Also see: our photography tour to Rajasthan.
There is something endearing about winter evenings in the desert expanses of Rajasthan. As the sun moves towards the horizon, sky acquires a shade of orange and slowly turns into deeper hues of red. The sand glows in the last rays of sun and appears like a powder of gold splashed across the landscape. Camels begin their way home, walking slowly along the ridges of the sand-dunes, their backs forming a gently rising and falling wave of silhouettes. Distant forts glow in the evening sun and dominate the expanse, rising high above everything else as a reminder of a glorious past. The now blood-red sky to the west slowly darkens by the minute. Occasional chime from the cowbells tied around a camel’s neck break the excited chatter of people, and just when the evening is about to fall silent, desert songs from a distance come floating in the evening wind. There is a sense of contentment in the air even as a gentle breeze sends a reminder of the nippy winter days and sends you back indoors.
In the western edge of the Thar Desert, winters are a time of the year when the weather is invigorating, sunrise and sunsets are a splash of colours and the mood is always elated. Here is celebrating the winters of Rajasthan with images of glorious skies and a beautiful earth.
These images were made by participants and mentors of our photography tour to Rajasthan. Click on the images to see them large and then use navigation arrows to jump to next/prev image.
Camel, camel-people and a colourful sky! Photograph by Kishan Harwalkar. This, and several other images of sunset on the sands by Kishan were extremely popular on 500px.com, and one of them even made it to the first page of popular images on this image-sharing website. See them all at 500px.com/kishanharwalkar
Flight of pigeons and array of arched pavilions (called chhatris) are characteristics of towns at the edge of the desert. By Shilpakala BA.
Gigantic forts, often located on a steeply rising crag are another hallmark of Rajasthan’s urban landscapes. In this image, sun shines over majestic Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur and the ‘blue city’ located far below. By photography mentor Arun Bhat.
A highway through the desert glitters in the evening sun. The endless roads of Rajasthan invite the travellers from far corners of the country to witness its treasures and take home many memories. By Prashanth TK.
A line of camel against a colourful evening sky, reminiscent of the caravans of the olden days. By Arun Bhat.
At dusk, as the last light of sun is still reflected by a thinly spread clouds along the horizon, the first stars begin to shimmer, and the magnificent Amber Fort comes alive in flood lights. By Kishan Harwalkar.
When the light fades further and only a faint blue remains in the sky, Jal Mahal Palaces dazzles over the water, flanked by faintly visible hills fading away in the background. By Lavanya Reddy.
There are some occasions when mother nature decides to become generous and dazzles the onlooker with a rarely seen spectacle. By Suresh UT.
Sunrises are equally resplendent although short-lived compared to sunsets. Pigeons fly over a pavillion built over Gadisar Lake, Jaisalmer. By Arun Bhat.
Celebrating a glorious sunrise with music from the desert and dance to the tunes. By Suchi Govindarajan.
All the above were made by participants and mentors of our photography tour to Rajasthan, conducted every winter. Visit the tour page to know more and to be a part of this experience this year.