The settlement of Khimsar is cocooned around Fort Khimsar, located about 95 kms northeast of the city of Jodhpur otherwise known as the Blue City of Rajasthan. Khimsar, or ‘the oasis of peace’, draws tourists from all around the world, especially during the annual Nagaur Cattle Fair. 

History:

Khimsar Fort spread over eleven acres of lawns, orchards and open courtyards, was built by Rao Karamsinghji, the eighth son of Rao Jodha, the founder of Jodhpur. The latter moved to this region and founded the royal dynasty at Khimsar. One section of the fort still remains as the residence of the royal family of Khimsar while the rest has been converted into a charming heritage hotel.

Best For:

The Nagaur Cattle Fair which is held between the months of January and February, has vibrantly decorated cattle on display. It is a week-long camel and cattle fair where serious trading takes place. Thousands of people flock to this site and there is a fair share of song, dance, camel fashion and trinket trading. During the fair, the Rajasthan Tourist Development Corporation (RTDC) arranges single and double tents to accommodate the people and also sets up a hotel for that purpose.     

The summer temperature ranges from a maximum of 42.2 C to a minimum of 27.3 C (April, May and June) while the winter is much cooler, ranging from a maximum of 25 C to a minimum of 9.5 C. The rainy season lasts from July to mid – September leaving the months between October to March as the best time to travel.

Visitors arriving at Jaipur International Airport can get foreign currency and travelers cheques exchanged there. Currency can also be exchanged at the State Bank of India at Jodhpur or at the Hotel Khimsar Fort which has a Money Exchange desk.   

Getting Around – Domestic Flights
The nearest domestic airport is at Jodhpur 95-kms away.

International Airport:

The nearest international airport is at Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan. Some tourists prefer to travel to Delhi international airport and then proceed by road or train to their destination in Rajasthan.

Getting Around – Road Travel
Khimsar can be reached by bus or by taxi from Jodhpur. Buses also operate from most of the other cities of Rajasthan.

Getting Around – Train Travel 
The nearest railhead is at Jodhpur on the Western Railway broad-gauge network. Jodhpur is linked to various centers by express and passenger trains. New Delhi, Agra, Jaisalmer, Jaipur, Udaipur and Ahmedabad are some of the important cities linked to Jodhpur by rail. The train from Osian to Jodhpur takes one hour and thirty minutes to cover the 65 km distance.

The Khimsar Fort – The initial construction of the fort started in 1523. Originally the fort walls, turrets and stables were built solely for war purposes but the royal family moved in during the 18th century when the zenana or ladies wing was added. Thakur Onkar Singh constructed a regal wing for himself in the 1940s.

Shopping:

Small stalls around the Khimsar Fort are full of Rajasthani handicraft items such as puppets, mirror work showpieces and antiques. 

Hotel Khimsar Fort has been awarded Grand Heritage classification by the Department of Tourism, Government of India. I
Jeep, camel or horse safaris can be arranged from the hotel.

Khimsar Dunes Village located at a distance of 6 kms from the Khimsar Fort in the heart of the seven dunes of ‘Akla’, measuring 8 kms in circumference. A water body in the centre makes it a perfect sixty acre oasis of peace. The village, surrounded by sand dunes is accessible by jeeps, camels and horses.

27 kilometers to the south west of Khimsar is the settlement of Osian, famous for its finely carved Jain and Hindu temples dating back to the 8th and 11th centuries. Mandore, nine kilometers north of Jodhpur attracts visitors for its lush gardens and ‘chhatris’ (cenotaphs, literally ‘umbrellas’).

The towns of Pushkar and Ajmer lie to the southeast while Nagaur-40 kilometers to the northeast of Khimsar and can be visited as half day tour. 

Sadar Samand Lake to the south of Khimsar is a charming and remote wildlife centre. The route to the lake passes through a number of colourful little villages

Khejaria, located to the south of Khimsar, en route from Jodhpur to Ajmer, has a 400 year-old fort. Its extraordinary carved window frames, made of deep-red sandstone, are bunched on the front of its stern fortifications and are a sight to behold.

The Rohetgarh fort at Rohet and Fort Chanwa at Luni can be visited by those staying for a longer period of time at Khimsar.

Khimsar can be added to your travel itinerary on way to Jaisalmer from Jodhpur, or on the return journey as it is a one-night destination for those interested in a rejuvenating desert experience.