Vande Bharat crossing Sambar Lake in Rajasthan (Instagram)

There are train journeys that take you from one city to another, and then there is Vande Bharat speeding past one of the most gorgeous locations in the country, the Sambar Lake in Rajasthan. The striking video was captured by Jaipur-based photographer Yogesh Sevkani, known on Instagram as @firangi_photowala. The video shows an extraordinary moment where the sleek blue-and-white train runs through the shimmering landscape around Sambhar.When a modern train meets an ancient natural beautyThe Vande Bharat seen on this route is the Delhi Cantt–Jodhpur Vande Bharat Express, which travels through the Jaipur–Phulera–Sambhar corridor before continuing towards western Rajasthan. Current railway listings show the train going on its way to Jodhpur and this particular stretch is perhaps one of the most visually distinctive sections of the journey.For a few moments, passengers can find themselves looking out at a landscape that appears almost unreal. It is a remarkable meeting of two very different Rajasthans: one represented by modern railway engineering, the other by an ancient salt-producing wetland.Key features of Vande Bharat Express

Vande Bharat

More about Sambhar Lake

Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan (Canva)

Sambar Lake is India's largest inland salt lake. According to the Rajasthan Tourism Department, it is roughly 70 km from Jaipur. Its unusual landscape has often been compared with the Rann of Kutch because of its expansive, almost desert-like appearance.The lake is also internationally important and was designated a Ramsar wetland in 1990. It covers about 24,000 hectares according to the Ramsar Sites Information Service. The shallow saline wetland is fed by seasonal streams and supports large numbers of wintering waterbirds, including flamingos.A flamingo paradiseSambar Lake is a paradise of flamingo lovers. Thousands of migratory birds arrive at the wetland during the cooler months, with flamingos being the star attraction. These gorgeous birds begin arriving around late October, with many staying until March.A January 2025 bird census recorded more than 104,000 migratory birds at Sambhar, including large numbers of lesser and greater flamingos, according to reports citing the census. Imagine seeing that landscape from a moving train, a sleek Vande Bharat cutting through Rajasthan while distant flocks of pink-and-white birds gather around the shimmering wetland.

flamingos (Canva)

It is easy to understand why the footage feels more like a scene from a travel film than a railway journey.A salty landscapeSambhar is not merely a pretty lake. Salt has shaped the region's history, economy and landscape. The region's salt pans create geometric patterns across the otherwise seemingly endless landscape.That is another reason the view from a train can be so fascinating. What appears from a distance to be a natural white desert is actually a landscape shaped by water, evaporation, salt production, seasonal changes and human activity.Best way to experienceSambhar Lake is an easy addition to a Rajasthan itinerary, particularly for travellers visiting Jaipur. The experience, however, is very different from visiting a conventional lake. There are no dramatic mountain backdrops or lush promenades. Instead, Sambhar rewards travellers who enjoy wide horizons, unusual landscapes, photography and birdwatching.And for train lovers, the journey itself adds another dimension. The sight of a Vande Bharat racing alongside this ancient salt landscape is a reminder of how dramatically India's travel story is changing — modern trains are increasingly passing through landscapes that have remained largely unchanged for generations.For a few seconds, Sambhar doesn't look like Rajasthan at all.It looks like another planet.