This time I decided to move towards west - State Rajesthan Distt. Jaipur. I found myself lucky to be a part of this trip which was accompanied by my ex colleagues cum friends of RBS, Gurgaon branch (Binny, Anshu and Juhi). December month was on, Qtr 3rd closing and i was busy with my Month end Marketing and Advertising reports as usual. Binny called up and asked for an outing plan on awaited weekend ahead i.e. 25th Dec & 26th Dec for Jaipur. Being a travel geek I didn't give a second thought. After coordinating with other friends we made a blue print of our plan and booked tickets in Sleeper Coach through web site Redbus.in - Redbus.in A Online space from where one can easily book all kind of bus tickets for any destination across INDIA. We planned our journey on 24th Dec by bus from "Ghantaghar" Old Delhi at 10:30 PM from where all buses leave to their respective destinations. I packed my bag on 23rd night and decided to leave my office (Jaypee Group, Chandigarh) after second half on 24th dec 2010 after attending office as I was supposed to reach Delhi by 10:30 PM.
24th Dec 2010, 3PM, Place : Jaypee Office Chandigarh :- I was ready to leave but while leaving my boss assigned me a task leaving me in trouble, but some how i managed to finish it with in 1/2 hrs and left after submitting the same. It was 4 PM when I left office for Chandigarh Bus Stand in order to catch bus for Delhi .
24th Dec 2010, 3PM, Place : Jaypee Office Chandigarh :- I was ready to leave but while leaving my boss assigned me a task leaving me in trouble, but some how i managed to finish it with in 1/2 hrs and left after submitting the same. It was 4 PM when I left office for Chandigarh Bus Stand in order to catch bus for Delhi .
As it was weekend all buses were fully loaded, somehow i approached one conductor of a bus at Chandigarh - Delhi route bus counter and requested him to adjust me somewhere. One couple was also standing after me in hope to get space in that bus only, but space constraint for 1 person was there :)) where I got priority and found myself lucky. Conductor asked me to sit on bonut besides driver, where i adjusted my self with bag sacked on my back and got lil relief. After a 20 min drive from Chandigarh towards Ambala I could easily saw the increasing density of fog forcing driver to slow down Bus. A continuous thought was hitting in ma mind weather I would be able to reach Delhi in time or not to catch Bus at 10 :30 PM I called my friends to update them about my status of travelling. I was wondering to cancel our tour if couldn't manage to reach Delhi in time. 2 hrs passed and it was around 6:30 when bus stopped at Pipli Bus stand for tea break of 15 min taking tension to a new height leaving me in wait and watch situation, bus re started at 6:50 but this time driver speed up the bus and entered delhi border "karnal bypass" by 9:15 PM. It take hardly 1/2 hr from karnal bypass to ISBT new delhi by road. I decided to meet up my MBA batch mate cum friend Bharatender Kotnala at ISBT to spend some gud time together as we didnt met each other for a long time after our campus placements. Bus reached finally at ISBT around 9:45 PM. Bharatender also managed to reach there within 20 min drive from Rajeev chowk by Delhi metro rail.
Mc Donald/DOminoz is the one of the best place to spend time at ISBT. with cozy environment. After conversation of 20 min I left from there at 10:05 in Auto rickshaw to Ghantaghar from where I was supposed to take my Volvo. There driver after verification of my ticket allowed me to enter/took seat in bus............ofvoooooooo Now i am feeling quite relaxed as journey is about to begin in next few minutes. I called up all (binny, anshu and juhi) to get themselves ready to be picked up from between on a way to exit from Delhi. There all were supposed to board bus from R.K. Ashram. Bus started from Ghantaghar at defined time and reached R.K. ashram at 11:00 PM after picking all passengers from different boarding points. Now the bus was fully packed and driver had also tighten his seat belt. We all were lacking of calories due to prolonged hrs of empty stomach, therefore we decided to take dinner together, which was brought by fiends. Though it was not hot/served fresh still it was very delectable due to which i couldn't resist my self from eating belly full diet. Thereafter we all went to sleep and day ended bit tiring but with a jist to enjoy outta there in Jaipur.
25th Dec 4 am : coolie coolie coolie :- this voice hit my ears when i got to know that finally I am in Jaipur. I told other Binny, Juhi and anshu to wake up. It was 4:15 am in mng but still every thing was live dying to welcome the great day ahead. We all had hot tea wid fans celebrating d first cup/meal of Jaipur. All of us were very exited with lot of great things to explore . Juhi called our cab driver as per our blue print of tour, who took us to our hotel " Indiana Pride" where we relaxed and decided to took rest for next 3-4 hrs. From there we started at 10:30 in morning after taking buffet breakfast which was arranged very nicely by the hotel management in their dining area. Hotel Indiana pride is a good hotel where one can have budget rooms with in a price tag of Rs. 5000/- for double occupancy with complimentary breakfast. While leaving I collected tourist brosture from hotel reception which was going to help us in exploring new places. We all decided to start our city tour by visiting Birla mandir.:- Birla laxmi narayan mandir with huge complex made up in a contemporary style which depicts great hindu mythological facets. The enormous temple was built during the year 1988, by Birla Group of Industries, one of the business tycoons of India. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu (Narayan), the preserver and his consort Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. Due to this reason, Birla Temple is also known as Laxmi Narayan Temple. After seeing this sacred temple we proceeded towards Jaigarh fort situated
at a drive of 15kms from Jaipur city and located on the top of hills, also known as "Cheel ka quilaa " Hill of eagles. This was designed to have a security check on Jaipur city and Amber. We all enjoyed a lot. One can also see the largest canon of world which is the most attractive spot in Jaigarh fort.. This fort has many structured of medieval India which are worth exploring.One guide explained how solders use to keep a security check on Jaipur city through small holes of fort walls. Each corner of this fort speaks about Its past, It has got mastery over architecture of past times.We clicked few snaps to capture our memories there. One hardly get to see such historical architecture in day to day life, that's why we tried to capture each and every corner of fort for our memories. The fort was so big in geographical area that we had to take rest :) but Bins dint stop and continued with capturing things. It was about 1:30 PM and day was getting harder to survive due to bright sun, therefore we decided to leave with desire to have lunch in the Jaipur city. Once we came outside fort we saw some people who were in Rajasthani outfits playing Sarangi musical instrument.
Though it was duplicate but still it was so nicely carved which was giving a very pleasant sound. We also tried our hands on it but couldn't played even basics. Thereafter we left from there after taking sweet memories of Big red forts with traditional values. While driving through city we saw Jal mehal, another place for tourist attraction. Built to be a pleasure palace for the royal family in 1799, Jal Mahal Palace (translated as Water Palace) of Jaipur is an extremely romantic place with its red sandstone intricate architecture casting beautiful reflections in the calm waters of the Man Sagar Lake, full of hyacinths. Surrounded by Nahargarh Hills, Jal Mahal is known for its majestic architecture and sophisticated design. It was once used for the royal duck shooting parties. It has also been home to one of the prime ministers of Jaipur estate. Local vendors has also made these place a good food joint with variety of options like fruit salad, coconut water, gol gappa, dahi papri chat etc to eat for. I was feeling too great with an eye popping view of Jal mahal in front on me along with taste of gol gappas and a cool breeze all around. Then we proceed towards our hotel "The Indian Pride" as we all became tired. Indiana Pride is a good family place to live and dine with cozy environment. On our back arrival to hotel we were served with hot sumptuous. food with different continental cuisines after having which we decided to rest till evening to prepare our self for next unpacked surprise waiting ahead. Next destination : CHOWKI DHANI, JAIPUR...Location :20 kms from Jaipur railway station and 20 Kms from Jaipur Bust terminal. Ideal time there Winters : 6PM - Summers : 7 PM Chowki Dhani is a simulation of ethnic village in Gujrat offering you great hang out zones and traditional food of Rajasthan. In Chokhi Dhani village you can enjoy the folk music and dance performances every evening. The preview of real Rajasthan can be seen in the enthralling performances. The other attractions include the puppet show, the magic show and acrobatics on a bamboo. The live show of nagkanya is also famous here.We also tried our foot with Rajasthani dancers which eventual lead us out of crowd as we were not good at all in dancing.
But still we enjoyed to the extend. After feeling tired I opted for head and body message available in the cheapest rates ever of Rs. 30 and Rs. 50 only. We entered at 7 PM and become tired by 9:30 exploring all what we could in this time spam and proceeded towards the much awaited traditional Rajasthani dinner. After crossing the long ques finally we got chance to enter the live kitchen area where food was being cooked on hot flames giving a sweet and delectable fumes of desi ghee stretching the patience level of all hungry tourist out there. Sometimes it becomes difficult to handle plate even, full of all cuisines being served by tenders but still nobody gives a second thought to eat all as it looks so good specially prepared/served hot specially when you traveled from far to have a vibe of this rajasthani culture. Unfortunatly none of us except Anshu could finish all diet as it became too heavy. But Anshu due to her principle of "not leaving before finishing" had to eat all stuff what we were served with. At last we had to carry away Anshu to the Hotel to take rest as she was not fit to travel more :D :D. Night became dark and day ended well with memories of Chowki Dhani and tasty Rajasthani food. Day Second : 26 Dec 2010: What a wonderful day, Cool breeze outside with slight fog ..All up early in the morning near 7 AM full of energy ready to explore more in THE PINK CITY- JAIPUR. Every thing was so well planned making us feel like a part of reality show, we all received wake up call in our room and a call for breakfast too. I told all to get themselves ready and meet up in dinning hall by 9:00 AM. When I entered the dinning area I was like W O W buffet breakfast with hot pranthas, eggs, sandwich, toast served with a warmth by tenders present over there giving us a special feel. From there after having morning diet we proceeded towards city local markets of Jaipur and other historical places. Our taxi driver directly took us to Jantar Mantar. JANTAR MANTAR at Jaipur is the largest stone observatory in the World and this feature makes it,a special destination for a traveler. Jantar Mantar of Jaipur is one of the five astronomical observatories built by