Monica, a Spanish tourist deeply enamoured with Rajasthan, has completed a remarkable 20-day camel cart journey from Pushkar to Bikaner. Accompanied by her long-time friend and local guide, Harshvardhan Singh, Monica traversed the desert landscape, soaking in the vibrant spirit and traditions of rural Rajasthan.
She was warmly received on Sunday at a hotel in Bikaner, where she was welcomed with traditional Rajasthani hospitality after completing her adventurous expedition.
Monica shared her joy and awe at the end of the journey.
“This is the first time I have done a camel trip. I have travelled all over Rajasthan, from Pushkar, Barmer, Jaisalmer, and Osian to Mount Abu and also to the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. This time, we travelled from Pushkar to Bikaner in a camel cart with my very good friend Harsh. It took us 20 days. We stopped at small temples in small villages and enjoyed Rajasthani hospitality and generosity,” she said.
Her companion and friend Harshvardhan Singh spoke fondly of her long-standing connection with the desert state.
“She is my very old friend, Monika Ji, has been coming continuously for nearly 20 years. She has a deep connection with Rajasthan, and perhaps there is no area in Rajasthan that she hasn’t explored. She has travelled extensively, especially in rural areas, which is not easy, whether in the heat of summers or the cold of winters. It requires a very strong character, and she indeed has a very strong character. Every time she comes, she brings new experiences and shares them with us. She shows tribal jewellery and talks about small things she comes across on her journeys, things that may not seem special to others but are very special to her. Later, she goes to Spain and organises all the exhibitions there. She has a very good connection with many people and helps a lot of them.”
Other foreign tourists at the hotel were fascinated by Monica’s unique desert adventure.
“It’s so different, it’s lovely, and the camel carriage- everything is so beautiful, really beautiful. We feel truly blessed. I have been in India for four weeks. I have trekked in the Himalayas and gone on a tiger safari in Panna. If I get a chance to travel in the desert on a camel, I would love to” said Feni, a tourist from Australia.
With passionate travellers like Monica returning year after year, Rajasthan’s timeless culture and authentic rural experiences continue to captivate visitors from across the world.