A message to all my readers When I first began writing down my stories in this quiet space, it was nothing more than an open diary. A place to put memories that needed somewhere to rest, reflections gathered over a lifetime, and thoughts that felt too personal—or perhaps simply too ordinary—to share in conversation. Conventional wisdom often suggests that personal musings rarely accomplish much on the wider internet. There are no frameworks here, no quick advice, and no polished agendas. Just the raw textures of life as I have experienced it: the sudden turns, the quiet routines, the moments of doubt, and the steady work of beginning again. Recently, as a small corner quietly crossed 30,000 reads, I paused to look more closely at the numbers. What moved me was not just the milestone itself, but where those visits were coming from. While some readers join from home here in India, so many of you are reading from entirely different corners of the earth—from Singapore across the seas ...
CASTLE BIJAIPUR
A HERITAGE RESORT
We all know stories from Chittorgarh in Rajasthan; it is famous for its fort, its ruler Prithviraj Chauhan, and his valour. What we do not know is about its lesser-known “havelis”. Modern-day restorations and the service industry have transformed them into heritage resorts. Castle Bijaipur is one such place in the backdrop of mountains.
Ever been to a heritage resort? No, then one must
go to these beautiful places at least once, travelling backwards in time. Doing
so reminded me of a “Star Trek” time travel to unexplored destinations.
The road to the castle is lined with trees and wild
plants on both sides, in all imaginable shades of green. Its entrance is marked by a huge door with
beautifully sculptured arches and ornately decorated with flowers and leaves. The monsoon season we visited had just lit up all the shades
of nature. We were staying on the topmost floor, and the view from here was splendid. The “jharokhas,” a modern-day equivalent to bay windows, were simply outstanding
for photography. The long corridor with a solitary swing and a marble sitting
table added a new dimension to our morning tea in the rain.
The grass in the garden was checkered with grass
tiles. Overlooking this garden was a large sitting area for chitchat and
playing chess or cards. We did neither of these, but envied the
affluent bygone generations who had ample place to stretch their legs in their
sprawling acres and extend the same opportunity to us. A reflection of their
lifestyle was visible in their well-kept stables, spacious rooms, and intricately
carved furniture.
It was a
perfect place to enjoy the awesomeness of the friends we were with. A place
untouched by the modernity of the beaming satellite channels, so that we could enjoy the
luxury of company, swimming pool, and swings, yet modern enough to make our stay
comfortable.
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