Padharo mhare Des!

Damn I am excited to write about this one! You know what is coming, don't you?

Rajasthan, the 'land of the Maharajas', is a perfect fusion of the royal heritage, vibrant cultures and the ancient valour. Adorned with jewels like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Ajmer, every corner of this great state has a captivating story to share. A story of not just its immortal kings but also of its modern glory. But, beyond all of this, personally Rajasthan means a lot more. It is where lies home to my ancestry. Naturally, this place is close to my heart.

The very reason this past year, I, along with my family (yep, family trip after years!), visited this state for the third time! Previously I had been here way back in 2004-05 and then again in 2018. So, don't be surprised if I bring out some old fuzzy pics. Having visited much of the state before, this time we explored the golden city of Jaisalmer and the ever-pink city, Jaipur. Let's get rolling!

Jaisalmer

Named after its founder, this golden city in western Rajasthan is indeed a walk in the ancient India. With almost all its architecture consisting of yellow sandstone, you could not be faulted if you feel you have traveled back in time!

When we arrived at dawn, we were greeted by shivering cold and an equally warm view of the Jaisalmer fort. The magnificent citadel wrapped in golden lights. As the day set in, we started with the first sight seeing of the trip - Gadisar Lake.

This peaceful artificial lake presents a picturesque view of its banks. Calming your senses via the boat ride is a great start to the trip. Although we couldn't, but this is a great place to spot migratory birds!

After a refreshing boating experience, we headed for the only living fort in India, the Jaisalmer Fort, better known as the the Sonar Quila or the Golden Fort. One of the oldest forts in India, it is home to golden history with people living here even now - the reason why we call it a living fort. The yellow sandstone walls shine brilliantly from the mid noon sunlight and the enormous crowd walking in and out of its huge gates is a sight to behold.

The best way to explore this masterpiece is on foot. As you walk in, you could feel stepping into the shoes of people who must have walked through these doors in ancient times. People who would have setup trade shops where lie restaurants and souvenir shops today. Watching children run out of the sophistically carved homes which have supported the hierarchy of generations. It is a surreal experience!

Built as a citadel, the walls of this magnificent fort guards the Raj Mahal or the King's palace. It also comprises of many temples including the famous Jain Temple and many fascinating Havelis which have now become museums. The exquisite carvings on every inch is a precious jewel of the Jain Temple. It has 6,666 Jain idols along with idols of Hindu deities. The museums are storytellers of how people lived centuries back. Let the pictures speak for themselves!

After a walk in the history, we were ready for some fun! You might be aware that Jaisalmer is not just famous for its Golden fort and lovely people. It is also situated in the heart of Thar Desert. This makes it a perfect spot to climb the sand dunes and enjoy the deserts at their best. And so we did!

We made our way to the Savi Desert Camps!

Situated on the outskirts Kanoi village (about 30km from Jaisalmer City), this camping provides the true desert experience with all its comfort.

Add some delicious food, folk music and magical dance to it and you get the perfect Rajasthani Daal Baati Churmaa.

The enchanting performances of these talented artists filled the cold air with warmth of hospitality and joy!

Such was the joy that my mum couldn't stop herself from joining the performers on stage. That for me is the defining moment of a successful trip!

And if you think this Royal evening is as good as it gets, wait till the morning arrives!

With nothing but sand dunes all around, we witnessed the sunrise during our desert safari. Yep, the most awaited experience of our trip came early in the day. Shivering from the low temperatures, we stepped out of our comfy tents to the sand dunes amidst the Thar Desert.

Taking a jeep ride from the camp to the desert was an adventure in itself. I had the most uncomfortable and yet the best view seat in the open jeep i.e. standing in the back. Freezing winds would blow against my face and yet the smile would never die down. It'd only change into gasps as the jeep went up and down in the sand. You gotta hold on for your life and yet savour the thrill! Unfortunately, I couldn't capture these moments but their memories still fasten my heartbeats!

Camel Ride in those sand dunes was a much less crazy affair but nothing short of pure joy. In the olden days, this ship of the desert was the best means of transport. And as the camel went up and down the dunes, you would realise why! Trust me, you can't replace some of the old ever no matter how sophisticated jeeps you make. It certainly brings out the child in you and that is one of the best moments of the trip indeed!

Desert Camping and Safari were certainly the highlight of the trip and they did live up to the expectations and beyond!

From the lively camps, we made our way to the ruins of Kuldhara, the next day. Legend has it that this village along with 83 others were abandoned overnight and since then have been cursed against re-settling. Many stories revolve around why this happened but to me what interests me more are the ruins themselves. The now collapsing stone houses and how well they were planned. It's a great site to explore and feel the architecture of the fallen era and their social planning.

With the sun coming down upon us, we entered the last phase of our trip in Jaisalmer. We explored different heritage sites during this time starting with Patwon ki Haweli. This beautiful combination of five mansions, the largest in the city, was built by a pretty wealthy trader of his time for his five sons. The museum, along with the architecture, is a beautiful blend of ancient and modern times. It surely is a must see!

We also got a glimpse of the Mandir Palace, the current residence of the king of Jaisalmer.

Although we did not visit the museum, the outside beauty of this place is enough to enjoy! The beautiful garden, the horse stable and of course the intrinsic carvings on the palace.

In the final stretch, we took a stop at the Bada Bagh, the royal cenotaphs of the Maharajas. You could also enjoy the scenic view of windmills all around. Fittingly, with that our journey in this golden city came to a full stop.

Jaipur

It would never be a Rajasthan trip without its capital in it. This heritage city, full of heart warming people, has golden history all around it. We reached here from Jaisalmer late in the afternoon via train. Yes, Indian Railways, a part of Indian journey that had been missing in the last few ventures of mine. It is here that we realise how diverse India really is! People from every corner of India bringing along their rich culture in their talk and walk. Its quite a treat to observe and enjoy!

I am pretty confident that you are familiar with most of the popular sights in this city, so it will be futile to speak too much about them. I would, rather talk about our experience in this town for the two and half days we were here, along with capturing the places we explored.

We kicked off with enchanting prayers at the Birla Temple. A masterwork of white marble, this splendid temple is a sight to behold! And to our luck, we were just in time for the morning prayers. All the gorgeous glass works, the well-detailed sculptures reciting Mahabharata and the greenery all around get overshadowed by the chanting of mantras during the prayers. You just have to close your eyes and join in and that, mind you, is purely magical for the soul!

With blessings in our hearts, we headed for the state museum, Albert Hall. A beautiful (and quick!) place to catch a glimpse of some amazing artefacts including paintings, sculptures, metal and other objects, jewelleries along with daily used objects. And let's not forget the majestic palace itself!It is a treat to watch this palace light up in the evening.

A visit to Jaipur is always incomplete without a visit to its historic forts. We dedicated the entirety of the following day to this with Jal Mahal being the first stop. A magnificent display of human prowess of those times, this palace is a marvel to watch. We then shifted gears to the Aravalli Hills as we headed to Nahargarh and Jaigarh Forts. Once mega structures which protected the entire city, these forts are in almost ruins now. And yet, one could see the defensive structures all across the Aravalli Hills. And of course, there is the world's largest canon gun along with some spectacular view of the city!

To close the day with a bang, we visited the iconic Amer Fort! Pretty sure, this place needs no introduction. Be it the Deewan-e-Aam or Sheesh Mehel, the fort continues to awe inspire the architectural genius of our forefathers. To add cherry on top, we also visited the graceful Meera Bai temple just at the grounds of Amer Fort. Interestingly this temple is not much popular among tourists which is a shame given its beautiful amalgamation of different architectural styles.

It is a blessing indeed to have found this serene temple in the midst of such a popular tourist spot!

After stopping by such majestic sights, there was hardly anything that could raise the bar. And then came, City Palace and Jantar Mantar the next day to, yet again, prove us wrong. It'd wouldn't be far fetched to say that some of the most brilliant as well as artistic minds have solidified their legacy in these two masterclasses. If City Palace boasts of the Peacock gate and the Shabha Niwas, then the Sun dials and astronomical instruments at the fine observatory are nothing short of wonders. And with a quick stop at the iconic Hawa Mahal, we headed for the shopping!

Whoosh! That's it!

This is where we put a full stop to all the sight seeings. But wait, that's just the places, how about the people and food. Its Rajasthan for God's Sake! It is as dramatic and delicious as it can get. Throughout our journey in Jaisalmer and Jaipur we came across some amazing people who sang and dance and more importantly blessed us with their good smiles and wishes. Here are some of them in their moments

And then how can we miss the delicacies...feast your eyes!

It'd be wrong of me not to mention the lively market areas of Jaipur, shining in the new year celebrations, full of enthusiastic crowd and mirth!

With that our week long trip in Rajasthan came to sweet fin.

You could spend an entire month in this state and yet there will be places you'd miss out. We still have to walk the grounds of Chittorgarh fort, get scared at the Bhangarh forts, safari at Ranthambore to see the Tigers or the Bharatpur Bird sanctuary. There is always a reason to come back and come we will!

Until we sail back on the desert ship again, Khamma Ghani!