Keechan is a village located in the remote and barren terrain of western
Rajasthan, which hosts 7000 strong flock of Demoiselle cranes (Anthropoides virgo) every year. Demoiselle cranes are locally known as kurja which migrate here each winter from their breeding grounds on the Central Asian steppes. Around 500 kg of grain is scattered every day for the cranes and all of it is paid for by monetary donations from local people and visitors. Two small organisations operated by the local villagers for protecting the cranes are effectively conducting the vital job of nature conservation. The visitors are allowed to feed the birds at fixed times.
Keechan is protected by sheaths of soft yellow dunes which paint a beautiful desert picture. This village also has some very old havelis. Keechan is 700 km from Delhi, via the
National Highway 11 and 15. The nearest airport is about 165 km away in the desert town of Jaisalmer. The nearest railhead is seven km away at Phalodi, which is on the broadgauge railway line that connects Jaisalmer and Jodhpur. Keechan is about 140 km from Jodhpur, 165 km from Jaisalmer and 150 km from
Bikaner. There are regular buses plying through this area during the daytime. Any time from the first week of October to the last week of April.
