|
|
 |
Introduction
Holiday at Samode and experience the luxury of rich heritage.
While respecting local ways of life Samode offers unique
surroundings and expands horizons for travellers. In Samode
the highest international standards of hospitality come
together with indigenous culture, designs and materials. In
Samode guests experience India's rich history and majesty as
if they are among the first to travel these extraordinary
historical lands.
Unlike the other havelis of Rajasthan, the Samode Palace does
not belong to any royal family but a family of noblemen, the
Rawals of Samode. It is about four hundred years old, and has
some new additions and modifications. This family traces its
descent to Prithvi Singh of Amber (1503-1528), the seventeenth
prince of the house of Kachwaha Rajputs, who in turn trace
their descent to Lord Rama. Gopal Singh, one of the 12 sons of
Prithvi Singh, was given Samode, which owed loyalty to the
rulers of Amber and Jaipur. These noblemen of Samode were
bestowed the title of 'Maha Rawal', in place of just 'Rawal'
by the royal family for their bravery and loyalty towards the
royal family.
Climate: Like most other places in north India, Samode
too has an extreme climate. The summers can be very hot with
the mercury shooting up to 45°C, whereas winters are chilly
and the temperature can dip down to 5°C. The best time to go
to Samode is the period between October and March.
Location : Samode is
situated in the royal Indian state of Rajasthan around 42 km
from Jaipur, the capital city. Located on way to Shekhawati,
this small village is famous for its haveli and fort. Samode
is connected to Jaipur through a good network of roads.
Places of interest
Samode Palace
The Samode Palace, now a heritage hotel, is built in the
characteristic pattern of an open courtyard with rooms leading
off the arched corridor that runs along all the four sides of
the building. The Sultan Mahal is on the first floor-an
exquisite room with a marble pillared verandah. It has the
famous Jaipur blue tile decorations. Every inch of the ceiling
and the walls are covered with floral, paisley and geometric
motifs painted in vegetable colors. It is called Sultan Mahal
after the craftsman, who painstakingly created it. Old and
heavy carved silver furniture brought from Nepal by the
grandmother of the present Rawal gleam dully in sunlight even
today. To the left of the main haveli is the Durbar Hall,
which was built about a hundred years ago. Again it is painted
with ornate floral motifs and colored delicately with
vegetable pigments, which still have a special glow of their
own.
Hall of mirrors
A hall of mirrors, which is a must for any palace of
consequence, is also to be found in Samode. Large and tiny
fragments of polished mirror are set into the plasterwork and
reflect a thousand images of the person entering the room. At
night a single candle flame can create the effect of a
thousand stars. The people of the desert love mirrors because
the cool polished surface reminds them of water. Paintings
reminiscent of the miniature style depict warriors, scenes of
shikar (hunting), birds and beasts and fish-eyed maidens
frolicking with Lord Krishna.
Samode Fort
On a hill immediately above the palace is the Samode Fort, the
family's former residence accessible in times of trouble by an
underground passageway. The original stone zigzag path has
been replaced by 300 steps, which have to be climbed to reach
the fort. Though the fort itself is dilapidated, the view from
its ramparts is excellent. The main fort gate is the starting
point of some enticing walks into the Aravali mountain range.
Around three km from Samode, en-route to the main Jaipur-Agra
road is Samode Bagh, a large formal garden that is being
restored and is often used by film crews for shooting.
Samode Village
During the day, a camel ride through the Samode village and
the surrounding countryside is a good idea. Riding this gentle
animal with its rocking gait is the best way to relax on a
sunny morning.
Culture
A real visit to Samode cannot be considered complete without a
musical evening of folk dances and songs. Rajasthani bards and
musicians with their colourful dresses and unusual musical
instruments provide one of the best evenings one can have in
India. The instruments include one-stringed fiddles, country
violins, bagpipes made out of goatskin, castanets, Jew's
harps, and even a one stringed instrument made out of a dried
gourd. The villagers sing with plaintive abandon under the
faint light of the crystal stars. A musical evening can be
arranged at a short notice at the Samode Palace.
|
»