Rajasthan’s Majesty is a Reflection of its Royal Past- Anurag’s Thrillophilia Review

“Shaam gulabi,
sehar gulabi
Pehar gulabi hai gulabi ye shehar…"

This song played on the music player as the car zoomed through the Pink city of Jaipur late in the evening, I saw the sky reflecting a deep shade of salmon pink. My partner was lost in the sight of the sky, murmuring now and then about the sheer beauty of the sunset.

As we entered the main city, our guide told us  pointing to a huge entrance- “This is the Ajmeri Gate Anurag banna, from here the old city begins.”

The Jaipur Chapter

I did not understand what was ‘banna’, so I asked him. And he replied, “It is the way we refer to younger brothers”.

I immediately felt a deep sense of belongingness to Rajasthan.

Anyway, as soon as we entered the city, the entire vibe of the journey changed. There were bustling roads, colourful markets showcasing Jutthis and textile works, bangles made of lak gum, and lamps that ranged from blue pottery to Sanganeri designs. It was a treat to the eyes, and my partner, clearly, was charmed.

The next day, we started our trip long before the guide was supposed to come. We woke up at 6, and went out for a morning stroll, only to find the delicious smell of kachoris and jalebis all over. The sunrises were as beautiful as the sunset, and the city with its brick-coloured walls looked all pink in the glow of the mellow sun.

First, we went to the City Palace and Hawa Mahal. The huge mansion of City Palace stunned us, especially the artworks that adorned each and every corner of the place. There were several exhibits on display, ranging from the Maharani saree that was embroidered in gold, to the age-old swords that were once used by Maharajas in battles. The Hawa Mahal, however, was quite peaceful and breezy. The exhibits of ancient sculptures here were quite impressive and enriched in knowledge.

Moving on we visited the Jal Mahal, then had lunch at the Suvarna Mahal, followed by a visit to the famous Laxmi Misthan Bhandar in Johari bazar. Our guide mentioned that it is one of the oldest shops in Jaipur, established almost 350 years ago! It was worth the visit, as the rabdi Ghewar from there totally won our hearts.

Later, we visited the Amber, Jaigarh, and Nahargarh forts, as suggested by the guide. He mentioned, “You will love the view of Jaipur city from Nahargarh. Trust me, go there during the evening.”

But watching that with our own naked eyes was a different feeling altogether. The whole city sprawled before us like an open casket of gold and silver, and we almost got tears in our eyes.

I would not elaborate much on what we saw there, because it is impossible to put the experience into words. I would end up writing books about it and Thrillophilia’s website would run out of space. So instead, I would like to mention that the Royal history of the place was evident in the way the city survives. Each aspect of Jaipur is fueled by the Rajputana heritage.

The Jodhpur Chapter

Meherangarh Fort is IMPECCABLE.

I had not seen anything as massive as that before in my life, and exploring the fort took almost 5 hours of the day! Honestly, it was well worth it. Me and my partner could gauge the history and the culture of Marwar, and behold the very detailed carvings that embellished each part of the fort. The latticework of the balconies and windows was something that only artistic brilliance can create.

We ended this tour by visiting the Chamunda temple located at the top of the Fort. The views of Jodhpur from there looked extraordinary. The post-monsoon lush greenery covered the landscapes, and the blue city cast a beautiful tint of colour over the city.

Then went to Yashwant Thada, and finally headed to have some amazing laal, hara, and safed maas- the speciality of Jodhpur as these dishes originated from here.

Next up we went to the Mandore Gardens where Ravana is believed to have married. The temples and cenotaphs, although idol-less now, urged us to research more about the place. There was a museum that captured the very essence of Rajasthani culture and history along with life-sized portraits of Jodhpur’s former kings beginning from Rao Jodhha, the founder of Jodhpur.

The Ganesh temple there specifically caught my eye because it was unlike any that I had encountered till date. The temple also had idols of Kale Gore Bheru, Ma Chamunda, and Ma Bhrama, making me curious to know more about the place. To my surprise, not much was found on the internet, and the Pandit there would not answer my questions properly (he was also busy cutting fruits). So I retorted to the guide, who explained to me the history of this temple and mandore gardens completely. I will skip that part here because, again, this page would run out of space.

The star of the tour was the Blue City tour. The indigo-painted houses were nothing short of a visual feast, and we savoured every moment of walking through the narrow lanes of the famous Blue City. We caught the sunset from a quaint cafe and then returned to our hotel for the night.

The Jaisalmer Chapter

It was indeed the Golden City. The sand grains reflected the amber rays of the sun, looking like a landscape knitted with yellow quartz and sapphire stones.

We toured the Patwon ki Haveli, getting our breath knocked out as we turned every corner of the place. The walls and doors were carved with intricate designs, and the artworks seemed to come alive as our guide shared the stories of the artists who contributed in building the haveli.

Also, the Gadisar Lake, Moti Mahal, and Bada Bagh were no less than a dream.

Finally, we visited the Golden Fort, commonly known as the Jaisalmer Fort. We were mesmerised to see that there were people still living inside the complex. We tried Ker Sangri and Daal Bati Churma there, and trust me guys, Dal Bati Churma of all these three cities were very different from each other.

The last part of the trip was a desert camp stay and camel safari. It was the best way to end our trip, a touch of relaxation, a touch of mysticism, and an amazing feast under the open skies.

The last night was wrapped up with me and my partner gazing at the night sky, and talking about just one thing-

“Next time, let's go for the tour of Udaipur, Mount Abu, Bhangar, Banswara, and Jawai”
“You left our Ranthambore”
“Yeah that too”
“Will you get a 20-day holiday from your office?”
“No. But the place is so beautiful!”
“Rajasthan as a whole state should be made into a UNESCO heritage site”
“True…”
“Until the next time then, what say?”
“Definitely, until the next time!”

Read More: Thrillophilia Rajasthan Reviews