What do 4,470 km and a jar of nuts have in common? Oh, nothing just a little country we are taking you to this week. A country where spices and herbs run deep in food just like the culture’s roots – and is home to one of the greatest architectural buildings ever known. Haven’t quite figured it out yet? How about the fact that the nation’s traditional clothing is beautifully woven silk saris and dhotis, whose colors alone have the ability to brighten up your eyes. Fasten your seatbelts we are taking you on a one-way (via internet) plane ride to India.
After a long flight, our feet (and jet lag) finally touched down in Jaipur. However, when we arrived to Rambagh Palace Hotel, the place we called home for the next couple of days, it really redefined the word “majestic.” The over 100 year old palace of the Rajastani maharaja makes you feel like royalty. The entire ambiance from the moment we got to the hotel was of pure serenity. India, as a whole, made us cool, calm, and collected. The scenery itself made us feel like we were staring at a photograph. After a relaxing and blissful couple of days of peace and harmony, all of that relaxation was about to turn 180 degrees! The Holi Festival was upon us and the madness was about to begin. For a country that was giving us such composure, it gave us an equally wild time. The Holi Festival, also known as the Festival of Colors, is a free-for-all carnival where music blasts from every corner and everyone is splashed with colored powder and water! It represents the victory of good over evil, the start of spring and end of winter. We were among thousands and thousands of people engaging in a color war that truly lifted our souls. The city of Jaipur was littered with beautiful colors, a sight so beautiful that even pictures don’t do it justice.
After a day of craziness we mourned for the peace of mind that we had just the other day. So we picked up our bags and jetted to our next destination – Goa. Goa has the smallest population amongst all states in India but has the clearest blue water our eyes ever did see. A laid back paradise once known as the world’s hippie capital. It was exactly what we needed after the festival and we fell so in love with not only the scenery, but also the hospitality that came with it. Whatever you do in Goa will make you feel calm. Whether it is laying out by the sand, going to the market, or watching the breathtaking sunset – it is just all a breathe of fresh air.
Words can’t do India justice but pictures might, take a look:
Where to Stay:
Rambagh Palace, Jaipur
Jai Mahal Palace, Jaupur
Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur
Samode Palace, Samode
Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
Park Hyatt, Goa
The Leela, Goa
