Chokhi Dhani Village (Jaipur) - A Rajasthani Delight!

Getting bored? Nothing to do this weekend? You are at the right place. Chokhi Dhani Village (Jaipur) is a perfect weekend destiny to be in! 

Located at 12 Miles Tonk Road, Jaipur, on the national highway, away from the city, I bet you would vouch to visit this  place again! Remember! Chokhi Dhani village is open only from 5 in the evening till 11 at night. So, if you have come to visit the Pink City for sight seeing, do not miss on this one or else you will regret later! If you are coming from Delhi, as we did, we stayed at a RTDC hotel, visited in and around things and and then proceeded to the venue in the evening!

"Ram Ram Sa" - This is the way one and all is greeted and welcomed by the Rajasthani people with a wide smile on their face and apply teeka on the guests' forehead. Chokhi Dhani Village truly depicts the ethnic village life of the desert state "Rajasthan".Spread over 10 acres of area, the village showcases various talents of different folk artists. A village fair is created every evening as an ongoing celebration of the rich, and vibrant cultural heritage of Rajasthan.

One can enjoy the live performances of traditional Rajasthani folk dances.  

These enthralling performances is one of the major attractions and one get to see the Rajasthani Ghoomer dance, potter dance, Kalbeliya - snake dance etc. I am sure, you too, like us would tap your foot to the tune of the desert! Don't forget to see the live acrobatics on a bamboo by the brave artist who balances himself without any protection. One may also have a ride on the choice of animal they wish to - camel, horse drawn tonga or an elephant or shall I say, all three?

Worrying about your kids? Just chill!! The puppet show takes your kids to the world of stories of kings, queens, princess along with powerful magicians. The show is so lively and the puppeteer will ensure there is no going back! Besides, there is a magic show organized specially for the kids who does some hand tricks and hypnotizes one to the world of magic !!! The kids can also enjoy the ride in the small ferris wheel available 

Chokhi Dhani village showcases the ancient way of pulling water from the well, getting oil by moving bullock round and round a central mechanical system, a blacksmith showcasing his talent and traditional village huts. All these are very scenic to see at! And for the ones who believe in astrology, let the parrot at work pick the card for you and answer the queries on your future! 

And finally, for what we had actually visited this place! Rajasthani traditional food! The food is served in four arenas from closed to open environment, from simple to royal way, from ac to non-ac, one can choose the dining area depending on the availibility or wait for their turn for the preferred one ! 

We chose the Sangri,  ethically designed and offers food on a leaf platter in the tradition of Manuhaar.  A large variety of mouth watering delicacies are offered right from salad to deserts, this is one place you will never want to forget! The aroma and taste are with you for a while! A little over priced but all is excused for the authenticity and the kind of service that is provided. 

The complete mouth watering menu @ Chokhi Dhani 

Sangri	Gahuriya	Dal Bhatti Choorma	Dal - Chawal	Rajasthanio Meethai
Sag - gatta ro	Makkari	Chawal	Makhhan - Dhani ro	Rajasthani namkeen
Sag - dal pachhmelri	Bajarari	Achar Kair Sangri ro	Ghee - Dhaniro	Khichada Chhadiya motth
Sag - kadi besanri	Salad	Chutney (Garlic & Dhana ri)	Chhach	Malpua
Sag - Hariyalo	Papad	Chat - Choulari	Lassi	Jalebi

Don't waste your time reading it, just grab your hands at it. You will definitely ask for more! You won't stop licking your fingers for these mouth watering lip smacking dishes!

So guys! what are you waiting for? Stay stressed-free, and drive down to Chokhi Dhani village to get the feel of traditional culture of Rajasthan under one roof! Jaipur is calling you all "Padharo Mhare Desh"

Destiny Farmstay, Ooty

As the name suggests, one is truly destined to be here! Situated 25 kms away from Udagamandalam, at the untouched valley of Avalanchi, Destiny is a breathtaking experience one can ever have in one's life. Surrounded by beautiful mountains and landscapes all around, Destiny is a must visit. 

A 2N/3day trip to Destiny Farmstay was again one of our memorable trips. We went by Nilgiri Express which reaches early in the morning. The Resort cab was ready to pick us. The driver (Mr. Ranganath) was very kind enough to stop by for breakfast post which we proceeded to Destiny.  All through the way, one could capture the mesmerizing beautiful scene with lush green mountains all around and the clouds just beneath you! The drive was very smooth and happening until we reached the point of forest development area. Destiny falls under the Forest area and beyond a particular point, the cabs(private/public) are not allowed. The resort's vehicle , a 4*4 wheeler picks one from the parking area to the ultimate point. The road to the farm is a bumpy ride and is so adventurous. The vehicle is sealed from all sides to ensure safety. Do not try to take off your hands while being seated. Almost 3 hrs from Mettupalayam, we now were desperate to reach our destination.

A warm welcome at the reception, we were guided to our room (Columbus), was a standard room and quite accommodating. Each room has a private sit out, and the view one gets is simply awesome! One can't just take off his eyes and catch the glimpse of the beautiful scenario the nature has created. You could possibly take down the picture if you are good at it!

Destiny Farmstay, as the name suggests has its own farm that employs state of the art eco-friendly methods of cultivation, and showcases a lot of vegetables, dairy products and fruits.Besides these, the farm also harvests some exotic herbs. The workers are well trained and knowledgeable in the arena of agriculture. Our two nights at the resort was enchanted with the in-house activities. 

We had some great horse riding lessons, rappelling, valley crossing, and the wonderful barbecue by the bonfire on the lawn. It was also very interesting to try our hands at fishing!

Kids were equally excited to watch movies in their specially designed theatre room and games room ! In the end, we did showcase our talent by singing to some old movie karaoke songs, well appreciated by others. They had a good collection of both English and Hindi movie songs. If you are, or not, you must sing just for yourself!

If you are planning to give some time for yourself, and just enjoy the nature, this place will definitely not let you down! Put yourself to the hands of the nature, rejuvenate and relax at the cost of it.

A day or two extended can be spent by visiting the beautifully landscaped Botanical gardens, Tea Factory, Doddabetta Peak, Rose Garden, Pykara River, boating in the Ooty lake. However these places are a bit far from Destiny Farm stay. One may experience the journey of Nilgiri Mountain Railway by taking the joy ride from Ooty to Coonoor.





Finally, do not miss out on trying some delicious and mouth watering home made chocolates available in various flavours, the Nilgiri tea and  medicinal oil. I am sure, this is a place you will not regret visiting!