Jaisalmer a feast for all senses

As we started our journey to Jaisalmer, our Urbania tempo traveller was filled more with excitement than people. Traversing long stretches of Rajasthan’s barren interiors, punctuated by sparse settlements, me and my traveling buddies were awestruck by its raw and timeless beauty.

We started our Jaisalmer tour from the huge Jaisalmer Fort made with golden sandstone, a city within a city. Aptly called the living fort, it is inhabited by locals; has shops, cafés, temples as well as live folk music and dance performances. There were dozens of shops selling traditional artefacts and ethnic jewellery. Just outside the fort, we went berserk shopping at Manak Chowk — yellow stone pottery items, colourful Rajasthani scarves, silver jewellery, camel‑leather bags, wallets.

Our next destination was Kuldhara. Locals call it a haunted village. As we walked through its sandstone ruins and narrow alleys, we came across a stall selling Maggi and lemon soda busting the myth of it being haunted.

Next on the itinerary was another Rajasthan special — riding an open-air Gypsy across the dunes. We sighted ber shrubs on the way. Filling our pockets with tiny berries, we feasted on this childhood favourite, as we went deep into the desert. Midway we stopped and got down to explore and experience the dunes.

The evening ended with performances by Kalbelia dancers, and a meal of much awaited “authentic” Rajasthani cuisine — dal baati churma, gatte ki sabzi, ker sangri, kadhi, bajra khichadi with jiggery, drenched in ghee and served in brass and clay utensils.

As our tempo traveller turned homebound, our hearts and minds were forever stamped with the culture, flavour and unforgettable sights of Rajasthan, and memories for a lifetime.

Anshu Seth, Mohali