The Rajasthan Odyssey: Solo Indian Woman Travel V4.0

"Had I not created my own world, I would have certainly died in other people's" ~ Anais Nin

Last month I quit my job in Bangalore. No, this is not the beginning of another “How I quit my job to travel the world” blog. I quit my job and now I have moved on to another in Mumbai!

Anyway, the job switch left me with a couple of days in the middle; all to myself and then again the travel bug started itching my insides. And this time I decided on a royalty laden odyssey in Rajasthan.

Being one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, much has already been said and written about Rajasthan, however much still needs to be explored and maybe the same old needs to be explored with a new eye, as I did in my week long stay there.

My journey began from Jaipur, weaved through Udaipur and Kumbalgarh and culminated in Jodhpur and some of most memorable moments are:

1. Visit Nahargarh Fort , Jaipur

Built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1734, the fort was meant to serve as a royal retreat. Standing on the edge of the Aravalli Hills, the fort offers magnificent views of Jaipur city. Along with Amer Fort and Jaigarh Fort, it forms a strong defence ring for the city.

However, make sure to have proper planning while visiting the fort. While buses take you all the way to the entrance of Amer Fort, they drop you around 5km away from Nahargarh. And with the heat, dust, steep climb and poorly functioning lungs, the only way to go up would be to hitchhike like I did if you don’t plan for your own transport! But the view from the top is well worth the hassle!

Also rumour has it that Rang De Basanti was shot here!

Amer Fort

One of the many sights at Amer

View from Amer Fort

                                      

View from Nahargarh Fort

Hawa Mahal, Jaipur

2. Stay at Zostel Udaipur (and also the other Zostels)

Udaipur is definitely one of the prettiest cities in Udaipur. And the beauty quotient increases a few notches when you’re staying at Zostel Udaipur! What can be better than waking up, pulling the curtains, only to see the sun rising and illuminating the city palace! Yep, all of this from your bunk bed! You have a worthy Instagram shot at 7am!

Another nice part about Zostel are the people! The managers in all of them are super friendly and helpful and during your stay you’ll end up meeting a wide variety of people which will only add to the deliciousness of your travels!

Entrance to the City Palace, Udaipur

3. Go for a cultural show at Bagore ki Haveli

Just in case the ghats, the city palace, Lake Pichola, the tiny shops selling silver jewellery weren’t enough to capture your heart, go for a cultural show in Bagore ki Haveli. These shows are organized every night and display the varied cultural heritage of Rajasthan. From Chhari dance (ladies dancing with pots balanced on their heads lit with fire) to Bhavai Dance (at least a dozen pots balanced on the heads) and dancing on broken glass, and puppet shows, this one hour is guaranteed to regale you!

Bagore ki Haveli on the ghats of Lake Pichola

                                      

                                      

4.  Definitely check out Kumbalgarh

Just about a 100km away from Udaipur, yet most people would have never heard about it. The Kumbalgarh fort is a Mewar fort, built on a hilltop which is around 1100m above sea level and has walls extending to around 38km, making it the second longest continuous wall after the Great Wall of China. From the top of the palace one can see kilometres into the Aravalli range.

Walls of the Kumbalgarh Fort

5. Only travel in local buses

Needless to say some of the best experiences that one can have is on local transport and Rajasthan is no less. With a landscape so dry, arid and barren, the colourfully dressed locals thronging all buses could not have provided starker contrasts! Also, these are the cheapest and some of the most entertaining ways to travel.

6. Walk up to Mehrangarh Fort

Finally, in Jodhpur, the most famous place of visit is the Mehrangarh Fort and it is worthy of that status. While visiting the fort, instead of driving all the way up to the entrance, it is better to go via the Clock Tower and actually climb up an extremely steep path of close to 2km. The path meanders through tiny houses, all painted in bright blue shades and on the way you’ll mostly encounter curious kids and happy go lucky goats!

Mighty Mehrangarh Fort

View of Mehrangarh Fort from Jaswant Thada

Jaswant Thada

                                                  

Mandor Garden

Umaid Bhavan Palace

Though these for me were some of the memorable moments, but my trip was made with the countless hours of waiting at bus-stops and train stations, of meeting warm strangers and striking up conversations, of watching sunsets and feeling lucky.

Events and Festivals to Stave Off Q1 Blues!I

It was just the second day of a glorious new year and I was already sunk deep into work, pouring into my computer screen and slowly slipping into my not so happy zone.

That's when I came up with the below list of events and festivals to attend in India, of all kinds for all kinds to keep boredom at bay for the next few months at least!

January:

1.  Rann Utsav, Kutch (15^th December – 5^th March 2015)

Salt marshland stretching for miles, the clear white moon adorning the night sky as you sit on the pristine white stretch, and local dancers enthral you with their performances, there are very few places that would come close to this when thinking about how to spend a Saturday night. The Government of Gujarat organizes the Rann Utsav every year from December to March, with very attractive and convenient packages, for you to be able to get a taste of culture, cuisine, hospitality and beauty of the Rann.

Tent city at the Rann of Kutch

Performances on the pristine white stretch

2. ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival (21^st – 25^th January)

It has the literati, it has the suaveness, the intellect, some of the greatest thinkers and writers and it is FREE! The Jaipur Literature Festival is back this year. Started in 2006, the Festival is considered one of the torchbearers of culture catalysts and forums for free flow of ideas and expressions. With an impressive line up of speakers and events, this year too is bound to exceed expectations.

The best thinkers, writers and ideators

3. Hampi Utsav (9^th – 11^th January), GoHampi UNESCO Run (25^th January)

Started during the rule of Krishnadevaraya over the Vijayanagar empire, the Hampi Utsav has been organized every year to celebrate the grandeur, culture and now ruins of a once magnificent and thriving kingdom. From artists’ performances to local artisans selling their fares, Hampi becomes even grander over the weekend than it usually is through the year.

Also later in the month, is the GoUNESCO Hampi Heritage run organized by GoUNESCO. This is a fun run which covers the ruins of the world heritage site, giving a glimpse of local life and a stunning landscape.

4. Kochi Muziris Biennale (2^nd December – 29^th March 2015)

Kochi Muziris Biennale is an international exhibition of contemporary art, hosted in the city of Kochi. The inaugural edition of the Biennale opened in December 2012 and ran for 96 days. The second edition opened on December 12, 2014 and will continue till end of March 2015.  Indian and international artists exhibit art works and installations across a variety of mediums. Through the celebration of contemporary art the Biennale seeks to reinstate the cultural legacy of Kerala.

India's only Biennale

5.  International Kite Festival, Ahmedabad (7^th – 15^th January)

We Indians take everything very seriously, yes even kite flying! It’s Makar Sankranti, so how can you not fly a kite?! And how can we not invite the rest of a world to celebrate this joyous occasion! Organized by the Government of Gujarat for the last 27 years, the International Kite Flying Festival brings together master kite makers and flyers from all over the world to engage the crowd with the marvellous creations and extraordinary skills.

Master kite makers and flyers assemble from all over the world

6. Kila Raipur Rural Olympics, Ludhiana (29^th January – 1^st February)

From professional bullock cart and dog racers to daredevils lifting bicycles with their teeth, you’ve got to see it to believe it at Kila Raipur! The Rural Olympics held every year 15km away from Ludhiana is a one stop shop for your adrenalin kick, food delight and cultural fiestas!

One stop for crazy adrenaline and entertainment fix!

February:

1. SulaFest, Nasik (7^th- 8^th February)

Why wait till Tomorrowland and Sunburn when you can kick start the heady partying and revelry in February itself!  Camp out in the lush vineyards, sway to some amazing international and Indian music while indulging in great spirits, spice up your wardrobe from the Sula Bazaar end the weekend revelry with grape stomping. Pretty cool for the first part of a year!

Kick start the revelry and partying from February!

2. Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, Bombay, (7^th – 15^th February)

The nine day long arts and music extravaganza held every year, was started as an attempt to make the Kala Ghoda district of Mumbai the arts precinct. Organized by the Kala Ghoda Association the festival includes events in music, theatre, art, heritage walks and the entire area turns into a mela with street installations, artisans selling their fare, food stalls and the like.

One of the most famous and prestigious art festivals in India

3. Konkan Turtle Festival, Velas (dates not decided)

Organized in the months of February – March by the Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra, is as the name suggests an occasion where one can see newly hatched endangered Olive Ridley turtles make a march towards the Arabian Sea. The nesting begins a couple of months in advance, and during the hatching season the locals open their homes and hearts to visitors from across the nation to witness the marvel when hundreds of hatchlings open their eyes to the world and begin their journey towards the waters.

While the nesting for year has begun, the dates of the expecting hatching still have not been announced.

watch nature in action (at a turtle pace!)

4. Goa Carnival (14^th – 17^th February)

Local version of the carnivals and celebrations before Mardi Gras, the Goa Carnival is based on the traditions brought by the Portuguese in the 1500s. The carnival starts on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday before the season of fasting starts and the four days of revelry see floats, processions and parades down the streets much similar to what may see in New Orleans.

Why go to Mardi Gras when Goa is so close!

5. Ragasthan, Jaiselmer (12^th – 15^th February)

Asia’s only desert camping music festival is back in its third edition with more craziness than before.  Camping under the stars on the cold desert bed, far away from the world of modern transport and going back to good old camel rides, crazy installations which remind you of the Burning Man, open air movie screenings and of course discovery of music, Ragasthan is all this and so much more!

Unbelong, Unwind, Let is Go at Ragasthan

6. Surf Festival, Orissa (6^th – 8^th February)

Yes, India is going to host its FIRST EVER INTERNATIONAL SURFING FESTIVAL this February!! The event will see surfers from across the world, surfing lessons, documentaries, music and art installations. Yeah water, waves, sand, music and surfers...could your February GET any better?

7. Surajkund (1^st – 15^th February)

Organized by the Haryana Tourism Department, this is a unique conglomeration of artisans and master craftsmen from not just all over the country but also from the Eurasian region such as Uzbekistan, Kyrgystan and the SAARC nations get together to show their creations and products. Set in a rustic ambience which foot tapping local music and food, is a perfect opportunity for lovers of art, food and music to enjoy everything they love in the misty winters.

March:

1. Paripally Gajamela, Kollam (1^st March)

Paripally Gajamela is the unique elephant pageant held every year as a part of the annual festival at the Kodimootil Sree Bhadrakal Temple in the Paripally district of Trivandram. The festival where close to 50 elephants take part, presents a spectacular view of the caparisoned with their mahouts equally well adorned and holding high tinsel parasols and peacock feather fans swaying to the beats of the drums.

2. International Yoga Festival, Rishikesh (1^st – 7^th March)

Organized by the Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh this decade old festival attracts hundreds of Yoga enthusiasts from all over the world to this small town on the foot of the Himalayas. With the Ganga weaving through the town and the towering Shivalik ranges, it gives the perfect setting to be one with one’s inner self and rediscover spirituality.

Exhale out all financial year-end worries!

3. Shigmo, Goa

Traditionally the biggest spring festival was celebrated to welcome home the warriors who had left their homes at the end of Dusshera to fight the invaders. The 14 day long festival sees the celebration of Holi, and shimmering floats with music and dance move across Goa.

4. Jaipur Elephant Festival (5^th March)

So just in case you couldn’t make it to down south to watch the almost gilded elephants, don’t sweat. A similar festival is held in Jaipur every year, more like pre-Holi festivities where these magnificent pachyderms are adorned with gilded paraphernalia and one can watch them participate in tug-of-war and polo matches!

I’d be trying to attend at least one festival every month, so everyone and anyone is free to look me and coordinate a trip together!