Some
lasting images of Jaipur visit in June’13
But
beware – these are not the run-of-the-mill snaps and pics of a regular travelogue
of Jaipur – which you’ll have plentiful in all sites and be flooded with them
in net if you swim a bit. These are some off-the-bit snaps and recollections
which people misses when they traverse by-the-way of this beautiful city.
I
know that this first one is intriguing – not relatable remotely with the
colorful Rajasthan tourism, with the pink aura of Jaipur.
But
this is the dark side of Indian tourism. This is 39 Kms away from Jaipur, the
entrance gate of Samode Village, the cobbled muddy route thru’ this dilapidated
gate will lead to the colorful Samode Palace.
But
beware, this last 1.5 kms will pass thru’ two nos of this olden gates, followed
by a serpentine uphill gradually narrow kachha route thru’ a dirty,
poverty-striken village that goes by the name Samode.
You’ll
find graffities and signboards in ramshackle houses that read “Cradit Card
Acepted hre”, “Orginal gamstone found here” etc etc. The village reeks like any
of the underdeveloped and part of backward India suffering from malnutrition.
Finally
when you reach the palace, you’ll find nothing else to do except marvel at the
beauty of the palace.
But
the approach road, the village itself has no medical facility, the road has no
car mechanic shop, as you move thru’ the village, you’ll wonder where all the
money earned from tourism and marriage parties that are regularly arranged at
the palace goes??
We
visited Samode village on 18th June’13 and came back disappointed.
**
The
road leading to Sanganer via Jaipur road, then Tonk onwards to Bundi is a
beautiful one, but what we’ll remember forever, on 16th June’13,
when the entire Uttarakhand was reeling under repeated beatings of cloudburst,
nobody knew (please notice the sky in the snap), that a piece of the
devastating clouds of monsoon will soon visit over this road and immerse the
whole Sanganer for 2 hrs in evening with a mini-cloudburst. We went for
shopping of block-printed handlooms, and got blocked in the middle of blinding
water-curtains beside the highway with dark brown cloud roaring overhead and
nothing visible beyond the water-curtain falling from atop. Finally after 2 hrs
when the clouds relented, within 15 minutes, all logged water-pools vanished.
We realized, whatever be the scenario in village, but at least in urban
Rajasthan, the infrastructural system do work.
**
Late
at night, the 5-batti-chowraha (the crossing of 5 lightmasts) on MI road in
Jaipur is a vibrant place. Park the car opposite to the iconic Rajmandir Movie
Theatre (the mother and father of all multiplexes in India – long long before
the advent of all these multi-viewing halls and theatres, Raj Mandir gave the
taste to all cine-goers what it’s like to enjoy luxury cine-viewing – and its
thriving till date – no less an attraction in Pink City than our dear all Hawa
Mahals and Jal Mahals). Enjoy the Raj Mandir beauty from outside and if you
feel like, see a movie. If not, just opposite, there is a vibrant, colorful
market with shops selling attractive items. Just around the corner is Yo!China
for your dinner, there are many other fast-food joints. If not in the mood of
movie, just take your fast food-plate, a cup of tea and simply enjoy the
colorful crowd. Have a laid-back evening, laze around and enjoy.
**
The old city is
vibrant, colorful, with Bapu Bazaar beckoning you for its colorful “bandhani”s
– but beware, color of “bandhanis” goes away easily – either use Genteel, or
rinse with little salty water, or simply pray to God. Its better to savor the
old world charm of old city by ambling around and tasting the food but limit
your purchases in MI roads albeit the later is an expensive option.
**
What to say of our political
leaders, trust them to vitiate the once-beautiful pink-walls of the walled
city. And this will continue till year 2014 when our gen-election is due.
**
The
rugged vista of ancient Aravalli raising its head against the foreground of old
sandstoned havelies that dot the ancient exit-rout of Swai Jaisingh’s capital
is breathtaking. Sadly enough, this beautiful route is no longer in much use
and instead, both incoming and outgoing traffic is being diverted thru’ a new
route that is opened recently in the name of water-logging of the age-old
route. Needless to say, the new route offers none of these breathtaking vistas:
Passing by
this vintage road and looking at these beautiful havelis, one may wonder of
their glorious forgotten past, vibrant and rich, thriving in peace and splendor
as Jaipur, unlike other regions of Mewar, Marwar etc was largely spared of any
major war or attacks of invading Muslim army. This due to its rulers’ age-old, wise,
pragmatic and diplomatic relations maintained with powerful rulers in Delhi throne
at different centuries. The same was forged thru’ marriages, thru’ providing
crucial military supports over various centuries. From Akbar to Aurangzeb, thru’
Swai Mansingh and Swai Jaisingh - all strong Mughal emperors got critical and
crucial supports of Ambar (Jaipur); the result – most of Jaipur relics till
date are spared of any historical war-devastation, unlike, say, Kumbhalgarh or
Chittorgarh:
The
Aravallis all over Rajasthan has a sentinel-presence around all major routes
and presents an imposing aura as you pass underneath them. One of the reason
why the kingdom of Amber was not really threatened by any of the major invaders
in history is the protective presence of the Aravalli ranges inside which, the
kingdom was nestled. And there are temples nestled high-up in all these cliffs
with steep approach-ways dotting the hills:
Everytime
we come Jaipur, we are full of joy, a new energy, the city never seems old or
stale. Everytime we leave the city and catch again the old route of NH-11 back
to Agra, somewhere in the heart there is a pang of pain. Jaipur is a lovely
city, the call of the highway keeps the steam of life going, even when there is
a sense of loss:
