Going royal with the gals
It was a foggy morning with the mercury plummeting south when the dream of "girls only" vacation came true as the Jaipur Shatabdi streamed out of the station. We, sisters were on our way for a vacation sans hubby and the accompanying baggage (pun intended). Yes, the train got delayed due to foggy conditions on the track but a glorious sun welcomed us as we trundled in at the Jaipur station. I and my sister couldn't wait to get started on our" holiday".
Dumping our bags at the hotel we started making tracks for the city palace.The agenda was to get up close and personal with the fabulous and famous Peacock doors. These doors had excited our imagination as they had been featured in Chitra Banerjee Devkurni's Palace of Illusions...a book on the heroine of Mahabharta, Draupadi. However ,before that we checked out the huge durbar hall with its marble pillars and art scattered throughout the room. Interesting to see how the lordly kings lived their lives. It must have been exciting times. Looking at the pictures and paintings one does get a n overview of how they lived and well....partied...
Pushing through the crowd in the hall we finally came to the Chandra Mahal, which was supposed to be the inner sanctum of the royal ladies and here we were rewarded with not one but four gates which lead to the boudoirs of the queens. These four doors represented four seasons of the Indian subcontinent :summer, winter, monsoon and spring. The doors held to their promise and showed us the mesmerising and detailed carvings of peacocks, lotuses etc.And there right there was the door which had haunted me and graced the covers of the book. It was green and it seemed as if there were doors on doors ,layers and layers like a well written poem.
After this fascinating feast for the eyes we decided to go to the royal temple Govind Devji temple. its a small pretty well kept temple for Bal Gopal. He is depicted here as a baby so the time for the darsshan revolves around his waking time.It was a very cute and sweet concept to think of god as ones child. Having said that ,i think that shows the essence of our religion which sees gods image in each living thing. The concept not only encompasses the world but also allows one to be at peace with everyone.
Then it was the markets for us.Frankly the markets in Jaipur are a sight for sore eyes. Colours on colours everywhere. You think of a colour and it is there ,displayed artistically as if inviting you to step into it and colour yourself in all the hues of the world. Rajasthan is one of the most colourful state of India though the geographical features beg to differ. The people of this state use more colours than the peacock...and it is beautiful. The markets in the old city invite you to take turns in their serpentine gullies and loose yourself in colours and smells. Fluttering sarees, dupattas, clinking bangles, shinning silver anklets, royal pugrees ; all vie for your attention and woe the person who can resist the siren calls. Well, we didn't. Soon our bags were full to the brim and yet our hearts still hankered for more. Gandhi Bazaar, Johri Bazaar,Nehru Bazaar and many more beckoned us to go on shopping till we drop.Fascinating they were.
Come evening and it was time to explore Chokhi Dhani- a heritage village resort which showcases the traditional food and flavour of Rajasthan. Once you are there you are transported to the very essence of Rajasthani culture,.. and the food ...awesome!!! Normally one balks at having a whole thali meal by oneself but there our appetites were having a ball. The fact of the matter is food tastes quite good when you are hungry or when the food smells divine. Well, here both the conditions were met.
The trip was at its fag end and nothing remained now but to board the train back home however the journey lives on in memories over a shared cup of coffee for always. Such is life. A kaleidoscope p
Pushing through the crowd in the hall we finally came to the Chandra Mahal, which was supposed to be the inner sanctum of the royal ladies and here we were rewarded with not one but four gates which lead to the boudoirs of the queens. These four doors represented four seasons of the Indian subcontinent :summer, winter, monsoon and spring. The doors held to their promise and showed us the mesmerising and detailed carvings of peacocks, lotuses etc.And there right there was the door which had haunted me and graced the covers of the book. It was green and it seemed as if there were doors on doors ,layers and layers like a well written poem.
After this fascinating feast for the eyes we decided to go to the royal temple Govind Devji temple. its a small pretty well kept temple for Bal Gopal. He is depicted here as a baby so the time for the darsshan revolves around his waking time.It was a very cute and sweet concept to think of god as ones child. Having said that ,i think that shows the essence of our religion which sees gods image in each living thing. The concept not only encompasses the world but also allows one to be at peace with everyone.
Then it was the markets for us.Frankly the markets in Jaipur are a sight for sore eyes. Colours on colours everywhere. You think of a colour and it is there ,displayed artistically as if inviting you to step into it and colour yourself in all the hues of the world. Rajasthan is one of the most colourful state of India though the geographical features beg to differ. The people of this state use more colours than the peacock...and it is beautiful. The markets in the old city invite you to take turns in their serpentine gullies and loose yourself in colours and smells. Fluttering sarees, dupattas, clinking bangles, shinning silver anklets, royal pugrees ; all vie for your attention and woe the person who can resist the siren calls. Well, we didn't. Soon our bags were full to the brim and yet our hearts still hankered for more. Gandhi Bazaar, Johri Bazaar,Nehru Bazaar and many more beckoned us to go on shopping till we drop.Fascinating they were.
Come evening and it was time to explore Chokhi Dhani- a heritage village resort which showcases the traditional food and flavour of Rajasthan. Once you are there you are transported to the very essence of Rajasthani culture,.. and the food ...awesome!!! Normally one balks at having a whole thali meal by oneself but there our appetites were having a ball. The fact of the matter is food tastes quite good when you are hungry or when the food smells divine. Well, here both the conditions were met.
The trip was at its fag end and nothing remained now but to board the train back home however the journey lives on in memories over a shared cup of coffee for always. Such is life. A kaleidoscope p
Yayyy! I don't know why I missed this post. It was a fun trip but time to do one more soon. :)
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