Pic: Michael Luther / Dera Dune Retreat
es.
A cold drink and a cold towel to
wipe our dusty faces welcomed us,
something we bikers are not used to,
so the more appreciated. The Resort
Director, a biker himself, knows how
welcoming this is. Bikers’ groups are
welcomed here with open arms.
The facilities and design of this
place are unique. Who would expect
a dazzling blue swimming pool on top
of a dune? The Rajasthani architecture
is stunning and inviting. Drinks
by the pool? Yes please. We don’t do
this while on bike tours but what a
welcome relief. The individual cottages
are a dream with bathrooms to
die for. I make a beeline for a restoring
shower after hours on the road.
What is most extraordinary here is
what you can do: Nothing, if you so
choose, or, you can opt to join a guided
outing to explore the surrounding
villages -whether it is by camel or 4x4
vehicle.
Organised expeditions take you
to Bishnoi Villages,
environmentalists,
later. Salt pans to w
ous process of colle
camel safaris take y
desert and, to top it
a unique place whe
Demoiselle cranes l
gruelling trip from
across the Himalay
who has dedicated
and offer a safe plac
land and feed on gr
at the crack of dawn
Sewaram Mali ha
cranes for years. H
daily and procures
farmers to create a
the birds. The day w
he counted 10,000;
20,000. That’s a lot o
There is somethi
and conservationism
The Bishnoi peop
a Hindu sect create
tury) came to notor
TRAVERSE