Mandawa, just a few hours’ drive from Delhi, is known primarily for its wonderful old havelis, opulent mansions constructed by rich Marwari merchants who had amassed huge fortunes from trade. The havelis of Mandawa, decorated with colourful frescoes, are worth a visit before you set off on the camel safari.

From Mandawa, a camel safari of about six hours takes you to the hamlet of Dhakas, around 18 km from Mandawa. Dhakas lies amidst the dunes of the Thar, and its nearby villages, also in the middle of the desert, make for good exploring.

Most camel safaris halt for the night at Dhakas, then continue the next day to the hamlet of Khotia, a further six hours from Dhakas. A brief halt at Khotia is followed by a ride back to Mandawa.

This camel safari is one of the shortest offered and though it’s not full of exotica, it allows you a brief but enlightening glimpse of life in one of India’s harshest but loveliest terrains.  

These are just a few of the more popular routes; other camel safaris are organised throughout Rajasthan. Some, like the ones above, originate in Jaisalmer, Bikaner or Mandawa, while others `do’ the area around Jodhpur and Shekhavati, the latter rich with fresco-decorated havelis. Camel safaris like the ones in the vicinity of Jaisalmer and Shekhavati offer plenty of scope for touring medieval forts, visiting ancient temples and photographing some of Rajasthan’s most imposing monuments. The ones around Bikaner are, on the contrary, more suited for a glimpse of typical village life. You probably won’t see too many famous forts or palaces on these circuits, but it’s a grand opportunity to get a taste- often literally- of rural Rajasthan.