel ride back to the campfire and bungalow area. Rajasthani dances and live music with a traditional dinner provided entertainment for the night. Forced to join in with the women and dance, I was somewhat relieved when the performance was finished. Then as the sultry day turned into a bitter night we made our way to a secluded stretch of desert on camel-pulled carts to set up camp. The complete silence of the desert was interrupted only by the huffing of the camels.
My number one recommendation after a tour of Rajasthan: spend one night under the stars in the desert dunes of western India. Less than an hour from the golden city of Jaisalmer, near the Pakistan border lays a little desert village called Khuri. Here, my Arabian Night fantasies came alive as a red-turbanned and blanket-clad camel driver took me to watch the sun set over the wind-rippled dunes from the back of the huge animal.After watching the sunset, I took a two-hour camel ride back to the campfire and bungalow area. Rajasthani dances and live music with a traditional dinner provided entertainment for the night. Forced to join in with the women and dance, I was somewhat relieved when the performance was finished. Then as the sultry day turned into a bitter night we made our way to a secluded stretch of desert on camel-pulled carts to set up camp. The complete silence of the desert was interrupted only by the huffing of the camels.
The camel drivers set up a small cot for me and my partner away from
their own for a feeling of absolute isolation. It was as if we were
completely alone in the vast desert surrounded by nothing but beautiful
moonlit sand dunes. Then as I curled up under a pile of warm blankets,
I realized I would be kept awake by the brilliance of the thousands of
stars over head. It got below freezing that night and I wished I had
dressed more warmly but nothing could disturb the night's romantic
charm. We slept facing the east to be awakened by an equally serene
sunrise.Tala traveled with Invicta Tour and Travels, contact them at invictatravels@yahoo.com.
Photo: Tala Katner
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Tala, you make me feel like I was riding a camel and sleeping under the stars, too. What a beautiful way to spend a day and evening, and to awake to dawn on the desert...what could be better!
Thanks for your stories.
Cathy
Tala - I feel like I was right there with you. Please keep traveling and writing, your stories bring me to places I have never been. I look forward to reading about your next adventure.
Jonathan