GUESTS OF RAJ BHAVAN, JAIPUR
I am in a bit of a daze. Post breakfast, my toes and thighs toasting in the sun, I am watching peacocks crying out and running around in excited circles, just a foot away from me, while orange bougainvillea leaves fall over me in the slightest of the breeze.
The parakeets and various other birds woke me up, along with the rest of the nearby world from the plentiful green trees that surround this well designed place.
You may not have guessed but Murali and I are guests of the Governor Kalraj Mishra at Jaipur. Murali is on the advisory board of the governor for MSME and Employment. This time I am the attachment.
Luckily M has to attend meeting while I can be lulled by the distant traffic sounds, the bird calls and the entire magical beauty of it all.
They have these huge well appointed rooms with well designed beds and the warmest and softest of razais (someone actually asked me if I got up in the morning for a walk along the property......). I got up earlier than usual, because tea is served in the very old fashioned way in a steel flask, with a bowl of sugar and a tiny spoon for it and two cups with two spoons and four salted biscuits and four sweet biscuits. Talk of civilised behaviour. I of course swooned in sheer pleasure.
When there is so much of indulgence, where is the necessity to get up and check the property? Even the peacocks come to you to play.
While one is kind of used to being whisked away from the airport, this was a little bit more different. The flag was covered and the Ashoka symbol shown prominently and our luggage was efficiently stowed, while the guy with the walkie talkie whispered into it saying we had started for the Raj Bhavan. A little pocket of traffic and the siren was used and traffic parted.
I am against this preferential treatment, but to be honest to you all, deep inside me was a little thrill. And as we neared the Raj Bhavan, friend here said 'Approaching. Open gates. ' and bingo we drove in.... Now tell me that is not exciting....
We are staying in the Bundi room and there are no locks and keys. We sashay in and out and someone is always there to open the door for you, which are the old fashioned net doors followed by a partial glass door.
Lots of light from all the large windows and the best is there are two ensuite bedrooms..... The meals are nothing home to write about but the service is very reminiscent of princely states, with the guy bringing in steaming hot phulkas and various sides. And he waits there for you to ask him for something extra. He then rushes to the hinged door, which creaked constantly and took care of our wishes. Murali of course was unhappy with the omlette and I cringed that I was served idlis for breakfast. Surprisingly decent.
Again Chinaware and steel spoons, so there is that little sound reminding you of the book 'Little Women'. There was a fruit cream which was delicious...
There is activity and then there is only the warming sunlight and you. The peacocks also take rest. .......... Going to Ajmer wasnexciting and tiring.... And I will tell you about it....
The Governor and his OSD have brought life into this Raj Bhavan and are trying to make this 16 acre property more people friendly. During the pandemic, they actually built a Constitution Park, the first of it's kind in Jaipur. Will fill in with details....
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