Location
Khimsar is a small village situated around 92 km on the highway from
Jodhpur to Bikaner in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan. The village of
Khimsar provides an excellent starting point to explore the district of
Nagaur, which lies midway between Jodhpur and Bikaner. There are good road
connections from Khimsar to other important tourist destinations in the
region including Jodhpur, Bikaner, and Nagaur.
A
royal reflection !
On the highway from Jodhpur to Bikaner, an hour out of the Rathore
stronghold, past the medieval temples of Osian with their stunning stone
carvings, is the small township of Khimsar. Established by a scion of the
house of Jodhpur, Khimsar was once a small kingdom. And though Jodhpur
royalty claim it was never independent, the Thakurs of Khimsar claim that
not only was it an individual entity, but that one of the visitors to their
ancestral fort was Emperor Aurangzeb himself.
Places of tourist interest
» The Khimsar Fort : The fort architecture of
Khimsar offers great heterogeneity. Originally, the fort walls, turrets, and
stables were built solely for war, and were constructed around the beginning
of the 16th century. Subsequently, by mid 18th century, the royal family
moved in when a new zenana or ladies' residence was constructed. Finely
carved windows in stone were constructed in this section for providing
purdah or veil for the ladies in waiting. Thakur Onkar Singh, the present
chief and the 17th direct descendant of Rao Karamsi (the original builder of
the fort) built himself a regal additional wing in the 1940's. Today, this
fort ranks amongst the premier Heritage Hotels of India.
» Nearby excursions : Osian is a small place
situated around 27 km off Khimsar and known for its sixteen ruined Jain and
Hindu temples. These temples date back to the eighth and eleventh centuries.
The most important temples are the Sachhiyamata Temple and the Jain Temples.
While the Hindu temples are in a dilapidated condition, the Jain temples are
well preserved.
How to get there !
» By Air : The nearest airport from Khimsar is
Jodhpur, around 92 km away. Indian Airlines connects Jodhpur with Delhi,
Jaipur, and Mumbai through regular flights. The airport is located around 6
km off the city center.
» By Rail : The nearest railhead is Jodhpur on the
Western Railway broad-gauge network. Jodhpur is linked to various centers in
the region by express and passenger trains. New Delhi, Agra, Jaisalmer,
Jaipur, Udaipur, and Ahmedabad are some of the important cities that are
linked with Jodhpur through rail.
» By Road : Khimsar is situated around 92 km on the
Jodhpur-Nagaur-Bikaner Highway. State transport corporation buses and
private buses connect Khimsar with other centers in the region.
