Golden Sands & Serendipity – My Jaisalmer Adventure
My journey to Jaisalmer, Rajasthan’s golden desert city, began like a solo trip — but fate had other plans. During a previous journey to Nainital, I met two fellow travelers, Preeti and Kartik, who soon became dear friends. We had loosely talked about exploring Jaisalmer together — and this trip turned that casual thought into reality.
I boarded a train from Kota to Jaipur, where I planned to meet Preeti. She was traveling from Delhi, and we had booked seats on the same train to Jaisalmer — in fact, our berths were right across from each other. When we met, it felt like a happy reunion. She even brought home-cooked food for both of us, and we shared dinner under the hum of the train lights, catching up on life and travel stories.
At 5:30 AM, we arrived in Jaisalmer. The sunrise that greeted us was breathtaking — the desert lit up in soft golden hues, making the fort glow like a dream. We took an auto to our stay — the Moustache Hostel, a lively place filled with travelers and stories. Later that morning, Kartik joined us after arriving by flight, and our trio was complete again.
Day 1: Into the Heart of Jaisalmer
We began our exploration with the majestic Jaisalmer Fort, walking through its narrow golden lanes, peeking into ancient Jain temples, and stopping to admire the incredible stone carvings. Every corner felt like it had a story to tell.
We wandered through the local market, took dozens of photos, tasted local snacks, and soaked in the charm of the “Golden City.” That evening, we shared laughter and dinner, already feeling like this trip was turning into something memorable.
Day 2: From Borders to Haunted Legends
The next morning, we met Abhishek and Kartikey, a solo traveler from Delhi staying in the same dorm. Soon, we were a group of six. Spontaneously, we rented an Innova and set out on a day trip — the kind that ends up becoming the highlight of your travel story.
Our first stop was the Longewala War Memorial, where we learned about the heroic battle fought during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The tanks, stories, and silence of the desert made it a moving experience.
Next, we visited the Tanot Mata Temple, a place untouched by bombs during the war — believed to be protected by divine grace. Walking barefoot on its cool marble floor, I felt calm and humbled.
In the afternoon, we reached Kuldhara, the abandoned village surrounded by mystery. Ruined sandstone houses, eerie silence, and legends of curses gave the place an unforgettable aura. Though we laughed and joked as a group, we all felt the haunting stillness that hung in the air.
By evening, we returned to the hostel, tired but filled with stories. We enjoyed dinner under the stars, sitting on the rooftop, with the glowing Jaisalmer Fort in the background — a perfect ending to a long day.
Reflections
Though we had planned to do a desert safari, time ran out. But we had no regrets — the connections, the history, and the spontaneity made the trip perfect in its own way.
From a solo idea to a group of friends chasing sunrises and stories, Jaisalmer gifted me more than just golden views — it gave me golden memories.
