The Thar Desert in Rajasthan, India, denies every misconception about deserts being barren or lifeless, devoid of culture. Besides that, the Thar makes up over 10% of India’s geographic area and is the 17th largest desert in the world; it is indeed a very vibrant ecosystem because it has various human forms and wildlife within. Instead of desolate wasteland, it is a thriving landscape home to resilient communities within an impressive array of wildlife and burgeoning eco-friendly tourism that showcases the beauty and importance of sustainable travel.
A Living Desert
I always thought deserts were something like this vast, endless stretch of golden sand: a good place for the inhospitable life, where life would hardly struggle to survive. The Thar Desert changed all that for me. I had always dreamed of endless dunes, and yet here was life thriving in every corner of what to me had seemed a cruel and barren land.
I came to a tiny village on the margins of the Thar Desert, where approximately thirty families lived in a society that had learned to endure and flourish in one of the world achieves most arid conditions. I remember being astonished the first time I saw houses built from local vegetation. How could anything grow in sand, I questioned, when to my eyes, it looked as though there was nothing but thorny shrubs and scraggly trees?
My host, Gemar Singh, or Gemar ji as he was fondly called, smiled into his face when he expounded the subtle interconnection of man’s environmental relationships with that of the local people, saying that the desert was a “living desert”–where not only man survived, but also varied life manifested in wildlife. Now, I could see that the desert actually funded and habitats great varieties: from the elegant chinkara (Indian gazelle) to the nilgai (the blue bull), and the grey shrike.
The desert has all these hardy types of vegetation –like roheda trees (desert teak) and tart ker berries– which also consists of a very vibrant culture of camel herders, who are responsible for living along this desert geography for ages. Such are the people that hold great knowledge within them. They are able to track lost camels by reading their hoof prints. And such skills form an invaluable aspect and identity as inheritance from generations to generations that are still very relevant in the desert life.
Discovering Sustainable Desert Living
Rajasthan has developed desert tourism and completely neglected small towns like Osian, which is just 85 kilometers from Jodhpur, but which gives a truly authentic, sustainable experience of living in the desert with very little buzz at this time.
Gemar ji has created an eco-travel company at Hacra Dhani to give firsthand experience of real desert life. The initiative is intended to help travelers move away from their hectic schedule to experience the simplicity and fulfillment that accompany a lifestyle in a desert area.
Hacra Dhani combines accommodation with traditional and modern comforts. The Jhumpa huts are tiny guesthouses constructed using a desert style with local mud and sandstone slabs with thatched roofs. The huts are built entirely on solar energy without any running water, electricity, or en-suite bathrooms. Instead, guests are provided with lamps at night, which truly augments the desert spirit but does not sacrifice comfort. For those seeking a touch more luxury, Hacra offers glamping with spacious rooms and modern bathrooms.
During their stay, the visitors can explore the desert on camel rides and wildlife safaris and take long walks with local guides. The true spirit of Hacra Dhani, though, is the slow immersion into life that exists here. The community walks shed light on the rural communities of Rajasthan, like the Rajputs and Bishnois. The Bishnois, in particular, are an indigenous Hindu sect known for almost applying their whole life in respect and protection of nature.
Walking about, one is always swept away by the thought that three generations of a family can live together in harmony with nature. Farming is done on a subsistence basis in which most families grow their own crops, such as millets and pulses, and keep livestock.
Sustainability Commitment
The journey of Gemar ji along with Hacra Dhani was live mainly due to a concern for developing sustainable livelihoods developed for local communities. But this vision seemed to get broader because he came to understand more about responsible travel and value in conserving local culture. What began as an eco-stay transformed into a medium that could now employ several community local guides, camel herders, and kitchen staff. Traveling with international tourists was also a great opportunity for Gemar ji to improve his skills in the field of tourism. He learned how to adapt the dynamics of tourist change and introduce practices that are not only responsible but also sensitively related to the desert and its communities.
For him, sustainability is not only about the environment, but it also respects the local customs and traditions. He has been on the front line to involve the local community in such an enterprise, whereby they have the tourism benefits while holding their lands and lifestyles. Over time, the Hacra team has learned how to lead visitors into understanding how they should respect local traditions, from the dress codes to dietary preferences to the whole ethos of the desert life. Respecting the local culture, says Gemar ji, is really one of the fundamental pillars of a responsible traveler, and this is something he strives to impart to every visitor.
The Future of Desert Tourism
Today, Hacra Dhani stands proof towards the survival of both the desert ecosystem and its dwellers. For a while, as Gemar ji strained to develop facilities and bring in modern technology, the living conditions remained primitive. Hacra’s transformation into a flourishing eco-enterprise is most appropriate for their socioeconomic support to the local population and broadened understanding of desert conservation and sustainable living to visitors.
I have just come from spending two days in this place and the experience has moved me. The earlier belief that the desert was barren now stands totally discredited by the sheer vibrancy, rhythm, culture, and hope of this place. And if such great souls as Gemar ji would be at the helm, I have no doubt that the Thar Desert will continue to thrive for generations, not only as a destination but as a testament to the beautiful disharmony that can be achieved between nature and mankind.
