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| Making tracks
The best way to do the Rajasthan Circuit is
to fly or take a train or bus to Jodhpur from Delhi (597 km) and then take road transport
to Bikaner (470 km from Delhi) and Jaisalmer (795 km from Delhi). You can also drive up to
Jodhpur on the National Highway. It is a good idea to rent a vehicle for the entire tour.
Jodhpur is 285 km from Jaisalmer. Jodhpur to Bikaner is 243 km. Bikaner to Jaisalmer is
333 km. Within the cities, you can get auto-rickshaws, cycle-rickshaws, tongas
(horse-driven carriages), buses and taxis to move around. Camel treks of 3-4 days are
becoming popular for traversing the deserts around Rajasthan.
Best time to go
Winter - November to end March - is the
best time to do Rajasthan. Winter temperatures range from 23° C to -1° C and there are
chances of frost at night. The days can be sunny and windy and the nights very chilly in
the desert. Carry woollens and sun protection and stick to layers of clothing like the
desert people do.
Room with a view
From luxury hotels, heritage hotels, and
palace hotels, to tourist accommodation and low budget alternatives, there are sufficient
accommodation options depending on your budget. It is important to book in advance,
especially in winter.
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From Delhi
The
dazzling cities of Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur in Rajasthan have charmed visitors for
decades with their romantic legends and royal traditions. Quintessential Rajasthan, land
of the exotic, magical and colourful, land of castles and forts, of vibrant marketplaces,
folk dances and festivals. The three cities make up the golden circuit that bring you the
best of the desert land of Rajasthan.
Begin your desert circuit with Jodhpur, a magnificent city on the fringes of the Thar
Desert. The grand Mehrangarh Fort, a medieval bastion of the Rajputs, towers over the
palaces, forts, temples, havelis and enormous city walls. The grandeur of the fort, in
chiselled sandstone, highlights the beauty of this splendid city. Other places to see are
the white marble cenotaph of the founder of Jodhpur, the Jaswant Thada, the opulent
Umaid Bhawan Palace, the Clock Tower and Sadar Bazaar. The Sadar Bazaar is flooded with
tiny shops and stalls selling tie-and-dye textiles, leather jutties (shoes), lacquer ware,
colourful Rajasthani puppets and intricately woven carpets.
The next stop on the desert circuit is Jaisalmer, a peaceful city in the midst of
undulating sand dunes. The impressive Jaisalmer Fort dominates the landscape - a miniature
township, crowning an 80-metre hill. Everything about Jaisalmer has a golden,
bathed-in-sunlight hue, from the golden sandstone of the fort, the city walls, the
medieval stone and wood 'havelis' (mansions) with their whimsical 'jharokhas' (balconies).
Jaisalmer comes alive in winter, especially during the colourful Desert Festival around
the January-February full moon.
Bikaner, once an important stop on the ancient caravan route from Central Asia, is the
last city on our desert circuit. Traditionally, Bikaner has some of the finest camels in
the world, and the annual Camel Festival on the full moon night in January is testimony.
Bikaner's chiselled red-pink sandstone architecture stands out in stark contrast to the
barren desert land. The ramparts of a 7 km long wall surround the city. Visit the Junagadh
Fort, Lalbagh Palace and some beautiful Jain temples on the outskirts of Bikaner.
Complete your desert circuit by going back to Jodhpur en route to Delhi. |
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