Rajasthan

Rajasthan

Rajasthan is a very harsh, scorched land of savage summer heat but also full of the brightest colours. Countering the barren landscape with vibrant hues in their everyday wear and charming murals painted on their drab sepia-coloured mud homes, for the people as in the locals, life is one big carnival.

Even in the face of sure death. Here are many tales of desperate courage writ. Of men donning saffron robes and riding out to confront the enemy and women folk preferring death to dishonor. Even in everyday life today, the Rajput's sense of honour, family and tradition come foremost.

Being a Rajput myself, I just had to visit this place and it did turn out an amazing experience for us!

We covered on Day 1 -

Jodhpur
Mehrangarh Fort (one of the largest forts in India),
Jaswant Thada (memorial of Maharaja Jaswant Singh),
Umaid Bhavan Palace (is one of the world's largest private residences, a part is now managed by Taj Hotels) there is an excellent museum housing models of airplanes, weapons, antique clocks etc.

Day 2 -
Mandore (old capital of Jodhpur – just 100kms away) the place is surrounded by landscaped Gardens,
Bal Samand Lake,
Manwar (a treat located in the heart of gently rolling sand dune belt of Rajasthan)


Day 3 –
Jaiselmer (180 kms) Camel safari in the dunes afterwards just drive around the “Desert Citadel” few cities can match the magnificence of the museum city

Day - 4 –
visited the Fort that seemed to rise out of the desert haze, its yellow sandstone walls and bastions taking on a golden hue in the afternoon,
Manek Chowk,
Patwon Ki Haveli,
Salim Singhji Ki Haveli.
Gadisar Lake (beautiful man made lake surrounded by small temples and shrines)
Bada Bagh (the hill with the cenotaphs is an amazing site).
Lodruva (important Jain pilgrimages dating back from 12th to 15th century).
Drove on to Sam Dunes to get inside into desert life.
Camel rides on the sand dunes here are an unforgettable experience.

Day – 5:
Bikaner (300 ksm drive) this is true desert country and situated directly on the ancient caravan route which linked west / central Asia and North India.
Ramdevra temple (en route visited this temple dedicated to saint Baba Ram Dev who took Samadhi in 1458. It was built in 1931 by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner around the Samadhi).
Visited the market and then slept at the hotel!

Day - 6:
Bikaner city, covering Junagadh Fort (Raja Rai Singh built this impressive fort, it is encircled by a moat and houses many outstanding palaces, pavilions and temples made of red sandstone and marble with kiosks and Balconies) and Lalgadh Palace!
Evening did some shopping and went back to da hotel.

Day 7:
Drove back to jodhpur, gave back the car – went to airport – back to Mumbai!

Hell, why did we come back! We wanna go back!