33. Sambhar Festival 2025 | Toy Train, Salt Lake & Our Last Night in the Car. (28th Dec 2025).

#roadtrip #kanyakumari #roadtripkanyakumari #amritsarkanyakumariroadtrip #sambharlake 28th Dec 2025, Sunday…Day (33) Sambhar-Shakambari Mata Temple-Sambhar Salt Lake (Sambhar Festival-2025 Site-Shri Ganesh Baba Ramdev Dhaba (NH-52) Rajgarh (337 km). Road Trip, Amritsar-Kanyakumari, (Day 33). Sambhar was chosen simply as a convenient stop to break our long journey home. With over 900 kilometres still to cover, it was the perfect place to rest—especially since I had fond memories of Sambhar Lake from an earlier visit. The ongoing Sambhar Festival 2025 turned out to be an unexpected bonus. Our stay at Hotel Bagwan was comfortable. Though the property mainly catered to guests attending a nearby function, the owner’s warm hospitality made the experience memorable. Early the next morning, we drove to Shakambari Mata Temple, passing the vast salt lake, rustic Rajasthan villages, thorny wilderness, and the festival grounds. Perched on a rocky hill overlooking the endless white salt flats, the temple offered a serene start to the day, and we were fortunate to witness the morning rituals. The drive around Sambhar Lake was magical—shimmering blue waters, dazzling white salt pans, and countless birds filled the landscape with life. We then headed to the Sambhar Festival, where the lively atmosphere was infectious. Our highlight was a ride on the Sambhar Express Toy Train, which takes visitors through the salt pans. Though slightly expensive, it was a unique experience well worth trying once. The festival buzzed with energy, featuring traditional Rajasthani cuisine, folk music and dance, kite flying, hot-air balloons, paragliding, and plenty of family fun. By afternoon, we resumed our journey towards home, still nearly 700 kilometres away. The drive across Rajasthan’s highways was smooth and enjoyable. As darkness fell near Rajgarh, with about 400 kilometres left, we spotted a welcoming truckers’ dhaba on NH-52. After a hearty meal, we parked the car and spent one final night sleeping inside it—bringing another memorable chapter of our road trip to a close. For more travel stories, pls check joyclubsunil.wordpress.com