Do you know that two silver jugs, huge in size, once travelled to London with the Jaipur King?
Surprised? But yes, it is true.
In fact, these huge sterling silver vessels can be seen placed in City Palace in Jaipur even today.
As per the records, the huge silver vessels were constructed under the reign of Maharaja Madho Singh II for his scheduled visit to London in the year 1902 for attending Edward VII’s coronation.
The vessels were made under the directions of Madho Singh II who was a poised and devout Hindu ruler and he did not consider European water suitable for his drinking.
With his travel plans scheduled, he knew that he shall require Ganges water to perform his religious ceremonies in the foreign nation.
Hence, he ordered making of these huge silver vessels.
The scintillating jugs which travelled to London with Jaipur king
With a capacity to store 4000 litre of water, these silver water vessels were made weighing 345 kg.
The beautiful silver vessels were then filled with water from the holy Ganges river. A total of 8000 litre of water was filled in them which was sufficient for Madho Singh II’s visit to England.
As these vessels stored Gangajal, they are referred to as Gangajalis which mean Ganges water vessels.
The pair of these pristine expensive silver vessels still gives a visual treat to your eyes in the centre of the Maharaja’s City Palace in the Diwan-i-Khas, which is called as the private audience hall.
Even today, they stand at 1.6 metres stretch and are recognised as the largest single object constructed from silver by the Guinness Book of World Records.
Each of the silver water vessels weighs 345 kg and stand at 1.6 metres. They are certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest single object constructed from silver.
These vessels were completed in over two years time period between 1894 and 1896and the credit to design and make them goes to two Jaipur silversmiths who were engaged in the task of making the pristine piece.These vessels were shaped using a total of 14,000 silver coins and the the USP of these vessels is that it avoided the use of soldering sections together. Eventually, theyare considered as a solid single piece of silver.
May be, now, you are keen too to look into these vessels. So here is an apt time; plan an itinerary to Jaipur and see one of the most beautiful jugs being showcased here.
Are you aware of the fact that there is a beautiful city located in Rajasthan which is called as the Venice of the East.
This serene city accommodates pristine lakes, clear skies and lovely surroundings which are sure to lure you with its rich beauty
The grand lakes stretching in its lap and the beautiful plush palaces adding more to its glamour quotient makes it justified to call it as Venice of The East.
Rajasthan lakes speaking the stories of water conservation followed in past (credit Rajasthan Tourism)
Let’s discuss its beautiful lakes which all tourists visit once before leaving the town:
Fateh Sagar Lake:The 2.5 kilometre long pear shaped Fateh Sagar Lake is the 17th century water body which was built by erstwhile ruler Maharana Jai Singh, however, was later remodelled by Maharaja Fateh Singh.
With 3 islands in its vicivity, the lake attracts thousands of tourists to this place. The best season to visit thisplace is from October and March.
Pichola Lake: The artificial freshwater lake was built in 14th century and has been a hit of Bollywood and Hollywood shoots. The lake is picturesque, serene and beautiful and accommodates three islands called as Jag Mandir, Mohan Mandir and Arsi Vilas.
Jag Mandir has a palace with the same name and as per history, Shah Jahan stayed here for some time after a tiff with his father Jahangir. The daily views of Lake Palace inspired him the design of Taj Mahal which was built many years later of his stay here. The other structure Mohan Mandir looks like a temple but is uncompleted structure while Arsi Vilas houses a palace on it. A boat ride on Lake Pichola gives a mesmerising view of the surroundings.
Udaisagar Lake: This 16th century lake was built by Maharana Udai Singh to meet water crisis in his terrirtory. Many battles and wars were fought along the side of this lake and hence it has a strong historical significance. The Maharana ie built a huge dam from marble as a means of irrigation during drought days, says people around.
Are you aware of the fact that Pushkar, which is one of the most ancient cities of India located in Rajasthan’s Ajmer district in midst of Aravali range, is often called tritha-raj, which means the king of pilgrim sites.
Your must be surprised to hear the fact but it is true that Pushkar has many interesting stories within its fold. Let’s discuss its five connections to the puranik stories and see how this place is emerging as one of the popular tourist destination in India.
Pushkar: Blue lotus flower
In Sanskrit, Pushkar means blue lotus flower. Brahma found Pushkar to be an ideal for his Mahayagna. Soon he found out about Vajranash, a demon, who was killing people of the town. Brahma killed the demon by chanting a mantra on a lotus flower. Few parts of the lotus fell on three sites in Pushkar and these places were later called Jyaistha, Madhya and Kanishtha Pushkar. To protect Pushkar from demons, a yagna was performed by Brahma.
Pushkar Lake
The Pushkar Lake is one of the most popular tourist attractions. The lake was created when Brahma dropped his lotus at this site. The sacred Pushkar Lake is
believed to be holy place for Hindus. The water of this lake is believed to wash away the sins. The lake’s water is believed to have curative and medicinal properties. More than 500 temples are present around the lake. The lake has 52 Ghats, which are stone steps to descend to the edge of the lake. The lake is also a heritage monument.
Brahma Temple
The Brahma temple is also called the Jagatpita Brahma Mandir. This famous Hindu pilgrim site is built of mainly stone slab and marble. The main idols of the temple are of Brahma and his consort Gayatri. There are more than 500 temples in Pushkar and among them the most popular and significant is the Brahma temple. Many of the old temples, including the Brahma temple, were demolished during the reign of Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor. These temples were later rebuilt. Although the original Brahma temple is said to be 2000 years old, the present structure dates back to the 14th century.
Pushkar Camel Fair
Pushkar camel fair is most important and famous event in Pushkar. The fair is held from kartik ekadashi to kartik poornima in the Hindu calendar for five days. It falls between the month of October and November.
According to legends, god Brahma appeared at the Pushkar Lake on the poornima. Many visitors and local swims across the lake as it is considered auspicious. This fair is culture retreat and a carnival with many artists from across the world.
Savitri Temple
Located on top of a hill called Ratnagiri, Savitri temple is dedicated to Brahma’s wife Savitri. You can trek up the hill to catch the beautiful view of the Pushkar Lake. The temple is situated at an elevation of about 750ft and a flight of 650 steps take you to take Savitri temple, which is second most significant temple in the town. Goddess Savitri is the middle flanked by goddess Sharda on the right side and goddess Saraswati on the left.
This is the tale of love, as old as time which blossomed in the desert of Rajasthan many years back, accommodating all pristine elements of a a true love story-pain, sacrifice, passion, sea of emotions, saga and at last, a smooth unison.
“Love is a single soul inhabiting two bodies” – Aristotle.
It’s a story of a Prince named Dhola who belonged to Narwar kingdom and a princess named Maru who was from Poogal (Bikaner).
King Nal of Narwar married his 3 year old son to Pawar King Pingal’s 1 year old daughter, but mutually they agreed to send the bride to Narwar when both grow up to adulthood. Unknown to the concept of marriage, these children were destined to be together for life. And this desert region of Rajputana was about to script a love story blossoming, which was to be seen as a milestone of true love with its tales being sung for centuries.
As seasons went by, months became years and the young royal bride and groom attained adulthood, the prince turned out to be a brave and handsome youth. Also, the stories of charming beauty and virtue of the princess reached far off lands. But they both had to stand the test of time. Prince Dhola forgot about his childhood bride Princess Maru and got him married to another princess named Malwani. Maru and her family were heartbroken by this new alliance but Maru didn’t give up hope and decided to make her dear Dhola remember her once again.
A pictorial description
For the love of their daughter the good king and queen of Poogal sent many messengers to Narwar to meet Prince Dhola. But his second wife was a jealous lady and she killed every messenger before he was able to meet Dhola. Malwani feared if Dhola remembered Maru again, he would leave her and go back to Maru as she was more beautiful.
Dark clouds had overshadowed their love but the royals of Poogal didn’t lose hope. This time, King Pingal summoned a group of singers to go to the Narwar court and remind Dhola about this first marriage to princess Maru by their songs. Singers described the beauty of Maru that she has a golden face with a glimmering sheen. The plan worked and Dhola set out to meet his princess and bring her back with him to his kingdom. But things did not stop here as then a tragedy struck on their way back. Maru got bitten by a snake and she died and Dhola was about to give up his life too. It is said that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati came and brought the princess back to life. Another huddle was a royal named Umar-Sumra who wanted the princess for himself. He too met them on their way but they tricked them cleverly. All’s well that ends well! The royal couple rode on their royal decorated camel in the sunset and entered Narwar kingdom, where they were welcomed with the city in celebration. Maru became a wonderful queen loved by her people and the Love Saga of Dhola Maru became a wonderful episode in the history of Rajputana. Many folk songs and paintings are inspired by this heartwarming story.
Do you know that India houses the second largest wall of the world in Kumbhalgarh Fort which is situated in Rajasthan’s Udaipur district?
This wall stands next to the “The Great Wall of China’ and spreading its length to 36 kilometres, it is called as “The Great Wall of India”.
Situated at a stretch of 80 km from Udaipur, this wall stands as a wonder on this planet.
Meanwhile, Kumbhalgarh Fort has yet another credential to its profile as it is also called as the second largest fort in Rajasthan after Chittorgarh Fort.
Kumbhalgarh Fort is also the birthplace of Mewar king Maharana Pratap who is known all across for his bravery and velour..
The Fort has been included as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2013.
It was built in the 15th century by Rana Kumbha which is known in the world for its mesmerizing architectural brilliance. The beauty of the fort is that it houses around 360 temples, many palaces, markets, as well as orchards.
Visiting Kumbhalgarh during monsoons is like hosting a visual treat for eyes. A bike ride from Udaipur is a surreal experience with a thin lane surrounded with beautiful hillocks around. The scenic surroundings are sure to enchant you to make a visit to this place yet again.
The fort is cradled in the Aravalli Range, it has been perched perfectly between eleven hills of the Aravalli ranges. The strategic position of the fort is probably one reason why it remained impregnable fort of the state. The fort has a significant place in Indian history as it was never conquered in any battle.
The other nearby places to visit this Fort is Haldi Ghati and Jain temples of Ranakpur.
Kota Doria! Have you ever heard this name? Do you know the story behind its origin? Are you aware of how it came to Rajasthan after shifting its base from Mysore? Yes, it seems most of these facts are unknown to most of the people despite the fact that many of them must have grown up seeing their mother draping these beautiful square and checkered pattern sarees. In fact, you must have also opted to buy this stuff as the material of Kota Doria is quite light and comfortable to wear and it also gives a rich and ethic feel in its look.
But are you all aware how this unique weaving technique reached Kota?
There is an interesting tale behind the Kota Doria weaving technique reaching Rajasthan and am confident not all must be aware of its interesting tale.
Kota Doria weaving technique came from Mysore to Kota.
Flipping through the history pages, it comes to fore that the Mughal general brought these weavers to Kota from Mysore who later on settled in this city to give it a new identity. Kota Doria originated in Mysore where weavers practising this craft were called as ‘Masurias’. During Shahjahan’s rule, between 17th and 18th century, these weavers were brought to Kota by Rao Kishore Singh, a general in the Mughal Army. The two states’ union invested the ‘Kota-Masuria’ sarees, which became extremely popular and paved the way for the Kota Doria cloth, which went on to become one of the most fashionable fabrics in India.
A very different aspect to this design includes applying onion juice and rice paste mixture during weaving which makes the final product quite durable.
The erstwhile royals of the estates in Rajasthan favored this fabric for its effortless grace and style. Eventually, over the next few years, the fashionistas started picking up with texture for their designer dresses and Kota Doria became the fabric of female’s choice!
Wanna learn the tips which can train your subconscious mind for attaining success? Try implementing the following mantras as given by Meeta Mathur who is an entrepreneur- exporter since last 13 years. Besides assisting her buyers to procure seamlessly best products from India and South Asia, she is also a highly motivated corporate trainer, leveraging educational theories and methodologies to design, develop and deliver successful training programmes and activities.
According to her, a successful person is someone who does something right in each transaction.
Meeta says, “One of the biggest habits of successful men and women is always stretching themselves or pushing themselves out of their comfort zones. They are very aware how quickly the comfort zone, in any area, becomes a rut. They know that complacency is the great enemy of creativity and future possibilities.” She believes that training your subconscious mind is important for success as “Your subconscious mind can influence you or affect your behaviour even though you are not aware of it. All your habits of thinking and acting are stored in your subconscious mind. It has memorized all your comfort zones and it works to keep you in them. Your subconscious mind causes you to feel emotionally and physically uncomfortable whenever you attempt to do anything new or different.” So if you are thinking how can you train your sub-conscious mind, here comes her answers… 1. Be willing to see the change The first step in creating massive change in your life is not actually believing that it’s possible but to be willing to see if it is possible
2. Give yourself permission to be successful. Instead of regurgitating the same old narrative of believing you’ll be happy once you lose 10 kgs, start repeating that “I allow my life to be good.”
3. Don’t allow other people’s fears to cast shadows of doubt. The way people respond to news of your success will tell you how they are really doing in their lives. So don’t allow their fears to cash shadows of doubt on you.
4. Surround yourself with positive reinforcement. Change your morning alarm on your phone to read the message: “CONGRATULATIONS!!!” Make sure that the items that you see and touch most often bring you positivity and hopefulness. Keep an inspirational note on a post-it next to your computer.
5. Speak your success as a present fact, not a future plan. Instead of saying: “I hope to do that one day,” say, “I am strategizing how to do that now.” Instead of thinking: “I will be happy when I am in a different place in my life,” think, “I am completely capable of being happy right here and right now, nothing is holding me back.”
6. Create a vision space. Being able to imagine what it is you want out of your life is absolutely essential for creating it, because if you don’t know where you’re going, you won’t know which way to turn first. Once you have a crystal clear image in your mind for what it is you want and how it is you want to live, you are then capable of beginning to enact and create it. If you are still hazy or torn between what you want, you will be rendered incapable of taking real, meaningful action toward anything.
7. Identify your resistance. When your subconscious minds hold you back from pursuing something that you love, it is because you are holding a conflicting belief about it. To identify your resistance, question yourself. Ask yourself why you feel better when you procrastinate, or why getting what you really want could actually put you in a place that makes you feel more vulnerable than ever. Find a way to meet those needs before you proceed.
8. Have a master plan for your life. Set goals in every sphere of your life – Academic, professional, physical, relationships ……… Identify your core values and motivations. Ask yourself what is the ultimate goal of what you want to accomplish while you are alive; imagine the kind of legacy you want to leave. Once you have your Big Picture values identified, you can make decisions for the long-term that align with your true self.
9. Start asking for what you want, even if you know you’ll be denied. If someone asks you to do a consulting project, ask for the amount of money you truly want to earn for it. If your goal is to get a promotion in your organization, sit down with your higher up and make your intentions known. Reach out to brands you want to work with. Start asking for what you want, even if you have no reason to believe that anyone will actually give you any of those things. Eventually, they will. 10. Release your attachment to the “how.” Be open to potential and possibility, even if it’s something you never imagined before.
11. Surround yourself with allies. Start spending time with people who are ambitious, supportive and creative. If you’re hanging out every weekend with people who are likewise as unhappy with their lives, you aren’t going to receive an abundance of support if you try to break free and do your own thing.
12. Fill your “dead air” time with affirmation and motivation. When you’re on your commute each morning, listen to a motivational speech or podcast. While you’re doing the dishes or driving, tune into a talk show that relates to the type of business you’re trying to do. Infuse your life with as much affirmation and motivation as possible. You may need to hear the lessons more than once, but they will seep into your brain over time, and eventually, you will find yourself acting on wisdom received from those who are where you want to be.
A desert with clay and sand! Doesn’t it sound appealing? I know most of you must be visualising the beauty of the place listening to the narration and must be wandering where this place is located on planet earth.
So let me tell you that this kind of desert with clay and sand is found. Bespeaking the handmade story of art, craft and sustainability, this place is called as Hodka village coming in Kutchh district of Gujarat, situated 65 km from Bhuj This beautiful place boasts of a being a mix destination of both, the desert of clay and sand, which makes it different, distinguished and unique. The village has a diverse eco-system, with the wetlands providing home to over 100 species of birds during the winter months. The Hodka community operates a rural resort here called Shaam-e-Sarhad.
Designed in local style, and exquisitely decorated with mirror work, textiles and other local crafts, the Shaam-e-Sarhad Village Resort is the perfect gateway to a genuine travel experience in India.
The area surrounding the village is full of natural beauty and it’s an ideal location to discover the captivating lands of Kutch. You can enjoy star-gazing, guided walks, bird watching excursions, camel safaris, embroidery, workshops and traditional dining here! The different appealing sites in its vicinity are as following:
Hodka Artists Village: This place gives an opportunity to explore the typical village houses, meet different artisan families and admire the finest embroidery styles and leather crafts. The well-decorated and painted traditional houses are fascinating and helps in learning more about the village life and its customs. Even the fine embroideries such as Pakko, Neran, Kambhiro, Applique work, etc are worth admiring. The works could be purchased directly from artisans here. This place also houses a Virda or well here which sheds light on the ancient process of water harvesting in the Banni dry-lands, which are a flat and dry extension of land similar to Rann of Kutch.
Have you been dreaming to tie the nuptial knot like a royal; Do you want to have a fairy-tale wedding in palatial palace, around majestic forts, surrounded by lakes?
Well, if your answer is yes for all these questions, then Udaipur has everything you are looking for.Over the years, this place has emerged as one amongst the best wedding destinations with serene surroundings. The lovely lakes and pretty palaces existing through the city’s expanse is admired by Indians and foreigners alike and therefore they throng in big numbers to this pristine city to tie the knotty knots.
Udaipur is considered one amongst the best wedding destinations in the world as it boasts of the best majestic palace buildings. These palaces offer Udaipur a sort of charisma that only few cities can rival. The weddings in Udaipur can be defined more like an extraordinary fairy-tale. Offering one of the finest settings for a marriage ceremony, there are some beautiful palaces which have emerged as world-famous wedding destination.
These palatial palaces can make the best wedding venues. They boast of the ambiance and the aesthetic beauty which is one of its kind and unmatched easily making it one of the most popular destinations of wedding for Indians as well as foreigners.
This city also offers a choice of very beautiful historical Haveli-converted Hotels which could be used for stay as well as the Wedding festivities. There are several specialty and theme restaurants which are available to host the private parties.
Now, when the wedding bells shall be ringing soon all around, don’t you think exchanging wedding vows in these heavenly places can take you on moon by giving lifelong memories? So check out Udaipur palaces and see if this destination appeals you the most to get hitched so that you can get set go for the D-Day!
Do you you the Manganiyars community in Western Rajasthan comprise Muslim court musicians whose music is mesmerising, complex, engaging and secular which appeals, lures and touches soul of the listeners with its in-depth rhythms.
Flowing smooth, their music bypasses all sets of laws to become a legacy in its own domain.
These manganiyars once had their royal patrons which seem to have lost their presence now from the erstwhile pages of history. However, the music of this community has become eternal, spreading its melodies across the globe, transcending all borders.
The history chapters reveal that the Manganiyars used to perform in houses of their patrons in different functions such as marriages, death and birth ceremonies. In return of their performances, they used to ask for alms in return. Many of them still continue this tradition. This community is divided into two parts, one whose patrons are Hindus and the other who have Muslim patrons. While the Hindu patrons belonged to Bhati and Rathore clans of Rajputs, the Muslim patrons were Sindhi Muslims.
The Manganiyar community reflects the perfect communal bonhomie for generations. Although they are Sunni Muslims by birth, their lifestyle and dressing fashion reflect the very Hindu or the Ganga-Jamuna culture. You can find many Shankar Khans and Krishna Khans in this village.
Their last many generations have been linked to both Muslim and Hindu families for their livelihood and have been following the tradition of singing and composing music for their jajmaans (patrons).
Their specialty comprises describing about their jajmaans’ illustrious history which remains full of honour and pride. They also hold expertise in describing about jajmaan’s Genealogy with the support of other artists and this art is known as ‘Shubhraj’.
Such is the ability of these artists that they recite all the names of the last few generations of the jajmaans within the space of a single breath. It’s not just names but also the description of their achievements which they can narrate in seconds. And it was in exchange of the expertise that they were rewarded handsomely in the form of grain, wheat, goat, camel, sheep, horse or cash.
