Wonders of RajasthanVibrant Rajasthan - Travel to the Land of History, Legends, Valorous Warriors And Heritage Hotels….

“A blessing in disguise”, this is what I would call my trip to Jodhpur. For some official purpose I was told by my boss to visit Jodhpur. I was scheduled to stay there for two days for a business meeting but when I reached there I got to know that because of some unavoidable reasons the clients who I had to meet would be one day late. So my good fortune sneeked me one whole day to pursue my passion-travelling.

Popularly known as the “Blue City”, Jodhpur has amazing attractions to offer. On our way to the famous Mehrangarh fort, my guide Rakesh told me that Jodhpur is called a blue city because during the bygone era blue color was used to demarcate the houses of the Brahmin castes. And the other interesting reason he told was- blue color keeps the biting ants away. Interesting!

Dominating the landscape of the city, Mehrangarh fort is dramatically perched on a hill. As we were moving inside the fort, Ramesh told me interesting legends associated with the fort. The fort was built by the founder of the city, Rao Jodha, in the year 1459. Inside the fort I saw several mesmerizing structures with exquisite carvings and embellishments- Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace), Phool Mahal (Flower Palace), Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace), Sileh Khana, and Daulat Khana and museum. It was great to visit the museum where I saw a collection of royal cradles, music instruments, miniature paintings, palanquins, howdas and the famous Kilkila cannon.

Umaid Bhawan Palace

My next halt was the grand Umaid Bhawan Palace (now a heritage hotel), one of the India’s fascinating palaces. Sprawling over 26 acres of land, this palace was once the largest residence in the world. I went to see its museum where I saw a variety of weapons, clocks stuffed leopards, and a huge banner presented by Queen Victoria.

In the evening I explored the colourful and bustling bazaars of Jodhpur. The bazaars were spilled with a variety of handicrafts such as tie and dye fabrics with silver and golden embroidery, paintings, leather crafts, wooden articles, furniture, silver jewelery and juttis. I bought two beautiful paintings. This marked the end of my short but sweet journey to Jodhpur. For the next two days I remained busy with the clients for offical purposes.

The incredible beauty of the sand dunes of Jaisalmer are fashioned

Sand Dunes

in an enchanting way by nature. And its ambiance display sheer excellence. After getting soaked in the colours of the famous Desert festival of Jaisalmer, we set out for experiencing the charm of sand dunes at Sam Sand Dunes, which is around 45 km from Jaisalmer.

We were really excited to go for a camel safari at Sam Sand Dunes. We reached there in the evening around 3 pm. The sight of the sand dunes moving dramatically on the rhythm of wind is a treat to the eyes. The very thought of being in the desert under the star-studded sky was overwhelming. I was ready to ride on a camel named Jhumroo. I loved his name. Jhumroo’s owner Rajpal was quite talkative and really entertained me through his interesting stories on the safari.

Merging with the colours of the dusk, the sand dunes were looking mind blowing. I captured the rustic beauty of the sand dunes in my camera. We passed by a bunch of chattering women who were dressed in colourful attires. I stopped there and requested them to pose for a photograph and it seemed as if their happiness knew no bounds. Their faces were brimming with joy.

We were scheduled to stay in the tent accommodation. After reaching at out tents we spent most of the time capturing the beauty of the desert in our hearts. The sunset view at the Sam Sand Dunes was out of this world. The cultural programmes in the evening at the sand dunes added more charm to the awesome ambiance of the sand dunes. Dining at the sand dunes was an amazing experience. After having dinner we went off to sleep under the star-studded sky, on the unfathomable sand dunes. Truly an overwhelming experience!

After a wonderful sightseeing tour of the havelis, temples and fort

Desert Festival, Jaisalmer

of Jaisalmer I and my three friends were all set to enjoy the colourful Desert Festival. It is the most vibrant festival of Jaisalmer celebrated every year in Jan/February. Attracting visitors from far and wide, this festival is organised by the Rajasthan State Tourism Corporation. A mirror to the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan, the festival is marked by several wonderful cultural activities.

When we reached the venue of the festival I felt as if the desert has come alive with the celebration of this festival. The sight of the decorated camels and rajasthani men and women in colourful attires was simply appealing. The festival offers an opportunity to tourists to acquaint themselves with the culture of the land of raja-maharajas. I interacted with some local people who told me a lot of things about the Rajasthani culture.

The first event that we saw was the turban tying contest. I was really amazed at the speed with which the participants were tying the turbans. It is a very much part of their tradition and no wonder they have long perfected this art. The other events that we saw were camel race, Mr. Desert contest and dance performance.

The fire dance is one of the striking features of the festival. It is performed on a ground covered with wood and burning charcoal. The performers walk through the fire in rhythm with the beats of drum. We were spell bound at the sight of the performers who were not at all affected by the flaming coals.

Another breathtaking experience was the finale of the festival. It was marked by the mesmerizing light and sound show amidst the sand dunes on a moonlit night. I felt as if I had been transported to a storybook of a desert. We also bout some fine handicrafts from the stalls such as wood and stone carvings and embroidered leather bags.