High and low sand dunes, sandy plains, low barren hills, etc characterize the landscape of the desert. Most of the sand dunes are forever in motion and keep on changing their shapes and sizes. The older dunes, however, have stabilized to quite an extent and may rise to a height of almost 500 feet (150 m). Thar Desert is also dotted with playas (saline lakes), locally known as dhands, which are scattered throughout the region. The desert tract receives low and erratic rainfall annually, ranging from about 4 inches (100 mm) or less in the west to about 20 inches (500 mm) in the east. The maximum rainfall is received during the period of July to September.

Deep in the heart of the Thar Desert is Jaisalmer, one of the last princely bastions in the region. The rich merchants engaged stone-craftsmen who worked delicately on the sandstone mansions they built, filling up facades with sculptural filigree, screen windows, delicate pavilions and beautiful balconies. Today, these veritable art-museums are still inhabited, and their colorful celebrations and festivals have placed Jaisalmer Fort firmly on the world tourism map.

It preserves the eco-system of the desert within it's confines. The Monitor lizards, desert foxes, porcupines, occasional wolves and black bucks, and the great indian bustard are found here, forming an ecological chain revolving around cactii and other hardy desert plants.

In the midst of the endlessly undulating, stark yellow sands of the great Thar Desert, rises the golden sandstone city of Jaisalmer, like a beautiful mirage, on top of the mythical Trikut hill. Once a year in winter, the empty sands around Jaisalmer come alive with the brilliant colour, music and laughter of the Desert Festival. The very rich and colourful Rajasthani folk culture is on show here for a few days. Handsome Rajasthani men and tall beautiful women dressed in their brilliantly hued picturesque costumes dance and sing haunting ballads of valor, romance and tragedy.

The usual fair attractions are there - snake charmers, puppeteers, acrobats, folk performers do brisk business. Camels, the lifeline of the desert, play a major role. Proud moustached villagers, dressed in their ethnic best come astride their picturesquely caparisoned camels to join in the camel dances and competitions of camel acrobatics, camel races and décor, camel polo, tug of war and the like.

The Langa and Manganiyar folk musicians, the brisk pace of Rajasthani folk dances like Gair, Dhyap, Gangaur, Ghoomar, Moria, Terathal, Rajasthani handicrafts are the other attractions at the festival.

Thar Desert supports vegetation consisting of mainly stunted scrub and a few sporadic trees. Gum arabic acacia and euphorbia on the hills and khajri (Prosopis cineraria) tree in the plains are some other vegetation in the desert. Black buck and chinkara (gazelle), amongst animals and francolin, quail and great bustard, amongst birds can be seen inhabiting this region. Sand grouse, ducks, and geese are the common migratory birds to the area. A tour of the Rajasthan Thar Desert of India takes you on a brilliant ride of the golden hues. The camel rides as well as the beautiful sunsets of the desert enchant both your mind as well as your soul. Don't forget to include this magnificent desert on your tour to Rajasthan. You will definitely love every part of your trip to this marvelous and outstanding destination.

• Sam Sand Dunes Jaisalmer
• Rajasthan Sand Dunes