The Common Camel

The Common Camel

It's not unusual to see a single-humped camel drawing a cart on a dusty highway or through traffic in crowded Jaipur. These awkwardly assembled animals are an indispensable part of the local landscape and economy, and you'll see them wherever you go in the state. Apart from pulling loads (and that includes tourists), camels are also highly valued for their milk, meat, hair, leather, and even their droppings (used for manure).

But camels are best seen against their natural backdrop, the shifting dunes of the Thar Desert, which covers the northwest and extends into Pakistan. Here you can see caravans crossing the sands, sidestepping the odd shrub with an elegance that indicates they're on home ground. However, camel owners choose to dress their animals with a bit more flair: red, green, and gold saddle covers and tasseled bridles are signs of the well-dressed camel. The many camel fairs in the state are always a riot of colorful finery, wandering folk singers and musicians, merrymaking villagers, and preening, belching camels.