Khuri lies in the heart of the Great Indian Desert, 40 km (25 miles) south-west of Jaisalmer. It is the central village of about 100 smaller settlements ruled by the Rajpu Sodhas, a ‘fire’ caste who hail their origin from ...

Food is very cheap (you’ll rarely pay more than Rs25 for a meal) but rather dull. jaisalmeris are intractably vegetarian, the staple diet being boiled vegetables, fried moti, and green milos or wheat balls. And there’s a dearth of good ...

Gadisar Tank-Fort-Jain Temples-Salim Singh Haveli-Patwon k i Haven- Nathmal ki Haveli This tour is best done on foot, and in the cool of the morning. Set out around 7 am, taking a 15-minute stroll down Ashni Rd (from the fort ...

Jaisalmer, the ‘Oasis of Jessal’, was founded in 3356 by the Bhati prince, Jaisal, to (‘place the old capital of Lodawa, 37 km (33 miles) away, which had proved too ulnerable to attacks from neighbouring tribes. Perched on a high ...

Mandore-Mahamandir Temple for next day, take a 20-minute minibus ride (regular buses from the top of High Court R d, opposite the Hospital) to Mandore (10 km: 6 miles north), the old capital of macrw ar. Probably founded in the ...

If there’s time, the Sarnath tour bus continues on to Raninagar Fort on the far bank of the Ganges, once the residence of the Maharajahs of Benares. The palace Durbar hall has been converted into a rather dilapidated ‘museum’ (open ...

Chowkandi  Stupa-Archaeological Museum-Ashoka Pillarliamekh Vihara The ancient site of Sarnath, situated 10 km (6 miles) north of Varanasi, is a principal centre of Buddhism. It was here, around 530 BC, that the Buddha came from Bodhgaya ter gaining enlightenment and ...

River Ganges-The Ghats-Nepalese Templevishvanath Temple (Golden Temple)-Gyanvapi Mosque-Durga Temple-tulsi Temple-Benares Hindu University-Bharat Kala Bhawan The essential Varanasi can be found on the river-front at dawn—when Hindu pilgrims flock to the ghats (stepped embankments) on the bank of the Ganges to ...

The center of Hinduism, and most important pilgrimage place in the country, Vatanasi is one of the seven ancient Sacred Cities of the Hindus. The spiritual heart of utt ar Pradesh state, this is a city of colourful bazaars, bright ...

Expensive (US$50-100 per room night) The peaceful Jass Oberoi on By-pass Rd (tel 2066, cable OBHOTEL) is a ocpotiomn. Pfleoasrantta debcolre, cultural shows, god service, and stylish roms ( 1 with balconies) at US$70 single, US$80 double. It has air-conditioning ...