Khimsar, a small village located at the edge of the great Thar Desert in Rajasthan’s Nagaur district, just two hours away from Jodhpur, houses the 16th-century Khimsar Fort that’s replete with centuries of history.
Established in 1523, by Rao Kharamsji, son of Jodhpur’s founder Rao Jodha, from the Karamsot clan, the fort was the primary place of Karamsot Rathores. Later in the 18th century, ‘zenana‘ or the ‘ladies wing’ was developed, after which the family moved to the Khimsar Fort. And further, in the 1940s, a regal wing was added by Rao Jodha’s 17th descendant, Thakur Onkar Singh.
The fort has now been converted into a hotel, but scions of the royal family continue to reside in a part of it. This eminent fort offers to its guests an enchanting encounter with the rich heritage of Rajasthan.
Khimsar is a weekend getaway for families where everyone will have a chance to learn something new.
Royalty Amidst Sand Dunes
Perched on the edge of the Thar Desert, Khimsar is nestled in the district of Nagaur, in Rajasthan. This place is famous for its golden sand dunes and its magnificent fort. Khimsar Fort was owned by the Karamsot Dynasty. The beauty and grandeur of this fort make it rank among the premier heritage hotels of India. There was also a time when the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb used to reside here. You can also experience the royalty as this fort has been converted into a heritage hotel.
The striking feature of this place is that - a part of this fort is still occupied by the descendants of the royal family. Even the staff of the heritage hotel are the descendants of the royal courtiers who used to serve the royal family. A 10 min drive from the fort will take you to the sand dunes village. You can enjoy the natural beauty of the rustic village by staying in the eco-friendly huts, which have all the amenities inside them. However, the access to the village is only by jeep or car. Camel safaris on the sand dunes, leisure activities like campfires, folk dance and songs take place at night for the visitors.
Best Time to visit Khimsar
November to February are the best months to visit Khimsar. Nagaur Festival is celebrated between the months of January and February, every year and this is the time when most of the tourists come to the town.
Places to Visit in Khimsar
Khimsar Fort
Khimsar Fort is a formidable construction meant to keep all invaders out and keep all the inhabitants of the fort safe. The fort housed the royal family. There is a zanana that was only meant for the use of the women in the royal household. This saw the strict adherence to the Parda Pratha, that is still prevalent in Rajasthan. The charm of the fort lies in the rugged walls and the rigid construction. The fort provides a beautiful view of the desert terrain that surrounds it.
Khimsar Dunes Village
The site is fifteen kilometres away from the main city area. Though there are no navigable roads to reach the area. The short journey can only be undertaken on camelback or jeeps that cut right through the desert. The journey to the area is as much fun as the village itself. Khimsar Dunes Village is a small area that is nestled around a lake. The area has many huts that are eco-friendly. The village is an example of Rajasthani rural life. The secluded area exudes a rural charm.
Osian
The fake lake was made by wealthy merchants and was an important stop over for many caravans. In the old days when journeys could last up to days, the Osian was an important construction. The much-needed stop over soon became a center for many shrines. The area has many Hindu and Jain temples. Thus, the Osian moved from being a primarily economic site to a spiritual one as well. The buildings left behind are a testament of the same.
Nagaur
Nagaur is forty-three kilometres away from Khimsar. Nagaur is famous for the huge cattle fair that happens in the region. The region was always an important exchange place for herdsmen. They would often come here and sell their animals and animal-related products. Since the old days, the area has drawn significant wealth in exchange for cattle and other movable assets. Today, the area organizes many cattle fairs. Here many people come and sell their cattle. Apart from that, there are many camel races that are organized for the entertainment of the visitors. The visitors come here in huge numbers to see a still prevailing rural way of existence.
Jodhpur
Another area that is in close proximity to Khimsar is the city-state of Jodhpur. Today, it is a flourishing urban centre. In the olden days, the city was under the rule of the powerful Marwar rulers who took the city to the peak of its success. Under the monarchs, the city emerged as one of the most powerful centers In Rajputana. Today all that stands of that old glory is the monuments that are left behind. Jodhpur has many palaces and forts that narrate the stories of valiant kings and beautiful princesses.
How to Reach Khimsar
Being a village, it's best to reach here by road (car or taxi) from Jaipur or Jodhpur. The closest railway station, as well as the airport, is that of Jodhpur.
- By flight: The nearest airport is in Jodhpur, located 92 km away from Khimsar. It has direct connectivity to metropolitan cities like Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai. You can easily find a taxi for hire from the Jodhpur airport which will take you directly to Khimsar.
- By road: There are regular buses from various important towns and cities like Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Bikaner, which take you till Nagaur. From Nagaur, you have to hire a car or a jeep till Khimsar.
- By train: Nearest railway station is Nagaur, but from here you have to take a car to Khimsar. Alternatively, buses also run on this route regularly.
