Rajasthan - Land of Rajputs!

Rajasthan the land of Rajputs is true to its name with its stunning architectural wonders. The royalty of the Rajputs and their rich heritage is apparent in the majestic forts and imposing palaces. The stories of valor and nobility are sure to leave anyone spellbound.

There is more to this incredible land than the architectural heritage; the wildlife, the sand dunes, precious stones and jewelry, vibrant culture, delectable cuisine and the list goes on. The native people have held on to their roots and can still amaze one by their warm hospitality and respect for the other cultures. It has been our personal experience that our attire or lifestyle never grabbed a single attention or comment from any passerby all through our stay in the state.

Our trip to Rajasthan was going to be one of the most memorable ones with an amalgamation of culture, adventure and relaxation. It was one of the most awaited breaks for us from our busy office life and the long-awaited break for our parents who were set to travel almost after a gap of more than 10 years. Rajasthan trip was a year-end trip for us with our new year celebration planned in Sam sand dunes of Jaisalmer.

We had booked a 7-seater MUV with a driver who would drive us all the way to Rajasthan from Mumbai and back. The places that fell on our list were Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Ranthambore and Pushkar.

Our plan was to start from Udaipur but as Mumbai to Udaipur would have been a very long and hectic journey in a single stretch we decided to halt at Mount Abu. We started from Mumbai on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad road and reached Mount Abu late night and cuddled up into our beds for a good nights rest.

Next morning we had our breakfast on the terrace of the hotel, which had a stunning view of the Nakki Lake. It was a lovely morning with a cool refreshing breeze blowing in our faces.

We spent some time watching the slowly moving tiny boats and the rising air balloons in the distant serene lake.

After our breakfast, we checked out of our hotel and set out to do some sightseeing of the only hill station in Rajasthan before leaving for our next destination that was Udaipur.

We visited the Angora rabbit farm where we had a chance to hold the rabbits and feel their cottony soft fur. 

The man then guided us through the owner’s house where they showed us through a variety of wool products shawls, stoles and caps. We bought some couple of shawls and left from there to visit the Brahma Kumaris Ashram.

The visit to Brahma Kumaris Ashram was at our elder's behest. Our elders got occupied with one of the administrative persons who were explaining about the courses in meditation and spiritual knowledge. We spent some time in the tranquil and spiritual atmosphere of the ashram.

We next visited the magnificent Eklingji temple on the way to Udaipur. It is a beautiful complex of temples with pyramidal style roof. The temple has a four-faced idol of Eklingji (Lord Shiva) that is made out of black marble with a silver image of Nandi in the entrance hall. The remarkable temple consists of 108 carved temples within its high walls.

We had to head to Udaipur which was a 3 hrs. journey from Mount Abu hence we could not do much of Mount Abu. We missed the marvelous Dilwara Jain temples Known for their exquisite stone carvings, which we will for sure plan the next time we visit Mount Abu. One can also visit the Guru Shikhar, which is the highest point in Mount Abu for the panoramic view of the city and the historical fort of Achalgarh.

After lunch, we left for Udaipur. We reached Udaipur late evening and checked into our hotel.