LANDSCAPES: A MIRACLE IN THE DESERT
Thar is the only fertile desert in the world so recent rains in the area, after a continuous low spell of rainfall since 2011, are a momentous occasion. Many farmers are busy growing crops in the desert, herders have returned to Thar and the transformation of the desert from its arid landscape to lush greenness is a sight to behold.
Tourists, too, have begun to throng to the area. After the desert turned green, thousands of visitors have travelled to Thar. There is a lot to see besides the beautifully transformed desert. Nagarparkar, a town in the Tharparkar district, is not only an ancient Hindu and Jain pilgrimage site; it is well known for its Karonjhar hills, temples, landscapes and its proximity to the Indo-Pak border.
There are many religio-historical sites to see such as Gori Mandir, a more than 600-year-old Jain temple near Nagarparkar and the Jain temple and mosque in Bhodesar. These and other sites are neglected by the Department of Archaeology and Museums, but the visitors still appreciate these neglected jewels of heritage in the middle of a now-green desert.
In June, after six years, Thar received enough rain for crop cultivation. According to the Tharparkar Weather Portal, Nagarparkar has received the highest rainfall of 435mm in last two months, while Diplo received 370mm, Islamkot 325, Mithi 221, Chacharo 213, while Kaloi with rain shower of 135mm remains the lowest.
The first proper rains in six years have transformed Thar
Locals have been busy since then sowing seeds but I saw many people cultivating the land even now and people are expected to be sowing seeds up to August. Farmers are excited at the potential large harvest but, according to experts, two more spells of rain with an interval of 20 days between each — one around mid-August and another in early September — are needed for there to be a successful harvest.