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Khimsar
General Information about
Khimsar
 Perched on the edge on the great Thar Desert in the
heart of rural India, the unique fort at Khimsar
offers a wide range of experiences. The
battle-scarred walls and turrets remind one of the
glorious past of this place.
LOCATION
Khimsar is a small village situated around 92 km
on the highway from Jodhpur to Bikaner in the
northern Indian state of Rajasthan. The village of
Khimsar provides an excellent starting point to
explore the district of Nagaur, which lies midway
between Jodhpur and Bikaner. There are good road
connections from Khimsar to other important tourist
destinations in the region including Jodhpur,
Bikaner, and Nagaur.
SITES TO VISIT
The fort architecture of Khimsar offers great
heterogeneity. Originally, the fort walls, turrets,
and stables were built solely for war, and were
constructed around the beginning of the 16th century.
Subsequently, by mid 18th century, the royal family
moved in when a new zenana or ladies' residence was
constructed. Finely carved windows in stone were
constructed in this section for providing purdah or
veil for the ladies in waiting. Thakur Onkar Singh,
the present chief and the 17th direct descendant of
Rao Karamsi (the original builder of the fort) built
himself a regal additional wing in the 1940's. Today,
this fort ranks amongst the premier Heritage Hotels
of India.
SITES NEARBY
Jodhpur is the largest city in the entire Marwar
region and one of the most famous tourist
destinations in Rajasthan. Major tourist attractions
in the city include the Umaid Bhawan Palace,
Mahendragarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, and Mandore
Gardens.
Osian is a small place situated around 27 km off
Khimsar and known for its sixteen ruined Jain and
Hindu temples. These temples date back to the eighth
and eleventh centuries. The most important temples
are the Sachhiyamata Temple and the Jain Temples.
While the Hindu temples are in a dilapidated
condition, the Jain temples are well preserved.
Nagaur is around 43 km away from Khimsar and famous
for its cattle fair. Thousands of people bring
camels, bullocks, and horses for sale. Camel races
and other sporting events are organized at this fair.
WHAT TO
DO
Jeep Safaris
can be organized but require an advance notice. The
excursion runs deep into the heart of the desert as
hunting around the settlement is banned. As the jeep
roars up, deer and chinkara take to the air in
elegant strides, silhouetted against an early morning
sun. And there's nothing like a picnic tea or
breakfast taken in the shadow of the high dunes in
the open countryside.
WHERE TO STAY
Hotels are available in Khimsar for accommodation
though on the higher side of the cost chart. The
heritage hotels here are an experience in themselves
and provide good value for money.
HOW TO REACH
By Air
The nearest airport from Khimsar is Jodhpur,
around 92 km away. Indian Airlines connects Jodhpur
with Delhi, Jaipur, and Mumbai through regular
flights. The airport is located around 6 km off the
city center.
By Rail
The nearest railhead is Jodhpur on the Western
Railway broad-gauge network. Jodhpur is linked to
various centers in the region by express and
passenger trains. New Delhi, Agra, Jaisalmer, Jaipur,
Udaipur, and Ahmedabad are some of the important
cities that are linked with Jodhpur through rail.
By Road
Khimsar is situated around 92 km on the Jodhpur-Nagaur-Bikaner
Highway. State transport corporation buses and
private buses connect Khimsar with other centers in
the region.
Local Transport
Buses, taxis, and jeeps are available on hire to
enable tourists to visit the places around Khimsar. |
