And you know this time I am just leaving for this small trip. Last time the best of the unplanned trip we had was to Kumbhalgarh. It was month end, had 2000 bucks in hand and we just left. And that is so very enjoyable, you have no idea which bus to take, where to get down and the best part the kick of this whole episode is fun. You travel just to see the ruins of a fort, isn’t that amazing!!!
Another thrill is nothing but food for me. Yes you know I can talk endlessly about this meal management thing while traveling. The quirkiness about the unknown genre of a particular food and then trying it out is so exhilarating.

Now what is the fun part is that if you are acquainted with the general backdrop of a place you are visiting, then try out the things that are not the part of its civilization. You know what I mean??? Like, in Kumbhalgarh, near Udaipur that is in Rajasthan we gorged on Chowmein, instead of dal, baati, churma. I am very much familiar with this typical Rajasthani dish. So lets try the Rajasthani Chowmein, and you bet it’s typical in its taste, the Indian spices make its way in this Chinese gourmet. The heat of red chilly powder burns your eardrums and the larynx and I don’t know what else. All the vegetables are a soggy mess and fashion themselves into a pulpy mass merging them with the noodles, appearing to be a mushy heap. But you know this is the excitement, traveling in your own country, or in your own state cannot be a fatigued experience till the time you just know how to alert your senses and let the hormones of titillation and thrill rule over your brain.

And then wandering in the rural market of the place, trying to search a nice pack of snacks and then miserably fail to get one, you find not more than a pack of glucose biscuits. The shopkeeper shrugs and give you a stern look saying take it or leave it, and poor you, are left with the solo option of bowing down to him, thank him that he at least have had these biscuits for you.

I remember when infants my mother was all packed and prepared when we were traveling. You ask her for even a pin and its there. Biscuits, snacks, napkins et al. but now all this is so very predictable to me that now walking in the opposite of a planned traveling has been on my itinerary. I am just putting across that even your land can be a mine of excitement, and can be an enjoyable trip.

If you are traveling to Udaipur, then try Kumbhalgarh Fort. It’s a picturesque scene during rains. You get a chance to hold a mountain, feel the cool breeze teasing your hair strands, your lungs thank you for the pure dose of oxygen and you are in bliss. Its not the usual fort seeing trip but it’s a short trip made to crisp and unwind and uncontaminated your senses.

64 kms from Udaipur in Rajasmand district, Kumbhalgarh Fort stands like unconquerable fort and Aravali range making a fence. Maharana Rana Kumbha built it in the 15th century; the fort is constructed on the tiptop ridge and is 1,914 meters above sea level and the fort extend to the length of 36 kilometers making it to be in the international records. Being the second longest wall in the world, the first being ”the Great Wall of China”. Isn’t this a lengthy fascination?

The waggling road going through deep ravines and thick forests will take you to the fort and the journey becomes more soothing than the destination.
And is palace called ‘Badal Mahal’ or the Palace of Cloud is beauty of its own kind. It is also accredited to be the birthplace of Maharana Pratap.

The huge complex of the Fort can make your trip to be a pleasurable romantic evening while strolling through the ruins. Traveling can bring in the best in you, appreciate the ruins, and relish the not so relishing food and then thanking God for being such a marvelous creator, and helping us to see the best of his creation. Fantastically amazing, isn’t it?

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And ‘Oh- how-so-true’ it is, when you personally see them, as if these elephants still carry the finesse and poise, but have no air and graces tagged with them. Awesome but true that mammoth creatures were the royal carries during the Rajas and Mogul era in India.
They were the kind of ‘must-haves’ at that time. And why not… this animal had always given the required assistance, be it for the superior society or for the poor masses, be it in the war, horrifyingly participating for the Rajput Kings in the blood shedding going on, or being a part of the royal pageant of the Maharajas, where the Maharaja sat on a gold and silver throne secured on the back of the most liked elephant. Jaipur like a good host to the British Raj had arranged for the elephant rides for the guest of honour up to the Amber palace. Even today, these elephants carry the visitors to Amber Fort on their back.

India is the home to these Asiatic Elephant, they were so very important to the gods and kings here that in present it is worshipped as Lord Ganesha and is also associated with the Buddhism, and Jainism. Its body features truly contrast each other but still work the cohesiveness with its extra-super-big-size and its tiny, pea size cheerless eyes, or its majestic movements and its mild and meek behavior, or its long trailing trunk and the thin undernourished tail.

The time can never be sealed, it has its own course, and thus with the time this Regal Era of India died its own death, leaving behind these humongous animals to cope with their own kind of recession.

Rajasthan Tourism restored the good-old tradition to show off and celebrate the imperial richness of these elephants in the Indian history, simply displaying their enigmatic charm. Just 10 years old it is now a popular event between the tourist as well as the locals (it was devised especially with the tourist in mind). Each year the event is organized on the eve of Holi (this year its on 28/02/2010) venue is always the Chaugan Stadium in Jaipur. From this year, unlike the previous years, the celebration will witness new hues. The modified schedule will have on the spot elephant painting competition. As per the Director of tourism, “This year, five elephants would enter stadium from different entrances with their mahouts carrying a mashaal (torch). They would then congregate at the center to form a chaupar (four lines) and play Holi which would be a prelude to the fireworks.” Also five private bands have been invited which would play archetypal Holi music with drums etc. There would be a matka race for the tourists.

Starts at 4 pm in the evening the Elephants got to be the showstoppers. They walk with this graceful yet submissive attitude that I find it really, really cute. Their thick skin is brightly painted, showing the traditional graphics all over their body -like the tiger hunting scene, stars, lotus etc and its tiny eyes go blink-blink in between the paint-full backdrop…sooper cute!!! Everything from his forehead, to the feet, is decorated, ornamented, and embellished with heavily embroidered velvet throw on its back, the pom-pom, the anklet, you name it and you have it… really…

With all these fashion accessories they parade along with their other fashionable friends like camels, ox, horses, through the circumference of the stadium and then assemble in neat rows, as if this is what they have been doing all the time. Along with them march the folk dancers and performance artists…but you know the elephants steal the show. They greet the visitors, offer garlands to the guests and walk the ramp before a jury of experts and tourists so as to be selected as the best for the ‘Best decorated Elephant’ Shield! Speed has never been in the genes of these elephants, nor is it their acquired ability or attribute and their somber walk has never been a challenge for the polo ponies, and thus, witnessing a game of elephant polo, which is a newly introduced sport, is such a hilarious moment. Fun to watch the enormous pachyderms chasing the speedy football, trying to (in a way) help their mahouts as they also try, hit the ball with their polo stick.

You can laugh out loud on them, but they certainly will have the ball in their court… and the moment comes when you are asked to join hands with the people (more than 10) in the tug-of-war with the largest elephant. Who wins??? Do I need to answer that???? A’int that easy!!!!!

A unique ‘Gaj Shringar exhibition (Elephants Fashion Accessories) is a good thing to watch which exhibits everything connected with the elephant-ornaments, textiles, carriages, paintings, medicines and food.

Along the seam line of the event the program of Dhaph and Gair dance is performed exalting the spirit of Holi. Other folk dance dramas are also put up which is really a splendid treat. Among the dances Peacock Dance is really neat. Huge bunch of peacock feathers is tied at the back of the dancers and they perform the ‘mudras’ (Indian dance moves) beautifully.

Then there is the depiction of the ‘Krishna-Gopi Raslila’, which shows the naughtiness of Lord Krishna with the girls of his village, containing more of art of the Indian classical dance, it is sometime not properly understood. The evening always ends in a colorful note. The splash of dry colours mixes in the ambience of the place. The locals and the visitors and the tourist all play Holi and after some time you cannot spot who is local and who is the visitor. And this playing with colors is while taking an elephant ride ~ full on masti… the Indian way. While the event reaches its climax, you can see people happily applying colours, and happily allowing other to put colours, taking elephant rides, posing to have great pictures with the stars of the evening – The Elephants and a dazzling display of fireworks completing the day leaving unforgettable memories.

But I had this feeling deep down, that these magnificent, enormous beings that celebrated their royalty for a day, will go in the passiveness for a year, no more as the celebrities…I feel let them be celebrities for their life time. Their strength, and their humility give them such a charm. But man cannot kill his supremacy to rule over them, and till then such events are working as breathers.

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The railways are the best way to commute, helping you to remain kinda fresh by the time you reach there. There is a daily overnight train from Delhi till Kathgodam Junction (The Delhi Kathgodam Ranikhet Express no. 5013; leaves Old Delhi station at 22:45 and arrives at Kathgodam 6:15 am; the return train is no. 5014, leaves Kathgodam at 20:45, arrives in Delhi at 4:45).

Trains from Delhi and any other destinations should arrive at either Kathgodam or Haldwani. From where you are supposed to take a taxi, which will first pass through Bhimtal, the town nearest to the ashram, continue to Mehragaon (5 km further), 3 kms farther there will be a fork in the road turn left for Sattal Estate. Sattal Ashram is 1.5 km past the estate, on a gravel road. This drive should take between 1-2 hours. If you are already in the Nainital area, inquire about local buses to Bhimtal, and then they will take you there.

I have tried the train and the roads as well to reach the Ashram. The train as mentioned is an overnight journey, and is a safe mode as compared to the road journey. But you can catch the excitement when take a taxi till the Ashram. Though the journey via roads is more exciting but dangerous (almost no barriers on the road side). The roads go in circle around a mountain and you can feel the pressure in your ears as you reach the higher altitude. The pine and oak trees get agitated when wind tries to make way through them, giving that hissing sound. But the Mother Nature is drop-dead gorgeous. Really. The bus cannot go down to the main estate, so take you knapsacks on you back and march along the red soiled make a-way- kind of road. Your legs and feet might beg for mercy, but this march is worth its each step it takes. Better still go slow, that way you can buy more time to hog on the charismatic view.

This is the Mecca for adventure and sports people, and Rome for religious people. The best landscape for mountain biking, rock climbing, night trekking, nature trail, backpacking, angling, kayaking, rafting, rappelling, river crossing, bird watching, swimming, boating and night camping in the deep jungle.
Suicide Rock is one the most popular climbs here, and the Burma bridges attract thrill seekers interested in making a daring river crossing. Even if you are not prepared for this high level drama of adventure, the untouched landscape will give you a bite of mild rush of adrenaline. The estate is all surrounded by forest and you go anywhere – uphill or downhill, adventure will find you. One of my trips was during rainy season and mind you those blood-sucking leeches are so smart that they penetrate through your leather shoes. Bad!! In this adventuresome place there are no cell phone signals, which leave you with nothing but just to rely on your senses, because who can trust friends nowadays… ☺ but if you are the lucky one who have trustworthy friends, then also, please rely on your senses…. do not depend because the experience you take back home are always with you and are your own.

The sober lot of people should never get disappointed. The solace and peace that is offered to you by this Ashram is doubled with the nature’s explicit beauty. The silence can be heard. The quietness is sometimes deafening. The cricket sings choruses and sometime sings in parts, all to their glory. The early mornings are perfect to meditate. Somehow we just get lost in the beauty, which is so gracious and splendid. The twilight when shows up on mountains and on tree tops, feels like the perfect way to celebrate God’s creation. The Chapel is also there, totally in sync with Indian traditions. It does not have pews arranged or a grand alter. The ashram provides you with the mats, to sit on the floor.

Not to forget food is simple but good. But they expect you to wash your dishes on your own, which we never mind as this how you enjoy the adventurous or your spiritual journey.

Address: Sattal Christian Ashram
P.O. Mehragaon
Distt:Nanital – 263132
Uttarnchal – India
Phone: 05942-247058 / 247355 / 247029

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Well, I don’t know about you all but for me describing the ruins, the chaos, the compressed ambience, and tapered streets all in a go can sound like a mess, until I laid my eyes upon the deserted vastness of the deserts and the city that stands like a guarding angle to this parched sandy land – Jaisalmer.

From the beginning the vastness of the fierce sea and the smoothness of the snow, covering the land, has always evoked some kind of energy in me. The water filled sandy sea shores are always kind of romantic and fun filled. And the same goes with the white caped land. But what’s with the water devoid sandy land??? It never bothered to excite my thoughts. It s not that my aversions to desert was kind of hate thing or no- not – all type feeling, but then you know there are places you are not in love with neither you hate them… it was fine…. but then it was kind of ‘run of the mill’, you know okay kinds. It’s confusing, but I hope you will understand.

While, the plan to attend the Desert Festival of Jaisalmer held each year in January (this year it was on 28th to 30th Jan 2010) was not mine, but I had given my nodding, somehow. Doing my homework on Jaisalmer and its fest was a cakewalk. All described it as the golden city coz it’s made of yellow sandstones, “Jaisalmer” means “the Hill Fort of Jaisal” and is named after its founder, Rao Jaisal[1]. Being a major tourist spot in Rajasthan as the city fort is built on a hill named Trikuta. Then it’s surrounded by number of Jain temples and many Havelies (big homes of the financial affluent families). Then the Jaisalmer Fort is a must to watch as there are more than 5000 families still living inside the fort, that buzz with the normal humdrum of life. That’s kind of exciting.

I suppose India and its culture is synonymous to Rajasthan and if being more specific then to the Deserts. And then that is how the government of Rajasthan tapped this idea and got many events organized locally to mark itself on the World map.

There is another Desert Festival that is also organized in Bikaner another city of Rajasthan, but what makes the Desert fest of Jaisalmer unique, was a quest for me.

Going to Jaisalmer is no way bothersome. Railways are the best things, and if your pocket allows you, you can also take ‘Palace on Wheels’- a palatial train that is really resplendent.

‘All that glitters is not gold.’ And I hoped it should have been. When we reached the city it just was awesome. I was instantly in love with its golden attitude till death. No doubt it was quiet warm during the month of January, but that was a relief to us somehow. Stealing us away from the bad cold that was in rest of the world.
Walking to the city proved Jaisalmer to be an offbeat city. The lanes are so narrow that you have to walk in a queue, but then we only felt like that. The locals went zooming on their bikes; the cows coolly pass by you, the dogs carelessly drowsing, but that is the essence of the city. It’s just not like the other Indian cities at all, quiet different because nowhere can you see a fort with families still living in it. Common roofs, helter-skelter steps leading to small terraces, beautiful architecture, stunning carving on the walls, windows, its actually uncommonly luxurious and yes inviting, certainly to me.

Evenings are really cool; all the credit goes to the sandy hills, as the desert and the Jaisalmer is a part of the Thar Desert. Evenings were the most sacred moment for me as refreshing they were, they brought the best on the nature’s canvas. Nature always had a multicolored facet for me, but then never figured out that it can be mono-coloured, and still be captivating.

You know how will I describe this as- during the day city from the distance is like the amber colored light baked brownie, which is always inviting, and as the sun kisses good-bye, the evening glazes the city just like you will glaze that light baked brownie with honey. It sounds enticingly yummy!!!
As already read about the Havelies we decided to visit them the next day, as this day in its self was quiet gratifying. The Gadsisar Lake and the Sam Sand Dunes are the major tourist attractions of Jaisalmer.

The next day was the 28th of Jan, the commencement of The Desert Festival. The Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation creates a Tourist Village, which has nice tents and huts, and good clean bathrooms. We got a travel agent to work all the arrangement for us, and he delivered what he promised. The event is like a big fair, like a platter, which has various sports, contests, Rajasthani food, and its dazzling handicrafts all in one place.

It’s a good way to keep us handsomely occupied. Since this fair was a 3-day affair we decided to tour the havelis after the lunch, because we wanted to attend the desert fest which starts from a lake spot called Gadisar, a manmade reservoir, constructed by Raja Gadsi Singh, in the later years Maharaja Garisisar Singh rebuilt and revamped the lake.

Walk able distance from anywhere in the city, it’s located towards the south of Jaisalmer city and the entrance to it is through a superb and artistically carved yellow sandstone archway, known as the Tilon-Ki-Pol.

This lake in winters is a paradise for the rare migratory birds too. So we reached here after our breakfast. The commencement of the fest is with a glossy procession. The time to assemble at this lake was 9- 10 a.m., which we did, but then the whole thing kind of started quiet late with some bandwagons, dancers, bagpiper etc. It looked like the whole city was going gaga over the show. This was supposed to be the first meet of the fest and then after 1p.m the local Rajasthani cuisine is to be served, like dal, bait, churma, gatte ki sabzi. A good lunch. They charged us around rs.100 for that which is quiet okay. Meanwhile the procession has already left from the lake site and was supposed to go through the entire city. Well we were not a part of it. As per our plan we went to check out the havelis, which are called after the name of the past owners like Patwon-Ki-Haveli, Salim Singh Ki-Haveli, Nathmal Ji-Ki-Haveli. Well to me the architecture and the carving was almost the twin of other buildings. It was nice though. But what amazed me were other things you hardly find on the charts. Our guide was a good fellow (thanks to our stars) who took us to a village, which was deserted by its residents overnight due to atrocities of local Dewan (Officer Incharge). They say cursed had befallen that village and now nobody can live there forever. Another cool thing was the Shiva Temple, which is about 30-40 km on same way as sand dunes. Once on full moon night there is an old Cobra snake called Nag Dev (Snake God), which comes out of the temple wall to drink milk. I don’t know how true it is, but the locals claim that they are a witness to it.
The sun was fierce around that time. We all we tired of walking all that marathon distance, and I wanted to enjoy the splashy richness of the place, by sitting somewhere, so the gang decided to get back to our own tents, where we reached late evening.

The other two days were no walk and all play… ☺ we were taking the rest of the days easy as all of us decided to unwind our selves in the fest. It s a good idea to just relax and loosen up in the festivities going on. Just roam around hither and thither, without rushing to check out places. Check out the people here, their lifestyles, their clothes, their excitement when a foreign tourist take their snap, then their handsomely lengthy moustaches, (a long and upward moustache says of bravery and honour and a drooping one means surrender and shame), their colorful turbans, which add a zest of bright colors, in the otherwise so parched and barren landscape.

The high fashion pageant here is the Maru-Shri (Mr. Desert) competition and the turban-tying contest. A real crowd puller, it’s a great fun to watch. In the turban-tying competition and tug of war, Indians competes with Foreigners.

Another competition, they named it as Moustache Moustache’ where the prize is given to the man with the longest moustache.

The main thing, which I just did not mention, is the Camel… he is an ugly looking, long necked, huge, deliberately lazy looking animal. I don’t want to be mean or anything, but then this is how it looks, really, I know its not his fault either. But on a serious note he has been faithful to the locals here, since ages and that’s a good enough point for me to ignore all the under-dexterity that he has. These camels participate in various events like the Camel race and Camel polo (Game of Polo is part of almost all the Rajasthani events as it’s the official royal sport here). What I like the most is the camel ride. Its not that I never had a chance to ride a camel, I did, but each time the excitement is same as ever. The completely ignorant expression that these camels give you, while you are taking a ride is so funny, and you become looking funny when you just try not to fall when these camels rise and sit.

The Kalbelia dance was another great thing. It is a sect in India who wears all black clothes and big chunky jewelry, but there dance performances are really phenomenal. The folk artistes performing on the sand dunes take the enhancement to its crescendo.

We were, just strolling, sightseeing, doing camel rides, and checking out the typical puppets, and their shows, the dances and the song and good food.

It was fun to be there. The best of it was the unconventional layout of the city and the golden beauty of the desert. It felt surreal, the dryness was in the air, the sand dunes were playing with the wind, and all together it allured us fully, and yes I was entrapped in that deserted beauty, that may be not for anything else, but just to gape at the desert can be my reason to return here.

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The word Banganga means a stream created by shooting an arrow, Ban means an arrow and Ganga is the name of a river in India and is synonymous to all the religious water bodies. The mythology has set up the belief that Arjun, one of the Pandavas, created this rivulet while they were in exile for fourteen years. Arjun was the best of the best in shooting bow and arrow; he was the ace striker and could hit the eyes of a moving fish. Amazingly brilliant!!!
Devotees assemble at the Shri Radha Krishnaji’s temple in the morning hours; they take a bath at the ghats (a flight of steps leading to the water) of the Banganga River with the belief that it has the capability to sanctify the soul. The pilgrims then precede pay homage to the nearby shrines of Hanuman and Ganga Bihari, the Shiva temple and the Math of Goswamiji.
You can attend this fair for its local feel, as otherwise big festivals are hyped and have all the glitters to attract the travelers and tourists. You can just watch the dramatization of the small town religious people their devotion toward the sacred river, their intensity and zeal for soul cleansing. Its different from the usual touristy that we are used to.
The main objective in this fair is to take a dip in the holy water of the Banganga River considering that purifying the soul will wash all their sins away.

But then to be human is not that simple. It’s the enticing world and though the inner self is important the outer self cannot be less than anything, and this holds so true, when the tranquility of the auspicious Godly occasion is confronted with the tinsel, busy bazaar, that is an easy enough reason for anybody to get trapped in it. And so this fair has also gained importance for the traders and merchants, who collect here to sell their goods. And to watch over these local commodities is real fun, and I would say more of an exploration as you come across so many new things that it could just expand your personal dictionary. The rural ornaments are like eye candy, they are big chunks of neckpieces, wristbands, dangling earrings, waistbands, anklets and what not. If you have a knack for fashion and fads, you are sure to pick some authentic Indian stuff from here. This does not end here, it’s the big bazaar and you will find the business deals taking place between local men and women and the shop owners, the bargaining looks like sweet coaxing and cajoling going on and then ends with the universal law that customer is always right!!!! The items sold here range from these rural ornaments to cheap plastic toys for kids and household items for the housewives, clothes and many more.

Indian fairs are kind of not complete without the swings and Giant wheels and merry-go-rounds. You can just imagine a fair scene from a Bollywood movie; it’s the typical replica of the local humdrum of such carnivals.
Other than the charm of the forts and desert landscape of Rajasthan, sometimes the simple local affairs and the high devotional parameters of people here can leave you actually enjoying the not so popular events too.

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For me traveling in my own country, India has brought in the opportunity to feel the food, the assortment of the food and menu you will find here, is so wide that it is difficult to pick up my favorite though. It is like food for thought; yea I can only think well when the bread is fed to me. And surely food is the staff of the life.

I can just feast on anything, almost anything, but sometimes this confidence of yours can be challenged. Now I say I can try out anything new, but to relish it or not is to be answered later. This dish that I came across was a combination of vegetarian and non – vegetarian stuff, mutton cooked with vegetables and fresh grated coconut and its chunks… coconut is staple in South India, this where this dish came, but somehow the mutton just refused to blend its juices with the vegetables and coconut, or it may be that coconut was fighting to dominate the mutton. And I think this must be the case, because the dish was completely coco nutty or just nutty. Whatever, I was left with no praises of it. But then this doesn’t end my fondness for food, the voyage for food will continue.

The best cuisine that is close to me is from Kashmir, it has such velvety blend of the spices that I am sure the first time try will leave you with the trailing aroma and flavor. And that what I mean when your senses are tamed, they will just remember the ‘oh so royal’ flavor of the food. The non-vegetarians are in heaven.

As they say books can take you in any world, and I say the food can take you to any world. And for the traveler it’s the good… better… nope the best way to beat the blues sometimes, as traveling can also not be at its best forever. If you don’t appreciate traveling to new places, for the risk of getting lost and no one will ever come to know where you have disappeared, then just be brave to sport out any new food, it is a nice way to know that its just not the burger that rules, but there were other good dishes that just were there.

Well this food thing can be wackiest, and the confidence of trying anything gets tough, and tough gets trying…. really, its when the reptiles and bugs are served to you. No, I have not collected guts to eat them. I can’t say about any of you reading this, but for me this is a complete no. It may take many many more years for my senses to accept this, but right now my own wit and brain is in complete denial even if I am starving to death.

Are you up for the wackiest food? what’s the most wackiest food you have tried?

Photo credit: Wikipedia

At first everything seems exciting and even much better than at home! The people are nicer, environment is cleaner and so on. This is a tourist stage when people don’t stay long enough to confront problems and experience cultural shock. All you do is enjoy the surroundings and admire new culture. Depending on a person this stage can last from couple of days to couple of months.

During next period the real problems begin. You might find some things unfamiliar and frustrating, you might feel lonely and eventually start missing home. This is the time when you look for people from your own country. You get together and complain about new culture, inconveniences, rules and regulations you are confronted with. You remember bright moments from your motherland and perceive country of your new residence through stereotypes.

Now is the time to either pull yourself together and adjust to the new environment, or to move back home. Everyone has it’s own recipes of how to deal with difficulties, but some general tips can make this process easier.
Firstly, the key to successful integration is language, language and once again language! The faster you learn it the faster you are included in the social environment. You start to understand what is going on around you and form your own opinion about it. Then you meet locals and eventually make new friends. They will admire you efforts and help you out in case you need  it. Many immigrants find it easier to integrate there own culture into the new one. It’s good as long as it does not lead to strong differentiation, after all you try to integrate not to separate. Probably the best advise is to try to stay positive!

If you are able to go through this process, you become a new person, bicultural with a an access to the wisdom and experience of both cultures. You are a tough person with a strong competitive advantage over many. Well, anyway, everyone finds their own pluses and minuses in bicultural identity.

The biggest challenge will be when you come back to your own country. The trick is that your family and friends expect you to be same old they used to know. They don’t consider how much you have went through, learned and changed. You might be misunderstood and feel like a stranger in your own country.

But if you are open-minded and curious individual, with a good sense of humor and a strong sense of self the transition will be easier for you. Don’t get scared before you tried something! There are always right people who will support you and help you out if your are in troubles.
What is life all about anyways?! Everything is worth trying!
So, are you ready?

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The Salvador Dali Museum in St Petersburg Florida USA, Dali Theater and Museum in Figueres Catalonia Spain and Espace Dali in Paris.

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Change is always welcomed. The vicious cycle of seasons is always constant but still the onset of a new season has its own beauty. Mewar Festival is one so very important fest of Rajasthan that celebrate the advent of the spring season. When the flowers bloom and the nature gets dressed up in her ‘ The best Attire’!!

Female genre is the most excited one. With ‘ I’ am ~Soo~ Excited’ feeling the girls adorn themselves in colorful traditional dresses called ‘Ghaghra – Choli’. Mehendi is tattooed on the hands; the wow factor is always there as the designs that are created are always unique and different on each hand.

Women folks assemble to dress the images of Isar and Gangaur to carry them in a ceremonial procession through different parts of the city. When the procession reaches to the Gangaur Ghat at Lake Pichhola, the Gods are transferred to special boats amidst much singing and festivity.

The passion of the festival draws out it’s own refined pleasure of celebration. Dancing and singing in its way is the expression of your gleefulness and The Princely City – Udaipur has enough reasons to enjoy the majesty of the Mewar festival. The raw Rajputana feel, engulfs your thoughts and mesmerizes the very own inner self as the aura of this festival lives up in its traditional dances and folk songs.
The impressive fireworks displayed at the end will leave you with the feeling to come back.

Udaipur is the jewel of Mewar kingdom, which was ruled by the Sisodia dynasty for 1200 Years. The foundation of the city has an interesting legendary story attached with it. Accordingly, Maharana Udai Singh, the founder of the city, was hunting one day, where he met a hermit meditating on a hill overlooking the Lake Pichhola. This hermit blessed the Maharana and asked him to build a palace at this favorable location, which was a fertile valley watered by the stream, a lake, an agreeable altitude and an amphitheater of low seated Aravlli Mountains. Maharana followed the advise of the hermit and founded the city in 1559 A.D.
Lot of activities, of this festival, keeps us in a joyfully busy for the entire three days. Purrrrfect way to enjoy the spring season and to be grateful to the Gods that we can celebrate their seasonal moods in such a phenomenal way!!!!!!!

History
Udaipur is the jewel of Mewar kingdom ruled by the Sisodia dynasty for 1200 Years. The foundation of the city has an interesting legend associated with it. According to it, Maharana Udai Singh, the founder, was hunting one day when he met a holy man meditations on a hill overlooking the Lake Pichhola.The hermit blessed the Maharana and advised him to build a palace at this favorable located spot with a fertile valley watered by the stream, a lake, an agreeable altitude and an amphitheater of low mountains. Maharana followed the advise of the hermit and founded the city in 1559 A.D.

Places to see
Udaipur is famous for City Palaces, Saheliyon-ki-Bari, The Suraj Gokhada, Pratap Memorial and many more.

Photo credit: Wikipedia

It has showcased the best of Indian language and English work of the writers. 2010 witnessed Nobel laureates, like winner of the Samuel Johnson Prize, five winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Literature, and two Booker Prize winners.

World-renowned writers of history, biography, literary criticism, travel, and also the stars of the world of fiction and the novel posed their great craftsmanship during this event. Writers include Hanif Kureishi, Niall Ferguson, Louis De Bernieres, Roberto Calasso, Amit Chaudhuri, Geoff Dyer, Vikram Chandra, Tina Brown, Claire Tomalin, Michael Frayn, Mahasweta Devi, Shobhaa De, Indira Goswami, Krishna Sobti, Krishna Baldev Vaid, Steve Coll, Stephen Frears, Pavan Varma, Lawrence Wright, Christophe Jaffrelot, Ashi Dorji, Wangmo Wangchuk, and Alexander McCall Smith.

The USP for this year include readings from Girish Karnad’s Tughlaq by acclaimed actor Om Puri, performances by Titi Robin, Cheb I Sabbah, Susheela Raman, Djaima, Rajasthan Roots and Paban Das Baul, and readings and performances from William Dalrymple’s Nine Lives.
The awesomeness of the whole show put up, was too mesmerizing. The whole aura that surrounded the campus was so very intellectual and oh- so – brilliant. The stupendous reading of the books- be it English or any other Indian language brought the amalgamation of various cultures and thoughts.

Past years have featured Salman Rushdie, Kiran Desai, Suketu Mehta, Shashi Despande, and William Dalrymple. Ian McEwan, Donna Tartt, John Berendt, Paul Zacharia, Indra Sinha, Uday Prakash, Christopher Hampton, Manil Suri had marked there presence in 2008. The 2009 festival had list of authors who showed their presence at what is now seen to be Asia’s foremost literary event includes Vikram Seth, Pico Iyer, Rana Dasgupta and many more.

And when great music is stringed to such a great event, the Literati become Glitterati!!! The music was the greatest hit among people. To my likeness I loved The Sufi Qawalls from Sindh, Pakistan : Shah Jo Raag. They had such simplicity in them that it culminated in a divinity of their persona. The Sitar they played with one hand and another hand created music by beating the base of the Sitar brought a feeling of organic unity. It was enthralling and captivating, the boldness, the shrillness of their voices, as they sang- narrated the story of a girl who was taken up by Allah from the middle of the desert because she was the most pious one. The beauty of a song cannot be seen but can be heard and still can be all fresh in our minds.

The Sufi Qawalls from Sindh, Pakistan : Shah Jo Raag

The Jaipur Kawa Brass Band, the Rajasthani Folk Musicians offered the authentic Rajasthani music. They actually portrayed the heart of Rajasthan in their music. And then we had Rajasthan Roots- Contemporary Rajasthani Music, which blew our minds. Bringing the Rajasthan folktale and the Guitar and Drums together enticed us completely.

They also had Djaima – (France) Percussion and Gulabo – who with her Dance performance got everybody notice their dancing worms in them. She just was there, made such a solid presence that you have to be looking her. You know she makes it compulsory for you to watch her, and watching her is such a treat to the eyes.

They had Samantha Marais (UK), then William Dalrymple’s (Nine lives Production) starring Baul Sammelan Paban Das Baul, Mimlu Sen, accompanied by Debdas & Kanai Das Baul who sang (amidst the reading of prose) in Bengali language. Their voice was so loud and bold that they did not need microphones, still melodious. The song was just so very earthy.

We missed Sara Michieletto & Sharat Shrivastava ( Italian)- Classical Violinist as we arrived late to the venue. It was saddening as it was the first on our itinerary, but missed it.
But then Amit Chaudhuri (India)- sang Ragas to the various blues, jazz, rock, and even techno songs.
Popular Music & Fusion Mrigya (India)- brought the Sufism and Indian Classical Music played with its base Guitars, Drums, Tabla and Violin, to the stage. It was such a fun to be listening them. We had our foot taping, our hands clapping and our minds transcending.

Music & Fusion Mrigya (India)- The Sufi music sung with a Guitar.

I still have the hangover and for sure I don’t want to come out of it, till the time my senses witness such a treat again. That’s again another facet of my India. True Spirit of India, I must say!!