photography digital

Jaisalmer – The Land of Sun and Sand

Hi friends! I am back again with another Jewel in the Crown called India and it is Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.

Location: Situated in Western Rajasthan, in the Thar Desert. well connected by National Highway 15, railways and airways (nearest is in Jodhpur300km away) reaching Jaisalmer is a piece of cake and if you plan to fly in yourself then the coordinates are 69.3 to 72.2 degrees E and 26.01 to 28.02 degree north. But travelling there is usually recommended in the winters for obvious reasons .

It’s a major tourist attraction and cultural hub of India.

A city of old world charm and a glorious past, it was founded by Raja Rawa Jaisal, A bhatti Rajput ruler.

Here I will try to show case the charm and the stark beauty of Jaisalmer with a few pictures (through my eyes). But Of course- Jaisalmer is much more than these and is just a photographic representation

The yellow Sandstone Buildings welcome you the moment you step down in Jaisalmer

JAISALMER-City about Forts

JAISALMER- of Havelis…

A fusion of old and new- HERITAGE HOTEL…

Sonar Quila Or The Golden Fort – The heart of Jaisalmer. The old city is inside the Fort

The view outside the fort…

and the grandeur within …

 

 

 

 

Of Bygone Days- Shahi Sawari

 

 

 

 

 

 

People who are still attached to their roots. Old world charm and Mystique…

Of valor and heroism…

 

 

 

 

 

Of  architecture…

Havelis and Forts

 

 

 

 

Crafts and antiquities…

Talaabs and lakes… Famous of which is the Gadisagar lake…

Road to perdition  – Oops ! I mean the sand dunes…

Base camp in the dunes-“Sam Dunes”

A perfect blend of green and golden…

A settlement near the Dunes…

Camel rides and Desert safari… On top of the world experience…

Many hues of a sunset- A beautiful phenomenon…

Accommodation is not a problem as you will be spoilt with choices to stay in luxury tents or cottages. And packages don’t burn a hole in your pocket. Just Haggle!

You will be treated as nothing les than a Royal with culinary treat and cultural treat…

Don’t go by its size and shape of the ethnic cottages, they have all the modern amenities. At nights their music and dance will make you dance…

The games that the sun play !

 

Sunset and Sunrise

 

 

 

A final glance at the seemingly never ending desert! You will wish that your holiday was never ending too!

See you soon with another photo speaks of a travel diary !

Photo Speaks

It all started with an email from Mani Padma of our GingerChai author panel. (Yes, the same Mani who “wowed us” with wonderful 55F and book reviews in GingerChai)

She asked my opinion on doing a photo feature under the name “Jewel in the Crown” series. As a sample, she had sent me a power point presentation about a hill destination she had visited. (Harsil in Uttaranchal, to be precise). I went through the presentation and sat a while looking at the pictures. It was impressive.

So I shot her a mail back. I thought a complete travelogue could be a good addition to the site. I asked her opinion on it.

Mani mailed me back with her inputs. She was bit hesitant about the idea of a full fledged travelogue. She suggested we should work on a different approach. For regular travelogue, there are many sites for readers, some being exclusive for just this purpose. So why do we at GingerChai, follow the same tested route? Why don’t we come up with something else for the same concept? Again the feature in Ginger Chai should be a bit unique too, not like the run of the mill ones with the usual stuff of recommendations.

It made me think. She had made a valid point. So thinking on the subject, I narrowed down to two options.

1. It could be projected as a main category “Picture speaks or Photo talks (or any other appropriate title) and the sub category will be "Jewel in the crown" that will contain Mani’s series of article on this line.

2. It could be projected as a travel category (with suitable name) and the subcategory "Jewel in the crown" that will post the series of Mani’s visual articles.

Both has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Photo speaks / photo talks: Could not be restricted just on the travelogue but also include any other interesting pictures on various subjects.

The travel category: May be focused on one subject.

Both the category has its own minuses too. The bottom line of course is to make it not look like run of the mill types.

After a couple of email discussion, we decided upon the new category “Photo Speaks”. Later as the content increases on this, may be we can divide it further suitably.

So GingerChai will soon have a new feature by name “PHOTO SPEAKS”

It’s going to be exciting. Like you, even am looking forward to it.

If you have a camera, good hands and eye to frame pictures and let the picture speak stories , YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TOO. It can be based on any subject. It can be whacky , serious , photos about places or anything visually interesting. You can even weave a small story around the picture. Just shoot me a mail for any clarification.

If you have any suggestions, tips or tea bags to pep it up, feel free to provide it.