The otherworldly expanse of Sambhar has attracted many filmmakers to Rajasthan. Take a tour of the salt lake on a train Shutterstock We are grateful to have reached the right time to attend an aarti before departing on the next leg of our trip. On the sides of Devyani Kund, one of the four ancient Shiva temples is Baba Jageshwar temple, where it is believed that no one has yet been able to find out the depth of the lingam. It is here, we are told, that Mughal emperor Akbar married Rani Jodha.
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On a full moon night like ours, the area, from the top of the cenotaph, glimmers like silver in the moonlight.Īlso called ‘Little Pushkar’, Devyani temple is believed to be the site of the wedding of Devayani (daughter of sage Shukracharya - guru of the demons) with King Yayati. Legend has it that Shakambari Devi has converted the region into a saline lake to keep it away from the greedy eyes of adjoining states. But if you’re on your own, it would do well to hire a local car from the town, with a detailed map from Sambhar Salts Limited, to whom a large part of the area has been leased.įor a divine experience, or simply a clearer view of the salt flats, you can make the hike to Shakambari Devi Temple, believed to be 2,500 years old, and one of the three Shaktipeeths dedicated to Goddess Shakambhari. We had driven in our own car, so we could chase pockets of water with birds around it. If you are an avid avian enthusiast, Sambhar lake is best visited between October and February - the time when most migratory birds are soaring towards the sky in unison, lending colours to this arid region before the sun dries up the wetland, leaving behind the famed Sambhar salt. The town, steeped in antiquity, seems to be asleep, allowing visitors to travel in quiet, away from the din of loud cities.īirdwatching Lesser flamingo migrates to Sambhar lake Shutterstock It is one of the two Ramsar sites in Rajasthan – the other one is the Keoladeo National Bird Sanctuary at Bharatpur.
The lake was designated a Ramsar Site in 1990, and is one of the sites for conservation action under the Indian Wetland Conservation Programme. Sambhar also offers many things for travellers to explore. While there are no flamingos to spot, there are many migratory birds that will stay in the dry bed till March. Salt being collected at Sambhar Shutterstock It hardly has water enough to be called a lake, but come monsoon, I’m told, the lake turns into a pink wetland, with flamingos finding their way here in search of the elusive sun. A two hour drive from Jaipur, and roughly 300 kms from Delhi, Sambhar Lake is India’s largest inland salt lake, spread over 90 sq kms, and touches three districts of Rajasthan with its shores - Jaipur, Ajmer and Nagaur.
A six hour drive from Agra had brought me to Sambhar, in hopes of spending time in the dusty lake that appears to be a dried up bed of prickly desert soil mixed with salt, which gives it its distinct white look.
The sun is still a few breaths away from stretching its arms while the night jostles to linger.