FACTS
& FIGURES
Languages : Hindi and
English
Best time to visit : October to March
STD Code : 01585
A FORT IN MARWAR
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.
CLIMATE
Khimsar has an extreme climate with
hot summers and cold winters. Temperatures during the
summer months range between 42.2°C and 27.3°C,
and between 27.5°C and 9.5°C during winters.
Annual rainfall in this region is around 31-cm. Recommended
clothing for the summer is light tropical while light
woolens should work in the winter.
PAST
On the highway from Jodhpur to Bikaner,
an hour out of the Rathore stronghold, past the medieval
temples of Osian with their stunning stone carvings,
is the small township of Khimsar. Established by a scion
of the house of Jodhpur, Khimsar was once a small kingdom.
And though Jodhpur royalty claim it was never independent,
the Thakurs of Khimsar claim that not only was it an
individual entity, but that one of the visitors to their
ancestral fort was Emperor Aurangzeb himself. The construction
of the fort initially began in 1523 but the family moved
in to the fort only during the 18th century after a
new zenana or ladies wing was constructed. Thakur Onkar
Singh, the present occupant of the fort, built a regal
wing for himself in 1940s. The pride of Khimsar today
is still that fort, 450 years old and currently home
to the 18th, 19th, and 20th generations of the Khimsar
thakurs.
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.
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