Fulfilling Parent’s Long Overdue Dream: Sushila’s Rajasthan Trip Review
It was a dream I had carried with me for years- to take my parents on a vacation, somewhere beautiful, somewhere that would make them forget the everyday grind. Growing up, we didn’t have the luxury of taking big vacations. My parents worked hard, ensuring my education, my dreams, and my future. Now that I had the means, I wanted to give back to them, even if just for a few days.
That’s how our journey to Rajasthan began- Jaipur, Udaipur, Mount Abu, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer. The land of kings, palaces, and desert sands seemed perfect for the occasion. Rajasthan held a certain charm, one that matched the grandeur of the life I wanted to offer them, even if only temporarily.
As the plane descended into Jaipur, I glanced at my parents. My mother’s eyes sparkled with curiosity, while my father had a calm smile on his face. He had always been the quiet one, while my mother was filled with excitement. “Look, we’re landing,” I whispered to her. She squeezed my hand, as if to say she couldn’t believe it was real.
Jaipur’s bustling streets welcomed us with colors everywhere- pink buildings, markets, and the constant buzz of life. For the first time in a long while, my parents weren’t consumed with responsibilities. They weren’t rushing to finish chores or worrying about tomorrow. That first evening, as we strolled through the city, eating street food and laughing at my father’s jokes, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace.
My mother looked at the Hawa Mahal, awe filling her eyes. “It’s more beautiful than I imagined,” she whispered. I knew that growing up, she had always wanted to visit Jaipur, but somehow life always got in the way. Watching her now, I realized how special this was, not just for her, but for me too. My mother, who had spent years sacrificing her own dreams, was finally living one of them.
Udaipur was next, the city of lakes. It felt like a completely different world. The calm waters of Lake Pichola reflected the white palaces and the golden sunlight, casting a dreamlike spell over the city. As we sat by the lake, my father, who rarely spoke about his feelings, said softly, “This place... it feels like we’re in a painting.”
I looked at him and realized how much he had changed over the years. The man who had always been busy at work, whose mind was always tired from a hard day, seemed to have found a moment of peace. “You deserve this,” I wanted to tell him, but instead, I just smiled and said, “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
The boat ride we took across the lake was one of the most serene moments of the trip. My parents sat beside me, silent, taking in the view. I remember thinking, "This is what happiness feels like." It wasn’t in the places we visited, but in the quiet, shared moments, in the way we sat together and simply existed without the weight of the world on our shoulders.
Mount Abu, with its cool weather and lush greenery, was a delightful change from the scorching heat of Rajasthan’s cities. My mother was thrilled, as the hill station offered her the kind of cool climate she had always preferred. We visited the Dilwara Temples, and while the intricate marble carvings left us all in awe, it was the peacefulness of the place that struck us most. My father, usually one to avoid temples, stood silently, lost in thought.
“I could stay here forever,” my mother said, half-joking. But I knew she meant it. For her, it wasn’t just about seeing new places- it was about escaping into something different, something peaceful. The stress of home seemed to melt away, replaced by the cool breeze of Mount Abu. It was then that I realized that this trip wasn’t just a vacation for them; it was a kind of healing.
Jodhpur, the Blue City, greeted us with its magnificent fort and its maze of indigo houses. My father, who had always been fascinated by architecture, seemed particularly interested in Mehrangarh Fort. “How did they build something so grand?” he wondered aloud. For a man who had spent his life building a small home for his family, standing in front of something so majestic made him feel small- but in a good way. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” he admitted.
We spent hours wandering the fort, exploring its courtyards and museums. My mother kept marveling at the intricacy of the designs, while my father asked questions about the fort’s history. For the first time in years, I saw them acting like carefree tourists, not just parents who were always thinking about the next task at hand.
Jaisalmer was the last stop, and it was here that we experienced something magical. The golden sands of the Thar Desert stretched out as far as the eye could see. We stayed in a desert camp, and that night, as we sat around a bonfire, listening to local musicians play traditional Rajasthani tunes, I felt a deep sense of contentment. My parents were laughing, genuinely enjoying themselves.
As we took a camel ride through the desert the next day, a sandstorm hit unexpectedly. It was terrifying at first, but as the winds died down, something incredible happened—a glowing sun appeared, arcing over the vast desert. My mother gasped, “Look, at that golden glow!”
For years, my parents had worked tirelessly, never asking for anything in return. And now, they were experiencing the world in a way they never had before.
As we packed our bags and prepared to head back home, I couldn’t help but feel a little emotional. This trip had been more than just a chance to see Rajasthan; it had been an opportunity for me to show my parents how much they meant to me. Watching them explore new places, laugh, and simply be happy had been the greatest gift I could have asked for.
As we boarded the plane back home, my mother squeezed my hand again, just like she had when we first landed in Jaipur. “Thank you,” she whispered, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “This trip... it was everything I didn’t know I needed.”
I smiled, knowing that I had fulfilled my dream. And in doing so, I had given them something they would remember forever- a piece of the world, and a lifetime of memories.
Read more: Thrillophilia Rajasthan Reviews