The year gone by has been a year of Rajasthani holidays for me. From Fatehbagh, Ranakpur in October 2012, to Ranthambore that same December, to Jaisamand Island Resort in August 2013 and Christmas Eve 2013, yet another holiday in Rajasthan. This time, we went to Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Jaipur.
Our holiday started in Jaisalmer with the first night being the “desert safari” which included camel rides in the sand dunes and a stay in a tent. The tents were pitched right opposite the sand dunes and it was absolutely freezing out there. You must have seen me all bundled up in my OOTD post
here. That was when we were about to leave for the camel ride. The next morning was even colder and I ended up wearing all the jackets I had got along with me! I had posted a pic of that on instagram. Click
here to see it.
Anyway, as they say, a picture says a thousand words, I’m going to let the pics do the talking. Take a look…..
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| Sunset over the sand dunes at Jaisalmer |
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| Our “deluxe tent” which has 6ft height brick walls and a canvas tent-like ceiling. |
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| White tents in a row….to the left is a bit of the central campfire area where the folk dances etc were performed. |
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| Jaisalmer Fort made of golden sandstone. |
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| Jain Temple inside Jaisalmer Fort: These monuments actually belong to those who understand no past or future but who make their home here, like that pigeon who is gazing out on the world from it’s perch. |
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| The golden city f Jaisalmer spread out below us. |
The next few pictures are of the Patwa Haveli at Jaisalmer. These are five identical havelis built by a merchant for his five sons. The first one has been converted into a museum and is open to public. In the forth one is even today, inhabited by the seventh generation descendants of that merchant! The staircases in these havelis are also made of stone and are really steep. Hmm, I wouldn’t need a gym membership if I lived in a house with such steep stairs. Just going from the bedroom to the living room and dining room four times a day would give me enough cardio 😉
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| Wouldn’t it be amazing to live in a beautiful, intricately carved haveli like this? |
This picture below is the dressing room of the lady of the Haveli. And all the gold “paint” on the walls is real gold. The dressing room was really big and I could just imagine how beautiful it must have been in its hay day with gorgeous clothes hanging there…..
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| Dressing room at Patwa Haveli, Jaisalmer |
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| Silver and Belgian glass furniture at Patwa Haveli, Jaisalmer |
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| Dining room at Patwa Haveli, Jaisalmer |
We also saw the armory at the Jaisalmer fort but weren’t allowed to take pictures there. Also, it isn’t possible to see all these places as leisurely as the historian in me would like to because the kids get absolutely bored within 15 minutes! The guide will be talking about how they kept milk etc cool in the haveli before the invention of the refrigerator while the kids will be pulling your hand saying “C’mon momma, let’s go now. I’m hungry / thirsty / bored / tired.” Sigh….
Jaisalmer is one among several beautiful towns of India, filled with so much history and culture in every nook and corner. We can just attempt to see as much as possible in our short stay.
After that one night in the tent, we had stayed at Gorbandh Palace where we had a great Christmas Eve party. Will review that lovely hotel in another post….
You’re so right 🙂
Hope you get to visit soon and have a great experience 🙂
Thanks Rachna. Jaisalmer is very beautiful.
It was a wonderful experience 🙂
Thanks for the pictures. I hope you had a very nice holiday.
beautiful pics…never been to jaisalmer but so want to now!
I have been longing to visit rajasthan for years now …..hope i will make it very soon this year …..Amazing shots and nice write up 🙂
You reminded me of my trip to Jaisalmer! It’s amazing that we all have different perspectives to present a place.
Thanks 🙂
Really envy how the kings used to live in those days!!
Glad you liked it….hubby’s family is from Rajasthan. It’s my sasural 😉
wow!!! The city has been beautifully captured in the pictures! 🙂 I am from Rajasthan and love its rich culture.
The fort looks lovely and extravagant! such rich culture! Loved reading about the place & ur experiences! Thanks for sharing!
Beautiful clicks love this post
xoxo
I have been planning to visit jaisalmar for years now, these pics just have a kick to my plan..
U must visit udaypur too, it’s very beautiful and historic too
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Actually, the kids were a bit too small to enjoy these kind of historic places. The only things they liked were the armories coz they had swords, shields, spears….all sorts of weapons. Boys you see!!! But by the time we reached Jaipur, the kids were saturated with forts. They said “not another fort / palace! You guys go, we’ll sit in the hotel and play on the ipad / watch TV!”
I couldn’t take too many pics in the desert and of the folk dance by the campfire coz my hands were freezing.
Looking forward to seeing your holiday posts 🙂
Beautiful photos. Lol about the kids. I discovered over Christmas that it’s easier to go shopping with the baby niece than the nephew, although both are equally interested in unpacking the goodies after I get home and in watching me try out the lippies! I have some desert photos as well, including sand-boarding and dune-bashing (fell into the inland sea). Will upload soon.