India is a large country and there are various types of landscapes you may explore in different states to enjoy the vacation. A major portion of the Indian landscape includes desert, forest, and grassland. Desert is a barren land where there is less or no greenery present. Deserts are often a distinct choice to enjoy a vacation but many travelers would love to explore various activities organized in various deserts in India. Desert doesn’t mean dunes and extremely hot climate or temperature. There is the beautiful type of desert one can fall love with and should plan for a vacation at least once. Tourists who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city may visit this deserted landscape. The destination offers stunning views and enjoys the sunset. Here are given the lists of the top 10 largest deserts in India.
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1. Great Rann of Kutch
The Great Rann of Kutch is also known as Rann of Kutch and it is located in the northern part of Gujarat. It is a part of Thar Desert and covers an area of 7500 sq km. The desert spreads from Gujarat to the Pakistan border. Rann of Kutch is known as the white desert of India probably one of the most beautiful and surreal places. The white salt desert comes alive during winters when the Rann festival is held during December-February. There will be huge camps settled with cultural programs, functions, and adventurous activities. Kutch is the largest district of India with a low population density. It is one of the dustiest and hottest regions in India. The desert is covered with layers of white salt giving an appearance of a snow-covered landscape. Winter remains cool to freezing while summer the temperature can reach up to 50 degrees Celcius. The salt desert is a beautiful home for amazing wildlife and it is the most attractive and popular destination in Gujarat.
2. The Thar Desert
The Thar Desert is the main dessert of Western India and it is spread across an area of 200000 km sq making it the 7th largest desert in the world. The name Thar comes from thul, it’s a term that showcases deserts characteristics. The sandy Thar Desert is surrounded by the Aravalli ranges and 10 percent of the desert contains dunes while the rest is formed of sandy rocks, grasslands, and dry salt lake beds. It borders the Indus River to the west and the desert stays hot most of the time. The dry subtropical area brings monsoon to the rest part of India. The region feature extreme temperature during winter.
3. The Deccan Thorn Scrub Forest
The Deccan thorn scrub forest is spread across the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. It is a dry forest and the terrain remains rocky with less vegetation in that area. The temperature reaches up to 40 degrees Celcius during summer. Only bushes survive in those areas. The place makes a home for 350 species of birds. The place receives less than 750 millimeters of rainfall and the area remains dry from November to April. Tourists can see great Indian bustard and blackbuck there. The area once used to be the home for a large number of elephants and tigers. The tress in this forest doesn’t require much water.
4. Spiti Valley Cold Desert
Spiti valley is a cold desert located in Himachal Pradesh and it is a completely barren land. The cold mountain desert is located in high altitude great Himalaya Mountains, Spiti in Himachal Pradesh. The area is surrounded by high mountain ranges and receives heavy snowfall during winters. It is one of the most stunning desert one can visit during their trip to Himachal Pradesh. Due to the high altitude, there is a lack of oxygen and vegetation there. The landscape looks like a huge Barren Mountain and the place is a perfect getaway for those who like gazing stars and the beautiful night sky at night. Spiti valley remains closed during winter due to heavy rainfall. It is one of the least populated places in India. The valley lies northeastern part of the state and receives very little rainfall. During winter the small number of residents living in the village remains cut off from the rest of the country until the snow clears. There are many Buddhist monasteries infused with Tibetan culture and it adds serenity of ambiance. Adventurous activities are available for bikers, trekkers, and hikers.
5. Pushkar
Pushkar is a holy desert city in Ajmer district located in Rajasthan. It is one of the oldest cities in India and a famous pilgrim town in Rajasthan with many temples devoted to Lord Brahma. Pushkar is the city where you can enjoy a camel ride. The desert region hosts a famous camel fair which is also the largest camel fair in the world. Pushkar lies at the outskirt of Thar desert and it is well-known for creeping sands, shifting dunes, and hot winds. Pushkar is a part of the Thar desert mostly terrain and filled with craggy rocks. It is also a religious place visited by many Sikhs and Hindus. Puskar hosts a fair every year and it attracts a lot of tourists throughout the year. The best time to visit the place is during November and don’t forget to enjoy lip-smacking Rajasthan cuisine.
6. Bikaner
Bikaner is located northwest region of Rajasthan and the city is spread an area of 155 km square with a total population 644406. It is one of the oldest cities in Rajasthan that consists of deserts with dunes, where tourists enjoy a camel ride. Bikaner is also known for its unique rat temple. The place is a cultural paradise and heaven for travelers. The city captivates you with ancient palaces and forts. The city is prominent for camel breeding and some best-known camel ridings. The city of forts and palaces is also known for sweets and snacks. Desert safari and dunes is a major attraction there. They also host the International camel festival to draw the attention of tourists from the world. Bikaner is 330 km from Jaipur and the sandhills are a part of Thar desert. Tourists may explore wildlife in the Gajner wildlife sanctuary which is home to chinkara, blackbuck, nilgai, desert fox, and a variety of birds.
7. Jodhpur
Jodhpur, ‘The Blue City’ is also known as Gateway to Thar. Jodhpur is located in Rajasthan and it is known as the blue city due to a large number of blue houses in the city. It is an old city bounded with large fort walls and it has various temples and palaces too. Jodhpur is a popular tourist destination in India. It is a place where you can view a great piece of architecture, history, and desert. They have a vibrant food culture. Jaswant Thada is a noted monument in the city and it is a finely carved white marble memorial. To experience a desert safari, tourists need to visit Osian which lies 65km away from Jodhpur. The city is one of the popular desserts in India and tourists used to visit the area from October to march as the weather remains pleasant.
8. Nubra Valley
Nubra valley is located in the state of Jammu & Kashmir and it lies 150 km from Leh town. The place consists of a barren mountain and it is a cold desert. Nubra valley is 10000 ft above from the sea level and the high altitude makes the landscape a mountain land. It is an isolated area with white dunes and looks somewhat similar to the Spiti valley. The Nubra river flows through and there are beautiful monasteries colored in a rich shade of gold and red. It is a part of the Ladakh region of India and the unique desert offers a spectacular sight of prettiness in its silvery dunes. It is one of the most isolated places in India and doesn’t have too many options to dine out.
9. Khimsar
Khimsar is a small village located in Rajasthan and an ideal place to spend the weekend during winters. Khimsar is 90km away from Bikaner and Jodhpur highway and quite famous for hosting the Nagaur festival every year. The main attraction of the place is 450 years old Nagaur fort which is awarded the ‘National Grand Heritage Award for Excellence’. Khimsar is popular for its golden dunes and there are many activities like camel safari, campfire, folk dance, and songs take place at night for visitors. The destination is quite popular among people living in Rajasthan.
10. Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer is located in Rajasthan and is known as The Golden City. The main attraction of Jaisalmer is the dunes of the Thar desert and it attracts lots of tourists during the winter season. Jaisalmer is one of the major deserts in India and the place is adorned with lake, Jain temples, Havelis, castles in golden yellowish sandstone. The major tourist attraction of the city is the desert camel safari. Various hotels provide different cultural activities including dancing and music. Lying close to the Indo-Pakistan border, the desert of Jaisalmer is quite popular for conducting cultural festivals in Rajasthan.