Dear Krisha,

It was a wonderful trip. We enjoyed a lot with you. Rajsthan is a wonderful place with lot of history. I will give a brief of the journey and some tips in case you need them when we are too old to remember anything.

our journey began on 04/11/2017, Saturday at around 4:00 PM from Vadodara. You were very excited with so many things around you in car. I took early leave from office. our first stoppgae was Abu Road. It was smooth trip and we had a quick break at Khetala Apa tea stall in Mehsana. We (You and me, Mom decided to not come out of car) clicked few pics together.

Tea was not so nice :-(. Next stoppage was Abu road guest house of IOCL, pipeline division. You enjoyed a lot stay there. It was a new set up and you were excited about every thing: bathroom, dustbin, staircase, crockery set, mattress, revolving chair and cupboards.

Day1

In morning we had breakfast, and started at around 10:30 (unexplained delay we had throughout the journey). In the morning too you enjoyed a lot with going up and down the stairs all the time.

It was a beautiful morning, nice road with less traffic and we all were enjoying the journey.

We again had a break at a tea stall. We were enjoying the view of different terrain when your mom suddenly inquired about the Dongle, which as usual i misplaced somewhere in car. After a thorough search of around twenty minutes we (I and our driver Vikram) couldn’t locate it. For around half an hour it was a tense journey, before your mom showing an unusual gesture of generosity let it go. We were a little bit behind the schedule and reached to hotel Lords Inn at around 2:00 PM. You were visibly outraged at such long journey. We had at least half a dozen bags to accommodate things in bits and pieces in our hatchback car. Hotel was nice and we decided to take rest, but you decided to take a stroll around the room. In the evening after taking a quick rest we left for Mandore garden of Jodhpur. Quite disappointed I was with this place though, or I would say with the condition of the place. It was ,maintained in the worst possible way. We moved around the garden quickly and had a professional photo shoot done by the photographer-cum-driver-cum-advisor-cum……, cutting it short, Vikram.

We then moved to a “I am not in a mood to serve, i am sitting here for time pass” type restaurant for snacks. That hotel owner was not at all happy with your ” i will throw everything away” attitude. After a short and pleasant stay in the restaurant we had a quick trip to the market and your mother bought a pair of slipper for me. In the shop you were so active that those salesmen had to tell us “Sir please she may get hurt, please stop her” and there we were running after you and putting the shoes & slippers back to the showcase. Those 15 minutes you checked almost every piece of shoes accessible to you. Then we headed back to hotel room, got ready to pose in front of the roof top gigantic swimming pool :-).

Finishing all this we went for dinner, where we had some unpleasant moments (due to  some uncontrollable factors) can’t describe here. But overall it was a nice day. You, your mom and me all enjoyed a lot. Good night our princess.! Next day we were to begin our journey of history.

Day 2

Next day we began early and decided to cover few extra places . You were too sleepy, and kept sleeping as we changed your dress. We left for Mehrangarh fort. On the way to fort we had delicious breakfast. Then we reached to fort. What a magnificent structure it was! Grandeur of old age, though weathered with time, still standing high with so many stories hidden behind its splendor. We all put up our goggles, you too, and moved inside the fort.

It was even more splendid inside. It had a steep slope. Every nook and corner of the fort was a history in itself. We took a full round of the fort at ground level but couldn’t find the way to go to the top. It was designed such way that path leading to the most secure places was never obvious. We took lift to reach to the top.

Soon we spotted a Bollywood film being shot there starring Kangana Ranawat. We saw Dany there along with Shakti Kapoor and Kangana Ranawat. Your mom was less interested in fort and more in the movie cast present there for the shooting purpose and she also clicked few pics which was not allowed the bodyguards of the film troop. As your mom took few photos of that setup, you, bored of all this, decided to take a nap.

Soon we moved out of fort and headed towards the lunch venue. It was kissan dhaba. Fantastic rajsthani food and a nice playground it had. (Playground part I am kidding about, but you converted at least four of their table to your playground and forcing me and mom to have food one by one, while one participated with you in your game). After this break we headed towards the Ummedbhavan palace. You posed for some cutest photos there.

I personally felt Ummedbhavan palace was nothing but the insult of our great Indian freedom fighters. Ummedbhavan palace was built in around 1900 when India was fighting for its independence. It costed 90 lakh rupees, all of which was exploited from the poor farmers and common people.

But then there is other version of this, guards there told me that king did this to provide employment to his public during the time of drought. Then there was a shiny car collection back since 1900. I didn’t like the idea of purchasing cars when India wad fighting for independence. That’s a different topic we will discuss in detail some day. We were too exhausted to explore more sites and headed towards hotel.

After some rest we headed to say good bye to Vikram. He boarded the bus to Vadodara and we after seeing off him we went to a handicraft fair, you enjoyed it. So many people and so many things to throw u had. You finally settled for a red balloon, Gada style.

As i write thus post this balloon is lying beside me, peeping at the post as if cross checking the post for you. Our next stoppage was red chili restaurant, after of about half an hour search for some decent and economic restaurant. Here food was nice and you were super excited as usual. I had paratha , mom had idli Sambhar. We returned to hotel. It was a nice day. Day two over. Good night Krisha, tomorrow we will travel to Jaisalmaer, the Golden city.

Day 3

It was last day at Jodhpur and we still had few places left in Jodhpur to visit. Me and your mom decided to cover it before leaving Jodhpur. We got up early and left for kaylana lake. It was early morning and we reached there in few minutes. it was quite place. Nothing much, few seats and open space. We left soon.

Our next stoppages was Rao Jodha desert garden, it was a desert park. Driving to the place is quite tricky. We reached there with the help of google map.

We made a blunder during return and took the opposite turn. It was nightmarish experience while driving in that road. It was steepest slope i ever drove upon. It would have been even worse if a 12-15 year boy had not intervened us when we entering in another web of streets. We were rightly directed by that boy to right way out of this mess. We took a sigh of relief and straight went to the restaurant. As we were getting late, we ordered breakfast and then packed few idlis for you. We had our bag packed and checked out of the hotel and left for our next stoppage: Jaisalmer.

Journey was awesome. Road was great. We took a short break at a restaurant: it was a nice restaurant. We had cup of tea and awesome Rajasthani Thali. You were so so energetic here that you almost broke the tea-cup, pulled my Thali down to floor and kept dancing on the table. Soon we finished this and moved forward. Journey was very pleasant. You were enjoying it as much as we were. At around 17:00 we reached Jaisalmer, the golden city of India. It was a small city, with very less traffic. We reached out hotel “Hotel Pleasant Haveli.” it was small home-cum-hotel. Although ambiance was not nice but hotel was well maintained in traditional style. We decided to take rest now, because day has been very hectic and we didn’t want to stretch our selves too much. Still half of the tour was ahead us. You were tired from the tour and slept early. We had dinner at the room itself and went to bed. You main attraction here too, was bathroom as usual. You enjoyed the stay here too.

Day 4

It was our 4th day in Rajasthan. We were in Jaisalmer, last city of India, when we talk about Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan. Today we planned to cover lot of places. Planning was to cover maximum places even if it meant, few minutes for each of them. But as usual due to some ” unavoidable conditions” we started late. Whatever, we were hellbent on covering everything.

Our first stop was ” Patwaon ki Haveli”. It was residential complex of goldsmith family which worked for the king of Jaisalmer.

Personally i didn’t find it much impressive, it was just a sort of old building, a micro replica of some fort. But you enjoyed it a lot.

So many guides outside this complex will keep coming to you till you finally give up and agree to go with one of them. But it was worth one time visit. After the Haveli our next stoppage was Jaisalmer fort, sonar-kila. Due to golden sandstone used in construction of this fort, it shines like gold in sun light.

We moved on feet as someone guided us that fort was hardly 10 minutes from Patwaon-ki-Haveli. Actually distance was not that much but it was very conjusted pathway with difficult slope. It took us half an hour to travel from haveli to fort and we got very much tired. Mommy bought a cap for you but you were least interested in it. By the way you are always least interested in your items and more in others. In Jaisalmer fort we hired a guide. It was not so impressive fort. Miniature version of grand forts of Jodhpur.

King of Jaisalmer was more of a shelter-provider for the carvan travelling for business through desert area than a warrior king. The tax and protection money king earned was his source of income.

That limited income is reflected in the Jaisalmer fort. Small rooms, smaller guests room, smaller store rooms, not so exquisite art gallery. But history has made it beautiful. You tried to sneak into idol storage place but it was glass protected so you had to give up.

It took us around 2 hours to finish the fort tour.

Although it was not so grand but it had unique view.

Then we decided to leave for Jaisalmer war museum. It is a war memorial showcasing the technique, weapons, historical information and victory story of our heroic soldiers. It was real sense of pride while going through that memorial room. You were almost uncontrollable in the hall showcasing different weapons.

Then there was a war movie based on Kargil war. It was a great movie. While we were busy watching that movie you were busy watching “The Backyardigans” on your tablet.

After that we decided to go for lunch in army canteen and you decided to take a fast stroll in the lush green garden. For around half and hour you were just running and walking, walking and running. I and your mommy had lunch one by one . Then we clicked few photos with the tanks, plaques and other weapons.

After this war memorial, we moved for Kuldhara, a deserted village.

Its ruins are still in very much good condition.

Why people left this village is a debatable issue . We reached at around 5:00 PM. Sun was setting and we had little time to cover this.

We moved to top of a good shape building. From there one could guess the large stretch of the village. Many houses were built on grand scale. We did some good photography.

Although we wanted to explore Kuldhara further it was almost dark so it was of no use to stay back. Awestruck with the mystery of Kuldhara we left for Barha Bag. Barha bag is burial ground of royal family of Jaisalmer. It has been extensively used in Bollywood movies. But when we reached at site it was already 8 so gatekeeper didn’t allow us to enter the premises and advised us to return next day.
We returned to hotel. We were extremely tired and so were you. We ordered meal in the room. You were too tired to play and went to bed immediately. After having dinner we too went straight to bed. Good night babu, sweet dreams. Next day we were going to cover another important landmark.

Day 5

It was one of the most important day of our journey. We were going to visit : Longewala and Tanot Mata Temple.  Longewala was The center point of the 1971 Indo-Pak war. We started very early in the morning. Our first stop was going to be Longewala. Road was superb and weather was pleasant. It was a beautiful trip. We stopped once at Ramgarh just to stock water bottles for the trip ahead. There were very few people living in this part of India and we were surely moving away from the crowded, known India to a very rustic, unknown India.

Although road was in very good conditions, uneven terrain of the road had so beautifully hidden highs and lows that it was almost impossible to decipher them from distance. Finally we reached Longewala.

It was only Army base station. This area is around 15 km away from the border but army keeps its person reputed here due to historical importance of this place.

A very fierce battle was found between India and Pakistan here.

If ever you get time Krisha you can watch Border Bollywood movie, a dramatized version of this battle. When you are at such place, you get a sudden rush of patriotism. The very land we were standing upon witnesses hundreds of people dying in most brutal conditions for away from their beloved ones. As I said earlier too, for very few, cost of war was much more, than I can express in this post. Army has rightly retained and maintained trenches and bunkers which were part of this battle.

Pakistan tanks and jeeps can still be seen there with the damage inflicted upon them by Indian counterparts. Mines which were laid to target Pakistani army may be scattered there, buried down in the sand so “mines” signboards have extensively been used in the area to warn tourists and local population.

We had breakfast there and you enjoyed the wonderful ambiance.

Our next stoppage was another war-landmark, Tanot Mata temple. Tanot Mata temple is famous for unexploded bombs which were dropped by Pakistan during 1971 war. It is said that most of the bombs which Pakistan dropped at this place didn’t explode due to temple of Tanot Mata. Journey from Longewala to Tanot Mata was very smooth. Road was in superb condition. Weather was very pleasant. It took around half an hour to reach Tanot Mata. It was a quiet place with few visitors.

We did darshan of Tanot Mata.

It was such a superb ambiance that we decided to stay there for a while.

Then we left for our next stoppage: Wind Desert Camp.

At around 2:00 PM we reached there. Wind Desert camp as is clear from its name was a set up of around 20 huts in the middle of desert. These tents were designed with all basic amenities.

After a few hours of break we left for camel safari. It was first time when we were riding a camel. You were more excited than us seeing a camel. We got seated you between two of us. Mother was sitting at front and i was at the back. Everything was fun till camel was sitting and I didn’t realize that it will be so much of height. It was a frightening experience for me not because I got afraid of the height but because you were almost uncontrollable. As I always said your curiosity knows no limit and on seeing such a new set up you were so excited that it was hard to make you sit. Camel was moving but worse was yet to come. That camel moved not more than 50 meters and you all of sudden went into deep sleep. I don’t know why, I guess it was the bumpy ride of the camel which felt like a swing to you and the real test for me started then because from one hand I was holding myself and from the other hand I was holding you. Those 15 minutes felt like ages and when I reached at the sand dunes I was very clear that I was not going to sit on that camel during return trip.

Although we had paid for that camel safari but I said big no to that camel man. But in the end it was a great experience. You were still sleeping.

There were dunes all around; sun was setting and it was a super view. Lots of people were enjoying the scene.

As I looked around a thought passes through my mind, the desert because it was in control, felt like a beauty to us but if it overpowers you it becomes threat. Several lives lost in this vast dessert in humans history, so many people lost their ways so many carvans couldn’t make through it . We enjoyed this for half an hour and left back for the camp. Traditional Rajasthani dance program was arranged by the camp manager for all the guest staying in the camp. We were too tired to go for it but somehow your mother and you went for a glimpse of the program. You enjoyed this ambiance a lot.

After that program there was a buffet dinner typical Rajasthani dinner. This was one of the most traveled day in whole journey till now and also it was a different experience sleeping in those tense. You were too busy to explore the toilet entry in that tent. It was a zipped type curtain-cum-door and you were not ready to give up till you enter on your own in the toilet by opening that zip door.

Also you found AC plug point within your reach so you decided to explore it further. Anyhow we made you sleep and soon we also retired to our bed because next day was the longest road trip of this journey. Tomorrow we were leaving for Udaipur. Good night my princess Love You.

Day 6

Good Morning Krisha, Today we are leaving for Udaipur, city of lakes. As always we got early and got ready with all our packing. After a sumptuous breakfast and as always unexplained delay we left for Udaipur at around 11 AM.

We decided to take Barmer route and this was going to be very wrong decision. We decided to move quickly and without break as it was a long journey. We didn’t stop for breakfast or even for nature’s call. Everything was going as planned, but then due to some unexplained reasons we had to stop for around 2 hours for lunch break and recreational activities.

It was 3 already and we hadn’t cover half the distance till now. Another twist was the road widening work in the road ahead and then the worst happened, google map got confused and directed us to the narrow lanes passing through the villages. Sun was setting and we were trapped in the narrow lanes of villages which led us from one village to the other. We were getting desperate to find state or national highway. Area was altogether new for us and we soon we realized that more we were trying to get out of this mess, more we were getting lost in these roads. Finally we decided to close google map and go for local guidance with some caution. It was not a great a idea to let everyone know that we were lost there. So we decided to ask it from someone who was not a villager. So we waited for some vehicle to pass by. Soon we saw a bike who was headed towards the path which could lead us to Sirohi, a town from where we could get on the National Highway. We followed those men, but at the same time kept our google map On. Soon they left us at a road which they told will lead to Sirohi.

We were a but relaxed as we were at least out of those lanes of the villages. Here we could see few vehicles travelling. So now we decided to follow the more populated road. In the way wherever we saw a crowded Dhaba we again cross checked the path without letting others know much about our condition. All this was just to reach Sirohi. We were happy when we reached Sirohi assuming our problem was over and now we were on National Highway. But soon we realized that we still had some problems to face. At Sirohi we stopped at a fuel station and topped up the car. You too were getting restless so we all got out for a while. Here we came to know that path from Sirohi to Udaipur was not safe. Although few refuted it but fear is totally illogical feeling. As people explained how this route was target of bandits until few years back who stopped vehicles and looted everything from the travelers, we had a sense of fear gripping us again. It was already 9 PM. But as few people gave conflicting views and assured us about the safety of the path we decided to go ahead. As soon as we were entering the Sirohi-Udaipur Highway we saw police patrol team. To get some confidence we cross checked with them, and they did rest of the job. they advised us to move as fast as we could, not to stop for anyone and try to be with some other travelling vehicle. Again race against time started. I drove vehicle at not less than 100km/hr and chased other big vehicles.

You mom was on map continuously letting me know where we were in the map. You were fast asleep unaware of all this. After around one hour of intense driving we reached toll gate. When we inquired toll person told us that danger zone was behind us and route ahead was safe. First time in life we were happy at seeing a toll person. We crossed toll plaza entered in the territory of Udaipur and now it was safe. We all took a much needed break, it was a great relief. It took almost half an hour to cross this stretch and we all were very tired. You are also very tired but as usual you decided to enjoy the new place. It took around one more hour to go to bed. Good night Krisha. We’re leaving for Chittorgarh tomorrow and tomorrow will be our last journey day of this trip.

Day 7

Good morning Babu. Today we will be leaving for Chittorgarh one of the largest Fort of India. Chittorgarh is around 150 km from Udaipur but before leaving to Chittorgarh we decided to visit few more famous spot of Udaipur. First one was Fateh sagar Lake.  This is one the five major lakes of the Udaipur. Weather was very pleasant and was made even more pleasure at the bank of this beautiful lake, you enjoyed here a lot.

Space was wisely used by the generations of the royal family which ruled Udaipur. These two landmarks, Observatory and park, were the proof of the same.

Next we visited, Under The Sun Aquarium  which is the biggest Public Aquarium Gallery in India.

After this our next stoppage was 17th century Jagdish Temple. It was built by the rulers of the Udaipur. We went there and it was very nice experience. A lot of foreigners were there, you enjoyed the temple most. A group of people was performing bhajan there and you joined them and for around 2-3 minutes you were continuously clapping on the bhajans. It was a great experience to say the least. In such divine places, which have history associated with them, you realize how you are of very little value to this word until leave behind yourself something worth remembering.

After temple we left for Chittorgarh.

We had a short halt on the way for snacks. It was tasty kachori and samosa. We left for Chittorgarh thereafter. It was a pleasant and nice journey. Soon we reached Chittorgarh, the historically impregnable fort of Rajputs. The very first view of fort so breathtaking and unique.

Chittorgarh is a small city. After few minutes of travel in the city we were at the start point of fort. A guide which we hired there informed us about the protest Karni Sena was staging at the entrance of fort. It was all related to Padmawati (which was later released as Padmawat) movie. After passing these hiccups we were inside the magnificent old fort, as if it was not part of history instead history was just a part of this magnanimous building.

A sizable population was still residing inside the fort claiming that this land was gifted to their ancestors by king himself. Government too is little interested in shifting these people to other place. As we were moving ahead we were diving deep into the history. Each and every corner of fort was a story in itself. We stopped at first entrance gate and explored few old temples and scenic beauty of plain fields which years ago served as war field.

You too enjoyed photography. Then we entered the first uninhabited area of fort. Which lead us to the temple of Rana Kumbha and Mira Bai.

You enjoyed these two temples a lot. Then we set out on the tour of fort. It was less of a fort and more of a city, with its own water storage system, so many buildings and above all a huge area. So many historically significant buildings were scattered in all the fort that it will take days to deep dive in each of them, so we just went by them. One of the most talked about building was Padmini Palace.

I chose not to say historically important because there are many theories about its history. According to popular belief it was the place where queen of unparalleled beauty, Rani Padmavati resided. It was well guarded and very intricately designed palace. Great ruins still telling story of a magnificent past.

You were so interested in its architecture that you almost took your own tour of the place.

Then your favourite place was the perch from where it is believed that Alauddin Khilji got a glimpse of queen Padmavati.

Then we left for other major spots in the fort. Our next stoppage was the area of the fort from where one could see the vast planes where armies of the ruling emperor faced the enemy armies. When i visit these places what feels more fascinating than the written historical records is the thought about those unwritten unaccounted events which must have happened on those lands.

One very important part of fort was the custard apple tree. It was almost everywhere. We passed by many important gates, water bodies, palaces and temples which were erected over the times by the family of ruling dynasties. Then we reached most important stoppage of the journey, Vijay Stambh. Vijay Stambh was erected to celebrate the victory of Rama Kumbha over Mahmud Khilji.

There was the place called bheem kund, a very big water body.

Another point of importance was Jauhar Sthal. A place where thousands of women of fort went for mass suicide by jumping into the pyre of fire when capturing of the fort by the enemy army was inevitable.

It was the place worth to end out tour of this magnificent fort. History makes you humble. Such legendary warrior kings moved on those lands .

We started our journey back to Udaipur. It was a nice trip of Chittorgarh. When we reached Udaipur it was already 8 PM. We decided to take dinner out in road side stalls to taste Udaipur food.

You were already sleeping. But this half an hour outside proved too harmful for you as you caught cold. You took good 15 days to recover. When we reached at room, we were completely drained. You as a very understanding child, decided to watch TV and soon we retired to bed. This ends our trip of Rajasthan. Tomorrow we were leaving for Vadodara, your birth place, your city. Good night my princess, My Krisha.

Days 8

Good morning Babu. Today we were leaving for Vadodara. It was a nice morning. All things were packed beforehand. As soon as we got up and got fresh, you too got up. After taking a bath and changing your cloth we moved to have breakfast. Breakfast was ok. We decided to pack a bit for the way. Journey was mostly smooth except a few hiccups in the starting where I took a bit longer route. It was good journey with you quietly enjoying the changing landscapes. In Mehsana we took quick snacks from Mcd and moved forward. It was 6 when we entered Vadodara. It was a happy feeling. A pleasant and adventurous journey it had been.

Although you are too little to recall any of this but we will make sure that you have its account with pics and videos. When you reached home you soon grabbed you long left toys. Stopping this journey memoir at this point in Vadodara. Mommy and Papa love you princess Krisha.

                                                               – Written with love by Mummy and Papa for Krisha