If you want to get an experience of boating in a pristine pure lake, Gadisar is an attractive destination. Gadisar Lake is located 2 km. away from Jaisalmer Fort. The forests around Gadisar are full of Khejri trees and is home to several species of local and migratory birds. Located adjacent to Sonaar Haveli, one finds several heritage structures sculpted in sandstone, which reflect molten gold at sunrise and sunset. Sonaar Haveli is located just 3 km. away from Jaisalmer Fort and 4 km. away from Gadisar Lake. Gadisar Lake attracts migratory birds from Siberia and Tibet every winter. A person interested in wildlife, bird watching and boating should certainly visit Gadisar, which is the one of the largest rain-fed lakes in Jaisalmer District.

There are very few large water bodies in India where boating is possible, so when I came to know that Gadisar Lake offers one the rare experience of boating in a huge lake, I jumped at the opportunity and headed to Sonaar Haveli, Jaisalmer which is located close to Gadisar, for my boating adventure, with a stopover at Raj Resorts, Pushkar.

I arrive at the Sonaar Haveli in the afternoon and drive down to Jaisalmer Fort to take a few awesome photographs of this 11th century castle built by Maharawal Jaisal Singh Bhati, the founder of Jaisalmer.

It is difficult to believe that a 4 km. drive from Sonaar Haveli, will bring one to many secluded temples surrounded by a giant waterbody, teeming with wildlife. In a region as dry as Rajasthan, one would not expect to see a rain-cloud or two at certain times of the year. There is a rainy season but not day-long torrential rain, but a few isolated showers towards the evening. Gadisar is a year round destination where the lakes are open for boating regardless of the season.

One is writing this from one’s garden facing suite at the Sonaar Haveli at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. High velocity winds are a constant feature of Jaisalmer and they blow through the Khejri groves and coupled with the sounds of crickets, provide natural sounds which can put one into a light trance, during the night. That is why Sonaar Haveli’s message to their guests is “”sleep well and get sweet dreams…

I start my drive to Gadisar Lake from Sonaar Haveli at 9:00 a.m. after a vegan breakfast of porridge, freshly squeezed water-melon juice and gobi parathas. By 9:30 a.m. I have reached the ticket counter at the lake. Thirty minutes of boating in a foot-pedaled boat costs Rs. 200 and can seat four adults. If you prefer not to pedal, a boatman will row you around the lake for Rs. 600 for six adults. I bump into a group of three tourists from Goa and join them in their boat cruise in a foot pedaled boat.

Gadisar Lake is located near Jaisalmer Fort in Rajasthan. Gadisar Lake has several temples built of yellow coloured sandstone, seen reflected in the crystal clearness of the lake, which is soothing to one’s eyes.

The drive from Sonaar Haveli to Gadisar Lake takes you through the old city of Jaisalmer. One passes several heritage havelis enroute to Gadisar from Sonaar Haveli.

The unique feature about Sonaar Haveli is that each suite has spacious luggage racks, so that your bed remains uncluttered throughout your stay. Walking through Sonaar Haveli is no less than trekking through a designer studio. Sonaar Haveli is eco-friendly as all extra food is distributed among the hotel staff. Wastage of cooked food is minimal. Vegetables and fruits are sourced locally from their nearby organic farms. All vegetables cooked at Sonaar Haveli are sourced locally!

Sonaar Haveli offers a great opportunity for guests, both foreign and Indian to have close experiences with nature. My host at Sonaar Haveli is Mahaveer Singh, who is a hotel industry professional. He drives me down from Sonaar Haveli to Gadisar Lake in about fifteen minutes for the boating trip around this picturesque lake.

There are many trekking trails within the deserts surrounding Jaisalmer. These treks range from 1 km. to 2 km. and have different gradients of difficulty. Some of the avian life sighted at Gadisar lake include Rose-ringed Parakeets, Pond Herons, White-throated Kingfishers, Pied Kingfishers, Ring-necked doves and House Sparrows. Our objective was to circumnavigate Gadisar lake and sight local and migratory birds during one’s long boating adventure.

One can visit Jaisalmer Fort before going boating at Gadisar lake or after returning from Gadisar Lake. The Fort visit can range from 90 minutes for a quick tour and 180 minutes if you want to climb up to the view point on the fort ramparts. This fort is 900 years old and is a living fort with 3000 residents who live cheek by jowl in tiny dwellings which can be reached only on foot.

Gadisar Lake is located just 4 km. away from Sonaar Haveli. A 4 km. drive from Sonaar Haveli will take you to the oasis of tranquility aptly named Gadisar Lake. Gadisar Lake is one of the hidden gems of Rajasthan, the picture perfect surroundings of Gadisar not only makes it the perfect romantic destination but also a place to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of modern city life. Sonaar Haveli was started in 2013 by Bhim Singhji of Rajasthan Tours as a boutique hotel and is an ideal place to stay for the tranquil boat cruise on Gadisar Lake.

One can experience calmness, serenity, peace and tranquilness, as one pedals along the placid waters of Gadisar Lake. Travelling on a foot-pedaled boat, is the ideal way to relax. One moves at a slow and leisurely pace, the musical sound of the pedal as it touches the water at periodic intervals breaks the silence at dusk. The sound of the pedal gently hitting the water, the chirping of sparrows and the screams of peacocks are all that one gets to hear at dusk. With every pedal, one gets closer to one’s destination and with every pedal, light gives way to darkness.

Gadisar lake is surrounded by many ancient temples built of golden coloured sandstone. This sandstone is still found abundantly around Jaisalmer and is used in construction of houses even today. It is difficult to believe that a 4 km. drive from Sonaar Haveli, will bring one to a secluded lake surrounded by greenery. In a region as dry as Rajasthan, one would not expect to see a rain-cloud or two at certain times of the year. There is a rainy season but not day-long torrential rain, but a few isolated showers towards the evening. Gadisar is a year round destination and Gadisar Lake is open for boat rides regardless of the season.

After thirty minutes of gentle pedaling we move towards an island which is a birdwatcher’s dream come true! We pedal towards this island which sparkled like an emerald nestled in nature’s hand.

The most exciting part of boating at Gadisar Lake is to be able to meet new friends as you meet them at the ticket counter or pass them by during the boat cruise. After one hour of cruising around Gadisar Lake, we alight from our boat and are happy to see a group of young folk singers and three of the dancers swaying to the beats of the khartal as shown above.

A Langa folk singer playing the sarangi at Gadisar Lake. There are more musical performances in store for us, as we hear the nimble fingers of this Langa singer work mystical desert tunes from his sarangi (stringed musical instrument akin to a violin).

Locals sell everything from puppets to traditional Rajasthani ear-rings from make- shift stalls around the lake. The most fascinating aspect of my three nights stay at Sonaar Haveli, was to be able admire the heritage hotel’s architecture and embrace all modern amenities provided for a delightful experience. At the same time, one can meditate to the tune of nature by watching crimson sunrises and fiery red sunsets from the rooftop.

I started my day at 6 a.m. with a brisk walk, followed by 30 minutes of light yoga including Suryanamaskar at the lawns of Sonaar Haveli. Breakfast was no more than organic seasonal fruits, with watermelon juice and vegan porridge. I followed it with a trek to Jaisalmer Fort. An organic lunch with traditional Rajasthani delicacies followed. Afternoons were spent taking power-naps and evenings were reserved for exploring the hidden treasures of Jaisalmer.

I discovered the power of doing nothing here. I could close my eyes, chew my food slowly, so as to enjoy the taste of every morsel of food. Late afternoons were spent mediating in the lawn. Supper included clear vegetable soup and steamed vegetables after returning from the boating trip. Another aspect of Sonaar Haveli I liked was that I could see an amazing sunrise at dawn and an awesome sunset at dusk from the rooftop which is accessible from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.

I also went for an early morning walk from Sonaar Haveli, to Jaisalmer Fort. I must admit that walking through this ancient fort steeped in history, in the twilight hours of the morning was one close encounter with nature, which I will always remember. I feel that every resort in India would attract more repeat guests if they provide such a soothing ambience full of peace, tranquilness and serenity, like Sonaar Haveli offered me during my stay here.

I came to Sonaar Haveli as a guest but left as a friend. The team at Sonaar Haveli is young and full of energy. Bhim Singhji (MD)Mahaveer Singh (Resort Manager) and every member of the team ensured that I had a wonderful stay at Sonaar Haveli.

Precautions while boating:

  • Do not board the boat, till it is rock
  • Never shift from your seat in a moving
  • The pedal should not plough in the
  • Go at a steady clip with the
  • Be mindful of thorny bushes at the edge of the
  • Always go with a guide and navigator on all boating

 How to get there:

The nearest international airport to reach Gadisar is at New Delhi. The nearest domestic airport to reach Gadisar Lake is at Jaisalmer.

By flight:

The easiest way is by flight. Jaisalmer is connected to New Delhi by direct flights. Sonaar Haveli offers pickup and drop to or from Jaisalmer airport in chauffer driven cars at extra cost. One can also drive down the 600 km. to New Delhi to Gadisar or take an overnight bus.

By train:

The nearest Railway Station to reach Sonaar Haveli is at Jaisalmer. There are several options for tourists to get to Sonaar Haveli from Jaisalmer Railway Station.

By car:

The easiest way is by car. One can drive to Sonaar Haveli in 10 minutes as it is located 4 km. away. Haveli offers free pickup and drop from Jaisalmer Station, in chauffer driven jeeps/cars for guests. This 4 km. trip takes 10 minutes.

Where to eat?:

Water-melon juice was the nectar I consumed during my stay at Sonaar Haveli. Freshly squeezed vegetable and fruit juices including water-melon, sweet-lime and orange are served for vegans. No sugar or ice is added so that the juice retains its natural taste and detoxifies the body. If you want to do juice fasting for a few days, head for Sonaar Haveli.

Where to stay at Jaisalmer? :

Sonaar Haveli is an all suites luxury resort which offers a dream experience for both Indian and foreign tourists. The rooms are spacious and can comfortably accommodate a couple. The bathrooms are luxurious, with excellent hot water showers. Antique wall hangings and local furniture complete the picture for a perfect holiday.

The suites at Sonaar Haveli are priced at Rs. 10000/- plus GST (inclusive of all meals for two guests). The boat cruise costs Rs. 200/- for the thirty minute long cruise (maximum 4 guests per boat). The U.S.$ tariff for foreign passport holders is US$ 200 per night.(inclusive of all meals for two guests) from September to February. From March to August, the tariff is Rs. 6500/- per night plus GST and US$100 for foreign passport holders.

As Sonaar Haveli is a boutique hotel with just eight suites, prior reservation is recommended. Please email Mahaveer Singh on info@sonaarhaveli.com for bookings.

Where to eat?:

The best place to eat at Jaisalmer is Sonaar Haveli itself. Anar Bagh, Char Bagh and Amal Bagh are three multi-cuisine restaurants that dish out delicious Rajasthani, Punjabi, Continental and South Indian cuisine. The cuisine at Sonaar Haveli is one of the finest in Rajasthan State and believe me, I have stayed at more than fifty hotels in Rajasthan in the last ten months.

Jaisalmer Fort was built by the Rajput ruler Maharawal Jaisal in 1156 AD, from whom it derives its name. (Rawal Jaisal’s son was Shalivahan II; Manj and Bhati Rajputs have descended from him.) Jaisalmer Fort stands amidst the sandy expanse of the great Thar Desert, on Trikuta Hill, and has been the scene of many battles. Its massive yellow sandstone walls are a tawny lion color during the day, fading to molten gold as the sun sets, thereby camouflaging the fort in the yellow desert. For this reason, it is also known as the Sonar Killa or Golden Fort.

All good things must come to an end and I bid my host Mahaveer Singh adieu to proceed to Ummed Marvel Hotel, Jodhpur hosted by Rudrasen Nimbera for three days. The photograph above is taken from the Guest-Book of Sonaar Haveli. Yig Labworth and Will Wilson have eloquently worded exactly what I experienced at Sonaar Haveli and if you want to experience the magic of Jaisalmer, head for Sonaar Haveli for a pleasant and comfortable stay and remember to request for room number 305, for that’s where I stayed!