Jaisalmer is a charming desert frontier city on the edge of the desert that separates India and Pakistan. The desert is like the sage brush and juniper deserts of central Oregon, with patches of sand dunes, here and there. The camel rules as the beast of burden. The city is being crushed by tourists. It is on the circuit for backpackers and for package tour operators, but for the most part the city has not lost its charm. The hilltop fort is packed with private homes, hotels, cafes and lots of shops...too many people in the small space and for the antiquated water and sewage system. It is dry here, and they are in the middle of a dry spell. They say that they get an average of 15 cm of rain a year, and that in the past, it has not been uncommon for dry spells to go on for 6 or 7 years with no rain. There are wells where people get water, and they say that in good spots, there is sweet water about 30 feet down.
No comments:
Post a Comment