Bishnoi villages and Salawas weavers
The Bishnoi community follows 29 principles set out by the guru Jambheshwar in the 15th century, including the protection of trees and animals. Their villages south of Jodhpur are among the best places in Rajasthan to see blackbuck and chinkara, which graze close to homes without fear. In 1730, according to Bishnoi history, more than 300 people at Khejarli gave their lives to stop the felling of khejri trees.
We leave early, when the animals are active and the light low. Your guide introduces you to a Bishnoi family, where you may be offered tea and see the daily routine of a village household. We stop at waterholes and fields to look for blackbuck, and at Guda Bishnoi lake, where winter brings migratory birds.
The morning ends in Salawas, a village of dhurrie weavers, where families weave flat cotton and wool rugs on pit looms, and in Kakani, where potters still work by hand. We avoid the staged village tours that sell opium ceremonies and showrooms. You are back in Jodhpur for lunch.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Who are the Bishnoi
A community of western Rajasthan who follow 29 rules laid down by Guru Jambheshwar in the 15th century, including protecting trees and wildlife. They are known for guarding blackbuck and khejri trees, and the 1730 Khejarli sacrifice is remembered across India as an early act of environmental protection.
Is the Bishnoi village tour ethical
It can be, if done with respect and without staged shows. We work with families who welcome visitors on their own terms, keep groups small and avoid tours built around opium ceremonies or commission shops. Ask before photographing people, especially women.
Will I see blackbuck near Jodhpur
Usually yes, in the early morning around the Bishnoi villages and at Guda Bishnoi. Blackbuck and chinkara graze close to the villages because the community protects them. Sightings are likely but never guaranteed, and winter brings migratory birds to the lakes too.
Also in Jodhpur
More hours to plan around
