The state that has always been immersed in its culture regardless of time. That holds on to its brave history and rich stories through the generations, is surely the Cultural Capital of India. Tourists crowd the streets with a thirst to know more about the folk of Rajasthan or walk the cosmic hallways of the palace to feel the royal atmosphere. 

Abhinay took a brief journey to Rajasthan in the hope of experiencing the city’s eternal sunshine. Nevertheless, the city did leave an extraordinary impression within these few days. 

In the month of December, he took a train from Delhi to Jaipur. Entering Jaipur did feel like the infamous quote of ‘Padharo Mhare Desh’. 

Jaipur

Day-1 in the pink city had an agenda of sightseeing with a leisurely aura. Hitting the market/ bazaar that is the heart of Jaipur to shop and explore the fascinating items sold. Identical shops lined one after another, selling traditional clothes with intricate karigari or carved wooden boxes. They spared some extra time to appreciate the excellence of art they saw. 

Followed by art their next destination was the architectural marvel of Jaipur– Hawa Mahal. One of the major tourist attractions, anyone would easily be mesmerized by the honey-comb-like design with uncountable windows called jharokhas. 

Almost every nook and corner of this state is covered with magnificent forts. Apart from the history of monarchs, they also talk about the noble lifestyle of the Maharajas. Abhinay explored the Amer and Jaigarh fort. One is surrounded by a serene lake and another by the echoing hills of the Aravali range. Their next spot near the Jaigarh fort was a distinct yet remarkable place- the Jaivan Cannon. Associated with the Rajputs, this 20ft cannon is one of the largest cannons in India. After a day of visiting these gems of Jaipur, they stayed at their local friend’s house before leaving for their escapade. 

Udaipur

When Abhinay reached Udaipur his plans to stay at a lakeside hotel were wrecked by the winter season’s jam bookings. So, he ended up staying at the Trigo hotel. The weather was below 15 degrees celsius that made for a pleasant stay. 

For convenient travel and exploration, they hired an auto driver kum tour guide. [Time- 10am to 9pm]. Who took them to a lake for a boat ride that had a laid-back sunset view along with a musician who played the iktara. In the evening, they winded up at the Bagore Ki Haveli that showcased a traditional dance performance. 

Finally, the day to explore the tantalizing flavors of Rajasthan was here! The tour guide took Abhinay and his friends to all the foodie spots of Udaipur. Dal-Bhati, Gatte ki Sabzi, and an endless list of Marwari snacks took them on a delicious trip of sweet and spice. 

the ancient and the modern

The itinerary for their last day at Udaipur was to dive into the spiritual and historic temples. The first one is the 500-year-old pyramidal Jagdish Temple. Followed by the Karni Mata Mandir in which an incarnation of the Durga Goddess resides [cable car available] and the Hanuman temple. 

The most spectacular highlight of the day yet to be visited was the legendary palaces. They took almost an hour-long tour of the City Palace with its alluring murals and doorways. By hiring a guide they got a chance to observe the palace while taking note of its fable stories. The Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace on the hilltop made for the perfect sunset point. And after visiting the Albert Hall museum to overview the rich collection of artifacts, they ended their two-day-long journey at Udaipur. 

So this was Abhinay’s zealous trip to Rajasthan! For more such unique and authentic stories stay tuned and follow us on our Instagram handle: @indiachalk

Let us know in the comment section below, your exciting travel experiences.