Camel country

Bikaner - The Camel Country

Bikaner, the fourth largest city of the desert state of Rajasthan, India is a famous tourist attraction, and an important destination of the triangle that include, besides Bikaner, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer. The place of the valiant Rajput warriors and Kings, the "Camel Country" reminds us of the many tales of unmatched chivalry, poise and valor for which the Rajput warriors of the bygone era were so famous for.

Founded by Rao Bika Ji who built the city on the barren parched Jungledesh, Bikaner is much famous for its many wonderful palaces, beautiful temples, imposing forts, sprawling deer parks, excellent Wood Fossil Park, stunning havelis, thrilling jeep and camel safaris, captivating sand dunes, and the graceful camels, besides, of course, the Bikaneri Bhujia and Bikaneri Namekeens.

Though the entire Bikaner is a wonderful tourist destination, there are some prominent attractions that must not be missed while on a visit to this beautiful part of the world. Among the local attractions, Junagarh Fort, Lallgarh Palace, Gajner Palace, Camel Breeding Farm, Shri Laxminath Temple, Devi Kund Sagar (cenotaphs) are worth visiting. And, among the nearby attractions, Kalibangan, Karimal Rat Temple, and Gajner Sanctuary are worth visiting.

While the magnificent Junagarh Fort is the most famous landmark of Bikaner and an imposing fort in red sandstone and represents the Rajput architecture at its best, the sprawling Gajner Sanctuary is a wonderful natural habitat and an excellent destination for the wildlife lovers and nature enthusiasts. The beautiful Gajner Lake inside the sanctuary is a haven for the bird watchers and attracts migratory birds from distant lands.

How to reach

Bikaner is 317 km away from Jaipur, the state capital; and 243 km away from Jodhpur, another famous tourist destination of Rajasthan. Bikaner is well connected by road, rail, and air. The nearest airport is at Udaipur, the City of Lakes. From Bikaner, there's direct rail link to Delhi, Mumbai and Chandigarh, besides many other major Indian cities. Good bus services are available from Bikaner to Jaipur, Agra, Haridwar, and Ahmedabad, besides some other major Indian cities.

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Camel back

Hiking on Camelback Mountain in Phoenix Arizona

Camelback Mountain is probably the most prominent geological feature that rears its head against the sky in northeast Phoenix and you'll find a number of the valley's most famous resorts laid out around its base. The world famous icon looms over the horizon on the valley's northeast side and provides some of the best urban hiking in America. Camelback is said to be one of the toughest to climb (within city limits), especially if you climb the side without the railing.     

The Echo Canyon Summit Trail and the Cholla Trail are both strenuous and not for the novice.  You can expect to scramble over boulders and loose rocks on some stretches and there are also areas of slippery rock. Camelback Mountain rises 1400 feet above the Phoenix valley to 2704 feet above sea level.  

Where to Park  

Park on Invergordon between Camelback Road and McDonald Drive; then walk up Cholla Lane to the trail. Parking spaces are really scarce and you may find yourself waiting 15 or 20 minutes for a spot to open up. If you are hiking at Echo Canyon you will find a parking lot that will probably be full after 8 in the morning. There are a couple of parking areas within a half mile along McDonald Drive. Parking can really be tough on the weekends and you may have to take a little hike from neighboring residential areas but the views really make it all worth while.  

Trails  

Trailheads on Camelback Mountain are usually open from sunrise to sunset. The main hiking trail loops around the covered picnic area at Echo Canyon. Then it takes off  through some spectacular sandstone rock formations and you'll be rewarded with remarkable views from the top of the mountain out across the city of Phoenix.   

Echo Canyon Trail on the Northwest side of Camelback Mountain, just off McDonald and Tatum, is considered to be one of the most difficult, extreme park trails located within an urban environment in the US. At the Echo Canyon Summit Trailhead you can find portable toilets and a water fountain (not always working). Be sure to bring your own water. Echo Canyon is now closed to visitors at night, but I think that is a small price to pay for the access that the area provides in the daytime. Hikers going down yield to hikers going up and hikers with kids and dogs yield to everybody. Hikers must walk up on the south side of Cholla Lane.  

There are a couple of easy to moderate trails that loop around the scenic portions of the bottom of the mountain and will give families an opportunity to enjoy the views without having to make the climb to the summit. Once you get started on the trails and have a chance to see the views you will probably want to join the other hikers, rock climbers and fitness buffs making their way to the summit of Camelback Mountain. It may be a tough hike but the views of Phoenix/Scottsdale and the mountains in the background are unparalleled.      

Camelback Mountain is a marvelous blend of luxury homes, golf courses, resorts and rugged mountain trails that seem to come together within a natural setting that permits a blended existence of gracious lifestyles and outdoor recreation. 

Jere Moline has been a life long traveler and has enjoyed the cultures of many countries throughout the world. He has experienced several different types of travel both on his own and on planned excursions. For more information on hiking in the Desert Southwest be sure to stop by:
http://www.discounttraveltoday.com

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Desert camels

Camels - The Desert Workhorse

The Arabian camel is a desert animal. If necessary, it can go without food for days at a time. The hump on the camels back is fat and this fat serves as stored food. The camel can also go without water for long periods of time but scientists are just beginning to understand how it does this.

The camel is also suited in other ways to desert life. Its broad, padded feet stay on top of sand as the camel walks. When sand blows, the camel can shut its nostrils into slits. And it has thick pads on its knees. It kneels comfortably on these.

The Arabian camel is sometimes called the ship of the desert. Used as a beast of burden, it can carry several hundred pounds. Slightly smaller camels are raised for riding. One humped camels are sometimes called dromedaries.

Arabian camels are mostly raised in the deserts of North Africa and Arabia. They all have one hump. They eat the leaves of desert plants. They belong to the big group of animals called hoofed mammals.

Another kind of camel lives on the dry, cold plains of central Asia. This is the Bactrian camel. It has two humps on its back. It also has long hair. The Bactrian camel can carry a pack over thick snow in below-zero weather. It can stay alive on scrub plants that few other animals would eat. People of the Asian plains raise the camel for milk, meat, hides, and hair for making cloth.

The camels closest relatives are four animals of South America: the guanaco, vicuna, llama, and alpaca.

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Camel Festival

About Camel Festival:
Camel Festival is one of the most important as well as the most famous festival of the gem city - 'Bikaner' of the heritage Indian state of Rajasthan. This is a colorful festival with a lot of fun, music, arts and entertaining events. This grand festival is being organized every year by the Department of Tourism, Art & Culture, Rajasthan in the month of January. This year Camel Festival will be organized between 18th to 20th January 2011. Camel Festival is the best event, where you may see the ships of desert - camel.

Celebration:
This tremendous fest is celebrated at the vast grounds, enriched with golden-yellow sands and the massive Junagarh Fort at its backdrop. The magnificent fest starts with the procession of beautifully decorated camels. The camels are fantastically decorated with bright-colored, fancy Rajasthani textiles and stunning accessories. The procession leads to the open sand grounds, where the festival begins.

Events & Attractions:
Camel extravaganza is held on the beginning day of the fest, in which the camel owners decorate their camels in the best way with jewelry and textiles. It is a kind of Camel Show. Also many other such activities like camel dance, best decorated camel, fur cutting design, camel milking and the best camel hair-cut are performed. Under their trainers, the camels give such amazing performances, that force everyone to cut its finger.

Camel race is the major attraction of the fest, in which camels of all the region take part. A number of tourists and visitors come to see the race and to cheer their favorites as well.
The evenings of the fest are in the name of local arts and folks. Various artists give their wonderful performances of dance, folk music that mesmerize the visitors.

The festival ends with the fascinating fireworks, that glitters the whole sky and leave unforgettable memories in the hearts of visitors.

Plan Rajasthan Tours and enjoy the colorful Rajasthan Festivals.

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Camel race

Camel Racing - Ready, Set, Brilliant

Brace yourself! Camel Racing on real race tracks? Of course, your eyes will pop right out with your mouth hanging after you witness this sporting extravaganza.

You have seen cars, trucks, boats, horses but have you witnessed a great Camel race? Abu Dhabi is where you need to be. These magnificent animals with their jockeys take to the field and strut their stuff for thousands of people gathered at these gala events.

Camel Racing has thus become a tourist attraction craved, this recreational sport lures you to see it, and you will surely not be disappointed by what it has on offer.

Setting aside it being the main tourist gathering, Abu Dhabi is a city coloured with life, culture, religion, beaches, adventure islands and parks but Camel Racing paints the picture and brings your travel expectations to life.

This spectacular event of choice gives you the opportunity to meet these celebrity camels, their jockeys and share a compliment or two.
However, these races only come alive during the winter season, and on the occasional public holidays. A sporting enthusiast with a passion for betting will go all out and cheer his or her favourite camel towards victory.

Camel Racing is not something 'new age' in Abu Dhabi, it's imprinted in their history books and you have the opportunity to not only be a part of its history but to partake in their traditions.

The perfect experience a tourist can ever have is a Camel Race experience and Abu Dhabi hands it to you whole heartedly, so if you are heading out on a visit during the winter days, don't miss out on a race, so tantalizing and blood pumping.

If you're looking for hotels in Abu Dhabi that are perfectly positioned for your traveling requirements and a hotel in Abu Dhabi that gives you the facilities and amenities that enrich your stay look no further than the lush Kingsgate Hotel Abu Dhabi, a sanctuary that offers you suites, superior and luxury rooms with views that leave you breathless.

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

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