Doing darshan in Rajasthan

I've been to Rajasthan many a time now. Last year I got to go to Ranthambore and even managed to spot a tiger there. On the way to Delhi I passed through Bharatpur - couldn't get off the train but I did silently resolve to go to the sanctuary sometime in the near future.

Four years back I got a chance to see the various forts that dot the landscape in Rajasthan. Our trip started in Jaipur, where we saw the Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal and City Palace. I'd seen all these places before though, almost 10 years ago when I spent almost two weeks with a good friend of mine and my sister in Jaipur. We saw all that Jaipur had to offer, did a bit of shopping and I bought for the first time, my first set of Rajasthani puppets, which I absolutely adore.

I'd been there around three years back as well, for a friend's wedding. That's where I first found out about Rajput culture. But that's not the title of my blog today.

Turning back to my exploration of Rajasthan, we went to Jodhpur next where we saw the main attraction - the Mehrangarh Fort. Situated on a very high hilltop, it was a sight to behold. Some of the customs that prevailed though in the 15-16th century still had reminders embedded in the walls - such as the ladies who had imprinted their hands before proceeding for sati.

Sent shivers down your spine.

We also saw the Taj Umain Bhawan Palace which is a hotel in Jodhpur which has been given to the Taj Group with some agreement regarding profit sharing. The Taj Group in turn has made it one of the most luxurious hotels in the world. Very very impressive.

Too bad we didn't stay there though.

We proceeded for the very hot city of Jaisalmer - where I saw one of the only living forts in India - the Jaisalmer Fort. It was a very pretty site to behold indeed. The accomodation there though left much to be desired. I remember it resembled a chawl and there was no A/c to speak of!! But to be fair, the nights are very very cool in the desert.

Which is where we went next for a camel safari while we watched the sun set over the Thar Desert.

Nice time overall. We even saw Udaipur. One memorable visit was to Mount Abu and the Dilwara Temples (which are beautiful as I mentioned earlier) - but more than that was the visit to Ranakpur. Ranakpur is worth the visit - it is dedicated to Adinatha - and is spectacular. Anyone going to Rajasthan must see this temple.

But as I recall all the times I have been in Rajasthan, I remember that I had gone there with my parents, brother and sister as well. We visited both Jaipur and Udaipur, while doing a short trip to Pushkar as well. Udaipur is the city of lakes; and I remember when I went with my parents I had a view of one of the lakes where I saw a young man jump in and not emerge for the next 10 minutes. I got very worried but he soon emerged some time later. I think maybe I had been very young for thinking that he had drowned.

Pushkar was a city dotted with lakes and temples. Many of the swamis around us looked like they were on... well... they looked slightly in a dreamlike state. I remember seeing a lot of memorials there etched in the marble.

I also saw Ajmer with my parents; and did darshan at the dargah of the Muslim Sufi Saint Muinuddin Chisti - the 'Benefactor of the Poor'. That too, was an interesting experience. So was visiting Mount Abu and seeing the beautiful and breathtaking Dilwara Temples.

Now that I look back on it, truly I have seen Rajasthan a great many times over!! :) I'm fortunate that way I think!! One place I've always wanted to see was Chittorgarh; where there is a Tower of Victory that I've read about.

Eat Pray Love

My Mom just started reading this book called "Eat Pray Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. I finished it earlier this year. It had been recommended to me by my sister - and it is a must read book for all women. Sorry, but I don't think that guys will relate to it too much.

So Elizabeth Gilbert is going through a personal crisis. She's just had a messy divorce (her husband hates her) and she's had a messy divorce settlement (finances are at an all time low). She has a great offer though - she being a travel writer gets an offer to write a book on her experiences in three countries - Italy (Eat), Pray (India) and Love (Bali, Indonesia).

Italy... yups, you would definitely want to eat a lot there! But maybe your appetite will get curtailed because you'd want to stay in shape just to be able to flirt a little with the cute Italian guys - at least that's what I think. Did I mention that Italian guys are really cute? Cuz they totally are. And Elizabeth Gilbert notices this as well, as she takes up Italian classes with a cute Italian guy who in turn is trying to learn English. You'll zip through the Italy section and come to the following conclusions like I did. Firstly, this job of Gilbert's - being a travel writer, definitely ranks high on the list of good jobs! Secondly, I obviously did not spend as much time as I should have in Italy cuz I don't know any Italian! Another must do on my list of must dos.

The India section is deep. Like, very deep. You'll read a lot of philosophy, though condensed enough for a paper back novel. Elizabeth appears to calm down in this section and reflect back on her life. I remember I read this section while on a trip to Ranthambore National Park in the cold winter month of February. Definitely a good read. We used to sit around the fire in the evenings drinking tea (yes, tea - what else would one drink when it is cold?) and chat. One of my friends and I took this trip together. We had a great time!

Bali is ofcourse, beautiful. You almost feel like you're wobbling along on your cycle through the chaos going to visit the local medicine man. I liked the whole book and was sad when it came to an end. One interesting thing about Bali is that it is almost totally Hindu in population, unlike the Muslim dominated Indonesia of which it is a part of. They follow Balinese Hinduism - and even have their own Om sign. It's very interesting. Bali is a place I haven't been to yet, and I would think would be much easier to access. So hopefully I should go there sometime in the near future!! Europe will have to wait for me in the time being!

At the end of Gilbert's book, you feel all the good things you should feel. Optimism, happiness, gratitude for being alive.... It's a very feel good book. I guess that's why Oprah (from what my Mom has told me) keeps bringing Gilbert on her show. Eat Pray Love is being converted into a film as well. I don't know how they'll convert the thoughts that Elizabeth pens down onto the screen - maybe voice overs will be used. But I sure do know that it'll be a good film to watch!

Though the book is invariably always better than the film.

Ofcourse, in this one, there'll be the cute Italian guys to watch out for!