Location: 110 km east of Jaisalmer, Pokhran
Distance: 730 kms from Delhi
Popular As: The place of five mirages
Getting There –
By Train – Pokhran railway station is situated on the Delhi – Jaisalmer route. The railway station is served by Delhi – Jaisalmer Express, running daily between Delhi and Jaisalmer.
By Road – From Delhi, proceed on NH 10 to reach Hisar. From there, take a left onto NH 65, leading to Fatehpur. Then, switch onto NH 11 and drive on the same road till Bikaner. Further, NH 15 takes you to Pokhran. The road trip from Delhi to Pokran should take around 16 hours.
Overview –
Located 110 km east of Jaisalmer, Pokhran also spelled Pokaran or Pokharan is a quaint weekend getaway. Literally meaning ‘the place of five mirages’, the town lies in the Great Indian Thar Desert. Despite its remote location, Pokhran is internationally renowned as the test site for India's first underground nuclear weapon detonation. On May 18, 1974, the town shot to international fame, when India successfully detonated its first nuclear weapon under project ‘Smiling Buddha’. Again after a gap of 24 years, on May 11 and May 13, 1998, India conducted five successful nuclear tests at Pokhran.
Don’t Miss –
Pokaran Fort is the landmark of the town. Built in the 16th century by Rao Maldeo, a Marwar Thakur (local chieftain), the fort is now a hotel. Also known as Balagarh, the magnificent fort houses exquisite palaces, namely Phool Niwas, Hawa Mahal, Rani Mahal and Mangal Niwas. Visit the museum, located inside the fort to see a fine collection of royal weapons, costumes, paintings, and pottery. Close to the fort are some marvellously carved sandstone chhatris (cenotaphs), belonging to the royal family. Also, visit the famous Baba Ramdeo Temple, situated at a distance of 15 km from Pokhran.
