Demoiselle cranes of Khichan, Jodhpur District, Rajasthan || Beautiful Birds that fly to and fro Mangolia and have found a mention in Indian mythological texts

Demoiselle Cranes (grus virgo) are a species of crane that breed in central Eurosiberia, ranging from Black Sea and Mangolia to North Eastern China, plus a small breeding population in Turkey. The birds fly south to Africa and Indian subcontinent to spend the winter months.

Demoiselle Cranes (grus virgo) are a species of crane that breed in central Eurosiberia, ranging from Black Sea and Mangolia to North Eastern China, plus a small breeding population in Turkey. The birds fly south to Africa and Indian subcontinent to spend the winter months. 


At 76 cm tall, Demoiselles are the smallest birds in the crane family. They are also tall and slender and delicate looking birds that often symbolize beauty and fragility. They are predominantly gray in color with black neck and head and a white stripe running from their eyes all the way to the back of their head.


At 76 cm tall, Demoiselles are the smallest birds in the crane family. They are also tall and slender and delicate looking birds that often symbolise beauty and fragility. They are predominantly gray in color with black neck and head and a white stripe running from their eyes all the way to the back of their head. 


The birds fly in a V formation, like most other birds that are used to migrating over large distances. The V formation is headed by a female with two sub-adults flying on either side of her and the males make up the rear of the formation.

The birds fly in a V formation, like most other birds that are used to migrating over large distances. The V formation is headed by a female with two sub-adults flying on either side of her and the males make up the rear of the formation. 

Demoiselle cranes take a very hard migratory path each way. They fly at a really high altitude at about 16,000 - 26,000 feet. They cross the Himalayas twice every year and many die because of hunger, starvations, tiredness, or fall prey to predators like the Golden Eagle.

Demoiselle cranes take a very hard migratory path each way. They fly at a really high altitude at about 16,000 - 26,000 feet. They cross the Himalayas twice every year and many die because of hunger, starvations, tiredness, or fall prey to predators like the Golden Eagle.  

The birds are known as koonj or kurjan in North Indian languages. In Sanskrit, the birds are known as kranch. In fact it is the demoiselle crane that is credited with being the source of inspiration for the first metered verse. As per Indian mythology, when Valmiki witnessed the lament of a female demoiselle crane whose mate had been killed by a hunter, he cursed the hunter in a verse that spontaneously came to him.

The birds are known as koonj or kurjan in North Indian languages. In Sanskrit, the birds are known as kranch. In fact it is the demoiselle crane that is credited with being the source of inspiration for the first metered verse. As per Indian mythology, when Valmiki witnessed the lament of a female demoiselle crane whose mate had been killed by a hunter, he cursed the hunter in a verse that spontaneously came to him. 

There is also a mention of kraunch in Mahabharat. On the second day of the Kurukshetra war, it is written in some texts that both the sides arranged their troops in kraunch formation. It was thought to be an effective troop formation.

There is also a mention of kraunch in Mahabharat. On the second day of the Kurukshetra war, it is written in some texts that both the sides arranged their troops in kraunch formation. It was thought to be an effective troop formation.  

The demoiselle crane was so named by Queen Marie Antoinette for its delicate and maiden-like appearance. Demoiselle crane's local names in Urdu (Koonj) and in Pashto (Zaanray) both mean a beautiful person. And the crane is marked Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

The demoiselle crane was so named by Queen Marie Antoinette for its delicate and maiden-like appearance. Demoiselle crane's local names in Urdu (Koonj) and in Pashto (Zaanray) both mean a beautiful person. And the crane is marked Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.  

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The locals in Bikaner refer to themselves as being "saral, sukh, and sust". One of my good friends from Bikaner shared that people in Bikaner take pride in acknowledging that they are content. So I guess it is true. The state of the traffic on the roads does reflect the pace of life.

>> Driving around the drivable parts of Bikaner, Rajasthan || Wide, clean roads with easy, laidback traffic

However, we did spot some migratory birds flying around and were sure that there is probably a water body around. We decided to explore that. After asking around a little we reached a lake of humungous proportions and there was a temple on the shore. There was a man offering prayers in the temple and while we were roaming around, he caught up to us and started asking us some questions.

>> The surprising Bap Village, Jodhpur District, Rajasthan || A place to stop and stretch your legs walk around a large waterbody

Even though we had been warned against booking a hotel in old Bikaner, because the roads are congested, we managed to find the perfect hotel - Hotel Jaswant Bhawan - which is perfectly located at the edge of old Bikaner with approach via wide roads and a spacious parking. And it was just walking distance from most of the places in old Bikaner.

>> Exploring Old Bikaner on Foot || A soulful city in Rajasthan that is comfortable in its own skin

Rampuria havelis are a group of 15th century opulent havelis that stand out in the labyrinthine roads of old Bikaner. While these havelis are symbols of wealth and luxurious lifestyles of rich merchants of Bikaner, they are surrounded by the comparatively modest homes of the middle class business people.


We had been walking around the city of old Bikaner for hours and we hadn't had anything to eat. The lengendary kachoris of Bikaner had evaded us thus far and had started appearing like myths or mirages to us. And we did not want to have momos, dosas, or punjabi thali when in Bikaner. It was right when we were about to get desperate when we took a turn and noticed a strange scene on our left.

The Junagarh Fort, despite the name, isn't located in Junagadh, Gujarat. It is a fort in Bikaner. The word Juna or जूना means "Old". The rulers who got the fort built did not name it Junagarh obviously. It was only when the Royal Family moved to the new Lallgarh Palace in the early 20th century, was this fort renamed Junagarh. The original name of the fort was Chintamani. I know, unusual name for a fort.

As it often happens with us, we found ourselves looking for a place to stay in Bikaner a couple of nights before our trip to the city. It wasn't tourist season per se, so Booking.com listed many properties that were within our budget.

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