“The Golden desert city, Jaisalmer awaits to mesmerise tourists with the cultural wonders of Rajasthan”
One of the most famous cultural events Desert Festival is the centre of attraction during February in Rajasthan. The Jaisalmer Desert Festival is an annual event organized by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation in the city of Jaisalmer. The festival is known the the extraordinary display of the culture and tradition of Rajasthan. Jaisalmer desert festival is a perfect place to experience the mixture of ancient havelis, historical forts, majestic palaces, temples and indigenous culture.
Why is it celebrated:
The desert festival in Jaisalmer was initiated in order to attract tourists, who always wanted to explore more and more facets of Rajasthan. Jaisalmer desert festival is a 3 day event where artists showcases a variety of Rajasthani folk songs and dance to promote Rajasthan’s culture and traditions. The celebrations of this festival make the desert come alive with color, enthusiasm and happiness.
What to look for:
The major attraction of the festival is the culture and tradition that has been followed in Rajasthan for all these years. People specially get dressed up in brilliantly hued costumes and sing the songs of valor, romance and tragedy. The fair hosts snake charmers, puppeteers, acrobats, folk artists and various other performers at the event to attract tourists. Also, there are a lot of competitions held at the festival where local artists participate. ‘The moustache competition’ is very popular among foreigners where they can be seen posing for pictures. Besides the food, music and cultural performances, there are camel rides, processions, camel polo, and even a camel tug-of-war. The festival closes with an enchanting music and light show in the moonlit night amid the sand dunes with a promise to come back with even more fun and entertainment next year.
When and where:
This festival of Jaisalmer is generally held in the end of January or in the beginning of February every year in the sand dunes of Sam, which is 42km away from Jaisalmer. This three day celebration glorifies the rich culture of the region. In 2016 the fair is being organised between 20th to 22nd February.
Getting there:
Jodhpur Airport is the nearest international airport to reach Jaisalmer. The airport is 337 kilometers away. You can either hire a prepaid or a private taxi from the Airport to reach Jaisalmer. Jaisalmer is well connected by railway and the railway station is located in the centre of the desert city. Once you reach the station, there are many auto-rickshaws and private taxis connecting the city. Jaisalmer is also well connected by road and you board a bus from Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur or any other major city which will take you directly to Jaisalmer. Once you reach the Jaisalmer you can hire a taxi to reach sam sand dunes or even hire and Camel safari.
Other local attractions:
Jaisalmer in itself is a very popular tourist attraction and offers a you a chance to indulge in the rich culture of Rajasthan. Jaisalmer is famous for its fort, temples and palaces. Moreover the desert safari in Jaisalmer is one of the most demanded activities. Jodhpur, which is also known as ‘Sun City’, is approximately 230 kilometers away. Bikaner, another historical city in Rajasthan, is approximately 270 kilometers away. The capital city of Rajasthan, Jaipur is approximately 490 kilometers. Once you reach Rajasthan there is no scarcity of tourist attraction and you will already be engulfed in the rich culture of Rajasthan even before you know it.
The Itinerant Analyst 