Singing Sands
Heritage Festival
As the festive season approaches, a gentle nip returns to the air, and the atmosphere begins to smell like celebration. The heritage town of Dundlod comes alive to welcome you to Singing Sands — a folk music and cultural festival unlike any other.
Set in a centuries-old fortress, in a village where time gently pushed, Singing Sands offers something rare — an unfiltered, deeply rooted experience of Rajasthan's culture.
Each year, the festival brings people together to celebrate heritage and stories under open skies - far from blinding lights and sky-touching buildings, wrapped in echoes of tradition, and moments of togetherness.
Guests sit beneath starlit skies with a kulhad of masala chai or a glass of wine, as folk melodies drift through around them. Many join in for a jig as the foot-tapping music takes over.
They meet artisans whose stories and smiles stay with them and try their hand at the crafts of the desert. They enjoy home-style Rajasthani meals, served with warmth and tales best relished with their hands (a pro tip quickly picked up).
Attendees wandered through Dundlod's lanes and bylanes, soaking in frescoes and fading walls and pause to greet the majestic Marwari horses at the stud farm just outside the village.
Singing Sands is not just a festival - it is a feeling, rooted and unforgettable.
Music & Dance
Music and dance at Singing Sands comes from, well, the sands… authentic, unalloyed, and unplugged. Musicians from rooted communities, who have passed down this heritage from one generation to another for centuries, perform at the most unpretentious and dreamy settings in and around the historic fort.
Hands-on Experiences
Guests engage in hands-on music and craft sessions with experts, trying their hands at indigenous instruments like the morchang, bhapang, nagada, and khartal. While some sway to the high-energy rhythms of Kalbeliya music, others explore traditions like turban-tying and painting maandana, the intricate folk murals of Rajasthan.
Traditional Craft
A constellation of local yet traditional artisans showcase their hand-crafted masterpieces. Guests spend time with them, understand the intricacies of their crafts and listen the fascinating stories.
Heritage Walks
A relaxed walk through the by-lanes of history & architecture of Shekhawati invite visitors to discover the story of its people, their enterprise, and their havelis in Dundlod village.
Storytelling Sessions
Engaging narratives unfold the history of Dundlod Fort, the Shekhawati trade routes, and the living traditions of its music, crafts, food, and artistes and their centuries-old traditions - each tale woven seamlessly into the festival experience.
Traditional Delicacies
Local recipes prepared by expert hands form an essential part of the festival experience. These dishes are authentic yet balanced in flavor - wholesome and made with love to suit every palate.
Stud Farm Visit
Guests visit Dundlod's world-renowned stud farm to learn about the magnificent indigenous Marwari horses - listening to the fascinating stories and discovering what made them the best horses on the planet.