Desert – VAGABOND IMAGES

Desert National Park | For that Bustard feeling

Upendra SwamiJune 29, 2020887 Views8

Well, worst of summer is over. Although with onset of Monsoon, humidity will keep pushing us to limits. It’s safe to be in homes therefore due to all sorts of reasons, and surely weather is the least of our concern. In any case, by the time it is safe or rather safer (than now) to travel in times of COVID19, it will be already winter perhaps. So, travelling to desert won’t be a bad option. This post is regarding keeping yourself ready for it, or giving you just another travel idea. Map of the Desert National Park All the birds that are found here and they are really too many, including the migratory ones. In Indian hot desert of Thar, Jaisalmer is already a hotspot for tourists. But among the attraction of usuals glamorous tourist spots like Sam Dunes, Sonar fort, havelis, Bada B...

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There would have been no Jaisalmer without Gadsisar

Upendra SwamiFebruary 3, 2020553 Views2

In the maps, Gadsisar Lake of Jaisalmer is said to be as big as the city itself! Besides size, it also shares most of its age. In about 800 years of the existence of the city, this lake has been there for almost 700 years, quenching its thirst! Neither of them would have existed for so long without the other. Just outside the Gadsisar Lake (stone spells it wrong) At a glance around you can see the huge mounds of sand on the other side. Even if you approach closer, you will feel as if you have reached the edge of the desert. But, it actually is the high and long bund of the Gadsisar Lake. Moving ahead, you will find a huge arched gateway with two watch towers on either side, five beautifully carved oriel windows and one big entrance and two smaller ones on the either side of it...

IndiaPhotogallery

Lodurva, a temple to see and a love story for delight

Upendra SwamiJanuary 28, 2020827 Views2

The vast barren dunes of Thar are strewed with many mysteries of history… many of them untold, a few unexplained. A lot of it might be because of absence of more written account of those times. Erstwhile capital of the Jaisalmer Rawals- Lodurva stands one among those. Nothing remains of the capital city, but for a beautiful Jain temple. The deserted ruins of Lodurva, the Bhati Rajput capital before Jaisalmer, are 17 km northwest of Jaisalmer and 10 km beyond Amar Sagar. Lodurva itself is on the banks of river Kak. Shikhars of temples as seen from outside There would have been a perfect logic for any strongman to rule this place. This place was on ancient silk route and entry point to India, hence rich traders would have been passing through here on regular basis. This would have als...

IndiaPhotogallery

Bada Bagh: An oasis and cenotaphs side by side!

Upendra SwamiDecember 11, 20191016 Views4

It was an amazing sight- with Royal Cenotaphs of the Bada Bagh in the foreground and towering windmills in the background. A modern technology making a backdrop for a slice of history. Bada Bagh or Bara Bagh was the first wind power project in Rajasthan in private sector at the start of this century. Completing the view was a dense garden in the foreground, almost like an oasis in the desert. It actually was. Huge windmills, cenotaphs and a secluded garden all together gave a feeling of an eerie calmness. Entering the cenotaph complex It was astounding that there was no other tourist in the Bada Bagh cenotaph complex when we were there, and it was surprising also considering the fact, that whole complex looked too impressive to be missed by any tourist. A view from above ...

IndiaPhotogallery

मरु देश में होली के रंग aka Colours of Holi in Desert!

Upendra SwamiMarch 19, 2019639 Views2

होली के मौसम में जिक्र एक और अनूठी होली का। यह होली राजस्थान की है। यह है बीकानेर इलाके की तणी होली। होली में तणी को काटने की प्रथा को तकरीबन 300 साल पुराना बताया जाता है। हालांकि इसके बारे में ठीक-ठीक कहना मुश्किल है। पुराने लोग बताते हैं कि यह परंपरा रियासत काल से चली आ रही है। बताया जाता है कि इसका मकसद वहां के पुष्करणा समाज से जुड़े जोशी समुदाय के लोगों को होली की उत्सव में भागीदारी कराने से है। यहां यह मान्यता है कि होलिका जोशी समुदाय से थी इसलिए उन्हें होलिका के जल जाने का अफसोस रहता है। इसलिए इस समुदाय के लोग होली की स्थापना होने से लेकर होलिका दहन तक सब्जी में छोंक नहीं लगाते। न ही वे होलिका दहन देखने के लिए ही जाते हैं। Among many different colours of Holi in India, this one is from western end of the Rajasthan, from the heart of the That Desert. This is Tani Holi of Bi...

AdventureInternationalNews

Best of Classic Rock in the middle of desert

Upendra SwamiMarch 16, 2019269 Views0

Burning Man’s Israeli offshoot, Midburn is a special 5-day festival held in the Negev Desert around May – June every year. It is the second largest regional Burning Man after Africa Burns where, for 6 days, a temporary city is set up creating a platform for communal life style, creativity, art and self-expression. Unlike a typical music festival with big acts, one can camp in the desert that host parties and in the center of the playa are incredible art displays and a huge temple that is burned on the final night. This year, Midburn will be held between June 4 through 9, 2019. Midburn Festival. Photo: Niv Shafran This summer, Israel will also host some of the biggest names of Rock genre like Bon Jovi, Slash and Air Supply. Air Supply, the soft-rock duo of the 80s, Graham Russe...

AdventureIndiaPhotogallery

Silver sand dunes and a double humpy ride

Upendra SwamiOctober 15, 2018313 Views0

Silver coloured sand dunes of Hunder in Nubra valley of Ladakh have gradually become a part of the must-see itinerary for tourists to Ladakh. Its a very unusual landscape, no doubt about it. In a single frame, you can see sand dunes, river, forest as well as snow clad peaks. You even have camels for desert safari, albeit double humped ones. Its a rugged landscape all around, but Hunder seems like out of world for this region. It has got so many colours and textures in one place, that you can't stop admiring. https://www.instagram.com/p/BoeBAPYHXwH/?taken-by=swamiupendra Colours of nature! These sunsets never fail to amaze you whether it is in hot deserts of Thar or cold deserts of Ladakh. You can see the Karakoram ranges in the background, behind whichnot too far is located the hi...

AdventureIndia

Pang : Thrill of being at highest transit camp in the world

Upendra SwamiApril 28, 2018920 Views4

Pang is a magical place. It brings you to an entirely different world, like the one never seen before. At an altitude of over 15,300 feet this is also claimed to be the highest army transit camp in the world. Army claims the altitude as 15, 640 feet. For a traveller- a biker or a driver, Pang is in midst of two entirely different terrains. While coming from Sarchu is the rough routes of Kangla Jal while on the Leh side is the super-highway of More Plains. Both worth a journey of lifetime. Establishment at Pang would have been come up as a place for stoppage for armed forces moving to and fro to areas bordering Pakistan and China. Being an open valley close to stream and less windy in comparison to Sarchu would have made it ideal place for transit. When adventurers starte...

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Ras Al Khaimah – A paradise in Emirates

Upendra SwamiJanuary 13, 2016670 Views3

Ras Al Khaimah is one of seven emirates which together comprise the federation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It was the last one to join and is claimed to be on top as emerging tourist destination in the GULF. It is the strongest emerging tourism spots in UAE with its natural beauty and stunning scenery. It has a 64 km shoreline of superb sandy beaches and clear crystal blue waters. Ras Al Khaimah features a wealth of landscapes from rugged mountain peaks to coastal areas and deserts. Tourists have options of host of outdoor activities from swimming, fishing and golfing to desert safari, diving, paragliding, parasailing, Bedouin desert camp, Iceland water park and above all a microlight flight. Ras Al Khaimah is just a 45-minute drive from Dubai International Airport and is the...

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Photo of the Day – Precise Cut

Upendra SwamiOctober 24, 2013280 Views2

A lonely tree in desert of Thar in Rajasthan, India. And so precisely cut leaves! Why? Any guess? Not a manly work at all. It is the work of camels who have simply eaten up everything that is within reach of their long necks... Neat work. Isn't it. This is few kilometres away from Jaisalmer in core of Thar... ...