Monday, November 23, 2015

TRAVEL SPECIAL – Padhaaro MHAARE DES...


Padhaaro MHAARE DES...


... or `welcome to our city' exemplifies the spirit of Jodhpur ­ 
a canvas of Rajasthani culture

Ever thought the colour used by lo cals to paint their homes -in a bid
 to wardoff insects -would become synonymous with the city? 
In the past, Jodhpur suffered from a major termite problem ­ so the 
residents started adding copper sulphate to their whitewashes, which 
lent the city its pristine blue-indigo hue.
The Blue City is really blue! Modern Jodhpur stretches well beyond
 the city walls, but it's within the walled city that you find the Rajasthan
 of your imagination ­ the hustle-bustle, the colours, and the
 larger-than-life Mehrangarh Fort. 
At the base of the mighty fort is a jumble of blue cubes that stretches 
out to the 10 km-long, 16th-century city wall.
Inside are vibrant, entangled and bustling medieval streets ­ all of 
which never  seem to lead where you want them to... 
The shops sell everything from vintage home decor items and 
temple decorations to colourful clothes
and accessories. The colourful rickshaws here are super slim since they
have to squeeze through the narrow streets. 
They make for a great travel option.

RAJPUTANA SPLENDOUR
The colossal and grand Mehrangarh Fort, which rises 400 sq ft above the city,
 looks nothing less than a page out of a fairy tale.The imprint of Jodhpur's
erstwhile royal family, built by Maharaja Jaswant Singh in the 17th century,
it is the defining feature of this otherwise low-rise landscape. If you aren't
 visiting Jodhpur in winter, make sure you reach the fort early to skip the
 midday sun. You don't need a ticket to enter the fort; only the museum
section requires one. Packed with history, Mehran garh Fort houses one
of the bestkept collections of regal parapherna lia in the country.
What you see is a magnificent collection of silver elephant howdahs,
gilded palanquins, carved ivory, weapons inlaid with gold and jewels,
rare pieces of textile, and some of the world's finest miniature paintings.
You'll be amazed to see elaborate cradles of infant princes and the extensive
 zenana (where maharanis lived) with dainty filigree windows. Make sure
to hire a guide to take you through the palatial labyrinth, great hallways
and long corridors and hear fascinating stories about the heroism of the
legendary Rajput warriors of Marwar. You can also consider spending
the afternoon in its small cafe, sipping chilled beer or wine, lounge under
shady trees reading a book or simply enjoy the spectacular views of the city.
There are some curio shops too; you can take back valuable merchandise
 like a Jodhpuri earring or a maharaja pen as memento. For adventure seekers,
 there's the flying fox zipline tour, which runs below the fort.
When in Jodhpur, a visit to Umaid Bhavan is a must. If your budget doesn't
 permit you to stay there, go for dinner or drinks at its scenic restaurant
 where the verandah offers a lavish view of the palace gardens.
Indulge in some Rajasthani delicacies (ker sangri and laal maas)
generously spread on silver platters. Visitors aren't admitted during
all seasons, so call in advance to make a reservation. Again, casual
visitors are not allowed inside the palace as the current royal bearer
Gaj Singh II still lives in the premises. But you can certainly visit the
museum by paying a nominal entry free. Pictures of artistic palace interiors,
 a collection of antique clocks and the maharaja's vintage cars are eye-catching.

ALL THINGS ETHNIC
You'll find steps leading to the marketplace all around the Ghanta Ghar.
The area somehow creates an aura that is hard to resist. Though loud,
dusty and a tad dirty, the bylanes sell wares, spices, metal bangles,
Jodhpuri jootis, Rajasthani turbans, and loads of mithais and snacky
items you can munch on during a shopping spree. The city is popularly
known for its antique furniture emporiums. There are a few near Ghanta
Ghar too. If you love investing in retro, unique home decor pieces and
furnishings in Indian prints, it's impossible to leave empty-handed.
 From coloured-glass lanterns and vintage posters to jaali-work wooden
 frames and quirky painted metal trunks, you'll find them all.
As a souvenir, you can pick a signature Jodhpuri reversible block-print
quilt that is known to have a cooling effect in summer and acts as an
insulator against the cold in the harsh winter cold.[

MUST-EAT
Your trip would be incomplete if you leave Jodhpur without biting into
the fiery mirchi vadas (king-size green chilli stuffed with spicy potato
filling, dipped in gram flour batter and fried), kachoris and makhaniya lassi.
The busy area around the Clock Tower market has a number of street stalls
 offering freshly-fried versions of the eatables.
Try Janta Sweet Home at Nai Sarak, a favourite among the locals.

FESTIVAL ALERT!
Lose yourself to the sacred sounds and dance performances by the best
artiste line-up from across the globe at Mehrangarh Fort that is lit by the
sparkling incandescence of a thousand candles.
World Sacred Spirit Festival (Feb 26­-27, 2016); Flamenco & Gypsy
Festival (Mar 18-­20, 2016)
shikha shah

TL8NOV15

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