“Life In The Desert” our Jamba Village Tour. Mike, 12/28

Camels On Parade in Jodhpur

The Original Farmers Market

We departed the comfort of the houseboat and landed in the Rajasthan city of Jodhpur to make our trek to the desert region of Jamba. This is a DRAMATIC contrast to our tropical local in Kerala. During the winter the deserts of the Northwest are wonderfully temperate during the day with sun and modest winds keeping us comfortable, but at night it gets FRIGID with jackets, gloves, hats and warm tea a must!

Daybreak Over The Rajasthan Desert

Jamba-Ji Temple Priest

Our first day started with a sunrise wakeup call and a long day planned touring local families and villages of the Bishnoi people who have populated this region of Western Rajasthan for as long as anyone can remember. In the 15^th century a Hindu Guru known as Jamba-Ji unified these people and they still carry out their lives and traditions relatively unchanged with the exception the ever-present cell phone replacing previous bronze-age methods of communication. Our fist stop was to see the newly built temple dedicated to Jamba-Ji which will take a total of 10 years to build with hand chiseled stone.

While these people are joined by their connection to Jamba-Ji, they collectively form a community that is divided into small nuclear groups of families dedicate their craft handed down from generation to generation to earn income and contribute to the greater whole. The first group was a small family of cobblers with nothing more than a stick and mud hut attached to a newly built brick and mortar two room building to house this 6 person family. Their handwork was amazing and to say that these shoes are hand made is an understatement!

Stuck Yet Again

Trading Gifts With Locals

We traveled (sometimes very slowly) in deepening desert sands to see more local people and I had to marvel at how spontaneously children can play with one another even when language and world are so far apart. Luke was quick to gain lots of local friends and tried his hand at using their toys with his own iTouch far from thought. Our group was soon jumping and running in the sand dunes along at least 15 other local children who ran from huts a half mile away. We shared some pens and bracelets with them as they showed us how to jump, run, and properly use a sand dune as a playground.

Luke Playing With Locals

Cate Making Mommy Friends

Not A Cuisinart! 

Grandma, Daugher, and Grandkids

The next village looked to be out of a Disney movie set. It was immaculate with grounds and huts that seemed staged by Martha Stuart. It was explained to us that this family of 3 generations were camel herders by trade and the men (not there during the day) were managing their herd while we visited. The women were making flour from millet gathered from the local scrub and ground with a stone wheel that had been used for centuries. The children and women were amazingly happy and ever so beautiful in their traditional dresses. This was NOT staged…this is how they live each day just as so many families before them have lived. We will meet the men and camels later that afternoon.

Loom In Process

Who Can Resist?

The final visit of the day was with a weaver family who make detailed carpets, shawls, and prayer mats out of cotton and camel hair. Again, the village and huts were immaculate made from hardened mud, dung, and grasses from the region decorated with their own artwork. The family dedicated their time to weaving rugs that are then taken into Jadhpur to be sold at market or perhaps a local Pier1 Imports near you! We couldn’t help but bargain for a few to take home with us.

Carpets At Direct To You Prices! 

How Cute Is He!

Evening Water Run

Wally Farm Jamba Style