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Is Jodhpur worth visiting? Enjoy with Flying Fox adventure, Polo Grounds, a heritage canopy room and more

Is Jodhpur worth visiting? A part of me has always been a dreamer, a seeker, and a wanderer. Perhaps the way I grew up has something to do with this. Bright, blue sky, skin colored sand that you could melt into and blue waters that sparkled when you splashed it on your skin....ah, the magic of growing up in a place like Blantyre! It felt joyful when we chose to welcome the New Year by traveling to a new place together for the first time! I can't describe the delicious feeling of excitement that I felt when we reached Jodhpur. 


The real fun began when we went sightseeing! The spicy food (not to my son's liking - he doesn't like to eat anything with onions - which puts us in quite a difficult situation with most Indian dishes), the warmth and hospitality, the grand palaces, forts and there is so much I want to share with you about the moments I enjoyed, the people I made friends with and the experiences I had. 

More of that later, I promise. And for my son, the most unforgettable aspect of the trip was undertaking Flying Fox adventure with his dad. I didn't get to be part of it and I am certain that if I had seen it, their adventure may have ended immediately. There's no way I would have sat through it without going nuts. I am as adventurous as it gets with books, but not with Flying Fox.


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What should I buy from Jodhpur?
Wondering what to buy from a place as beautiful and vibrant as Jodhpur? Like most of you, I too love to travel, see new places, eat things that are unique to the place and love to shop for dress materials and accessories that you can find only in places with dusty streets and sleepy, old villages. Of course, I found lovely stuff from quaint places in Jodhpur to bring back home. Nothing too expensive though - the perks of traveling into the interiors of a bustling Indian city, I must add. 

If we visit the malls, we end up with almost the same kind of materials and a troubled feeling of having been ripped in terms of the price tags!

Usually,  I am cooped up in front of the TV every New Year, waiting for the clock to tick the magical 12 ''oh'' clock and then I rush to the puja room where I do a quick round of prayers to usher in the New Year. But this year rang in differently.

2018 is a new, sparkling story - of course, it has to be - it is the New Year! What added to the fun is that I did some fun things too. I stayed in a heritage hotel that had lovely, painted mud-walls, a beautiful view that overlooked a green patch of garden from the terrace of my room, but what got me really excited was that the room had no roof!  It had the most beautiful ''desi'' style material covering it, which meant that when you looked up at the ''roof'', you are greeted with ethnic motifs set against a white fabric. [DO READ: Winter Lessons I have learned in 2017]




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As if this wasn't enough, going on a horse carriage for the first time made me giggle like a child because the last time was when my parents and I visited Pazhani and there were no autos available so we had no choice but to opt for the bullock cart instead and I felt royally funny about it.  

Is Jodhpur safe at night?
With a place as tourist-friendly as Jodhpur, I have no doubts that it is a safe place for women at night as well. However, as I travelled with my family throughout the vacation, we did not spend much time outdoors beyond 9 PM so that we could get back to our hotel in time for our dinner buffet, which was a part of our package deal.

Did I forget to mention that I visited Jodhpur's famous Polo Grounds? The first thing that popped into my mind was Nan Umrigar's book, but I put the thought aside as I  watched two of the world's best polo players battle it out at the game! The crackling excitement in the atmosphere made me feel fully alive and I found myself clapping for the players, like an excited child! 

Life is just perfect the way it is - quite ordinary, peppered with sweet moments. We all need to remind ourselves that as we start the New Year.

[Do read: A Dad's Advice to the Daughter He Loves]

Now it's your turn - how do you welcome the New Year?

Comments

Anonymous said…
Our journey from Jaipur to Jodhpur was smooth and hassle-free, leaving us to concentrate on taking in Jodhpur's breathtaking scenery. It was an amazing experience, full of vibrant hues, delectable food, and friendly locals. Jaipur to Jodhpur cab services

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