Gurgaon - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Bikaner - Gurgaon

[gd1418]

As I was coming out of my tent I spotted this fellow trying to climb the platform, probable to enter my tent and sleep with me... No luck mate. The small sprouting sapling alongside made a good picture material. I sorely missed a Macro lens at this juncture. Must remember to get one next time..

[gd1418]

Some random camel shots. More of them will follow later....

[madan80]

thts some really nice pictures.

[Roshun]

Lovely pictures. Yes, the place has changed quite a bit from when I last visited the same spot in 2006.
A lot more vegetation, and the tents are a new addition. They were not there the last time. In 2006, it was only that centre courtyard are with the mud huts.

Oh, and the Sam episode I wanted you to write about was what you were discussing at my place. Nevermind. On with the travelogue.
Cheers,

[gd1418]

That is yet to come..The Khuri is just starting...

Originally Posted by Roshun

Oh, and the Sam episode I wanted you to write about was what you were discussing at my place. Nevermind. On with the travelogue.
Cheers,

Thanks Madan..

Originally Posted by madan80

thts some really nice pictures.

[mmmjgm]

Guruji awesome thread, awesome photos.

If one was to go to Tanot, is one allowed to travel to Tanot unhindered or does one need special passes ?

Do advise

Warm regards

M M

[ashthedivx]

I particularly like the picture !!! It says "Modern and Ancient world together, hand-in-hand" SUPERB !!

[gd1418]

Thanks MMM. You need to carry some identification with address proof in original to show that you are a Indian Citizen and have to take permission from the BSF. Actually Tanot straddles the border...Nowadays the permission is not being granted due to strained relations..

Jaisalmer to Tanot is usually done as a day trip - it is very near the Border and can only be done by Indian Nationals otherwise permission is required from the Collector. The cost of a taxi (really the only way to go) is around 11 -1200 rupees. And yes, since Jaisalmer itself is in the Thar Desert or the Great Indian Desert, you are driving through desert there. From what I've heard I think it's very small out there, and no overnight accommodation.

Well, there is a Durga Temple, which was somehow saved inspite of heavy Pakistani shelling during the war before Tanot fell to Pakistani forces, only to be liberated again by the Gorkha Regiment of the Indian Army. It is said that the shells that landed in the Temple premises failed to burst due to some unknown reasons and is still kept there. I do not know if this will interest you, but I think you will also get a more serene landscape than Jaisalmer, that is more touristy.

Originally Posted by mmmjgm

Guruji awesome thread, awesome photos.

If one was to go to Tanot, is one allowed to travel to Tanot unhindered or does one need special passes ?

Do advise

Warm regards

M M

Very true Ashish. It just caught my eye and I exclaimed what a combination. I had to take this to put things in perspective...

Originally Posted by ashthedivx

I particularly like the picture !!! It says "Modern and Ancient world together, hand-in-hand" SUPERB !!

[gd1418]

Making an addition to the post #:3 where the last of the team members are introduced, given below is the photgraph of Debarati Ghosh. This arrived today only, sent to me by SS.

[gd1418]

Please refer to these lines in post #: 24 -

"Another round of brisk driving and we hit daybreak near Beawar. What a beautiful daybreak".

We stopped for a brief while here and I exclaimed - "what a scene". My camera was packed and lying in the boot and SS had his ready. The crescent moon with a star in the vicinity and the dwan breaking over the Aravali Hills. He shot this photo and is one of my favourites -

[gd1418]

Some more random camel shots at Khuri dunes as promised..











Travelogue to continue...

[gd1418]

It was time to mount the camels and go dune bashing and watch a beautiful sunset from the dunes. A lot many may have done horse-riding & elephant-riding but riding a camel is something. And if it is your first time then, some experience as well...!! All of us one-by-one mounted the camels in pairs and as luck would have it Shanno was the only one without a partner and had to sit on a camel all alone. I don't know who was scared the most - the camel or Shanno, but it was a continuous barrage of dialogue between the handler and her with some oohs, aahs, अरे उसका मुंह उधर करो, वोह यहीं देख रहा है, देखि वोह गले से आवाज़ निकाल रहा है, पकड़ के रखो, वोह उठ जाएगा etc., and then finally she sat and with a grunt when the camel got up, it was a loud oooooh that reverberated across the sand... I shall let the photo do the talking





On the way to the dunes we encountered the locals on the camel returning. They gathered together to discuss and it gave me a good opportunity to click.



We disembarked at the designated point. While the camel gets up you've to balance or else you shall be thrown to the ground, but when the animal sits for you to dismount, it almost is a scary experience. If you don't follow the handler's advice, you are sure to fall headlong on the sand find yourself being frothily licked by the animal.

There was till time for the sun to set and the gang dispersed and some walked barefoot, the Ghosh kids and Smita did some sand rolling, while I scouted around for some good angle to get the sunset.







Footprints on the sand



How the mankind looks so small in front of the nature....



Mounted the 70-~300 and waited. The Red Star never fails to fascinate me in any form and excites me to no end.

The sunset saga continues..........

[suman]

GD, awesome pics mate, simply awesomecheers:

Love the ones on the dunes, truly priceless

Keep 'em coming! Another Nikon award should be headed your way!!!

[gd1418]

Thanks Dada, nothing compared to what SS took. However have entered a few of mine to the Nat Geo for landscape... let us see..

Originally Posted by suman

GD, awesome pics mate, simply awesomecheers:

Love the ones on the dunes, truly priceless

Keep 'em coming! Another Nikon award should be headed your way!!!

[phamilyman]

Lovely pics there guruji.

As for Tanot, you don't need any permits. Just go like normal and take pics at the Mandir. The infinitely fun site is Longewala where you have a captured 4x4 truck of the Pakistani army and a tank rotting away. The border post also has a memorial.

The route between them is kickass