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The 2011 edition of The Desert Dash was flagged off from New Delhi on the 23rd of November. The 4 day event culminated on the 26th of November with the prize distribution and rally ball at Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur.

The 2011 event featured all new routes and properties. A mock Leg Zero held on the 23rd November prepared participants for the competition ahead.

There were 14 participants in the event and included senior executives in their SUVs including the Range Rover Vogue, Audi Q7, Mitsubishi Montero & Pajero, Ford Endeavour, Toyota Fortuner and the recently launched Mahindra XUV 500.

The vehicle scrutiny was held at the Carnation service hub at Gurgaon and the drivers briefing was held at The Taj Palace Hotel, New Delhi and was followed by the ceremonial flag-off from the same venue. The event was flagged by by Gaurav Gill, India’s leading rally driver.

The event was divided into 3 legs spread over 3 days:
Leg 1 – Chomu Palace to Laxmi Niwas Palace, Bikaner;
Leg 3 – Laxmi Niwas Palace, Bikaner to Suryagarh Fort, Jaisalmer
Leg 4 – Suryagarh Fort, Jaisalmer to Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur

Participants drove across the scenic desert countryside and also along the Indira Gandhi irrigation canal close to the international border with Pakistan. Surprise time controls were placed all along the route. Penalties accumulated over 3 days determined the final ranking. Each day ended with a gala dinner and entertainment at the night halt venues including Chomu Palace, Laxmi Niwas Palace, Suryagarh Fort and the Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur.

The event concluded with a grand prize distribution and rally ball at the baradari lawns at Umaid Bhawan Palace. There were special prizes from Swarovski for winners across various categories.


Date	Activity	Venue

Wednesday,	Driver's Briefing &	The Aman New Delhi
23rd November	Ceremonial Flag off;
	Mock Leg Zero	Chomu Palace, Chomu
Thursday,	Leg 1	Chomu Palace to
24th November		Laxmi Niwas Palace, Bikaner

Friday,	Leg 2	Laxmi Niwas Palace to
25th November		Suryagarh, Jaisalmer

Saturday,	Leg 3, Prize Distribution	Suryagarh to
26th November	& Rally Ball	Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur

Chomu Palace
Chomu Palace is a heritage hotel located at Chomu, a small Rajasthani village on the Sikar Highway about 270 km from Delhi. Enclosed in 6 acres, Chomu Palace is a 300 year old authentic and historic palace designed according to the Indian Vastushastra philosophy. It has a 5 metre thick fort wall and is surrounded by a deep moat. The entry to the palace is through a series of gates namely Kiladaro-ka-Darwaza, Shiri Deodi and Zenana Deodi opening into various small and large courtyards.

Laxmi Niwas Palace
Located in Bikaner, this was built by the Late Maharaja Ganga Singh, the maker of modern Bikaner and designed by Sir Swinton Jacob, the celebrated architect. Laxmi Niwas Palace was the residence of the Maharaja himself. Built around a stately courtyard, it offers beautifully appointed rooms.

Suryagarh
Jaisalmer’s first true luxury boutique hotel and a member of Preferred Boutique under the Preferred Hotel Group. Suryagarh is a rendition to the glorious times of the Royal past. Designed as a Sun fortress, it exquisitely combines contemporary with medieval, featuring rambling courtyards and traditional Rajasthani artifacts. The hotel is conveniently located enroute Sam dunes from the city centre and boasts of 62 luxuriously appointed Rooms and Royal Suites.

Umaid Bhawan Palace
Perched high above the desert capital of Jodhpur, Umaid Bhawan Palace is the last of the great palaces of India and one of the largest residences in the world – set amidst 26 acres of lush gardens. Named after Maharaja Umaid Singh, grandfather of the present Maharaja of Jodhpur, this golden-yellow sandstone monument was conceived on the grandest possible scale, in the fashionable Art Deco style of that time. After 15 years in construction, the 347-room palace was finally completed in 1943 – and has served as the principal residence of the Jodhpur royal family since.

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