TIJARA FORT PALACE…..STEEPED IN HISTORY

 

It’s not every day you get to live in a Fort Palace. The four days at Tijara fuse into a haze of long, relaxing days. I swiftly blend into the Princess lifestyle and simple pleasures – sitting with a book in the open or lazing in the hammock near the poolside where I take in breath-taking views with every sip of my Masala Chai. It is sheer delight to unwind in such fashion.

A WARM WELCOME

We sweep up the hilly driveway, metres from sprawling green land. The smart doorman greets me at the entrance, makes me sanitize my hands and checks my temperature. Good first impressions? I would say they succeed. From my arrival in the grand foyer, filled with an old world charm and craftsmanship I am swept into another world. The ‘Kaanch Mahal’ adjacent to the lobby grabs my attention immediately and beckons me to stop by for lunch before I actually head up to my room (read palace). I am absolutely refreshed after a delicious Rajasthani meal of local vegetables and a light chicken curry! Tijara Fort Palace…now we are talking!

HISTORY

There’s a rare charisma about staying at a property, which has stories from the 19th century. This fortress non hotel is an unfinished brilliance of three structures, built in the Rajput-Afghan grace with initial colonial stimuli: the Mardana for the royal men, the Rani Mahal for the maharanis and a desire palace on the brink of a plateau, watching a water body called the Hawa Mahal, palace of winds. Thus staying here makes for a great weekend getaway as it offers the exclusive chance to wake up in a once incomplete and uninhibited palace that has now been tenderly reinstated and made into a dream. It makes you step back in time and carousal in the splendours and mysteries of the past.

FOOD

The acme of my sojourn here, apart from the character and the view, is absolutely the food. Lingering through a meal is one of the vital experiences here. Somehow we just remain longer over the same amount of food; the ever smiling restaurant staff seems in no hurry to whisk us out. Nothing can be more imperative than relishing one’s meal, they think at Neemrana’sTijara Fort Palace, and they do so correctly, I feel.

MOOD

Race for the top spot amid Delhi’s around town staycations is fierce, a continuous battle of one-upmanship as each vies to out-wow the others and shove the boundaries. Who knows what will come up with next, but for the time being Tijara Fort Palace must assuredly have the number one spot. Personally, they have me with the amazing culture blended in everything so beautifully! What a time to be alive!

FAST FACTS

19th Century -Tijara Fort-Palace, Alwar, Rajasthan

Distance from Delhi? 100 kms

Tel: 0124- 4666 166 (8 am to 8pm)/ +91 9587885003

Email: tijara@neemranahotels.com

My story first published in Asian Community News

 

 

 

 

 

 

MENU CARDS FROM DUBAI

My know how of Middle Eastern food was built on grilled chicken, mezze and shawarma back home in Delhi, my trip to Abu Dhabi and Spain, a country I frequent often and sampling Baklava in Toronto at my Grandma’s place. In analysis I ponder this worked in my favour because it meant that I arrived in Dubai with precisely no anticipations when it came to the food the first time round. I soon discover diverse cuisine restaurants in Dubai are a reminder of just how multicultural the city is.

TRULY DUBAI

With a visa on arrival for Indians, thanks to the Valid US Visa planning a trip to Dubai is a breeze. I am in Dubai in less than three and a half hours and Check in at the Shangri-La, on Sheikh Zayed Road perfect starting point from which to ascertain the city’s vibrant energy. While I will travel to inordinate distances for anything allied to food, it’s not every day I step an abra boat to do so. To get to the Souk El-Kabeer, one needs to get by boat across to the Dubai Creek. Spices and Dates are the core attraction. I absolutely enjoy this. It’s time for my reservation up above the sprawling city at At.mosphere at the Burj Khalifa.

A glass of champagne in hand, I cannot get over the implausible 360 night-time view of this dazzling, radiantly lit sight in front of me which ominously sets the ambiance for my evening ahead. For dinner, Ayamna at Atlantis, The palm comes highly recommended. The menu is robust on Lebanese staples and the indication is to build as you choose with a tiny help from the server. 

They do excellent kebabs, but I prefer ordering nibbling dishes for diversity and punch, from crispy falafels and Fattoush to Hummus and garlicky grilled chicken wings. My Arabian Night fantasy completes with watching the talented belly dancer perform at regular intervals.

MORE FOOD

I am in Dubai, so a ‘dekho’ of the Dubai Mall is a must not only for the shopping but also the Food & Beverage. I trust there are over a monstrous 160 outlets in the mall including my name sake Dean and Deluca. I spot Din Tai Fung housed in a chic ambience with stellar views. I am lucky to get a table within 10 minutes and soon am lapping up the signature Xiao long bao, when the hot, tasty broth reaches your palate buds you will comprehend what all the fuss is about.

My dinner is booked at ‘Noire’ at the Fairmont. I am here to experience, ‘dining in the dark’, and contradictory to the adage, ‘eyes eat first! Blinded from what I am eating, I rely more intensely than ever on my other senses. With the logic of touch, I cautiously pass my fingers over my plate. I fork up a serving and snuffle like a well-versed connoisseur. My taste was working overtime on trying to decipher the complex mix of flavours on my plate. I am appreciating the texture of my food even more. Every crumb seemed like a work of well-thought-out art. But what did I eat? Did I get any of it right? Maybe only bits of it. At the exit hall, the chef and his team reveal the dishes consumed in the dark. The menu changes every week to keep diners guessing!

LAST MEALS

The next day is Friday and also my last day but not without the Friday brunch, so I head to Hoi An, Vietnamese restaurant at Shangri-La. A sublime, crystal-clear beef pho, fragrant and flavourful, is what I begin with.  Vegetarian rice-paper summer rolls, with a suggestion of lemongrass, are subtle and refreshing. Soft-shell crab with salt and chilli is exactly as it should be, with apparent amounts of flavoursome, well-textured crab in a crunchy, tasty batter. Best part about the buffet, the food is brought a la carte style and tastes fresh and hot! 

I hear a lot about quality and quantity perfection at ‘Ribs & Brews’, an American style pub at the V Hotel , Al Habtoor city, so off I go for my last supper in Dubai…and order Carolina style ribs, smothered in a spicy barbecue sauce….decadent to the core! Interestingly, this dish made the cusp from cliché to clever global, drawing natives and expats alike. Probably thanks to its nifty presentation and mild fusion with the spice which you drink even with a Beer Shandy. Beer Shandy with spicy Ribs? Now that’s an idea to take home

First Published in Travel & Leisure Online