Thursday, 25 September 2025

Majestic Jodhpur in Rajasthan - Worth a Visit!

 We visited Jodhpur for a short stay of a couple of days.  It is a remarkably clean and elegant city, with broad roads flanked by lush green trees and red sand-stone buildings.

     On the first day, we set off in an auto-rickshaw for sight-seeing.  The weather was slightly misty, cold and damp, but the lack of cacophony and beautiful scenery set up the perfect atmosphere for the bewitching sights that followed.
The aesthetic Shivaling
     We saw a marble temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesh.  There were also shrines dedicated to various other Gods and Goddesses nearby.  All the life-sized statues were beautifully carved in marble.  The Shivaling was aesthetically decorated with abundant red roses and other flowers and their fragrance was delightfully over-powering.
     Then we made our way to Umaid Bhawan Palace, the majestic and breath-taking palace of the erstwhile ruler Maharaja Umaid Singh.  It is built of buff-colored sand-stone, locally called ‘chittar’.  It was constructed between 1929 and 1944.  It has 347 rooms and was the world’s largest private residence in 1944.  It was partly converted into a hotel in 1972. 
Majestic Umaid Bhawan Palace
     
It houses a private museum of antique clocks, furniture, arms, Chinese vases etc.  There are detailed paintings of the Ramayana, by a Polish artist on the walls.  It was the first palace to use electricity, air-conditioning and elevators!

     The USP of the palace is the vast, well manicured green lawn beyond which there is a section dedicated to about 10 immaculately maintained shiny, vintage vehicles, displayed in clear, glass enclosures.
Rich legacy - Umaid Bhawan Palace
     A small cafeteria with chairs on a lawn provided our tired legs relief.  We had piping hot tea as we chatted with 2 young doctors from AIIMS, Delhi and a couple of British tourists.
     The runway of the Jodhpur airport was pointed out to us by our guide cum auto-driver.  It appeared to be right in front of our eyes.  The guide explained that the original estate of Umaid Bhawan had been partly converted into a residential housing complex.  The palatial mansions there obviously belonged to the elite.
     As it started drizzling and became foggy, we made our way to the Mehrangarh Fort, a colossal edifice that is the pride of Jodhpur, built by the Suryavanshi Rao Jodha in 1459 on a 150- meter high hill.   The city grew around the Fort. One has to pass through 7 ‘Victory Gates’ to reach this architectural marvel.
     It surprisingly has a lift that has been thoughtfully installed, to ferry tourists up the five floors of the palace. It’s a one-way lift.  One has to climb down the steep stairs, which can be tiring for some. 
The colossal Mehrangarh Fort
Intricately carved, latticed windows
     It has intricately latticed windows, carved panels and porches of Moti Mahal, Phool Mahal, Sheesh Mahal and Sileh Khana which transport us to the magnificent bygone era of gracious and opulent living.   Each floor showcases the splendor through its beautiful display of artifacts, furniture, palanquins, royal costumes, weapons, musical instruments, paintings etc.  The cannons on the Fort’s ramparts are treats to the eye. We had great fun clicking snaps in this well-maintained fort.  
Pristine Jaswant Thada
     Next, we stopped by at Jaswant Thada, the final resting place of Maharaja Jaswant Singh, constructed in 1899 A.D.  This cluster of royal cenotaphs is intricately carved in pristine white marble, surrounded by beautifully landscaped lawns, trees; and has a placid lake flowing alongside. Some rare portraits of the former rulers of Jodhpur are displayed here.
     I realized that those were the days when the departed souls could afford to have such huge spaces dedicated to them after their demise!  The love and respect accorded to them was reflected in the elegant, artistically designed, aesthetic tombs.  No such luck for us lowly mortals!
     The security guard there was a tall and lean man who asked us amiably about our native place, etc.  He informed us that he did double duty, hence worked round the clock in 2 different postings.  We were amazed at his resilience and also felt sorry that he had to do so, to make both ends meet. 
     Then we returned to our guest-house after lunch at a restaurant that also served lip-smacking ice-cream.  The rain was lashing the auto, by then.  We spent the evening, cozily watching ‘Night in London’ on T.V.  The weather certainly seemed to mimic London’s damp and frosty weather, right then!
    
Breath-taking, Mandore Garden
 
The next day we visited Mandore, which was the former capital of the rulers of Marwar and saw the Mandore Garden which is roughly a 40-minute drive from Jodhpur. En route, we were dismayed to see rampant mining of the beautiful, precious yellow sandstone for construction.
       The garden’s landscaping is magnificent; with tall trees, shrubs, fountains, surrounded by the hills and rocky outcrops and terraces.
     There are lots of intricately carved, awe-inspiring chhatris (cenotaphs) of the erstwhile rulers of Marwar, made from red sandstone, resembling temples, which have been numbered and designated as heritage structures; in this garden. The magnificent chhatri of Maharaja Ajit Singh was built in 1793.
Sandstone Chhatri - An ode to the departed souls of yore!
    The summer palace of the Queens of Jodhpur, the Zanana Mahal and the Ekthamba Mahal occupy one corner of the garden.  It has well-laid out fountains (now non-functional).  A small Govt. museum nearby has an impressive collection of antique statues and artifacts of that era.
    Nearby is the 'Hall of Heroes' that commemorates popular folk heroes of the region and contains 16 figures chiseled out of a single rock. Adjacent to it is a larger hall called "The temple of 33 crore Gods" which has colorful images of various Hindu Gods. We saw a newly-married Rajasthani couple performing a havan and other rituals there, accompanied by traditional instrumental music.
The quaint Ekthamba Mahal
    Wandering through the neat paths in that garden which was surprisingly devoid of noisy tourists, we felt very peaceful and relaxed.  I say “wandering” as each stretch of pathway unraveled a new wonder there; a cenotaph or a monument. 
     As my camera clicked non-stop, I overheard a local guy murmuring to his companion, ‘’This girl is clicking each and every flower and leaf of this place!”  Little did he realize that we big city-dwellers were starved of such vast and tranquil green lungs and just wanted to capture all our memories vividly to relive those precious moments, at leisure.
Architectural Marvel - The Zanana Mahal
     We were delighted to meet a couple who had been with us during our Jaipur City’s sight-seeing trip.  They were also enthusiastically clicking snaps of that place.
     We washed off our tiredness, with some snacks and tea in a cafeteria within the garden’s premises.  It is located atop a hillock and provides a good view of the garden below. 
     We bought a small marble statue of Lord Ganesh from one of the shops nearby, boarded a local bus and returned to our guest-house. 
     In the small bus, the seats ran throughout the sides of the bus and people could stand and occupy the entire vacant space in-between.  A lady in typical Rajasthani attire with lots of silver jewelry captured my attention.  She even saw me admiring her attire and remarked ‘Kya dekh rahi ho?’ amusedly.  How I wish I could have clicked her snap!  I didn’t dare to photograph her as I realized that she could be conservative and wouldn’t like me to click her picture. 
      Well, some things need to be captured in one’s mind’s eye and I did just that!  Even now when I close my eyes and try to visualize her, I can vividly see and describe her, right down to the last detail.  Wonder why I was wasting my energy clicking so many snaps then!  To enable others to enjoy my experience, I guess!
     We visited a unit that manufactured beautiful lamps and glass items in the evening.  We also visited a huge store selling textiles, bags, bed-sheets etc.  I bought a double bed-sheet at a very reasonable price from there.
     For dinner we had the authentic Rajasthani Thali with churma bati, phulkas, etc.
     Thus ended our short stay in Jodhpur, but hubby and I will surely visit it again for its ambience and spell-binding beauty.  Till then, we will make do with our endearing photos and pleasant memories. 

The copyright of this travelogue and photographs is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.

This travelogue was published in the Spice Edition of Sakal Times dated 4th January, 2015.

Thursday, 18 September 2025

The Baby-doll - Penfactor Writers' Award Certificate - You Compromise, I Won't!

 


                               
           Kindle Countdown Deal - You Compromise, I Won't!

My e-book, a collection of engrossing, slice-of-life stories is now available for only $1.99 at www.amazon.com till the 22nd of September, 2025. Hurry! Kindly consider purchasing and perusing it. Also don't forget to post your invaluable reviews at Amazon. Thanks in anticipation. Priyaa

The Baby-doll, a fascinating, surreal story (in the Magical Realism Category) won me the 'Writers' Award Certificate' from Penfactor.com. Do read it in this book! Thanks.
Priya Ramesh Swaminathan

An excerpt from the short story, 'The Baby-doll'
The owner of the store had asked him whether he was buying it for his grand-daughter and whether he’d have liked it gift-wrapped. Mr. Gonzalves had just said simply “Gift-wrap it please!”
When Mrs. Gonzalves had opened the package and set eyes on the doll, her eyes brimmed with tears. She clasped it against her bosom. Then she wiped her tears and smiled the most beautiful smile that her husband had ever seen. She looked so beautiful.
Their son and daughter-in-law had gone for a movie. Mr. and Mrs. Gonzalves played the songs recorded in the doll, over and over again and childishly sang along and danced to its tunes. They also had an impromptu birthday party for their ‘Baby-doll’. They couldn’t recollect when they had been so happy in their lifetime.
Ronnie and Margaret too loved the doll at first sight. Somehow that ‘Baby-doll’ as Mr. and Mrs. Gonzalves had christened it, cheered all of them up. The ‘Baby-doll’ kept singing all her songs again and again, day in and day out. But none of them tired of the routine. And then a miracle happened.
End of the Excerpt
Intrigued? Can't wait to find out what happens next? Hurry! Purchase the e-book and enjoy your delightful reading session....

The copyright of this book is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.

Plagiarists, BEWARE! 

You, (as well as anyone who aids and abets you), will be prosecuted for Copyright Infringement.

One such case is already on its way....


Tuesday, 16 September 2025

You Compromise, I Won't! - An Excerpt - A New Battle

 Dear friends,

What is life if not a compromise? Yet, while some compromise, others don't!

Read on to experience it in my e-book titled You Compromise, I Won't! This e-book will be available at www.amazon.com under a Kindle Countdown Deal till 22nd of September, 2025 for just $1.99 at a whopping discount of 34%

Hurry! Peruse it and let me have your invaluable feedback!

Thanks in anticipation. 

Priyaa




Here's the link:

You Compromise, I Won't!: No right or wrong............

$0.00Free with Kindle Unlimited membership

Buy for $2.99


You Compromise, I Won't!: No right or wrong............ Kindle Edition



My student Vijay, posing with my book!

An Excerpt from the Short Story - A New Battle

         When Ananya resumed her place on the bed, propped up comfortably against the soft cushions, with her laptop on her lap, he glanced at her with a ‘daggers-drawn’ look, as she chatted online, with a soft smile lighting up her face.  Gautam took the luxury of slowly appraising her.  It had been ages since he had seen her properly.  She was more of a ‘voice’ to him, a sweet voice which had been relegated to the background like a melodious strain playing on the music system of his life.  Yes, his life had been like a harmonious symphony, with no jarring notes interrupting the smooth rhythm of his existence. 

          Now he suddenly realized, uncomfortably, that this sweet voice had a face too!  The same face that had bewitched him 14 years ago now swam into his line of vision with reinforced clarity.  He had forgotten how beautiful she looked.  Now, even in her bed-clothes, with freshly brushed hair, softly framing her oblong face and cascading all around her, her slightly lined and pock-marked face, scrubbed clean and sparkling with good health and radiant smile which showed off her high cheekbones; she looked happy and relaxed.  

End of the Excerpt
This book has the story titled "The Baby-doll" which helped me get the "Writers' Award Certificate" from www.penfactor.com.
Do read this intriguing story!          

                

The copyright of this book is with 
Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.

Plagiarists, BEWARE! 

You, (as well as anyone who aids and abets you), will be prosecuted for Copyright Infringement.

One such case is already on its way....


Sunday, 14 September 2025

You Compromise, I Won't! - Kindle Discount Deal - September 2025

  Dear friends,

What is life if not a compromise? Yet, while some compromise, others don't!

Read on to experience it in my e-book titled You Compromise, I Won't! This e-book will be available at www.amazon.com under a Kindle Countdown Deal from 15th to 22nd September, 2025 for just $1.99 at a whopping discount of 34%

Hurry! Peruse it and let me have your invaluable feedback!

Thanks in anticipation. 

Priya





Here's the link:

You Compromise, I Won't!: No right or wrong............

$0.00Free with Kindle Unlimited membership

Buy for $2.99


You Compromise, I Won't!: No right or wrong............ Kindle Edition

No reviews



My student Vijay, posing with my book!
FOREWORD
When it becomes a conundrum in life, to choose between two difficult or equally tempting choices, one is in a quandary! Life’s always gleefully throwing up such situations. One must pick and choose with utmost care, to avoid getting one’s fingers burnt. Sometimes one gets the right end of the stick too! Just when he’s congratulating himself and patting his own back, life may deal a vicious blow and he is left holding the wrong end, wondering what went wrong! At other times, the fine line between right and wrong is so blurred that one can’t make the correct choice. What happens then?
Read these delightful stories to find out….

This book has the story titled "The Baby-doll" which helped me get the "Writers' Award Certificate" from www.penfactor.com.
Do read this intriguing story!
                        


The copyright of this book is with 
Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.

Plagiarists, BEWARE! 

You, (as well as anyone who aids and abets you), will be prosecuted for Copyright Infringement.

One such case is already on its way....


Saturday, 13 September 2025

Jaipur, the enchanting pink city beckons you! Part 2

 This review of Jaipur, written by me, was published in Pune's daily newspaper - Sakal Times. Kindly peruse it and let me have your feedback. Have you visited this enchanting place? If not, this review will definitely make you book your ticket for this ethereal destination.... Get set, go!

            Continued from the previous blog-post.

   


                We were to halt at Nahargarh fort for lunch. The serpentine road, winding uphill, through dense trees and beautiful scenery all around, lulled our senses, till we almost started dozing. After a short and steep climb, we reached the restaurant that has been set up in a part of that fort, obviously to give a slice of history along with a delicious “thali” (Ready lunch-plate) for lunch, to the by-now famished tourists! The restaurant is furnished in wood and wrought iron furniture and sofa sets embellished with delicate Rajasthani paintings with matching huge tables to place the plates on!


                                    

                 The view of the city from that height was impressive and panoramic. The fort has exquisite Rajasthani paintings of warriors mounted on elephants and bouquets of dainty flowers. I was almost expecting some warrior or damsel from the ancient ages to come face-to-face with us and surprise us! A cannon at its entrance invited all of us to click ourselves beside it. Had it been in its true form, spitting balls of fire, we’d have run miles from it, I thought, amused!

                 Near the fort is a deep well-like structure with an amphitheatre like ambience. Our guide informed us that this was where the famous song, “Loose control….” from the hit film, ‘Rang De Basanti’ had been shot, with Amir Khan, dangling perilously from the edge.

                  After trekking back to our bus, I joked with the guide and told him that he had made us hungry by asking us to trudge uphill to the restaurant and then helped us in digesting our lunch by the return trek! The driver of the bus and the guide shared a hearty laugh.

                                    

                 At our next halt, Jaigarh Fort, we saw the largest cannon in the world, proudly standing on a hillock. It weighs 80 tonnes and has been constructed in-situ, that is, just where it stands. It was capable of firing a huge round of ammunition at one go. Phew! Just thinking about its capability made us perspire. An elderly man from our group gave us an interesting insight, just then. He hastened to us and told us to click a snap of a pigeon that had just entered into the mouth of the cannon. He told us that that bird was a symbol of peace in that symbol of war! It wanted peace, not war! Just like us, I mused. But the bird gave us a slip, as it flew away, just as I was poised to take a shot. I ruefully looked at that gentleman and wondered why he hadn’t taken that shot instead of telling us about it. I thought that maybe that elusive bird had spoilt his shot too!

                                            

                   Amer fort, a massive yellow-stoned edifice, majestically soaring into the skies, was our next invite. The massive, strong wooden doors with bronze knobs welcomed us into a very vast and spacious area where we saw the “Diwan-e-Aam” and the “Diwan-e- Khaas”, the halls which were used for public meetings and private consultations, respectively. The beautifully carved stone pillars and arches, with their perfect symmetry, were very pleasing to the eye. So were the “Zanana Mahals” which were 11 in number, and comprised of a set of halls, bedrooms, bathing spaces, etc. for each of the 11 wives of the King, Maharaja Amer.

                                            

                                             

                                                                            

                   The garden was perfectly maintained and had an inbuilt system of small channels which instantly watered the whole garden from the central duct. We marveled at the ancient architects and wondered why we couldn’t take lessons from them! Such huge edifices had been meticulously crafted when there had been no modern equipments or even the now-ubiquitous and essential cement! Truly, all these fine structures were a labor of love and hard work. Passion coupled with pride had transformed sturdy rocks into memorials that had withstood centuries of time. Neither war not the ravages of weather had succeeded in diminishing their majesty!

                                     

                      We rounded off our sight-seeing with a visit to Lord Krishna’s beautiful temple in Kanaka Vrindavan. (Recently, I saw the movie Lamhe, in which actress Sridevi was dancing to the divine melody of “Mohe chedo na nand ke lala….” (Please don’t tease me, my beloved Lord Krishna…) in this temple.

                      Near-by was located a small shop selling footwear, jackets, and handbags made from leather and lac bangles. The prices were reasonable and the salesmen assured us of the sturdiness and comfort of the footwear that we bought there, a pair of slip-ons for my hubby and a pair of “medicinal” chappals for myself; which would ostensibly, give great relief to any ‘foot problems’(as per the salesman)! Interestingly, the shop had been founded by the oldest man in India, as certified by the Guinness Book of Records, who died when he was 114! Till date, the shop is ably managed by his progeny. A laminated poster, right at the shop’s entrance, proudly displays a photo of that venerable man with his Guinness Certificate and his children and relatives.

                     En-route to our drop-off point, the guide pointed out the reason for Jaipur earning the sobriquet of “The Pink City”. We were driving through the old Jaipur area, where a broad thoroughfare was flanked by elegant buildings of pink stone, on both the sides. He even said that Jaipur was supposed to be the second well-planned city in the world, in those ancient times, after Paris! Later he pointed out the exquisite ‘Jal Mahal’, beautifully lit and sitting like a lantern amidst a huge lake and the ‘Hawa Mahal’, in its fully illuminated glory. It was dusk. Jaipur was enchanting with its street-lights and regal aura.

                     The sight-seeing ended with all of us in a trance. We had been so enveloped by the glorious past that we found it a tad difficult to come back to the present-day chaos.

Concluded.

All the photographs have been clicked by Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.

The copyright of this travelogue is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.