Even though Jaipur is a thriving & growing city there are still pockets that provide a breather by way of the natural landscape. And it is possible to hike in these parts of Jaipur. I’m able to experience this opportunity every now & then. As mentioned in my previous post I have just resumed hiking in Jaipur after a brief hiatus. I decided to explore a short hiking trail in Jaipur which allows a fast commute from the city. It is not a popular trekking place like Hathni Kund rather this is a peaceful serene spot to enjoy the blissful nature in Jaipur. This blog chronicles my hike in the Dhok tree trail hiking spot in Jaipur.
At dawn, the roads are empty & devoid of any traffic. All you can see is just a few people at tea stalls.
It took us a few minutes to drive out of town & we reached the base of the trail around 6 AM. This trail doesn’t have much of human activity. Leopards have been sighted in these forests & for this fact, we made sure there was sunlight before entering the forest.
The start of the hike wasn’t too great; the moment we entered the forest area there was a terrible stench of a dead animal. I’m not sure if this was prey or otherwise.
I have never been on this trail before and it turned out to be a splendid trail. The path traversed through a ridge lined with the Dhok trees which are also known as Anogeissus Pendula.
These are resident trees of Aravali hills, Rajasthan, and can be found from Gujrat-Rajasthan in the south to Haryana and Delhi, in the north. I have already written a post on Dhok trees a few years ago when I started this blog.
Read The Resident Tree Of Aravali Hills: Anogeissus Pendula
The trail is incredibly beautiful and it is hard to believe that human settlement is only a few kilometers away! It offers a great morning workout as it is unhurried initially and the steep section surfaces later. Unlike many other trekking routes in Jaipur, this doesn’t have a nuisance of thorns, an essential feature of the local topography.
The valley on the left was alluring but gave this idea a rest because the bushes and trees were quite dense. Maybe some other day and some other season.
Thirty minutes after we started, it was time for the sun to wish us a good morning! Here is a picture of the sunrise along with the silhouette of the ramparts. Look deeply and spot the hikers!
By now the sun was beaming down on us. Here is a view from the top.
With soft sun lighting the entire trail, it looked even more beautiful. It definitely is a great hiking trail for the autumn season. It was time to head back.
What I liked about this hiking place in Jaipur?
Walking through the stunning landscape amidst the resident tree of Aravali – Dhok.
The forest department has planted a large number of foreign tree variants in the hills around Jaipur and it is difficult to find indigenous trees. A forest full of Vilayati or Israeli Babool trees is bad for a hike because the trail is lined with spikes shed from the trees. At times the hikers end up with bruises on the skin due to the thorns on branches.
The Dhok or Anogeissus Pendula tree looks even more graceful during the winter season. I hiked in another forest with many Dhok trees in the month of January and it looked beautiful. Come winters, would love to traverse this trail, again.
Have you hiked in Jaipur? If yes, which is the best trekking route in your opinion?
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Do you have any indigenous trees to talk about or share from your part of the world?
We’re always looking for new hiking trails to try out, and this looks like a beautiful one. The Dhok tree really makes it a unique landscape. Really enjoyed reading this and I hope we can try the trail some day!
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I hope you do. Are you guys into hiking?
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As always, Arv, your pictures are awesome! ❤
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Thanks, Lisa 🙂
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Lovely hiking that you have here. Me too, I love hiking and strolling to see more of the beauty of nature. Those photos of Anogeissus Pendula tree I’m not very familiar of that name but I have seen them already.
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Happy to know you love hiking. This is a local tree, I’m not sure if it is found anywhere else too. Have you written about your hiking experiences on your blog?
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Hi Arv, I learn something new about Jaipur with each blog your write. This time it’s about hiking which is usually so difficult to find in close proximity to big cities. This hike looks really nice and not all crowded. Dhok trees really look dramatic.
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Jyoti, I agree not all cities have this advantage. I think such hike allows us to steal some for ourselves. I guess even SF has some great places in vicinity!
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This looks like a lovely hike. Especially since a lot of it appears to be along the ridgeline or hilltop making for some spectacular views! I am saving this for later. 🙂
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You are right, Amy! It offers great views! Have been to India?
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I love a good hike! And this sunrise is so beautiful!
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Great! Do you hike on a regular basis, Claire?
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Looks like a great hike. Beautiful pictures. I hope the indigenous variety of Dhok trees are not under any threat by the Israeli Babool.
From my part of the world, its Pine trees – Pinus khasiana is the indigenous Pine of Meghalaya 🙂
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I wouldn’t say that it is under threat but now even the forest authorities have realized that many of their experiments of planting foreign species have’t gone well including Eucalyptus trees. Nature certainly knows what is best for the local climate and topography. Any tampering is bound to misfire.
I wasn’t aware of this pine species. I haven’t been to Meghalaya yet! someday, I hope!
Thanks for sharing your views, Neel! 🙂
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Yes, Eucalyptus is a big example. I do hope you have the opportunity to visit Meghalaya and other north eastern states some day
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will look forward to reading your explorations.
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Amazing route! The hills of Pune too have a species of Anogeissus .. i have only seen it in that part of the city.. its a small tree upto 7 feet tall .. A wonderful tree indeed!
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Is it? well, Do you have a complete name? Would love to see the picture. Well, the hills in Sahyadris are bigger and I presume altiutude too will be higher than Aravalis. Thanks for sharing the info, Archana 🙂
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Yes, I do plan a post on this tree… As for its complete botanical name… I have yet to narrow down the species ID beyond the genus level. Working on it! 🙂
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Great! will lookf orward to it, Archana 🙂
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How picturesque… I love it. The sun and those views so good for the soul.
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Kavita, well said. This is all we need. Did you read my previous post with the title – Beaming?
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Hi Arv, I did and loved that too. You have a good eye to reflect God’s blessings.😘
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Kavita, all I can say is that we don’t need to follow any specific religion or God-man for the spiritual experience. Nature provides it free. It just needs your effort. Right? 🙂
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Exactly… And eyes that see it. 🤗
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Thanks for ratifying, Kavita! Are you regular on hiking?
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Yes family included. 💕
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That’s commendable and inspiring, Kavita! 🙂
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I have to keep up Arv, Fun times… Soon they will leave the nest and hopefully they will have these memories and do the same with their families.
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That’s what everyone hopes…to carry on the good practices. I’m hoping they do, it makes a big difference in your outlook towards life too. 🙂
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I must say the picture of the blue sky background and the black foreground is captivating, capturing the beauty of the sun rising with all its glory and stunning radiance. It is picture perfect. The moment and developing an eye for that moment makes that fine difference between a great photographer from a good photographer. Always an excitement for going on such hiking trails, and locating these places and routes is where the art lies. You always do with a panache. Getting up quite early, not easy and sneaking through the fragment of darkness, we see a spark of light and seeing the empty streets outside that grip of those grueling sounds of vehicles and one can see a different personality of life of a street. You always bring that bout of freshness with your wonderful exploration and creative engagement with the lens.
😀
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Thanks, Nihar for all that encouragement. I feel all that happens once you start noticing with little more detail. I don’t think that this post can transfer the experience and feeling that you undergo. I always felt that sunrise is a spiritual experience. It is beyond deities, God, and the temple. I don’t think you can ever get this feeling in popuar temple because of all the noise and people. I’m sure you get what I mean. Yes, getting up on a weekend is tough for many reasons but it is the lure of nature and sunrise which makes it happen. It is a different world when you experience the same street during the dawn. Thanks for making my day, Nihar. Appreciate it. A comment like this surely encourages you to do the tough work of getting up early during the weekend! 🙂
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Yes, I agree words can never capture the nuanced experiences and there are those little things, and there are those special moments only can be cherished by being there…
Well said; sunrise is indeed a spiritual experience and it is the ultimate source of energy that makes life thrive in this beautiful planet, and there is magic when we see the sun rise and that moment is truly momentous.
You have been doing a great job of being there with nature, in the street and exploring the places and observing the people, and bringing those thoughts creatively through your lovely words and imagery…
😀
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Thanks, Nihar. I’m happy you like these posts and I like your thoughtful posts which requires so much reasoning and shows us various perspective.
Thanks for checking it out and sharing your thoughts, Nihar. Appreciate it 🙂
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Always pleasure to land here and great to read your explored thoughts.
Great weekend.
😀
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Thanks. 🙂
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Absolutely beautiful sunrise captured. Perks of being amidst nature early in the day. The trail looks picturesque and those spikes threatening.
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Thanks, Monika! Absolutely, those are the perks of getting up early and driving out of the town. Well, spikes look threatening but it is better than toxic people. 🙂
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A beautiful post. Your love for your city is so apparent in every word you coin. I loved this hiking trail. I loved the early morning walk that you took. Simply beautiful.
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Thank you for all the encouragement. Indeed, it was a great experience. I always look forward to these “exhilarating” walks/hikes! 🙂
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The views from the top are breath-taking. I live in a cloistered metropolis and hiking trails surrounding it are as rare as dodos. Your love for nature is shining through words and each photo. 🙂 Lovely post.
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Thanks, Jheelum. I know how it is to live in concrete jungle as I have spent considerable time in all metros. Where are you based?
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I’m based in Kolkata.
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Great. The city of Joy! You have so much life of the streets of Kolkatta! You are lucky! 🙂
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I love cities which have these getaways so close. Have never walked through the Aravalis, I guess that’s what we should focus on when we visit Jaipur next.
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I will certainly recommend it but weather too is important. There are certain months when it ceases to be fun! 🙂
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What a beautiful trail! I am sure this would have been so great. I love the trees and that sunrise. Thank you for linking. I am always impressed how you bring Jaipur to your readers through your words and pictures.
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Parul, it is a great trail. I’m not sure if it is going to this great in other seasons too given the fact that landscape changes drastically. There is something new to discover and share in this city. Thanks for the inspiring words. Happy to link it up with your project. 🙂
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What a beautiful landscape! You are blessed to have something so wonderful close to home. Here we have all kinds of trees from evergreen pines to deciduous alder, birch and maple. We, also, have an evergreen tree that turns yellow in the fall that everyone goes crazy over, the Western Larch. Everyone goes out hiking to find them!
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I am an avid hiker where I can combine my love for Mother Nature with photography. Thank you for taking me on a visual tour and sharing this trail.
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I guess we are on the same boat, then! How should I address you?
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Most call me Rhapsody on the blog here. My given name is Margit, so whatever is easier for you.
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Thanks, Magrit 🙂
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Or Magrit haha. Have a great day and may something magical come across your lens.
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Thanks. You too have a great week ahead. 🙂
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Much appreciated, thank you.
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Beauty of aravalis!
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🙂
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Love sunrise hikes! So peaceful and sheer bliss! 🙂 Even though this isnt lush green, there is a certain solitude that nature provides:) I hadnt heard of this one, so thank you for taking me on this virtual hike 🙂
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Sunrise hikes are the best thing to gift yourself, Divsi. Yes, it isn’t lush green but still it is beautiful. It was intermediate season therefore there’s a changeover phase. Well, you can call it a secret hike. I’m glad it is this way (let me admit, I’m being selfish here)
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This is such a lovely trail and I understand how interesting the trek would have been.
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It’s a short and sweet one offering some interesting views. Do you have similar options in your city?
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Yes Arv, there are a few similar options near my locality but with the name of development these day the greenery is gradually diminishing and the view from the hill top has changed from lovely green landscape to a concrete jungle. 😦 The sad plight does not encourage for frequent hiking any more.
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