Thar_Desert

The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, spans approximately 238,000 square kilometers across northwestern India and eastern Pakistan. About 85% of the Thar Desert is in India and about 15% is in Pakistan. It covers about half of Rajasthan. It features sand dunes, rocky outcrops, and salt flats, shaped largely by wind erosion and deposition. Much of the desert area is covered by huge, shifting sand dunes that receive sediments from the alluvial plains and the coast. The sand is highly mobile due to the strong winds that rise each year before the onset of the monsoon. The desert lies to the west of the Aravalli Range, which acts as a natural barrier and influences its arid climate. Rainfall is scarce, averaging less than 250 mm annually, and the region experiences extreme temperatures, with scorching summers and chilly winters. Despite its harsh conditions, the Thar supports sparse vegetation, nomadic communities, and unique wildlife adapted to desert life.

The Thar Desert is home to a surprising range of wildlife adapted to its arid climate. Among the most iconic species is the Great Indian Bustard, a critically endangered bird found in open grasslands. Agile mammals like the Chinkara (Indian gazelle) and the elusive Caracal thrive in the sparse vegetation and rocky terrain. Reptiles such as the Desert Monitor Lizard and Spiny-tailed Lizard are commonly seen basking in the sun in summer. The desert also hosts a rich birdlife, including raptors like the Steppe Eagle and Imperial Eagle, scavengers such as the Egyptian Vulture and Griffon Vulture, and various wetland visitors when the area receives rain. Even in such harsh conditions, the Thar supports a delicate ecosystem of birds, mammals, and reptiles uniquely suited to survive in extreme heat and scarce water.

On our way to Jaisalmer and the Desert National Par, we stopped in Pushkar in search for rare bird species such as the White-bellied Minivet, White Tailed Iora and White Napped Tit. We found the two first species there. After spending four days in Desert National Park (see own page), we visited sites like the Akal Wood Fossil Park, Khichan, Jodbeed Gadhwala Conservation Reserve (Jorbeer Conservation Reserve), Bikaner, and Tal Chhapar Blackbuck Sanctuary on our way back to the capital. At Akal Wood Fossil Park we found the Rock Eagle Owl, closely related to the Eurasian Eagle-owl, while in Khichan we experienced thousands of migrating Demoiselle Cranes. At the Bikaner Vultures Conservation Reserve there were hundreds of raptors and vultures such as Black Kite, Steppe Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Egyptian Vulture, Griffon Vulture, and Cinereous Vulture. And the Tal Chhapar Sanctuary lived up to its reputation as a «Raptor paradise», with lots of harriers (Montagu’s, Pallid, Western Marsh), falcons like Common Kestrel and Red-necked Falcon, as well as eagles like Steppe Eagle and Imperial Eagle. See separate pages for Jorbeer Conservation Reserve and Tal Chhapar Sanctuary. On the second last day, we finally found the White Napped Tit as well as Brooks’s Leaf Warbler near the city of Narnaul (not strictly in the That Desert).