The movie locations in The Sand Dunes of Jaisalmer are world famous destinations

The sand dunes filming is favourite hot spots in every third movie, Rajasthan sands are full of legendary romance in royal moods.

One of the most fascinating sites in Rajasthan is possibly the sand dunes of Jaisalmer. It has been the perfect background for some grandiose, dance extravaganzas in Hindi movies. It is around forty kilometers from the city of Jaisalmer and a great relief from the hustle and bustle of our everyday existence. The city also has a fort which as the guides tells you is the only “living fort” in the country i.e. here people stay in the fort even today. The fort boasts of some beautiful temples and the usual tourist attractions of Rajasthani art and craft.  After a visit to the fort, you head towards the Sam sand dunes and you are pleasantly surprised to see the serene wide expanse of sand dunes in Sam.

As you reach the sand dunes, the serenity is broken by the sound of tourists and the travel guides. There is a huge crowd of people to see the sunset and sunrise at Sam sand dunes. Tourism in Rajasthan is very well developed and hence you have local artistes singing and dancing to create the perfect setting for a perfect sunset. The sand dunes look majestic but are equally treacherous and it is wise not to venture out too far away even if you find the noise maddening. A camel cart or a camel ride to the sunset point adds to the beauty of the trip. When the red sun sets suddenly behind the sand dunes it leaves behind great memories in your mind. However, as soon as the sun sets the place gets dark and unbelievably cold.

Now is the time to head to the accommodation that is entirely of tents, some ordinary and some luxurious. The tents usually have beds and an attached toilet. Soon after you come back from the sunset point and freshen up after the hectic day, you can hear the sound of music wafting near you tent. This comes from the local artists arranged by the tent managers. They are gathered near a bonfire that each cluster of tents has in its central area. People usually sit around the bonfire and listen to some Rajasthani music and enjoy Rajasthani dance. The local artists encourage you to participate in the song and dance. The setting is perfect for some ethnic Rajasthani cuisine which is very varied and delicious too. As the evening progresses, it gets quite cold outside especially during the winter months. A good night’s rest is what the doctor ordered for you.

The next morning is the time to visit the locals and get a first hand idea of life in these harsh conditions. It is unbelievable how humans adapt to all kinds of environments and lead a near normal active life. The cold does not deter them from performing any of the duties of everyday life. In January, the places just outside the villages are so cold you tend to forget that you are in a desert and not on a hilltop. Deserts are hot during the day and cold at night, but it is a revelation that it can be this cold in the desert in the winter mornings. All in all, a visit to the sand dunes of Jaisalmer is a must to savor the real essence of the Thar desert of India.

The Exquisite Pangong Lake

As you watch the climax of the Hindi movie 3 idiots, you may be forgiven for not listening to the dialogues. The Pan Gong Tso or the Pangong Lake where the scene has been shot steals the thunder from the drama unfolding before you. The crystal clear waters of the lake mesmerize you; they take your breath away. If you have ever visited the lakes in popular tourist spots in India you know what I am talking about. They are sure to turn you off boating or a walk around them. This is precisely why Pangong Lake is such a tourist delight. The water is absolutely clear and reflects the sky and its myriad hues.

The Pangong  Lake is situated near Leh in Ladakh. It is a drive along picturesque mountains, sometimes snow clad too. There is an ascent till you reach the Changla Pass, the third highest motor able road in the world. Hot green tea is served with a lot of warmth by the Indian army here. There is a small souvenir shop worth a visit. From Changla the descent starts via the village Tangste. Along the way, lot of unusual animals can be seen. Among them is the rare Ladakh Marmot – a rodent like creature almost as big as a small pup. Probably, because of the sound of jeeps, it stands alert on its two hind legs and is a sight to behold. There are also wild horses and yaks for company.  In the sky you can see seagulls and the Brahmini ducks. All along the drive the view continues to enthrall you.

The first glimpse of the Pangong Lake is from between two high hills. As you descend towards the Pangong Lake, you lose sight of it for some time only to be greeted by the spectacularly large lake. Its vastness takes you by surprise and it is only 40% of the majestic lake. The rest of the lake lies in China and is hence forbidden territory. The “blueness” of the lake is a visual that cannot be described in words; it has to be seen to be believed. The water in the lake is surprisingly chilly even on a hot Ladakhi summer afternoon. No wonder it is not a favorite pastime of the tourists and helps preserve its pristine waters. The lake is actually a salt water lake and thus supports very little vegetation and aquatic life although sometimes one does find small fishes and plants near the shores.

As you walk around the lake the beauty and the serenity of the place envelops you. The tranquility despite the tourists is a rejuvenating feeling. The stop here is usually around an hour or an hour and a half as most of the tourists have to travel five hours back to Leh. A few daring ones choose to stay overnight to watch the sunset and the sunrise. It can get bitingly cold after sunset and breathing too gets difficult as AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) grips you. The stay lasts an hour, but the memories remain forever in the mind of the visitor.

The Indian Railways' Green Initiative in Online Ticket Printing

Travel aids too can be environment friendly, a corporate caring to save greenery with just a little message in online reservation portal, a stylish Social, Responsibility of rail admins.

The Indian railways first made the planning of travel easier by implementing an efficient system for online booking of tickets, and now it has gone a step further – gone are the days when you had to produce a printed version of your e-ticket. According to notices put up on the railways website and printed in national newspapers, passengers do not need to carry a hard copy of their tickets.

It is enough to prove the authenticity of your ticket that you have with you the sms about the booking of the e-ticket, or a screenshot of the e-ticket on your phone or camera, or the ticket saved on your laptop. This electronic copy of the ticket is called Virtual Reservation Message (VRM), and along with a valid identification proof, it is all you need to produce before the Ticket Examiner.

However, through my observations of fellow passengers and conversations with friends, it seems that people have not taken this very seriously. A majority of people still have their tickets printed – and this is no small matter, because the official website of the Indian Railways says that these printed sheets account for a staggering 3 lakhs of wasted A4 sheets daily!

Perhaps this is because of the fear resulting from all we know or have heard of the arbitrariness of government officials – nobody wants to be told to get off a train, in the middle of nowhere because they aren't carrying a printed copy of their e-ticket. That thought needs to change – it is perfectly fine to carry a VRM with you instead.