I came to Jodhpur for the culture, history and the food. What I didn't sign up for was a suitcase suddenly full of textiles, a phone held hostage by blue-lane photos, and a newly acquired, very passionate stance on which shop makes the city's best kachori!

Blackbucks roaming free, women weaving crafts that are centuries old, and a home-cooked lunch shared in a village courtyard, a visit to Guda Bishnoi is so much more than just another stop near Jodhpur. It's a peek into a community that has loved and protected nature for over 500 years, and whose story includes one of India's most incredible acts of sacrifice.