A New World
Does she then awaken
To a new freedom?
A new sensibility?
A new meaning?
To what she carries within her
What surrounds her; and
What lies ahead…. The land
Its people her very own
And yet
She owns them not
Caught between
The Then and the Now
Titles given up
Yet still adorned
There lies a a Nee World
She must embrace.
Stand Alone
If needed
Holding a torch
Light up the way
To truth
Honor
Equality
Fraternity
Liberty.
My Jodhpur story has at its heart the unforgettable experience at RanbankaPalace.
Ranbanka Palace belongs to the Royal family and we were indeed given every bit the Royal Guest treatment. The palace originally belonged to HH AjitSinghji, younger brother of Maharaja Umaid Singh after whom UmaidBhavan is named.
HH Ajit Singhji had two sons and each of his two sons had two sons.
In process, the palace now is divided into two separate parts and it houses two separate hotels~ Ajit Bhavanand Ranbanka Palace.
The latter is owned by Kunwar Vijay Singh and was also home to us during our stay at Jodhpur.
Photo Credits: Inside 1 – outlookindia.com; Inside 1A – zankyou.co.in
From the four-poster bed on the 4th-floor terrace room overlooking UmaidBhavan to the beautiful poolside full of fountains and Diyas, to the Sarangi player in the garden for breakfast and dinner to the Mojri Man with a delectable collection of traditional Jodhpuri knickknacks, Rankanka Palace is one beautiful memory.
But if I have to single out the most memorable moment it is undoubtedly the delectable Breakfast Experience.
Having been associated with hotels and literally lived and worked out of them for years I have had quite a few sumptuous breakfasts.
Photo credits: Inside 2: Pinterest; Inside 2A – tripadvisor.com
But Ranbanka breakfast is truly the best I have had till now.
Spread out in the garden we were welcomed to a table especially reserved for us and set up with silverware.
Two turbaned servers, most affable and warm stood by eager to coax and cajole and serve you and make sure that your morning fill is not only fulfilling but you have tried out a fair dose of local fare.
Seven types of milkshakes, ten types of danish bread, eight types of fruits including exotic fruits like kiwi and dragon fruits, eggs to order notwithstanding what is really endearing is the large variety of indigenous breakfast items like Piyazkachori, Mirchi Vada and Sabudana khichdi.
The showstopper was the live Chilla Counter!
Eggs to order move over
Moong Dal chilla with paneer and piyaz stuffing wins the day.
All this in the warmth of the mellow winter sunshine
And to the tune of Sarangi and the soothing gurgle of the water from the fountains.
This experience made me sit up and take notice.
Even as luxury is getting increasingly standardized under different brand experience wherein the concept of luxury being unique is passé, it is perhaps these boutique experiences which help you reconnect with the service standards and warmth befitting luxury.
Banner: heritagehotelsofindia.com
To read more of Ipsita Ganguli’s writings please log into www.ipsitaganguli.com