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Adventure Activities
in India - - -› Camel
Safari India
Camel Safari India
Deserts
have since long exerted an irresistible charm on the psyche of the humans, the
landscape inspiring different emotions in different people. And what better
way to explore this magical realm than on a camel back, for a camel safari is
one of the most adventurous of experiences, and indeed a novel way to 'discover'
the desert.
Camel safaris trace their origins to the time of trade between India and China,
when camel caravans would journey along established trade routes laden with
spices and herbs and jewels. They provide an opportunity to get a glimpse of
traditional Indian life in the desert, with all the hardships, the beauty and
the desolation.
The accommodation on the way consists of primitive thatched mud huts, and the
way of life-though hospitable-is entirely ethnic.
Camel safaris generally cover the area around Jaisalmer, Bikaner or Jodhpur,
popularly known as the desert circuit. The duration can vary between one day
and two weeks. Big towns are not usually on the route though there is no definite
route that you have to adopt.
Route navigation in the desert is an acquired art, and caravans must be manned
by riders who not only know how to study the stars, but also recognise the shifting
sands of the terrain.
A camel safari is exciting, but is not exactly a relaxing vacation. Unless you
are accustomed to horse-riding, a day-long camel ride will be tiring. Even if
you are accustomed to horse-riding, since the gait of the camel is quite different,
it may take some time to get used to it.
Keeping in your seat as the camel raises or lowers itself to the ground, can
appear at first to be a losing battle.
However, whether tiring or relaxing, a camel safari is bound to be a unique
experience.
Traverse the lonely stretches of the Thar Desert, like the travellers of old
... on a camel. In fact, the most magical way to explore the sands of Rajasthan,
especially the unending sand dunes of Jaisalmer and Bikaner, is on camel back.
Camp
under the stars, listen to the haunting strains of folk music echoing across
the sand dunes, stay at any of the many heritage resorts run by erstwhile royalty,
marvel at the remote forts and palaces, or enjoy the gentle hospitality of villagers
at an oasis ... India's camel safaris take you back in time to a more leisurely
age, and make for a memorable experience.
Thar Desert & Camel Safaris
One of the most popular deserts in India, the Thar region was once ruled by
the Rapjuts. These strong and powerful rulers built magnificent fortress palaces,
of which the ruins are still visited. The Thar is best experienced by camel
safaris. These leave from Khuri village. There are also, day treks that leave
in the morning and return at night, as well as overnight trips. All travelers
and tourists are required to make this journey along with an experienced guide.
Fort Rajwada - A historic building, now turned hotel
Hotel Rang Mahal - A modern day hotel. Also has a swimming pool.
Safari Tours - Offering camel safaris, desert safaris staying at the
camp Rawala Canoi, and other local tours.
Thar Safari - Offering camel, jeep, and horse safaris, accommodation
in tents. Also desert safaris staying at camp in Pushkar.
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- - -› About
Himalayas - - -› People
& Tribes of Himalayas
People & Tribes of Himalayas
The
population, settlement, and economic patterns within the Himalayas have been
greatly influenced by the variations in topography and climate, which impose
harsh living conditions and tend to restrict movement and communication. People
living in remote, isolated valleys have generally preserved their cultural identities.
However, improvements in transportation and communication, particularly satellite
television programs from Europe and the United States, are bringing access from
the outside world to remote valleys. These outside influences are affecting
traditional social and cultural structure.
Nearly 40 million people inhabit the Himalayas. Generally, Hindus of Indian
heritage are dominant in the Sub-Himalayas and the Middle Himalayan valleys
from eastern Kashmir to Nepal. To the north Tibetan Buddhists inhabit the Great
Himalayas from Ladakh to northeast India.
In central Nepal, in an area between about 1830 and 2440 m (between about 6000
and 8000 ft), the Indian and Tibetan cultures have intermingled, producing a
combination of Indian and Tibetan traits. The eastern Himalayas in India and
nearby areas of eastern Bhutan are inhabited by animistic people whose culture
is similar to those living in northern Myanmar and Yunnan province in China.
People of western Kashmir are Muslims and have a culture similar to the inhabitants
of Afghanistan and Iran.
The economy of the Himalayas as a whole is poor with low per capita income.
Much of the Himalayas area is characterized by a very low economic growth rate
combined with a high rate of population growth, which contributes to stagnation
in the already low level of per capita gross national product. Most of the population
is dependent on agriculture, primarily subsistence agriculture; modern industries
are lacking.
Mineral resources are limited. The Himalayas has major hydroelectric potential,
but the development of hydroelectric resources requires outside capital investment.
The skilled labor needed to organize and manage development of natural resources
is also limited due to low literacy rates. Most of the Himalayan communities
face malnutrition, a shortage of safe drinking water, and poor health services
and education systems.
Agricultural land is concentrated in the Tarai plain and in the valleys of the
Middle Himalayas. Patches of agricultural land have also been carved out in
the mountainous forested areas. Rice is the principal crop in eastern Tarai
and the well-watered valleys. Corn is also an important rain-fed crop on the
hillsides.
Other cereal crops are wheat, millet, barley, and buckwheat. Sugarcane, tea,
oilseeds, and potatoes are other major crops. Food production in the Himalayas
has not kept up with the population growth.
The
major industries include processing food grains, making vegetable oil, refining
sugar, and brewing beer. Fruit processing is also important. A wide variety
of fruits are grown in each of the major zones of the Himalayas, and making
fruit juices is a major industry in Nepal, Bhutan, and in the Indian Himalayas.
Since 1950 tourism has emerged as a major growth industry in the Himalayas.
Nearly 1 million visitors come to the Himalayas each year for mountain trekking,
wildlife viewing, and pilgrimages to major Hindu and Buddhist sacred places.
The number of foreign visitors has increased in recent years, as organized treks
to the icy summits of the Great Himalayas have become popular. While tourism
is important to the local economy, it has had an adverse impact on regions where
tourist numbers exceed the capacity of recreational areas.
Historically, all transport in the Himalayas has been by porters and pack animals.
Porters and pack animals are still important, but the construction of major
roads and the development of air routes have changed the traditional transportation
pattern.
Major urban centers such as Kathmandu, Simla, and Srinagar, as well as important
tourist destinations, are served by airlines. Railways link Simla and Darjiling,
but in most of the Himalayas there are no railroads. The bulk of goods from
the Himalayas, as well as goods destined for places within the Himalayas, generally
come to Indian railheads, located in the Tarai, by road. The pack animals and
porters transport goods from road heads to the interior and back.
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