Vacation Diaries - As seen through the eyes of Malveena Jayewardena; a Sri Lankan wanderer in India...
Jaisalmer - Rajasthan
What comes to mind when you think of “India”? Doubtless, it is thoughts of poverty, corruption, overpopulation and disease that cloud your mind.
Be that as it may, India has really changed my attitude and perspective of life. It is much more than the second highly populated, or one of the poorest countries in the world. Through my eyes I have seen hell and heaven co-exist; and that is in this land where the rich have more money than they know what to do with, and where the poor die of hunger and cold.
It is truly amazing how one country can shelter so much diversity under one roof. If you have ever travelled across all the states of India, I am certain that you have realized that a piece of every corner of the world lives in this one country. Be it Europe, with its magnificent landscapes and snow-capped mountains, the Middle East with its never ending deserts or the beautiful islands of the world with its deep blue seas India has it all.
Having had the good fortune of travelling a bit around India myself, I discovered many such places of interest that have truly made me aware of the wonders this country holds. If you are ever planning on visiting India, be sure to pay a visit to Jaisalmer also known as the ‘Golden City’, an exotic, colorful and breathtaking city of Rajasthan, situated in the North of India.
The perfect place to watch the beautiful sun set in this Golden City is none other than “Sunset point”, overlooking the entire city; located near Bada Bagh or Big Garden which houses the Royal tombs, made of the famous golden stone of Jaisalmer. The eerie calmness of this place will definitely put your mind at ease as you watch the orange sun rays filtering through the magnificent golden tombs.
Next on the list is the Jaisalmer Fort, one of the largest in the world, situated in the heart of the city. As you climb the narrow stairways and pathways of this fort, you will be astounded by its splendor and colour among the honey gold background. Each wall is covered by beautifully handmade fabrics, clothes, exquisite ornaments, ethnic garments and bags covered by mirrors and handwoven thread, colourful jewellery and many other objects that will leave you mesmerized.
The fort consists of a Royal Palace, temples, 4 massive gateways and merchant Havelis, which are houses built by the wealthy merchants during ancient times. The exterior of these Havelis are ornately carved by sandstone and the interior is elaborately decorated with mirrors, glass, intricate gold patterns and paintings. The incredible architecture and interior designing of these Havelis built centuries ago, definitely puts the modern designers to shame!
The Thar Desert of Jaisalmer which is shared by both India and Pakistan is covered by large sand dunes, and is a must visit in Rajasthan. It is the ideal place for an overnight camel ride along the dessert which rolls on as far as your eye can see. The camels, which are a big part of the livelihoods of the localites, are beautifully decorated in colourful and striking costumes so as to attract the wandering eyes of the tourists. You will have the live experience of a magazine photograph as you watch the camels marching behind one another on the sand dunes, with the marvelous backdrop of a glowing red sun disappearing under the dessert.
An exciting camel ride followed by a bonfire under a blanket of stars, with great local performances of singing and dancing dressed in their traditional glamourous attire, is the perfect way to end the night in the Golden City of Rajasthan!
By Eshani Seneviratne
0 Comments