Hi,
Site # 2 for me is Jamwa Ramgarh.
People who know Jaipur will wonder why Jamwa Ramgarh of all places. There are several wonderful places within Jaipur itself so why put this as # 2.
Well it is important that I clarify and my reason for putting Jamwa Ramgarh at # 2 is the joy I associate with the visit to the place.
The place has historical significance and is a tourist attraction for the beautiful Summer palace built by the Maharaja of Jaipur above the biggest man made lake in western India that till recently the only supply drinking water to Jaipur.
Jamwa Ramgarh was the capital of the Kachawas, the rulers of Jaipur before they shifted to Amber and then to Jaipur.
The old fort can still be seen on the hilltop when we move from Jaipur to Jamwa Ramgarh (28 Kms). We can still see some old milestones along the road which indicate that the road was an important route for travelers in the past.
I first visited Jamwa Ramgarh in 1985. The probationers of the 1985 batch of SBBJ made a day trip to the lake and I remember that almost all the guys immediately took to the water. The Asiad rowing competitions were held in this lake and in 1985 October it was overflowing.
A major picnic spot during and immediately after rains it is best to avoid the place on weekends when it is extremely crowded.
The trip I enjoyed the most was my first date with Radhika, my wife, in 1986.
We were in the nascent stages of our courtship and an unexpected holiday in the middle of the week gave us a chance to have our first date.
I persuaded Sanjoy to lend me his motorbike and waited, waited and waited for the day to start. When i got up that morning it was raining, it was not hard but a trip on a motorbike surely seemed impossible. Now this was an era when telephones were a rarity. Although Radhika had one in her hostel we did not have it at Sanjoy's place where we were camped. (Seshadri, Ashok Shukla and myself). So there was no way I could have canceled the date. Not that I wanted to.
It was one of the days I prayed real hard and by 10.am the rains had stopped. Although it was still cloudy I took the bike, filled it up with petrol on the way and reached the Ladies Hostel. The caretaker, who was an idiot, told me that Radhika had already left.
Perplexed and disappointed, I was on my way out of the Hostel when I saw her come out from the other wing. She had been chatting with her colleague in another room. She was dressed in her favorite salwar kameej and the morning had turned brighter for me.
The basic plan was to spend time together, but how, we had no idea. We started for Jamwa Ramgarh in a spur of the moment decision. I still do things this way.
As we entered the Jamwa Ramgarh road from the highway, it started raining again, but as large trees shadow the road for most of the journey, we had a natural umbrella over your head. The umbrella being leaky we did get wet.
As we came nearer to the lake we had the company of gurgling rain water flowing steadily towards the lake and we were splashed at least twice by cars making their way back to Jaipur. There was greenery all around and the weather turned beautiful when we stopped at the lake.
Jamwa Ramgarh lake and Lodge is a sight to behold immediately after rains. If the lake is full and the sun starts peeping out you have the wonderful reflection of the lodge in the lake and the rainbow somewhere in the sky. If you are lucky you can see the dancing peacocks.
A picture from that date adorns our bedroom walls.
The things you should not miss when in Jamwa Ramgarh:
1) A leisurely ride on the road. Do not hurry and take a detour to the dilapidated fort. Be careful of the pigs in the village.
2) On reaching the Lake take a break before you cross the dam. Eat the pakoras and have tea at the stalls that line the entrance to the lake.
3) Walk down towards the lodge. Have a tea break at the lodge as well. The open verandah with a view of the lake is a place you should sit.
4) Stay at the lodge. Not expensive but a feel of royalty. One of the rooms has a Gayatri Devi picture. You know why she was amongst the most beautiful women in the world. The lodge has been used as a location for several film shoots.
5) Walk down to the edge of the lake. Take a picture.
6) Spend time sitting near the lake. Soak in the beauty. The greenery all around has a calming effect.
7) Walk towards Raisar. The hills get closer and it is very pleasant. You are one with nature.
8) Do not go back to Jaipur. Visit an old castle some distance down the road. This bat infested castle has one of the best Bal Krishna temples inside. Visit the temple. Sit there and talk to the Pujaris.
9) if you are religiously inclined there is another Mata temple near by.
10) Take a detour and visit the stud farm in the vicinity. If you are lucky you will find polo players in practice and their girlfriends taking a sunbath. Some of the girls are polo players themselves. The horses are well groomed and the playing area is well maintained.
11) visit a rose cultivation. There are several of them on the road as well.
I am sure you will not regret a visit to the lake immediately after the monsoon and if you are accompanied by your loved ones. A perfect picnic spot, I never got bored of the place even after going there daily for one full year and more. I was posted as Branch Manager of the SBBJ branch in Jamwa Ramgarh during 1999-2000. My picture receiving the top branch award may still be found in the Branch Manager's cabin.
Best wishes,
Manoj
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4 comments:
What persuasion ?! You asked, I gave, my new bike, my first bike, knowing unspokenly what it was required for. I'm so glad Manoj & Radhika are a perfect couple and our, Manju's and mine dear friends for so many years now. The thoroughly drenched smiling face of Manoj at the end of the outing I have not forgotten nor can ever forget.
You were one obliging friend and host. No one can ask for better company.
Can you believe it when I tell you that I rode your bike without a driving license. I believe it never occurred to you to ask me this question.
I also have a picture of the that bike.
Unforgettable days.
If you may recall I used it for your benefit as well when I ferried Manju around Jaipur making arrangements for your marriage. She had managed it single handedly.
The bike will be referred to frequently.
Manju had a Luna which ran depending upon its mood (the accelerator had absolutely nothing to do with it) either exasperatingly slow or literally break-neck. Only Sudipto used to borrow it sometimes.
If it were not for my friends like Manoj, Seshadri, Mukesh, now I realise, my marriage ceremonies could not have happened. At that time however I had so much confidence in them, that I didnot bother.
That is Jaipur for me - a time, a place, an age. A plan to move on to greater places. Some of them did, others kept on hoping and getting fonder of Jaipur.
Manju is the real original. There can never be another like her. It is no surprise that her Luna did have a mind of it's own, after all it had to be original.
I never took that Luna even later when you had shifted to vaishali.
Jaipur is like home now. I cannot think of any other place which has such beautiful memories attached to it, except for maybe Bhadreshwar and Darbhanga. But that would be too much for you I believe. Bhadreshwar is still a village with a jute mill and Darbhanga, a town that is just that.
Both places still look beautiful to me.
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