Tired by the jam packed daily ‘time tables’ and our almost robotic reactions to each task, we decided it was time to stop and getaway. We all just needed to breathe. Breathe the innumerable scents of the earth and bask in the tranquility of the scents and the sounds. We took our pick and headed by road from Delhi to Auwa after making prior reservations at the magnificent Fort Auwa, re-done and refurbished by V Resorts. Fort Auwa is a proud testament that heralds a history that is over 1000 years old. It is accessible by air and is only 120 kms from the Jodhpur airport and by train it is 11 kms away from the Marwar Railway junction. The village and the Fort belonged to the Champawat clan, who were the royals of the Jodhpur kingdom. Some family members still reside in the Fort. Countless battles took place when in the 1857 Indian Sepoy Mutiny the Fort was captured by the British Army for six months.
We remained awe-struck as we ran our fingers gently over the walls of the Fort ‘seeing’ with them the struggle and sacrifice and the bullet marks. There is even a quaint yet beautiful temple within the premises of the Fort that ritually performs an evening arti. However, culture and heritage are not the only silent scents of Auwa that weave their way through the environs. It is a land of many stunning vistas – the mighty Aravalis form a protective backdrop to the lush green landscapes, the water bodies and the ochre coloured shifting sand dunes. They seem to stand guard to the innocence of the village folk who seem genuinely happy to see and greet visitors. The emotions we felt on experiencing this unfazed and unruffled region cannot really be put in words.
On reaching the resort we were greeted by friendly and smiling staff and they showed us to our comfortable rooms right away – but not before we had a tasty and refreshing welcome drink. We unpacked and temptation got the better of us and we dived into the pillowy beds squealing in delight. When we were done with that, we were amazed to see the attention to detail in each room – steeped in the culture yet replete with modern facilities like tea, coffee and maggi makers, phone and laptop charging points, wi-fi. Oh by the way – the ‘we’ means two adults, one teenager and our pet pug. Yes – V Resorts welcomes small pets as well!
After resting we decided to tour the Fort. The premises has lush velvety green lawns, a common dining area and an activity room that houses many fun indoor activities like karaoke, board games and also a library. I was tempted to get further pampered and got myself a soothing dry massage under the warm smiling sun - in a private area of course. Feeling rejuvenated and happy, we went out to the waiting jeep that would be our ride for the tour of the village and relics museum. The cool wind made strange sounds as it brushed against our face and our hair seemed to dance too – the open jeep ride was real fun! We reached the village and were greeted by the knowledgeable smiles of the villagers – knowledge of the fact that we were a set of city dwellers come to share a few moments with them. Hot cups of tea were instantly served along with a tasty home-cooked ‘mirchibada’. Hmm scrumptious and with the scent of hospitality! We chatted animatedly with the village elders and listened in rapt attention to the folk tales that recounted the bygone era of sacrifice and bravery. We also excitedly indulged in learning pottery from the village folk and even managed to fashion some not so shapely vessels! Funny but really addictive!
- Chandini Ann