Jaiselmer trip of PGDM students

1. An educational trip organized by the IMS Noida to “Jaisalmer” (Rajasthan) for PGDM 1st year batch (2014-16). The trip period was from 31st Jan ’15 to 4th Feb ’15. The trip involved 17 students of PGDM 1st year batch and 3 faculties of PGDM - Mr. Kuldeep Kaul, Dr. Mahua Dutta & Ms. Keenika Saini.Jaisalmer is famous for its desert rides, camel rides, Ancient forts, traditional folk dance, etc. A Desert Festival is organized once every year in the months of  january-february  It is the main attraction of tourists from all over the country and abroad.  It is a three day festival organized by the local residents of the place. This time desert festival was organized from 1st Feb to 3rd Feb 2015.We commenced our journey  on 31st Jan ’15.at 5:35pm  by  Delhi Jaisalmer Express from Old Delhi Railway Station and reached Jaisalmer around 1 pm on 1st Feb. We checked in our hotel Aakashdeep where reservations had been made in advance. In the evening around  4 pm we visited Gadisar Lake. It was a beautiful place with natural surroundings.  It was surrounded by ancient forts and Haweli. A boating ride was arranged which lasted for 40 mins.Next, we went to visit local market and Hawelis. One of them was PATWA HAWELI. It was beautifully sculptured with fine arts on the walls. Then we visited Nathmal ki Haweli. We visited the Golden Fort which is the only living fort in Asia. Around 2000 families live here for the last 300 years. Then we visited  Shahid Poonam Singh Stadium where the Desert Festival was had started. We went there to enjoy the cultural program of Folk Music and Dance. On 2nd February, we watched the following events at Dedansar Stadium-Camel Decoration, Shan E Marudhara, Tug of War between Indian & foreigners. Then there was the Matka Race between Indian & Foreigners followed by Camel Polo Match and Camel Tattoo Show. The event culminated with a thrilling aerial drill and akash ganga(paradraping) display by Indian air Force .For the Evening , We had booked a desert safari and camping in the outskirts of Jaisalmer city. Enroute this  40 km road journey, we visited a place called Kuldhara. According to local people, it was a haunted place. We saw the old models of houses and temples there.After that, out next halt was at the Chirag desert safari camp. Our jeeps were ready at the camps to take us for desert safari. After the jeep ride, our camels were ready to take us to the sunset point. Everyone enjoyed the camel ride and took as many pictures as they could. After the sunset, we all went to our camping site. There was a bonfire arranged for us. Around 7 in the evening, the program started with traditional music and folk dance by Rekha & her group. They sang popular rajasthani songs, sufi songs and fily sings. Ms rekha performed traditional Kal beliya dance and also used her eyes to pick up ring on the floor. Then there was jugalbandi among the artists on dhol and traditional wooden instruments of rajasthan.Meanwhile, snacks were also provided to the audience. We also joined the folk dance and after few minutes the whole scene changed to dance floor on Bollywood music. Everyone enjoyed and danced a lot. Then around 9 pm, we were headed towards the place where our dinner was ready. We had our dinner and came back to our hotel.Next day, 3rd Feb was the last day of our stay in Jaisalmer. We had our scheduled train at 5:30 in the evening. Before leaving the hotel, we had planned to visit the local market again for shopping. Each one of us had planned our own place to visit and what to buy. Few of us bought traditional dress for ourselves and for our family members. We left the hotel at 4 pm. And boarded Jaisalmer express at 5pm. Railway Station.and reached Old Delhi Railway Station as per our scheduled time around 1 pm in the afternoon of 4th Feb.  Everyone took this trip in a sportingly and positive way. Each one of us was self organised and learned the concept of team work .