Rajasthan, or Rajputana as it was before India's independence from British rule is a vast area of palaces and peacocks,camels and citadels. If one travels from the extreme east of the state at Bharatpur one gradually leaves lush pools of the famous bird sanctuary and encounters semi desert and finally in the extreme West the desert - the Great Thar Desert.

Dream come true

Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Rohet Garh, Ranakpur, Pushkar, Chittorgarh, Ranthambhore are all names resonant with mystery and India's history and the first time I visited it felt like a dream come true. One can stand on a rampart or look at filigree stone work and think of the centuries of palace life, love and intrigue that have taken place within the walls.

India’s cities maybe vast and impossibly overcrowded, yet over 650 million people still live in villages across India.  Their lives are simple, hard working and very poor but in many ways infinitely more pleasant. Rural India is the back bone of the whole country and the cell phone has vastly opened communications, business aspirations and commerce. A tourist should experience Rural India to touch the pulse of the ‘real India’.

Along the roads, shaded in places by big old trees, one could almost see in one's mind's eye young Kim and his mentor the Lama, sitting in the shade watching the goatherd with his flock of floppy-eared goats. A camel with its cart stalks by and the camel as ever gives one a disdainful look, and in Jaipur whilst driving in the Pink City look to your left and most probably there will be an elephant lumbering along with an impatient cycle rickshaw wishing to overtake from behind!

On the roads near Tonk the roadside is plentiful with peacocks and Rajasthani women brightly dressed like stately red and orange jewels carrying pots of water on their heads. Their simple dignity shines out of their smiling faces when answering your greeting.

Be it five-star luxury and elegance, or a simpler heritage haveli inevitably the welcome will be warm, the service friendly and efficient and the food delicious. The marble foyers of five-star establishments have their own charm which can be essential when the searing heat drives one indoors, but in the cooler months the various little palaces and havelis with their well tended gardens provide a welcome refuge after a full day's sightseeing. Sitting out under the stars with a welcome glass of your favourite drink and a delicious dinner being served, with perhaps some local musicians adding to the atmosphere makes for a pleasant end to the day.

Princes and princesses

The Maharana, Maharajahs, Nawabs, Rajkumars princes and princesses - indeed the whole spectrum of Rajput nobility with their palaces, polo ponies, hunting cheetahs, tigers and leopards evoke the whole wonderful mystery and fascination of this great land.

However, the ordinary simple man selling you spices, the Bishnoi tribe with their total dedication to preserving wildlife, the local craftsmen and women and the naturalist who may help you to fulfil a dream and see tiger, all these too are the proud people of Rajasthan.

Now oil has been discovered in the North West and hopefully, this will add substantially to the revenues of this proud, historic but relatively poor part of India. As a traveller just remember, if you will, these lovely people live there, whereas in the West we have theme parks and Natural Trust living museums, the Rajasthanis in all their glory face the challenges of desert and drought continuously. May their monsoon this year have been a good one.

I have been fortunate to return to Rajasthan several times and I salute HH Maharana Arvind Singh Mewar and HH Maharaja Jodhpur for their careful custodianship of their great lands and heritage properties. Others have followed their good examples. I know when friends of mine visit Rajasthan they are enchanted and it is a must see exotic area of India.

Historic Resort Hotels (HRH) is India’s only chain of heritage palace-hotels and resorts under private ownership. Headquartered in Udaipur, a city founded in 1559 on the banks of Lake Pichola, HRH Group of Hotels is preserving palaces and sanctuary - resorts. The group offers regal experiences in island-palaces, museums, galleries, car collections, and much more.

Vice President - Sales & Marketing
HRH Group of Hotels
709 - 7th Floor, Hemkunt Tower, 98, Nehru Place
New Delhi - 110 019, India
Telephone: +91 11 40537019-23 M:+91 99581 88448
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Website: www.hrhhotels.com

Jodhana Heritage Resorts include Balsamand Lake Palace, Nagaur Fort, Sardar Samand Lake Palace, Connaught House, Maharani Bagh and Horse Safaris.

For reservations and further information, contact WH Bal Samand Lake Palace & Garden Retreat.

www.jodhanaheritage.com
www.welcomheritagehotels.in

Mandore Road
Jodhpur - 342 026
Rajasthan (India)
Tel : +91-291-2572321 to 26 & 2571991
Fax :+91-291-2571240
E-mail : reservations@jodhanaheritage.com

205-206, Pragati House,
47-48 Nehru Place, New Dehli 110019
Tel: +91 11 46074959
FAx: +91 11 46074942
Email: sales@jodhanaheritage.com