Day 1
 There
are many great fortresses all over Rajasthan, but very few can
compare with the sheer majesty of the imposing Mehrangarh
Fort. Seemingly growing out of the rocky cliff on which
it is perched, it has a commanding view of the surrounding
landscape. In fact, we could see the
Kumbhalgarh Fort,
some 80 miles (130 kms) away.
What we liked most about the impressive Mehrangarh
Palace complex were the delicately latticed, overhanging
jharokhas (balconies) - the stone latticework here is so
fine, it actually resembles lace! And the throne room Moti
Mahal (Pearl Palace) with its ceiling gorgeously
embellished with mirror-work and gilt - it's said that nearly 80
pounds of gold was used!
The Fort Museum is one of the finest in
Rajasthan... and certainly the best laid out. There is the
Palanquin section followed by the Howdah section, with
perhaps one of the finest collections of ornate elephant howdas
in the world.
The Armoury section has one of India's finest collection of
weapons, particularly swords (including that of the Mughal Emperor
Akbar himself). But my vote goes to Rao Jodha's enormous khanda,
weighing over 7 pounds. Phew! The guy must've had some wrists!!
H.H. GAJ SINGHJI
The present
Maharaja of Jodhpur |
There's also a very interesting collection of over a hundred
different types of turbans
from various parts of Rajasthan. Incidentally, the Jodhpuri turban
is considered to be superior to all of 'em.
On the way down from the fort, we stopped at Jaswant
Thada, the graceful marble cenotaph of Jodhpur's
maharajas.
We had got carried away during our visit to the Mehrangarh
Fort-Palace-Museum and skipped going to the Mandore
gardens and cenotophs.
Instead, in the evening, we went on a Jeep safari
to one of the picturesque villages of the
Bishnoi community. The rustic Bishnois are,
traditionally, very environment conscious and animal-lovers. We
spotted a herd of deers grazing fearlessly in the village farms. A
large number of migratory birds also come here in the season. We
saw a live demonstration of women making carpets and men making
clay pots. We had dinner in the village itself and quite relished
the local fare, as also our insight into the ways of rural India.
Day 2 >>
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