National Tanot Longewala Desert Cycling cum Training Expedition 2026-27 (By Rajasthan State Branch)

Five riding days across the Thar Desert to the India-Pakistan frontier and back. The Rajasthan State Branch's cycling expedition starts in Jaisalmer, the Golden City. It rolls past the empty lanes of Kuldhara to camp on the Sam dunes, then follows quiet desert roads through Ramgarh to the Tanot Mata temple and the battlefield of Longewala. The full loop is 297 km, of which 277 km are on the cycle.

This border country is full of stories. In the 1965 war, shells fell all around the Tanot Mata temple and many failed to explode; the Border Security Force has looked after the shrine ever since. At Longewala, in December 1971, about 120 soldiers of 23 Punjab held off a Pakistani armoured column until Indian Air Force jets arrived at dawn. The film Border tells this story.

Along the Route

• Amar Sagar and Kuldhara: a Jain temple by the Amar Sagar lake, then Kuldhara, a village of Paliwal Brahmins. It was settled by the 13th century and abandoned by the early 19th; legend says its people left overnight.
• Sam sand dunes: true rolling dunes on the edge of the Desert National Park, 40 km from Jaisalmer. The village is known for camel rides, star-gazing, bonfires and Rajasthani folk music and dance.
• Ghantiyali Mata: a temple a few kilometres before Tanot. Like Tanot Mata, it is deeply revered by the soldiers who guard the border.
• Tanot Mata: the temple of the goddess Aavad, worshipped as an incarnation of Hinglaj Mata. Unexploded shells from 1965 are displayed there, and a victory pillar commemorates Longewala. You cannot go beyond the temple to the border without prior permission from the district and military authorities.
• Longewala: the border post where the Battle of Longewala was fought in 1971. It is now a war memorial and museum.
• The ride home: through Sonu, Mokla and Bada Bagh, where the royal cenotaphs of Jaisalmer stand on a ridge outside the city

At a Glance

• Batches start: 15 December, 21 December and 27 December 2026
• Age: 18 to 65 years. The minimum age of 18 is strictly enforced.
• Fee: Rs. 10,500 per person
• Reporting: The Border Home Guards Ground, Jaisalmer 345001, before 2:00 PM on Day 1

The Fee Includes

• A geared cycle
• Tent and building accommodation
• Vegetarian food

Program Coordinators

• Sh. Ratan Singh Bhati: 94147 60314
• Sh. Ghanshyam Khatri: 094142 91003
• Email: rajasthanstateyhai@gmail.com
• Address: Rajasthan State Branch, YHAI, Silawata Para, Shiv Road, Jaisalmer 345001, Rajasthan

Who Can Join

• The minimum age to join the expedition is 18 years. This is strictly enforced, and underage applicants will not be considered in any case.

How to Join

• Apply on the prescribed Registration Form with a Medical Certificate. Forms are available from YHAI Units, State Branches and the National Office.
• You can also book online at www.yhaindia.org.

How to Reach the Base Camp

• The base camp is at the Border Home Guard Ground, Jaisalmer, 3 km from the bus stand and 4 km from the railway station.
• By train: Jaisalmer has trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Howrah, Jaipur, Ajmer, Jodhpur and Bikaner.
• By road: connected with Delhi, Ahmedabad, Kutch, Pune, Mumbai, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Ajmer and Udaipur
• By air: regular flights from Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Surat, Delhi and Jaipur

Stay and Food

• Tents and buildings
• Vegetarian food, with special Rajasthani dishes at dinner
• Normal drinking water

What to Bring

Desert days in December are bright and warm, but nights and early mornings are cold, so pack for both.

• Woollen gloves and woollen socks
• Sweatshirts and two jackets
• T-shirts, cotton shirts and cotton trousers
• Sun cap, shoes and socks
• Torch with a spare battery
• Toiletries and the medicines you normally use at home
• Camera with extra batteries

Safety and Security

The expedition route has been planned with great care for your safety, and field staff and experienced camp leaders have visited the area to check every detail. While every care has been taken, the Youth Hostels Association of India and its Rajasthan State Branch will not be responsible for any accident, illness or other unforeseeable eventuality.

Cancellation Rules

• If you cannot join and wish to cancel, your application must reach the office before 5 December 2026. You will then get a 50% refund, paid after the program is completed.
• No refund is given for notice received after 5 December 2026.

Where to Apply for Cancellation

• Offline applicants: send your request in writing and by email, with a copy of the admit card, directly to the YHAI Rajasthan State Branch office.
• Online applicants: send your request to the YHAI National Office, New Delhi only. Enquiries to the Rajasthan State Branch office about online bookings are not entertained.

Note

• A seat once booked cannot be rescheduled or transferred.
• An unforeseen event, strike or natural calamity is not considered a cause for cancellation.
• Refunds may be paid 30 days after completion of the program.