RAJASTHAN

The Cultural Heritage of Rajasthan, India

My trip to Rajasthan was short but truly adventurous and memorable. Rajasthan, the city of Forts and Palaces has been a source of curiosity and wonder to me for years. I often thought how it must have been for the people there to have lived so close to palaces and in the shadows of Royalty for such a long time. Royalty has always fascinated me. There are several stories we’ve heard over the time about " Rani Padmini ", the beautiful Rajput Princess and the great Rajput warriors and Kings like  "Maharana Pratap Singh ".

The courageous wars the Rajputs fought are etched in History. But, I find that there is still so much to delve into. There are so many untold stories which envelop Rajasthan in an air of mystery. The barren deserts of Rajasthan stand witness to this rich and colourful history it has inherited.

I was deeply impressed to see that the people there still closely hold the traditional values in their lifestyle and outlook. What astonished me was that women mostly wear ethnic clothes and are still in the sanctuary of ‘ghoonghat’. The world may have moved on but it seems as if they are still stuck in time. Traditions are still enshrined in their culture. I loved the vibrant colours people wear there specially in turbans and veils. The bright colours actually break the monotony of the dry sand dunes and it appears that even in the heat and dust of the dry deserts, their spirits are still very fresh and cheerful. Their hearts seem to celebrate the precious gift of life through lively colours.


The culture there is so inviting that I also got  immersed in their culture. I too covered my head with a veil most of the time while I was there and wore traditional clothes. I also enjoyed wearing delicate glittering glass bangles of various shades that I picked up from the local market while I was there. In Rajasthan, one gets covered completely in the colours of customs and traditions.

My trip to Rajasthan was short and I couldn’t discover as much as I’d wanted to because of the constraints of time and days. But, still I tried to absorb as much as I could in that short time by talking to the locals there over tea and finding out more about their lifestyle and culture. It was really enjoyable visiting the local shops where the atmosphere and customs of the olden days still prevail in some shops. In such shops one was required to take off one’s shoes and sit on the ground (luckily on thick white cushions) while being served hot ‘masala’ tea to make the shopping experience more pleasurable. Such personalized attention and warm hospitality persuaded me to shop more than I thought. I could not resist buying  ‘bandhej’ veils, ‘bandhani’ saris, traditional ‘jutties’ in calf leather and fresh Rajasthani snacks.

On my entire trip in Rajasthan, I felt like Royalty specially whenever somebody addressed me as ‘Hukum’ and greeted me respectfully with a bow or folded hands.

Mandore Gardens

The magnificent palaces and forts too greeted me with the treasures of history and knowledge. I visited Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Tharra and Mandore Gardens in Jodhpur. I was delighted to see the intricate work on the imposing structures. The view from the Fort as in the case with Jaisalmer Fort was spectacular. I just couldn’t help imagining the King observing his kingdom from a distance. From that height in both the forts ( Mehrangarh & Jaisalmer Forts ), the city appeared to be blue in Jodhpur and golden in Jaisalmer and truly lived up to its name of the Blue City and the Golden City respectively…

The magnificent Mehrangarh Fort fascinated me the most. It is so impressive and till today truly symbolizes the rich era of royalty. The fort despite housing so many tourists and workers had a very calm and quiet atmosphere. It seems all were completely mesmerized with the surroundings and didn’t want to spoil the moment by talking. People were actually whispering as if feeling that they still might be in the presence of a King. Such is the air in the forts-it hypnotizes you and transports you back to the olden era. The fort enthralled me and charmed you.

The area around Jaswant Tharra was very serene and scenically stunning too and I wished I had more time where I could spend the whole afternoon there. Some tourists were just sitting in the gardens and absorbing the silence that surrounded the place as well as the beauty around them. Actually such places naturally invite meditation.


The ancient temples enveloped by the Forts (Jain Temples in Jaisalmer and the Hindu Temples in Mehrangarh Fort- "Chamunda Devi" Temple & "Shivji's" Temple) gave me an immense sense of of calmness. These temples have an aura of divinity I could actually feel the presence of a power of some sort…Sitting in Shivji’s Temple in Jaisalmer made me find what I was searching for all this while i.e. true calmness. A great sense of peace prevailed over me out there.

The beautifully carved " Patwon ki Havelis "  ( Havelis of Patwons ) in Jaisalmer spell grandeur in the real sense. It was sheer delight to see the display of luxury and wealth in every corner of the haveli in the form of paintings etc. What surprised me was the variety of sophisticated kitchen items the kitchen held even in the olden times.


The vast golden deserts of Jaisalmer encompass many folklores, music and dances. I spent an evening in the desert listening to a young boy and his father singing for me in the silence of the desert. The camel ride before that was a bit challenging though and strained me a bit but I’m glad I took on that adventure. A visit to the desert is not complete without it.

The beautiful Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur introduced me to Royalty of present times and their rich history and legacy. I think everyone who goes there fervently wishes and hopes for a glimpse of the Royal family. Unfortunately one could not wander around freely on the palace grounds there on the side that has been converted into a Hotel. But it was interesting to see the old portraits and photographs of the Royal family.

Rajasthan depicts the real India. It’s the heart and soul of the culture of India. I would definitely like to go back there again sometime to find new adventures and create new memories...