Every year at springtime we get to see the cultural diversity and richness of Rajasthan to its might. The great Desert of Rajasthan throws us a big annual party which we call the Desert Festival of Jaislamer. This year the festival starts from 7th Feb and ends 2 days later on the 9th of Feb.
The Desert Festival is a 3-day annual event which takes place anytime in between the first half of the month of February. The festival takes place at the beautiful Thar desert in the sand dunes of Sum. The location is only about 42 KM away from the golden city of Jaisalmer.
Each year thousands of people backpack in Rajasthan around this time only to take pleasure in the 3-day great fest that it is. There are puppet shows, turban competition, moustache competition and so much more to explore. But what steals the day is the camel show, and not just any kind but the best kind. You will get to see camels of all shapes and sizes groomed and dressed up in the prettiest of ornaments (yes actual ornaments custom made for camels). Each camel has it’s name and speciality.
You get to stay in beautifully decorated tents which looks like mini portable castles from inside. The festival doesn’t stop for 3 days, people go on celebrating themselves and their culture like never before and the best part of it is it’s all away from the hustle-bustle of city life.
The festival occurs in the sand dunes of Sum which in normal days actually seem like in the middle of nowhere. The dunes are so huge that it takes a lot of courage and efforts to just cross one. You can have amazing Rajasthani food, get yourself acquainted with the locals and the locals of Rajasthan are truly wonderful people. You can even try adventurous sports like Parasailing and sand racing.
But the deal-breaker is the camel ride. It is possible that you may have ridden a camel before but not in an actual desert. The difference is in other places they mostly make you climb a higher platform and make you sit on the camel while it is already standing. What makes the camel rides in deserts so amazing and exciting is that the camel is actually sitting when you board it and then it stands up. And I’ll tell you what, that particular moment will make anyone lose a little grip on themselves. And the mighty camel then walks on sand which is unstable compared to the city road standards and that bumpy is all the fun there is. We can go narrating the adventure but you will only understand it fully when you experience it yourself.
The desert festival is a delight and if you are planning a trip in February then we would recommend you go to Jaisalmer and let yourself be amazed.
FAQs
1) What is the Desert Festival?
The desert festival is a 3-day annual event, this year in 2020 it is taking place from 7th-9th February. It is a celebration of the city of deserts, it’s culture, food and beliefs.
2) Where does the Desert Festival take place?
It takes place at Sum, in the Thar Desert, about 42Kms away from Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
3) Why should I go there?
The desert festival is a 3-day portrayal of the best of Rajasthan. You will get to see everything that makes Rajasthan and Jaisalmer special all in one place. It is an experience of a lifetime and you should grab the chance while you get.
4) How to get there?
By Air
You can reach Jodhpur Airport which is the nearest International airport to Jailsamer and then hire a cab. The distance from Jodhpur To Jaisalmer is 337Kms.
By Road
Jaisalmer is very well connected through roads. You can reach there by Normal state-owned bus, a cab, a Private AC or non-AC bus, luxury coaches or private vehicles without any hassle.
By Rail
Jaisalmer is well connected to all the major rail networks of the country. You can check out the railway schedule to reach Jaisalmer by train and get a cab or rickshaw to reach the Sand dunes from the station.
5) Where to stay?
There is a proper facility for the accommodation of tourists available at sand dunes of Thar desert. You can Pre-book or get a tent on hand there.
