A pop of orange 🍊
A crenellated vision in white set high on a granite knoll with far-reaching views, this is no ordinary palace hotel. This is Devigarh, a glamorous retreat and a refreshing change from the dark claustrophobic interiors of traditional Rajasthani fort-palaces
It’s an hour’s drive east from Udaipur among wheat fields deep in the Aravalli Hills set over the welcoming village of Delwara, known for its ancient Jain temple I posted about earlier.
A symphony in white offset with silver and gold and vivid splashes of peacock green and saffron yellow, the interiors are traditional and charming, it was my first stay in Rajasthan and I felt like a prince in here lost in the labyrinthine walkways.
It’s worth taking a tour with a member of staff to find hidden courtyards and balconies that look out over a landscape little changed since Rajput rulers hunted here 200 years ago.
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#india #rajasthan #jodhpur @raashotels #incredibleindia @incredibleindia
India’s Second Chance
This is only my second time to India - I first came as a teenager, my first ever trip, backpacking overland in my student days all the way from England.
That time around I was staying in the cheapest hostels, sleeping with cockroaches, endured the famous Delhi belly 🤮, hit the beaches and explored street markets.
I still loved it all, making it from Mumbai to Goa, Kerala to Bangalore and out to the Andaman Islands!
This time it’s all about Rajasthan and seeing the country from a very different perspective, staying in palaces and forts, and able to appreciate the varied local cuisine. I’ve been able to visit local villages, take camels to the deserts, take legal drugs, and visit extraordinary UNESCO sites.
Plus I’m joined by the wonderful @pranali_lifeisbeautiful
Traveling in such opposite ways showed me the value of both - very different ways to travel but each equally authentic.
Have you ever visited a place twice and had two completely different experiences?
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#india #rajasthan #jodhpur #incredibleindia @incredibleindia
India’s Blue City
Located on the edge of the Thar desert, about 155 miles from the border with Pakistan, is the city of Jodhpur, famous for its boxy blue and indigo houses stretching for more than 10 kilometers along the walls of the historic walled old city.
The were initially painted this was to signify that they were occupied by Brahmins, the highest caste in India, emphasizing their royal connection as they were the only ones able to afford the special exterior paint.
Over time the colour became a badge of identity for non-Brahmins too and Jodhpur as a whole.
Another reason, which is more practical than artistic is that termites were known to destroy the walls and structures made up of lime mixture. Copper sulphate in the paint is effective in repelling the insects.
Plus of course it also imparts a soothing and calming effect.
You can wander in the blue part of Jodhpur just behind the fort, known as Navchokiya, which is refreshingly quiet and devoid of tourists!
With @pranali_lifeisbeautiful
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#india #rajasthan #jodhpur #incredibleindia @incredibleindia
Ever tried a Bhang Lassi?
It might seem surprising, but in Rajasthan many drugs are legal (but monitored) including cannabis and opium.
This is a government-authorized bhang lassi shop located right at the gate of Jaisalmer Fort, meaning the lassis (local yoghurt drinks) include editable cannabis in the mix.
It’ll definitely make you feel light headed so be prepared!
If drug-laced drinks aren’t your thing, they also have drug-laced cookies and joints.
Legal cultivation of opium for medicinal purposes is also common and India is the world's largest manufacturer of legal opium. I went to a village to try some and will post about that soon!
With @pranali_lifeisbeautiful
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#india #rajasthan #jaiselmer #incredibleindia @incredibleindia #bhanglassi
Welcome to the “Taj Mahal of Marwar,” another architectural gem of Rajasthan, this is Jaswant Thada, a cenotaph located in Jodhpur.
It was built by Maharaja Sardar Singh in 1899 in memory of his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, and serves as the cremation ground for the royal Rajput family of Marwar.
The cenotaph is built out of intricately carved sheets of marble. These sheets are extremely thin and polished so that they emit a warm glow when illuminated by the Sun.
The cenotaph's grounds feature carved gazebos, a tiered garden, and a small lake, and serve as a serene venue for morning concerts during music festivals like the Rajasthan International Folk Festival and the World Sacred Spirit Festival.
With @pranali_lifeisbeautiful
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#india #rajasthan #jodhpur #incredibleindia @incredibleindia #JaswantThada
The costumes of the Bishnoi tribe display their tribal customs including their strong sense of morals (see my previous post on this extraordinary Indian community). But perhaps their most distinctive style is their elaborate nose rings and jewelry.
The nose ring is a traditional mark of married Bishnoi women. Women here are known to have a fondness for gold and possessing the yellow metal is considered a status symbol as well as good investment.
The men of the community tend to wear white shirt, dhoti and turban which also enable them to stave off the hot dry desert climate.
A married woman wears a kanchli blouse with a kurti top, a dhabla as her lower garment and an odhna, a decorative cloth worn like a scarf. The neckline is generally decorated with a small frill and small bells, drawing attention to the dress.
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#india #rajasthan #udaipur #incredibleindia @incredibleindia #Bishnoi
This extraordinary structure is a historic palace fortress turned grand hotel in Devigarh, a small town not far from Udaipur.
Originally called Delaware Fort Palace it was built in 1760 using locally-mined marble. A testament to its brave and loyal benefactors it has been restored by a team of 750 people over a period of almost 15 years and turned into RASS Devigarh.
Lucky for me it was the first place I stayed on my India trip! Inside it’s a world of Marwari horse murals, mirrored ante-chambers, courtyards, arches, turrets, swings, marble bowls of flowers and, come night, a thousand candles and stars.
They keep a lot of local traditions going like music, arts and cuisine, and support the local village community while being eco-minded, and environmentally conscious. It is a stunning testament to the beauty, charm, and magic of old-world Rajputana before British rule.
Holding a commanding position with views out across the valley and the village of Delwara, RAAS Devigarh showcases an array of decorative styles and tranquil landscaped gardens with spacious suites adorned with grand furnishings and intricately carved archways.
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#india #rajasthan #udaipur #incredibleindia @incredibleindia #palace @raashotels #devigarh
Just outside Jaisalmer on a hillside is the spectacular and intricate Bada Bagh - literally meaning big garden - a series of royal cenotaphs of Jaisalmer’s Maharajas.
All have been carved out of sandstone blocks in at least four different sizes - for the ruling kings, their queens, their princes, and other royal family members.
A descendant of Maharawal Jaisal Singh, the founder of Jaisalmer State, commissioned a dam to create a water tank during his reign in the 16th century CE and this made the desert green in this area.
The first cenotaph was built in the 1500s. All the cenotaphs have a beautifully carved ceiling and elegant equestrian statues of rulers set high with ncredible sunset vistas.
Each cenotaph has a marble slab with inscriptions about the deceased royal and a symbolic image of a man on a horse.
Then cenotaphs continued to be added in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries CE, and have stood ever since.
With @pranali_lifeisbeautiful
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#india #rajasthan #Jaisalmer #incredibleindia @incredibleindia #palace #BadaBagh
Rajasthan state is certainly the most colorful state I’ve seen in India.
The assortment and vividness of the architectural heritage of Rajasthan is stunning both on the grand scale of the palaces and first but also on the small scale of intricate temples and rooms.
Rajput Architecture is the overall name of the varied and colourful style led by former rulers of the princely states of Rajasthan and they continued the tradition of building elaborate palaces almost until independence from Britain.
This is part of the interior of Udaipur City Palace, with its balconies, towers and cupolas exhibiting delicate mirror-work, marble-work, murals, wall paintings, silver-work, inlay-work and colored glass.
The many palaces the City Palace complex are interlinked through a number of quadrangles with zigzag corridors, planned in a complex fashion to avoid surprise attacks by enemies.
By @pranali_lifeisbeautiful
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#india #rajasthan #udaipur #incredibleindia @incredibleindia #palace
Enjoying brief moments in time at the city of lakes - Udaipur.
Since my Everest trek I’ve come to appreciate more the small moments of each day, not just the longer adventures.
Great company, the tastes of each meal, the fresh breeze, a good night’s rest, and in my last posts, the beauty of sunrise, the power of faith, and the importance of physical health.
Has any trip transformed you?
Shooting brief moments by the @tajlakepalace with the wonderful @pranali_lifeisbeautiful
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#india #rajasthan #udaipur #incredibleindia @incredibleindia #palace
Have you heard of Jainism?
Inside the beautiful 14th Century Ranakpur Jain temple, built using white marble in the midst of a forest.
Containing 1444 marble pillars and twenty-nine halls this incredibly detailed sculptural temple is famous for its intricate carvings and unique architecture.
It was Inspired by a dream of a celestial vehicle by Dharna Shah in 1389, and paid for by the ruler of Mewar, Rana Kumbha.
The temple has four openings lead to the Dancing hall (rangamandapa), which is connected to a two-storeyed mandapa, which is again connected to another two-storeyed mandapa called Balana and nalimandapa. The courtyard is surrounded by a wall enclosing even more sub-shrines.
For those unfamiliar, Jainism is one of the world's oldest religions in practice to this day, founded in India in the 6th century BC. The Jain religion teaches salvation by perfection through successive lives, and non-injury to living creatures, and is noted for its abstinence from sensual pleasures, often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals..
Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through a succession of twenty-four leaders or Tirthankaras. Jain monks take five main vows: ahiṃsā (non-violence), satya (truth), asteya (not stealing), brahmacharya (sexual continence), and aparigraha (non-possessiveness).
Pics by @pranali_lifeisbeautiful
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#india #rajasthan #udaipur #incredibleindia @incredibleindia #palace #ranakpur #jain #jainism #temple
OK, I’ve decided Udaipur, the City of Lakes, is my favourite city in India!
The Venice of the East was founded in 1559 around azure water lakes and is hemmed in by lush green hills of Aravallis. The beautiful City Palace on the lake shore and Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace add to the architectural beauty and grandeur of the city built with zinc and marble.
In the middle of the lake is the @TajLakePalace, now a hotel but originally called Jagniwas, formerly a royal summer palace. Built between 1743 and 1746 on Lake Pichola, the palace, which faces east, is made of black and white marbles and adorned with semi-precious stones and ornamented niches. Gardens, fountains, pillared terraces, and columns line its courtyards.
What’s you favourite city in India?
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#india #rajasthan #udaipur #incredibleindia @incredibleindia #palace
Taking care of your physical health is much more than just about confidence and looking good.
Over the last six months, inspired by friends including @marcy_yu (thanks!) I completely changed my nutrition and started a regime of daily exercise and gym work.
What I found is that eating healthy, even when it’s tough to make the right choices, transforms your mental well being just as much as physical.
A positive outlook on life, ability to express and share love with others, to support sustainability for our planet, to have more energy and alertness and the see the world in a brighter way are all side effects of better physical health.
What’s about you? Do you exercise? Do you wish you did more? Do you have a regime? Share with me your experiences!
Thanks too to @igorvoitenkofitness for the inspiration!
On the edge of Thar Desert, which forms the natural boundary between India and Pakistan stands the Suryagarh luxury fortress, an extraordinary hotel that’s part medieval palace, fort and cultural haven.
We came here in preparation to walk with camels in to the sands and explore local traditions, but couldn’t but take the opportunity for shooting in the palace walls.
With @pranali_lifeisbeautiful and dress by @yatin1979
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#india #rajasthan #Jaiselmer #incredibleindia @incredibleindia #palace #jamesbond #Suryagarh
One of the architectural wonders of Rajasthan, City Palace in Udaipur is actually several flamboyant palaces in one complex built over nearly 400 years.
22 generations of the Mewar dynasty contributed since construction began in 1553, by Maharana Udai Singh II of the Sisodia Rajput family as the capital shifted from Chittor to the newfound city of Udaipur.
Located on the east bank of Lake Pichola there are 11 palaces built within the granite and marble complex, in a fusion of Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles.
The interiors are worth a day exploring with intricate mirror designs, marble-work, murals, wall paintings, silver-work, inlays and colored glass that cover the balconies, towers and cupolas of the complex.
The 1983 James Bond movie Octopussy was also filmed here for trivia fans!
With @pranali_lifeisbeautiful
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#india #rajasthan #udaipur #incredibleindia @incredibleindia #palace #jamesbond #octopussy
This stupendous piece of architecture is called Nathmal Ki Haveli, a mansion built by two Muslim jeweler brothers on the order of the then prime minister in 1885.
The brothers started working on the opposite sides of the building which lead to a similar but non identical left and right side.
An amalgamation of Islamic and Rajputana architecture, the attractive façades of the building were designed in the shape of birds, elephants, flowers, bicycles, steam engines and soldiers.
You can also see statues and engravings of cattle, horses and flowers on the walls. It’s one of many in the far northwest city of Jaiselmer.
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#india #rajasthan #haveli #jaiselmer #incredibleindia #palace
We came to visit the fascinating Bishnoi community, who dedicate themselves to hygiene and environmental protection.
The Bishnoi are a Hindu community found in the north western states of India who follow a set of 29 commandments laid out by Guru Jambhoji in the 13th century.
Of the 29 tenets, ten are for personal hygiene and health, seven for good social behaviour.
Eight are prescribed to preserve bio-diversity and encourage good animal care. There is a ban on killing animals and cutting green trees, and providing protection to all life forms.
The Bishnoi remove small insects from firewood and are forbidden from wearing blue clothes because the dye for colouring them is obtained by cutting a large quantity of shrubs.
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#india #rajasthan #jodhpur #incredibleindia#bishnoi
My favourite hotel in Udaipur is also one of the most romantic. An early 17th century ‘Haveli’ mansion, Jagat Niwas Palace has kept its charm and aesthetics intact.
Sitting on the eastern banks of the Lake Pichola, it is now a heritage boutique hotel famed for its location and views across the waters.
The rooms have been restored back to their original charm and glory, a vision in white. It’s surrounded by ancient havelis, temples and meandering lanes filled with traditional artefacts, feeling like the old city never changed.
With the beautiful @pranali_lifeisbeautifulIndia has immense castles? This is which longthe blue city of .inside theits walls
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#india #rajasthan #Udaipur #incredibleindia #palace
Did you know India has immense castles? This is Mehrangarh Fort which holds the pride of place in Jodhpur because of its splendid architecture and long history associated with it.
Considered as one of the most formidable and magnificent forts of Rajasthan, Mehrangarh fort was built by Rao Jodha in the year 1459.
The fort is spread over an area of 5 km and is built on 125m high hill in the outskirts of the blue city of Jodhpur.
There are seven gates, which can be used to enter the #Mehrangarh fort, made by different rulers, and are built in honour of victory over the Bikaner and Jaipur armies.
You can see panoramic view of #Jodhpur city from inside the fort, which seems like a blue carpet laid at the foot of its walls.
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#india #rajasthan
A unique feature of this region is the many stepwell to be found around Rajasthan, historic constructions to give access to water… and unique architecture for photos!
With @pranali_lifeisbeautiful
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#india #rajasthan #stepwell @raashotels #raasdevigarh #devigarh