From Dal Bati Churma to mouth watering cafes, Rajasthan served one of the most finger licking dishes to satiate my hunger pangs and cravings. My trip commenced on 24th December and I took a direct flight from Chandigarh to Jaipur which cost me approximately Rs 8000 for the round trip which I thought was quite convenient and budget friendly. I had booked a package through Rajasthan Travels which turned out to be a very smooth and hastle free one. The entire package cost me Rs 30,000 on double sharing basis which included travel,stay with breakfast and a guide. I was provided with an Etios car throughout my journey covering Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. After landing in Jaipur, my first and foremost destination, I was made to stay at hotel Fort Chandragupt. I visited many famous tourist attractions such as Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, Nahargarh Fort, Amber Palace, The City Palace etc. Apart from sightseeing, Jaipur is a great shopping hub too. Not to miss, it has some amazing restaurants such as Sheesh Mahal that serve authentic Rajasthani food. After staying for 2 days in Jaipur my next destination was Udaipur. Popularly known as the city of lakes, Udaipur had its own charm with clean water bodies, boat rides and lake view cafes. I was made to stay at hotel Castle inn. It was a huge property with a rooftop cafe that served several mouth watering bakery items and desserts. I even got a chance to taste millets for the first time by having a sumptuous dinner at Millets of Mewar. I stayed here for 3 days. It was one of the most calm cities of Rajasthan because of its serene waters and peaceful surroundings. My next stop was at Jodhpur. I stayed at hotel Gandhi International which was a decent property with a variety of food items for breakfast. Though, I was not very keen at visiting this city but as I was looking forward to do camping at Jaisalmer so to make the journey a bit convenient I thought of having a halt at this city. I reached late in the afternoon so couldn't explore much of this city,but in the evening my cab driver took me to Mandore Garden. I was thrilled to see the architectural monuments with skillful carvings, built at every step of that place. It was a soul-stirring experience. Then,next day after exploring one of the most attractive forts i.e Mehrangarh Fort, I headed to Jaisalmer. It was supposed to be my last stop but this golden city took my heart away. On my way, all I could see was barren lands, but the moment I reached my camp by the name of Sunrise Desert Resort on the sand dunes,I was elated with joy and excitement. I have been to Dubai but the beauty of India's sand dunes, folk dances, cultural songs, bonfire wrapped up with a gala dinner enraptured my mind, body and soul. The next day, after having a hearty breakfast, I went for the camel ride which was another venturesome experience for me. My trip ended here and I boarded the flight back to Chandigarh from Jaipur. It was indeed one of the best cultural experiences I have ever had as the Rajasthani people formed strong imprints in my heart. I would recommend this trip to people of all age groups to atleast once have a taste of the varied flavours of Rajasthan.
