 
Khuri is a village, surrounded by desert hills, in the Sikar district in Rajastan. It is located 40km southwest from the main city in the outskirts of Jaisalmer. Khuri is away from the masses of tourists, and away from the active touts trying to sell fancy camel safaris. Khuri gives opportunity to those seeking adventure in the desert with a personal touch.
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 Witness the traditional village life in Khuri. Get closer to the local way of living by spending a few nights with a family in one of their mudhouses, and enjoy their traditional food. |
Camel Safaris:
| Many travelers, both domestic and international, are attracted to Rajastan for a camel safari. The camel trekking gives travelers the chance to observe and experience the fragile and beautiful ecosystem of this remote desert. Safaris vary from one day to a few days, depending on the traveler’s personal preference. The Thar Desert is over 200,000 km² and forms a natural boundary running along the border between India and Pakistan. |
| Camels are an essential part of the desert life. They are used as transport, for packing, for riding, and now also as a form of tourism. The camel safaris provide income to many camel owners.
While on a camel trek the camels are allowed to go on a free wander during the siesta, at lunch and during the night. The owner will tie their front legs together to prevent them from running off. The camels move slowly, but after a few hours they will be out of sight. Amazingly the owner finds his camels time after time when it is time to saddle up. |
The desert is an interesting piece of land with remarkable biodiversity. The sand is sculpted by the wind into almost tactile curves and ripples.
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Morning Chai. Even in the desert, that first breakfast cup is essential. |
Tiny remote desert villages, like the one shown in the above pictures, are only accessible by camel.
Though the living standard of the people in the desert is low, they are happy living the simplicity they know as reality.
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The meals during the camel safari were freshly prepared on a self-made-stove and a simple fire. The curries and chapattis were made from scratch, and gave the taste of authentic India.
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The main livelihood of the desert people is agriculture and animal husbandry. Shown in the above picture is the farm of one of the guides. Unfortunately this is not a reliable income; even after the rainy season many crops fail.
Water shortage plays an important role in shaping life in all parts of the Thar Desert. Water is often only available in deep underground wells. These wells attract nearby settlement and nomadic trekkers to get water for the cooking and cleaning.
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If you fly into either Delhi or Mumbai, there are various trains leaving from the main stations to Jaisalmer. From Delhi it is 880km and from Mumbai it is 1140km. Depending on your preference, there is always the option in going by bus; both governmental and private are available. Once you've made it to Jaisalmer it should be easy to find your way to Khuri. Twice a day there is a government bus leaving from the main bus station in early morning and late afternoon. The locals are very friendly and helpful in giving directions on where to find the right bus. You can also go by taxi or rickshaw.
Upon your arrival in Khuri many touts will approach you and offer a variety of camel safari's. Have a budget in mind before talking to anybody; accordingly you will find what you're looking for. There is very exclusive accommodation to be found in Khuri, as well as very basic. If you doubt the authenticity of the person who approaches you, stick to your gut feeling and move on. Let your senses be your guide to a beautiful experience in the desert.
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Nienke Moolenaar's work has been captured with Sony equipment, as well as Tamron and Sigma lenses. This is the first time her work has been published.
Nienke's writing and photography can be found on: www.boundlesswanderer.com |
Some Final Thoughts from the Author/Photographer
While travelling I always let my senses and surroundings guide me. With confidence and an open mind I step into the unknown without expectations. In this case, the unknown turned out to be an oasis known as Khuri in the desert of Rajasthan. It was the story of a fellow traveler and his personal experience that lead me to this beautiful, serene village. |
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Asia