Skip to main content

Travelogue

Welcome to my Travelogue series on A Journey to Discover Life, where I take you along on my explorations through the vibrant and historic landscapes of Rajasthan and beyond. From the bustling palaces of Jaipur and the blue city charm of Jodhpur to the desert fortresses of Bikaner and Jaisalmer, each place is a treasure trove of history, culture, and stunning sights. I delve deep into the stories behind iconic sites like Chittorgarh, Bijoliya, Bundi, Udaipur, Mt Abu, Ajmer, Haldighati, Kumbhalgarh, Ranakpur, Chawand, and Gogunda, tracing the footsteps of medieval kings especially the legendary Maharana Pratap. His legacy comes alive in forts, memorials, and museums, revealing tales of valour, sacrifice, and royal intrigue.

Beyond Rajasthan, I journey to Murshidabad in Bengal, where the Bengal Subah was founded by Murshid Quli Khan and later ruled by notable figures like Alivardi Khan and Siraj ud Daulah, culminating in the dramatic fall at Plassey. Through history, sightseeing, and rich narratives, this series brings alive the past with fresh perspectives and immersive accounts, inviting you to discover life through the lens of time and place. The pictures posted are clicked by me so kindly give credits if used or seek permission for use.



Bikaner & Jaisalmer: The Land of the Golden Fort

Jodhpur, Jaipur, Ajmer, Pushkar: A Trail

Mesmerizing Mewar: A Dream Trip

Bundi: The Invincible Fort

Bijoliya: Her Home

Chittorgarh: His Home

Chittorgarh: The Stories of Sacrifices

Chittorgarh: The Towers of Victory and Faith

Chittorgarh: The Devoted Fort

Chittorgarh: The First Jauhar

Chittorgarh: The Final Seige

Udaipur: The Modern Heritage

Mewar: Religious Places

Kumbhalgarh & Gogunda: Witness to Turmoil

Haldighati The Battlefield

Chawand: The Maharana's Capital

Mewar: Parting Words

Popular posts from this blog

Bijolia: Her Home

Journey to Bijolia: Lost Kingdoms and Timeless Temples of Mewar Bijoliya translates to a stop between two cities. Nestled in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district, Bijolia sits 55km from Bundi and 105km from Chittorgarh on the well-travelled Bundi-Chittorgarh road. Once part of Mewar, this seemingly sleepy town guards a rich and layered past: it was ruled from the 11th to the 13th century by the Punwars (or Parmar Rajputs) before falling under the Chauhan dynasty, who shifted the region’s capital to Bhilwara and constructed the imposing fort there. After a brief Chauhan rule, Bijolia was reclaimed by Rana Kumbha and became an integral part of the Mewar kingdom, with the Parmers serving as local Raos, representatives and stewards of the royal house. Despite its history and the famed Bijolia inscriptions (a treasure for historians), Bijolia has never found a seat on Rajasthan’s primary tourist circuit, especially if you’re venturing out by public transport or private car. While a handful of...

Maharana Pratap: The Sun of Mewar

Many of you have read my fan fiction as well as historical representations of the life and times of Maharana Pratap Singh of Mewar. I provided small details of his life in many articles. But never have I ever made a separate historical post on him. It is very difficult to put together his life without the help of folklore because historical evidence is scarce. This one was requested, and hence here it goes. Needless to say, this one is very special. This is a blend of history and folklore. Leave your love.  ❤️ Background and Birth: The year was 1540. Mewar was under a cloud of uncertainty. Banbir, their ruler for four years now, was a very incompetent ruler who always spent his time in luxury, drinking and dancing with girls. The crown prince Udai Singh was rumoured to have been killed by him. Chittorgarh was in darkness. Around March 1540, Mewar once again saw hope as some trusted generals, along with Kunwar Udai Singh, attacked Chittorgarh, taking Banbir by surprise. He was soon ...

The Emperor's First Wife

  Ruqaiya Sultana Begum  was born to Babur's second surviving son, Hindal Mirza, and his wife, Sultanam Begum, in 1542 C.E., merely a few months after Hamida Banu gave birth to the heir Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar. She was well-versed in Persian, Urdu and Arabic and was attracted to poetry and music. Being a proud descendant of the Timurid clan, most of Rukaiya's childhood was spent in Kabul, near the Bagh E Babur, built by Babur himself. From early childhood, she had seen the struggle of her family to regain their lost power in Hind. In 1551 C.E., just after her father died young at a battle for Humayun, leaving her and her mother in the harem of the emperor, it was Hamida Banu who wanted the marriage of Rukaiya to her first cousin, Akbar. Theirs was the first in-house marriage of the Mughals, soon to be followed by many more in the generations to come. At the mere age of nine, she had married the crown prince, and when Humayun won back Lahore, she was fifteen. At the mere age ...

The Buddhist Empress of India

Many historians believe that although Devi was the first wife of Asoka, his Buddhist queen, Asandhimitra, was not the same person. However, some also theorise based on Buddhist and Jain stories that they were in fact the same person, and the reason for that is that they don't seem to appear in the timeline together. Devi disappears when Asandhimitra arrives at the scene rather abruptly to do her charitable work. Hence, I personally believe they were one and the same. This story, however, is a retelling of folklore and not history. Please do not consider this piece of fiction as history. The whole village of Vidisha Nagari was buzzing with activity. Every home was being cleaned, and cooking preparations were on. The youngest prince of Magadha was coming to a halt the night at their village on his way to Ujjain. Great unrest was reported at Ujjain, and the youngest prince, as the general of this region, was being sent by the emperor to solve the issue. The villagers were scared as th...

Nawab E Bengal

  Background: Nawab Alivardi Khan was ruling Bengal at the peak of Nawabi rule, expanding his strong empire. He had successfully suppressed the Marathas and had given a strong message to the British East India Company’s rising influence at Calcutta. Highly aware of the British Colonial policies across the globe, Nawab Alivardi Khan was strict with his policies and stronghold over Murshidabad, the then capital of Bengal (including present-day Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, and Bangladesh).  He had two daughters and no sons. Amina Begum was the elder one, followed by Ghaseti Begum. Amina had three sons with her husband and courtier, Ahmed Khan. The second son, Mirza Mohammad, fondly called Siraj-Ud-Daulah (light of the country)by his grandfather, was born in 1733C.E. He was his grandfather’s  favourite  because he was born while he won over the Marathas. Alivardi Khan never let the “fortune child” of the family out of his sight. Siraj grew up accompanying his g...

Chittorgarh: The First Jauhar

The concept of Jauhar holds a profound place in Rajputana history. It is a ritual where Rajput women willingly choose death by jumping into a fire altar, invoking the gods, and embracing honour rather than living under the humiliation of enemy conquest. Unlike Sati, Jauhar was never forced or compulsory; it was considered the most honourable death a Rajputani could choose when their men lost battles and the enemy laid siege. The Historical Setting: Jauhar Gate and Chittorgarh Fort Chittorgarh Fort once housed the palace of Rana Ratan Singh near the famed Vijay Stambh and his Jal Mahal at the fort’s main gate. When Alauddin Khilji invaded Chittor, much of this was destroyed. However, later ruler Rana Kumbha rebuilt the Jal Mahal and re-established the Jauhar Sthal to honour Queen Padmavati (also known as Padmini). Ratan Singh, who ruled Mewar during Khilji’s reign as Sultan of Delhi, was known to be a peace-loving monarch who enjoyed music and poetry. One of his court poets, Ragha...

Maa Durga: Weapons and Iconography

  Mythology: Origin story & Chandi Path The Srimat Devi Bhagawatam , also known as the Devi Puran, a sub-Purana attributed to Shiva Mahapurana, depicts the story of the “birth” and achievement of Devi Durga. The word Durga and related terms appear in the Vedic literature, such as in the Rigveda hymns 4.28, 5.34, 8.27, 8.47, 8.93 and 10.127, and in sections 10.1 and 12.4 of the Atharvaveda. A deity named Durge appears in section 10.1. 7 of the Taittiriya Aranyaka . But the most famous depiction detailed in mythology about the goddess comes from thirteen chapters of the Devi Mahatmya of the Markandeya Purana . It is also famously known as the Chandi Path, which is mainly referred to by the Bengalis for Durga Pujo.  Though the Chandi Path starts from Madhu and Kaitava’s birth from Vishnu’s sleeping body and finally being slain, we will focus on the story of Durga. Parvati’s association with this particular form of iconography comes from the story of Shumbha and Nishumbha, t...

Chittorgarh: The Devoted Fort

Chittorgarh, renowned for its tales of sacrifice and valour, is also a remarkable testimony to secular harmony and religious heritage that flourished over centuries. Beyond battles and sieges, the fort and its surroundings are dotted with numerous temples, talabs (reservoirs), kunds (water tanks), and temple complexes;  some intact, others abandoned or in ruins, each narrating stories of devotion, culture, and royal patronage. The Legend of Meera Bai: Devotion and Defiance One of the most inspiring figures linked to Chittorgarh’s spiritual legacy is Meera Bai , the saint poetess and princess of Merta. Married in 1513 AD at age 14 to Maharaj Kumar  Bhoj Raj Singh Sisodiya , the eldest son of Rana Sanga, her story is one of profound devotion. As a child, Meera Bai was deeply attached to the idol of Lord Krishna, whom she considered her true husband, an attachment sparked by a childhood curiosity and nurtured with daily conversations and care for the idol. This devotion dista...

A Journey Called PrAja

Love is a relationship based on trust and understanding.  It is also a bond that is made up there. People often ask, "Why them?" I end up telling them some folklore. I end up telling them about how she actually was his shadow in the forests, in bad times. Because love passes all its tests in the worst times when you don't give up on each other. So, here's to My Pratap and His Ajabdeh! Ps. This is about the show Bharat Ka Veer Putra Maharana Pratap on Sony by Contilloe Starring Faisal Khan, Roshni Walia, Sharad Malhotra and Rachana Parulkar. This is NOT their real story. The show aired from 2013 to 2015. Ajabdeh, the simple, strong yet gentle samantputri, was starstruck seeing the down-to-earth Kunwar Pratap, the crown prince of Mewar. She was clueless that he held the key to her heart, her lost mala that destiny had chosen him for.  Na na na na na Chan Chan Chan Chan na na na na! A comedy of errors followed, as she threw the pail of water on him, fumbled at his presen...

The Lord's Son

He was dark and handsome. A younger reflection of his father, some said. A valiant warrior since his teens. His skills with the bow, arrow and spear were second to none. His warrior skills were trained by his father, the Lord himself. His birth was to kill a demon that tortured the people and drove the Devas away from Indralok. He was the eldest son, travelling all over Aryavarta to spread his father's teachings from north to south. His peacock was his best friend away from home, and he stayed in southern cities away from his home at Mt. Kailash to spread the worship of the lord. He led the devas to war against the Asuras and killed Taraka, the demon who had the boon to be killed by the Lord's son. He won the war, and the gods urged him to be their leader. His father, however, gave him the task of spreading knowledge to the south and restored Indra as the King of the gods. As he went south, the insecure Indra sent his daughter as a spy behind him to make sure he never had the p...