Junagarh fort through ageless sands

Bikaner Fort and Museums gave glimpses into Rajasthan's valorous past. Proceeding through the deserts next, we arrived Bikaner. As we tread on to the station and got the savor of the region on the way to Lalgarh Palace, I begin to feel the basic calmness so noticeable by the near absence of vehicles and the routine noise and pollution. Neat, broad and unbroken roads welcomed us and beckoned to take a glance of this small city dotted with majestic forts and other structures built in red sandstone.

The long driveway took us into Lalgarh Palace, a portion of which has been transfigured into heritage hotel and the rest are the private chamber of the royalty that still resides there. As we passed through the lawns, the peacocks priding in the gardens, makes an instant envision of queens and princesses in flowing silk passing them. The Sadul museum housed in Lalgarh Palace showcases the royal ancestry through innumerable photographs and Laxmi Niwas is full of trophies of hunts long past.

Our next drive was to the famous Junagarh Fort, the very first day watched us stroll up the rampart of Junagarh Fort and in to the open tract which was location for the celebrations of rulers. The locals told me that the Bikaner's majestic Junagarh Fort was built between 1587 and is prominent for its prodigality of temples, palaces and pavilions.

Many of the ceilings and rooms were richly adorned with gold leaf work and mirrors, all quite well preserved as the fort had never been attacked or wrecked. As we move from one room to another, crossing long, pillared, corridors, courtyards and narrow and dark stairwells, the splendor began to overwhelm. The intricate carvings, the work on ceilings and walls in pure gold, the swing adorned with several dolls on both sides of its poles, the motifs from mythology and the life of kings, all reminded us of life in times past. The Baadal Room with its musical instruments- clouds painted on a blue ceiling, and proviso for sprinkling water to bestow the chattel of rain in the scorched summer months, all this left me wonder-struck and bound me to think of the luxuries that the rulers preferred and made feasible The fort houses sword guns, knives, armor, and the Maharaja's personal belongings in his office.

Then we visited Prachina museum located near the fort, exhibiting the family silver cutlery, crockery and royal court dresses. I don't know where the time flew away in sighting these majestic forts and the museums. In evening I along with other crewmembers took a stroll around the bustling bazaars of Bikaner City. Bikaner has a beehive of activity. In the crowded markets, songs boom as vendors hawked their goods from beautifully carved colorful bangles to jewels and plastic toys. I was told that the other attraction of Bikaner is Bhujia (dry snacks). One of our Marwari companion told that the best delicious snacks to be had were in Bikaner and seeing the queues I was convinced.

The much- expected trip to Bikaner turned out to be more than a mere holiday. It was in the true wit, a collision with sovereignty. A fragrance of the gratifying past so penetrate this small tourist spot in Rajasthan that it is just impossible to not carry its redolence on your way back.