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Camel trekking into the Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India proved to be an ethereal and unforgettable experience throughout our March 2023 India journey.
Dubbed the Great Indian Desert, the Thar Desert sprawls across northwest India and parts of Pakistan, as if stepping into the journey of the “Alchemist' while swaying on the back of a camel, balancing at a 2-meter height amidst the relentless sand dunes. At dusk, there we were, leaning against each other on a smooth sand dune, watching the sun set, tinting the desert sky, then blissfully drifting into a peaceful sleep amidst a sky filled with twinkling stars…
Every description fades into the majestic void of the stars, leaving behind unique experiences:
A few intriguing things before stepping into the Thar Desert
The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, is a dry region in the northwest part of the Indian subcontinent, covering an area of 200,000 km2 in India and Pakistan. It ranks as the 20th largest desert in the world and the 9th largest subtropical desert.
The Thar Desert is located:
The climate is arid and subtropical. The average temperature varies according to the season, ranging from near freezing in winter to over 50°C in the summer months. Scant rainfall from 100 - 500mm per year between July and September further reinforces the aridity of this vast land.
'The Thar people' – inhabitants of the Thar Desert reside in this area, with a population density high enough to make it the most densely populated desert in the world. Desert dwellers sustain themselves through agriculture, goat and sheep farming, relying on the scarce water from saltwater lakes and sparse wells.
We embarked on a Camel Safari tour in the Desert National Park (Rajasthan), spanning 3,162 km2 and representing the Thar Desert ecosystem, encompassing 44 villages. Diverse wildlife includes the Indian eagle, blackbuck, chinkara gazelle, foxes, Bengal fox, wolves, and caracal cats.
The camping area we set up is just over 30km away from Pakistan.
Source of reference: Wikipedia
Embarking on the journey following the footsteps of the 'Alchemist' across endless stretches of golden sand dunes.
The sight of camels traversing the heart of the Thar Desert.
Setting off at midday from Jaisalmer Fort, our cramped six-person mini-van zoomed away from the 'golden city' to reach the 'golden desert' sprawling under the blazing sun. After an hour's drive into the desert, buildings gradually became sparse until only a lone rest stop remained, where our camel companions leisurely stepped out, gracefully prancing on the sand while chewing nonchalantly, looking utterly adorable. Each of us was assigned a camel, learning to mount them (without tumbling off!) and ride them for over an hour. Just like the journey in search of gold in the 'Alchemist,' we found plenty of 'gold' that they could carry us and discharge 'gold' simultaneously—truly versatile and adorable.
The camels in this region stand tall at over 2 meters, rising abruptly with grace. I immediately chose one with a stylish heart tattoo on its long neck, conveniently parked low to the ground for easy mounting. As the camel leaned backward, lifting its front legs to rise swiftly, I too soared over 2 meters from the ground, tasked with maintaining balance to avoid tumbling down. The majestic creatures strode effortlessly on the sand with their thick, sturdy legs, while I, someone afraid of heights, spent the first 15 minutes merely... trembling with fear. Later on, I relaxed and eased into the ride, chilling amidst the vast desert, feeling relaxed and carefree as we traversed giant sand dunes, occasionally brushing against some sparse thorny bushes. As the flat, gentle sands and inclines passed swiftly under the nimble steps of the camels, the desert landscape unfolded before us, our caravan shrinking like tiny dots in the vastness.
After an hour of leisurely riding, our camel friends finally reached the campsite area, obediently kneeling down to let us dismount. Oh, by this time, our bottoms were thoroughly sore, but nobody wanted to get off because we were having too much fun. I was ecstatic to add a new skill to the resume of my life: 'Knows how to ride a camel in the desert.' The exact stopping point was just over 30 kilometers from Pakistan, oh my, we've come so far in South Asia! We, the tiny human beings, crawled down to catch some breeze and rest while the leads and porters busily brewed Masala Chai (Indian tea), fragrant and warm, serving each of us a cup to recharge. We kicked off our shoes (filled with sand), burying our feet deep into the warm, silky sand, reconnecting with nature, feeling the gentle comfort enveloping us. Walking on sand is tough, climbing sand dunes is tougher, as the sand tends to sink, requiring more effort to lift our feet. Playing on the sand dunes was exhausting, no need for technology or any games, just us with nature, we could have so much fun.
Doesn't the sunset over the Thar Desert also tint with the golden hue of sand, of the aridness here, yet when we sit closely watching the setting sun, its colors fade into obscurity?
Thar Desert, India
The porter team attentively prepared a hearty meal of Masala curry with vegetables for our group, comprising 100% vegetarian fare accompanied by boiled eggs. We sat atop high sand dunes, burying our feet in the warm, fine sand, passing around gigantic Indian Kingfisher beer bottles and silently watching the sunset. As the sky darkened, stars emerged. Despite our youthful vigor, we eagerly scanned the sky for the 12 zodiac constellations, occasionally bending over backward due to Earth's daily rotation, swapping positions with each other, granting us another new day to live differently. Amidst the boundless starry sky, with not a single cloud in sight, our inner turmoil gradually surfaced, profound conversations flowed effortlessly. Many nights later, that starry night remained vivid in the memories of wandering travelers...
The camels that carried us were well-rested and properly fed. Whenever we stopped, they were allowed to lie down peacefully, right next to us. Some stretched their necks and lay flat, their eyes half-closed while they chewed contentedly, enjoying gentle strokes on their heads, necks, and round bellies, utterly adorable.
As night fell, the sky became dense, revealing a brilliant starry spectacle. The starry sky seemed almost within arm's reach yet infinitely distant, stunningly surreal as the melody of 'Starry starry night, paint your palette blue and grey...' from the song Vincent echoed. That night, we slept on unique beds of the locals, under the starry sky, without any shelter, just us, mesmerized by the shimmering Milky Way. Around 11 p.m., we drifted into a peaceful sleep, the cool, comfortable temperature lulling us into deep slumber. It's a pity that none of our cameras 'had the capability' to capture that starry night; perhaps the unforgettable scene will be etched in our minds rather than mere photographs.
Unfortunately, none of our cameras were 'up to the task' of capturing that starry night; perhaps the memorable scene will be better preserved in our minds than in mere photographs.
An interesting lesson learned while in the Thar desert: when water is scarce for washing dishes, people ingeniously use deep sand to scrub directly into the utensils, leaving them perfectly clean. This method is believed to have existed for thousands of years until now, showcasing human resourcefulness in times of scarcity.
Waking up, having breakfast, and leisurely playing for a while, we slowly climbed onto our camels, bidding farewell to the desert. The dry and desolate road stretched endlessly ahead, as we walked, indulging in chewing dry leaves along the way, pressing against thorny bushes to... scratch an itch, displaying countless silly faces of guilt.
On the way back, we passed by a sparsely populated village with a few rows of thatched houses, and there was a small yellow-painted school with tiny students running barefoot in their silver-colored uniforms, eagerly asking, 'School pen?' The children with bright black-rimmed eyes chased after us for a long stretch, begging for a pen to write and learn. Our tour guide explained that this arid land not only lacks water but also lacks writing utensils for education, even in the nearby area of Jaisalmer. On the camel's back, I reached into my backpack and handed a mint green Muji pen to a child, hoping to help them write and learn more about the world. Before returning to the assembly point, we passed by a row of dilapidated houses known as a small village, where a few women were seen carrying water, seemingly in hardship, as they were said to carry water daily, every hour, on this barren desert land...
Our Camel Safari team with the enthusiastic camel
Tips for a complete Thar Desert trip:
From Jaisalmer Fort to the Thar Desert, about 80km away, experiencing camel rides and spending a day and night in the heart of the Thar Desert is well worth every North India trip. There are more experiential activities if you have extra time: camel riding, sleeping under the starry sky, parasailing, adventurous dune bashing... all sure to leave no traveler disappointed with the grandeur of nature and the warmth of the locals here. All information about land tours and experiential activities can easily be found at the hotel/hostel you book in the Jaisalmer area.
Embark on the journey into the heart of the Thar Desert and explore millennia-old history in North India with the first step: visit Mytour to book hotel accommodations and purchase flight tickets to start your adventure right away.
Author: Thương Khả Hân
*This article is participating in the Mytour Goglobal program.
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