‘Lassi da glass aur pind da swaad’, is your mind already floating in the mustard fields of Punjab where the entrancing aroma of spices is filling up your senses? Well, ours was when we visited the ‘Unified Flavours of Punjab’ festival at Lalit Jaipur today.

While we thought it would be a regular Punjabi food festival with a modern taste and feel, we were pleasantly mistaken. In a truly delicious experience, Chef de cuisine – Jaspratap Bindra a.k.a Jassi and Executive Chef – Ajay Mathur shared with us the nostalgic and beautiful stories of Punjab and how he brought along with him the secret behind the authentic Punjabi cuisine.  They blended the unmatched taste and rustic feel of Punjab in the spices of food preparations at Baluchi, the Pan Indian Destination (Ranked No. 1 in Jaipur by Tripadvisor in the food festival.

The table was set with tangy pickles that were prepared with no preservatives. The pickles included carrot, gobhi (cauliflower) and the absolutely delish mushroom pickle which we could not get our hands off ;) The starters included the evergreen Lassi & the scrumptious and crispy Kala Chole Di Tikki with spicy green chutney followed by Pindi chole which was a true delight to have with Ambritsari kulche and missi roti. Along came Maa Ki Dal, Paneer Makhani, Makke di Roti Sarso Da Saag and to end it sweetly, there was the mouth watering Doodh-Jalebi.

The Chef De Cuisine introduced us to the chefs who originate from Amritsar and Hoshiyarpur and put their Punjabi magical tadka in the food. He then took us to their kitchen where we witnessed the making of the luscious cuisine and the spices like garlic, red chilies, onions, etc which are the main essence of Punjabi cuisine.

So get set and come forth for the ultimate Authentic Punjabi experience providing irresistible flavors to take over your senses.

Date: – September 18 – 27, 2015

Timings: – Lunch: 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm | Dinner:  7:30 pm to 11:00 pm

Venue: – Baluchi, The Pan Indian Destination, The Lalit Jaipur

Rates: Vegetarian- Rs. 999++ | Non Vegetarian- Rs. 1099++ (Taxes as applicable)

We love Chinese Food, and quite sure, you too! :D Hence, we dedicated ourselves and diligently scouted for the best Chinese Restaurants in Jaipur that serve the most authentic & the top-notch Chinese food. So here, we go-

Golden Dragon House
Located inside a five star hotel, Country Inn & Suites, the restaurant is one of the oldest authentic Chinese restaurants in Jaipur. It cooks up the finest Chinese dishes and got a lovely terrace area to relish it. The Fish Shezuan Pepper Shiraza, the Chicken Kothe, The Prawn sui-mai, the fish & chicken dimsum and Chinese Balls are absolutely insane.

ADDRESS : Khasa Kothi Circle, MI Road, Jaipur

Mainland China
Attracting Chinese gourmets from across the city, Mainland China is undoubtedly the best but a bit expensive. The menu is very elaborate with a lot to choose from. Every dish is expertly prepared with all its authenticity. Fried Prawn Wontons, Crispy Lettuce Wraps and Chocolate Spring Rolls are just matchless.

Address: Malviya Nagar, C-Scheme, Jaipur

Marky Momos
Earned quiet a reputation for its Honey Chilli Potatoes, Marky Momos is quiet a little surprise package. We personally liked its Hot n Sour Chicken Soup. An ultimate place to enjoy great Chinese food at a pocket-friendly price.

ADDRESS: 304/4, Raja Park, Jaipur

Yo! China
This joint is among the reputed and favorite Chinese restaurants of Jaipur. Chicken sui mai, Honey Chili Potato, Tai Chi Chicken & Chili Hoishin fish are sure to win your heart. The parking is an issue but the food makes it worth the trouble.

Address: Panch Batti, MI road, Jaipur

Xing- Restobar
For moderate budget, Xing is a great option to treat your taste buds with high-quality Chinese Food. Its well-stocked bar, good ambiance, friendly staff and fabulous service definitely deserve a special mention.

Address: Hotel Acacia Inn, 218, Opp Radio Station, MI Road, Jaipur

Niro’s Jaipur
Niros is another one of the best Chinese restaurants in Jaipur that has been known to pull food connoisseurs since past 40 years. The food here maintains a good balance of authenticity and Indian Style. The menu features a broad range of Chinese creations. We would definitely like to recommend this place.

ADDRESS : MI Road, Near Panch Batti, Jaipur

Ho-chi-minh
The place is a sober junction for getting together and enjoying a great Indian-Chinese food with authentic sauces & spices, and that’s too at an affordable price. Its Chicken Triple Fried Rice is sure to leave you lusting for more.

ADDRESS: Ground Floor, Orbit Mall, Opp Civil Lines, Ganpati Nagar, Jaipur

Copper Chimney
When you get tired of shopping at MI road, Copper Chimney is the place to fight your hunger. It serves a range of cuisines but its Chicken Lollipops from the Chinese Menu is to die for. Hard drinks are also served.

ADDRESS: Maya Mansion, MI road, Jaipur

Hot Chillies
Another noticeable place in Jaipur that does complete justice to Chinese food is Hot Chillies. All sorts of Chinese Dishes are served here. Its Vegetable Manchow soup tastes good and is worth a try.

ADDRESS : 1st Floor, Galaxy Star, Vidhyadhar Nagar, Jaipur

Chinese Corner
Offering a pretty good Chinese fare, Chinese Corner is a good alternate when you are craving mouth watering, authentic Chinese food. Recommended dish is Veg Hakka Noodles.

ADDRESS : Rajat Path, Mansarovar, Jaipur

Tea and samosas have been an age old snack combination and has been a favorite to almost every Indian.  You don’t need any reason to munch these snacks. Team Jaipur Beat explored a new hub which has recreated this concept of tea and samosas in a new way, especially for the youngsters for their nonstop talks and beautiful conversations over a cup of tea.

JusT & Samosas is our new pick in the Pink city. Don’t worry even if you don’t drink tea and nor eat samosas, they have an extensive array of food to offer to you: D

Mr Rahul Kumar, owner of JusT & Samosas followed to walk on the path of his passion and fulfill his dreams leaving a corporate background. This is how our experience was at JusT & Samosas.

1. FOOD

Looking at the menu, it has variety of snacks that you can try. We picked up for some momos with a spicy filling offered with chilly garlic chutney. The dry Chilly Paneer is a must try and how can you miss the White sauce pasta from the menu.  The order seems incomplete without a drink. With its specialty in tea and samosas, it has a list of Chai Shai but if you want a sweet and chilled throat – go for some virgin Mojito/crushes and shakes.

2. SERVICE

With a few people working there, it simply offers a spick and span and courteous service to the foodies!

3. AMBIENCE

Overall the bright and colorful interiors with puppets hanging on the walls, muddahs and low level chairs to make you feel comfortable – its ambience definitely speaks for its food.

4. LOCATION

Even though it’s located on a very busy road, you have to keep your eyes wide open.  It stands apart from the rest of the cafes offering a whole new concept of Tea and Samosas.

It has a reasonable value of money! And don’t forget to leave a mark by pinning up your feedback on the board :)

Address: G1, Semi Basement, Opp. Pink City Honda Showroom,

Near Gattle Vala Baba, Tonk Road, Jaipur

Contact: +917665590009, +9195495700400

With the multitude of colors and vivid shades of its rich culture, Jaipur once again gears up for celebrating the World Tourism Day on 27 September, 2015. The historical monuments and sites located in the Pink City needs to be protected and this can be only done with collective efforts. The objective behind this day is to create awareness among the common people for conserving and protecting our heritage.

On this day Pink City is going to bathe in the beauty of music, dances and various cultural events as number of events are lined up to delight tourists.

Amer Fort

On the occasion entry to the fort is free for all. Tourists will be greeted with a warm traditional welcome.

Events-

7.30 am to 12 noon- Folk Cultural performances to be held at (Jaleb Chok- Ganesh Pole)

Flute Recital and Shehnai Vadan performance will be held at Chandpole, Singhpole and at Hathi Stand,

At the same time Painting Competition will also be going on. In association with Drona Foundation a Heritage Walk at Amber will start at Varahi Gate that will end at Sagar. To capture the beauty of Jaipur, a Photography  competition will also be held.

2.30 pm onwards at  Kesar Kyari, there will be Still Photography by Foreign Tour Operators. Archaeology dept to install telescopes atop the Amber and Nahargarhforts for stargazing.

Jawahar Kala Kendra

There is going to be a bonanza of Rajasthani folk music and dances for music lovers at the open air theatre in Jawahar Kala Kendra (JKK) in the evening. Between 4.30 pm- 6 pm there will be the opening of exhibition by Drona on Gangiyasar Village- Shekhawati which will continue till 30 Sept, 2015

Hawa Mahal 

At 6 pm Postage Stamp kiosk opening in association with Postal Deptt along with Philately (Postal Stamp Collection) Exhibition at Hawa Mahal. A mellifluous strains of the Shehnai can be enjoyed at Hawa Mahal alongside folk performance.

• Albert Hall

10 am- Sketch activity by NIMS students

5 pm: Presentation of Cycles by RATO to TAF personnel for patrolling.

There will also be Shehnai Vadan at Albert Hall.

A world of perfect memories awaits you at the royal city of Rajasthan!

Have you been noticing and smiling at the cool tribal art hoardings on a lot of traffic signals, unipoles and bus shelters in Jaipur? In a first of its kind initiative in the country – ‘Living Arts of Rajasthan’ our pink city has turned into an open art gallery on Gandhi Jayanti, which is becoming a reason to smile in the hectic quotidian city traffic.

Envisioned by the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ms. Vasundhara Raje, this initiative has been taken to encourage and promote the rich heritage of tribal and folk art and its practising artisans. These hoardings are no normal ones, but have been designed with a very bold play of colors depicting perfectly the vibrant culture of Aapno Rajasthan :)

Apart from regular passersby, this project is an objet de vertu for all the art aficionados as it serves as a great cultural display. Be it the Rajasthani ladies clad in bright colored sarees & tribal attires, men wearing turbans driving or travelling in autos, buses, rickshaws, flights or women drawing mandanas etc, these paintings are surely stealing the hearts of locals and tourists.

These famous paintings are a part of ‘Jogi art’ which are mostly done in black and white color. This colourful sight on the hoardings is only for a short period of 30- 45 days. The artists Ms. Teju Ganesh Jogi, Ms. Soni Jogi, Ms. Sangeeta Jogi, Mr. Bablu Jogi and Mr. Raju Jogi were especially invited to Jaipur to create the pieces for this project. During the 3-day stay, the artists created independent illustrations of ‘Jogi’ art, in both colour as well as black and white forms. Each hoarding carries the name and photograph of the artist, giving them the acknowledgement they rightfully deserve.

With over 70 display sites, the initiative is managed by Jaipur Nagar Nigam, with cooperation of ‘Must Art Gallery’ in Delhi. The upcoming phases will display other tribal arts inherent to Rajasthan. Each art form is expected to be showcased around the city for at least 30-45 days. A permanent exhibition site and other innovative projects have also been proposed to support such art and artists in the State.

All play and no food makes everyone dull ;) Ain’t it?

And hence, Jairangam – a vibrant theatre festival in Jaipur which kicked off on Sunday, doesn’t just offer plays, exhibitions and theatre, but is offering something that’s our common love – Food Festival !

The food festival is offering the cuisines from all around the world for you to relish. As soon as you walk inside and head towards Shilpgram, you can see a number of stalls very clearly named after the cuisine they serve. All you have to do is buy the coupons and feel like you are visiting your happy school fete :D

If you ask us, begin with the chatpate golgappe and bhalla papdi chaat at the ‘Delhi’ stall as that’s where the fun begins. Proceed to the stalls where the spicy fried aloo tikki awaits you filling your mouth with water :D

For chaat, the next best thing is undeniably Mumbai ! Vada Pao, Pao Bhaji and Sev Puri are the chief dishes, and honestly, we would suggest you have Delhi chaat over the not-so-authentic Mumbai street food. And if you are a true Rajasthani food lover, you will not be disappointed! From Ajmer’s Kadi kachori to Jodhpur’s Pyaaz Kachori, you can taste the real spices of the land of royals. Don’t forget, Kolkata’s Paneer Chilla is a must try :)

Then came the Continental cuisine! Being hard core lovers of Italian cuisine, we tried the classic combination of Garlic Bread and White Sauce Pasta. Where Garlic Bread tasted quite delicious, white sauce pasta was surely undercooked and underwhelming. You can also try Chinese fried rice and Manchurian.

The other signature dishes include Rajasthan’s Aloo Pyaaz Paneer, Bundi Raita, Punjab’s Kulche Chole, Rajma Chawal, Butter Paneer and lip smacking Dal Makhani. A little problem is the positioning of these stalls which were making it difficult for people to see them and try them.

For South Indian flavour, you can have the Idli Sambhar and Hyderabadi Biryani with raita, and if you are not in a mood for a heavy meal, just sip a hot cup of tea/coffee while watching the beautiful sunset or gulp some cold drinks from the ‘Mix Indian’ stall. No matter what you eat, end it with either a delicious Kulfi or try some baked items from the stall ‘She Bakes’ where you will find a little girl offering some scrumptious desserts to end your day sweetly :)

It’s World Food Day today! Jaipur is known as a food paradise. It offers a plethora of visual treats to anyone travelling to Jaipur. From theme based cafes to formal dining in lavish restaurants, and not to forget the yummy street food – Jaipur is becoming a melting pot for the foodies.

Getting up from the bed for breakfast, how can you miss on paneer pakoras and doodh jalebi from Saras Parlor, or may it be Shankar ke garma garam samosa, Lassiwala Ki Lassi and Samrat ki kachori. Though it all sums up to be heavy but it’s delicious and the localities are lucky enough to gorge on these delicacies whenever they want.

Jaipur cuisine gives some robust and delectable flavors in some of its star dishes – dal bati churma, laal maas, ker sangria, gate ki sabzi, ghewar and a lot more for luncheon or dinner. Your trip remains incomplete if you didn’t dig into any of these sumptuous dishes. Localites are lucky enough to gorge on these delicacies whenever they want.

If your stomach is still not full or has a little space, head out onto the streets to get a bite of the local snacks and delicacies. You can really bet on a stall of Pandit Pav Bhaji which has been serving from at least last 15 years, or even try Bhelpuri in Raja Park (in front of Julie Furniture). If you want everything at one place Kanha can be the perfect place.

Jaipur and its food, thus compel you to come back and savor its taste lavish cuisine.

Happy #WorldFoodDay :)

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Almost a month long event Khushboo- e- Rajasthan, an online photography contest finally came to an exciting end on Wednesday, 14th October, 2015.  The contest that started on the 7th of Sept and continued till 30th Sept, 2015 on social media, where photography enthusiasts participated by uploading the photographs representing the true flavor of Rajasthan. The shortlisted 51 photographs were then displayed in an exhibition held during the Jairangam Theatre Festival at JKK.

The esteemed jury consisting of Mr. Sudhir Kasliwal, Ms. Dharmendra Kanwar, Gaurav Hajela, Prakash Ghai and Rajan Bhatt reviewed each and every photograph. From the shortlisted entries, 9 photographs from Camera and Mobile Categories were finally declared as winners and the awards for those were given during an event held at The Forresta Kitchen & Bar. The grand prize winner’s received Sony DSLR camera, Sony point & shoot camera, Micromax Nitro smart phone.

Photographer and art connoisseur Mr Sudhir Kasliwal giving an award to Mr Pravin Maheshwari. Also in the picture is Mr Gaurav Hajela convener of Khushboo-e-Rajasthan

Prakash Ghai and Gaurav Hajela giving away awards to the winner Jiten Agrawal

Aarshay Nehra recipient of the first prize being awarded by Mr. Sudhir Kasliwal and Gaurav Hajela

Arun Mazumdaar being awarded by Gaurav Hajela

Vivek Kakkar being recognized by Gaurav Hajela and Anisha Hajela of Jaipur Beat

The beauty of this competition was that it gave platform to all photographers to showcase their talent-says Mr. Sudhir Kasliwal during award ceremony. Conceived and developed as an annual Photo Contest by Jaipur Beat, Khushboo- e-Rajasthan is one of the most gripping online photography competitions till date having received more than 450 entries received this year, Says Convener of Khushboo- e- Rajasthan and founder of Jaipur Beat Mr. Gaurav Hajela

Jaipur Beat, the biggest online magazine in Jaipur, supported entire event.

The Pink City is all about festivals & celebrations. It is the reality of Jaipur where an act doesn’t completely ends while another one is ready to grasp its place. As, many festivals are currently spreading their magical colors, Maa Durge is getting ready to enchant the Pink City in her aura. It feels good to see the convivial atmosphere across the city of Jaipur hosting a number of festivals with a lot of fanfare and enthusiasm.

Navratri is one of the most popular festivals which is celebrated here. This festival holds great significance among people as it is associated with the blessings of Goddess Durga, which represents Shakti, the cosmic energy that animates all beings. This festival symbolizes health and prosperity, and is celebrated in a very traditional way.

On all these nine-day Navratra festival the Shila Devi temple at Amer Fort holds special significance and the devotees has special prayers offered to this goddess. Thousands of people from Jaipur and surrounding areas come here to pay offerings to Shila Devi. It is said that Maharaja Mansingh of Jaipur brought the statue of the goddess Shila Mata from Jessore “Bangladesh” in 1604 and till date the idol is placed here and worshipped.

Shila Mata Temple Amer

During all these nine days devotees throng to this temple and to facilitate smooth pilgrimage massive arrangements are being made.

This festival acquires quite a fascinating and colorful dimension with extremely colorful dances of Garbha and Dandiya-Raas. These dances are performed by a group who move graceful and rhythmic manner in circles to measure steps, marking time by sticks and hands. Both men and women dressed in the traditional attires with beautifully designed accessories. For past few years Dainik Bhaskar has been organising the Garba Festival in the city for which at least a month long preparation goes on.

Thousands of Jaipurites of all age groups can be seen stepping together on the beats of Garba & Dandiya music in many places around the city.

So, if you are in Jaipur during this season you are lucky enough to explore the city in its own uniqueness :)

Hello everyone, the weather is screaming something, can you hear?
This is the perfect time & the weather to go on a road trip or just roll down into the Pink City.

The Pink City is one of the most preferred tourist destinations in the world. There is something unique and intrigued in the fragrance of the city that attracts innumerable beings here; based on a Pink & Red theme it has so many colourful sights.

Following are the sights of the Pink City you cannot resist to visit:

Birla Mandir: Birla Mandir which is also known as Lakshmi Narayan Temple is one of the major tourist attractions of the city. This majestic shrine is made up of pure white marble and one couldn’t resist looking at its beauty in the dim light under the moon. Birla Mandir was built in 1988 by Birla Group of Industries. This temple is situated on JLN Road of Jaipur.

(Image via Google)

Jantar Mantar: Jantar Mantar is a very technical and astronomical monument. It is a collection of 19 architectural astronomical instruments which were built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1734. It has the world’s largest stone Sundial (A device which tells the time by measuring the apparent position of the Sun). Jantar Mantar is also one of the most likable tourist sites of the Pink City.

Albert Hall: The oldest museum of the state which is constructed by Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II in the year 1868, when King Edward the Prince of Wales visited India. It is situated prominently in the center of the city and also is a cynosure in itself. Albert Hall has so many precious & priceless objects to display.

Hawa Mahal: The Hawa Mahal is also called ‘The Palace of Winds’ made up of Pink & Red sandstones. This beautiful five-storey pyramidal shaped monument was actually built for the royal women, so that they could
observe the activities outside without being seen. It is situated in the walled Pink City.

If you love the sightseeing over the mountains, then these majestic forts are a big treat for you. The view from the top is just impeccable.

Jaigarh Fort:  Jaigarh fort, once you reach to this marvelous castle situated on the Aravalli Hills, your mind impels you to not to come back down.  Jaigarh once was the center of the treasury and a place to keep eyes over the Amer fort and the Pink city. But now, this is one of the most popular sights of the city. Jaivan, the largest moving cannon in Asia is also resting here.

Jaigarh Fort

Nahargarh Fort: Located on the edge of the Aravalli Hills, known for the unexpressed city view from the top. Nahargarh was built in 1734 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, once formed a strong defense ring for the
city but now it’s among the top major tourist sights of the Pink City.

City Palace: The Palace of Royal family lies in the heart of the Pink City. It was actually the seat of the Maharaja and was built in 1730 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. Now, this beautiful and immense paradise holds many museums showcasing the story of the royal world.

City Palace

Diwali is around the corner, and we are all excited, or are we?

Believe it or not, we share a love-hate relationship with Diwali !! While there are some people who simply love this festival, there are some who are not such big fans, and they have reasons too ;)

1. Holidays
   You like Diwali or not, there is one thing that we always always cherish – Holidays ! Especially like this year, when it begins with a weekend and ends with another ;)
   
2. Safai
   Not talking about the cleanliness freaks here :p, we all dread safai ! Cleaning cupboards, houses, and keeping the house spick and span all the time, can be quite a pain !
   
3. Shopping
   New clothes, new jewellery, new everything :D
   
4. Traffic
   Diwali is the time when each and every soul needs to shop ! So where will they all unite? On the road. And hence, irritating unstoppable traffic.
5. Lights
   Every street, every house, every single lane is illuminated with a scintilla of lights and colors :)
   
6. Noise
   Before you even begin to talk, there is a deafening noise of crackers being burst outside the house or even worse, while you are casually taking a stroll on your street, a sudden sound of a sutli bomb will make you jump and scream like a fool :p
   
7. Diwali Parties
   Diwali is one festival where you unmistakably catch up with all your friends and relatives. Call it Diwali Milan or the taash parties, this is the time to re bond and feel the joy of togetherness.
   
8. Calories
   Sweets, sweets and sweets :p You know you are going to have to put some extra effort after Diwali as it comes with the danger of putting on that extra weight !
   
9. Crackers
   From anaar to ladi to bomb, you simply love the thrill of playing with fire crackers !
   
10. Power Cuts
    Since electricity and power are used and exploited in abundance, the electricity department needs to save it somewhere ? So frequent power cuts !!
    
11. Homecoming 
    If you stay away from home, this is the time when you miss it the most :) While nothing makes you leave work or college to come home, Diwali is one occasion when no matter what, you come rushing back to family and celebrations :)
    Happy Diwali :D

Are you decked up for the Deepotsav? The Pink city looks all geared up for the Diwali festive fervor. With the theme based lighting and decorations cladding the Walled city, Jaipur stands apart from the rest of the places.

The happiness is in the air, you can feel it, it is infectious. The evenings are mildly cold and everything is lit up. Let the festive frenzy begin!!

1. Family Pooja

Sitting for the family poojas, today’s generation have forgotten to check what does each of these days mean in the most mythological sense. How many of us know the wheres of the origin of the mythological names, the whys of the rituals associated with each of these? Let’s change that from here and know each of these days a little more ritually!

2. Dhanteras 

Dhanteras or Dhanatrayodashi marks the beginning of the three days festival celebrations. And celebrations that don’t need a day go on much longer than just Diwali. Literally speaking, Dhanteras translates to Dhan meaning wealth and Teras meaning 13th day as per Hindu calendar. Since the purchase of metals is considered auspicious on this day, we see utensils, electronic items and silver being purchased for our homes. As we make trips to the market for these purchases, Jaipur is glowing and the brightness is at its peak.

3. Rangoli

Time we light up our home, in fact every corner of it, with those traditional diyas and aroma candles too for the aesthetics these days. It is Naraka Chaturdashi or Kali Chaudas, known to us as Choti Diwali. Kali (dark) Chaudas is celebrated on the 14th day of the dark half of Hindi Āshwin month to worship Mahakali or Shakti as on this day Kali killed the wicked Narakasura. On this day, we try to sprinkle colours in a floral pattern, so as to form a beautiful rangoli at the entrance of the house.

4. Sweets

When out of the house, everybody seems to be at the sweet shop or at the jeweller’s. It is surely keeping the confectioners and the jewellers busy as a bee and happy as a clam! For those of us on the consumption end of sweets, it does not get more sugary at any other point in time. If one is counting calories, there are even diet mithais in the market. Get those for yourself or don’t get on that weighing machine.

5. Diwali

Now comes the grand welcome of the most important festival in the country, Diwali or Deepavali, the festival of lights. We have read all about it through the school textbooks; the return of lord Rama after 14 years of exile. To welcome his return, diyas (ghee lamps) are lit in total of fourteen. No matter how many clothes we have, new clothes to wear for the day are one of the best part of the festival.

6. Crackers

The Laxmi pooja with the family and the cracker bursting competition with cousins give memories worth cherishing for a long time. Some pictures should be clicked so that we do not rely on our memories completely.

So forget your worries, actually leave them to the happy breeze blowing and make the best of the year left.

Rajshri Production’s last movie Vivaah was released in 2006. So when I heard they are coming up with another movie, I was anxiously waiting for it. A lot has changed in the last nine years. The audience, the way movies were made and also the tastes. I was wondering whether the audience today would appreciate movie with Rajshri brand that are generally clean, done decently and talks about values and relationship. But I forgot….they also have PREM !!

The movie is based on some royalty in a place called Preetamgarh where Salman Khan, as Vijay Singh is heir to be. Neil Mukesh (Ajay Singh) is his step brother who wants to kill him and Swara Bhaskar (Chandrika) and Aashika Bhatia (Radhika) are step sisters who are living in a huge villa type rented house. Anupam Kher is the old trusted Diwaan Sb. We also have Armaan Kohli with his flashy shades as CEO of estate and some dumb cleavage showing lady as secretary.

And there is Sonam Kapoor as the Princess Maithelii of Devgarh who believes in flaunting her shades while taking lunch indoor. She also runs one NGO, uses a chopper to reach rescue site and also ends up giving fake smile to fake relief victims while trying to wear a saree at the calamity area.

Now enters the second Salman Khan as Prem Dilwale from Ayodhya. He runs small Ramlila company and reminds you of Bajrangi Bhaijaan in his entry. He gives all his income to the charity run by Princess Maithelii.

Being born and brought up in Rajasthan and having experienced and studied Rajasthani Royalty to the core, it was impossible to relate character of Vijay Singh as true royal or even Princess Maithelee. These are all made up characters unlike the character of Fawad Khan in the movie ‘Khoobsurat’, they failed to impress. Anyways the movie moves ahead and the lead character Prem starts to spill his magic in the lives of others. He brings love, removes hatred and also adds romance where it matters. He shaves his moustache, he ensure people play football in a royal ceremony and he dances and dances. And like all of the Rajshri movies all is well that ends well.

Salman Khan looks fresh, lean and perfect for the role. When he speaks Gujrati you can’t help but remember Hum Dil De chuke. When he dances it reminds you of Bajrangi. But he looks very powerful as the Prince. Sonam looks very pretty and plays her part well. She is quite weak in emotional scenes. Anupam Kher is wasted. Neil Nitin Mukesh looks good as a royal and is a surprise package. Swara Bhaskar gets few scenes to showcase how good she is. Armaan Kohli as the villain is bad, in fact very bad.

Some of the songs are good. The camera work with large sets and gamut of colour pleases the eyes. The movie although is not a typical Rajshri movie with huge families, their musical functions etc but manages to talk about the trust and love in a relationship. The family values etc. Watch it for Salman and his cheesy dialogues, watch it for some clean entertainment and watch it for the new Rajshri style of film making and finally watch it because it’s a festive season.

Rating : 3.5/5

East, West, North, South! To see people from all at one place is a rare sight, but it happens at very few places. Jaipur has seen this blend of artists and craftsmen from all directional heads at the ongoing Dastkar Bazaar.

Artists from all over India have been offered this common platform to showcase their artistic qualities and their craftsmanship. With Indians born with the skill of extensive crafts like paper, metal, wood, clay, fibre, textile, paintings, leather and various others, they have can create anything out of any material.

At Dastkar, you can see tribal jewellery from Ladakh, pottery and furniture from Uttar Pradesh, glass work from Delhi, Kolapuri from Maharashtra, Kalighat paintings from West Bengal, filigree work from Odisha and as you keep naming the art and craft of every state, the list continues. It doesn’t end here, if you are looking for some herbal products, it has n number of herbal soaps, creams, oils. You may also find the all time favorite earthen terracotta pots, kulhads and lamps from our very own state of Rajasthan. The Dastkar Bazaar gives us insight into the many art forms of India.

With the minimal entry fees you can also savor some specialties from every state at the food court. If you are a foodie, go try some Dabeli from the state of Gujarat, bhelpuri and sevpuri from Maharashtra, chat from Delhi and etc. If your tummy is craving and making a hungry sound, Dastkar Bazaar calls for a treat and enjoy this colorful sight.

Visit the Dastkar Bazaar @ Urban Haat, Parshuram Dwara, Opp. Jal Mahal, Jaipur as it lasts till 29th November 2015.

In today’s world majority of us don’t know what exactly we want from life, what is our interest and passion and what makes us happy. This is a very serious aspect which is addressed and showcased in Imtiaz Ali’s Tamasha. Constant struggle to be what you always want to be, to accept your dark desires and try and achieve them and to leave behind something which is well established is what Tamasha showcases.

When I went to watch the movie Shandaar, in first 7-10 minutes I knew that we have a dud in offering. Almost the same thing I felt when Ramlila begins. Tamasha also starts in such a manner and you can see the entire cinema hall becoming restless. But somehow I had faith; a faith on one man called Imtiaz Ali. One reason why lot of people didn’t like Rockstar was manner in which Imtiaz Ali used the narration and shift between flashback and present. Tamasha takes you even further, it has layers of flashback and it has layers of present. It takes some doing initially to understand director’s manner of storytelling. Trust me this will be one of the reasons too why some will not like this movie as it’s complicated and complex.

Ranbir Kapoor is Ved who meets Tara on an international holiday trip at Corsica. Both decide not to disclose their identities and continue to have fun together. In these scenes you will find lot of similarity coming from YJHD and Jab we met. The way they talk to each other, the way they entice and tempt each other resembles from earlier movies. The cinematography is simply mind blowing in this section of the movie and so are the songs.

After coming back from the trip both move on in life without meeting each other. But even after 4 years Tara is unable to forget Ved and hence she decides to hunt for him. She finds him eventually and both are ecstatic and start spending time together. But much to Tara’s dismay, the Ved she meets here in city is entirely different person from the one she fell in love with. He is a typical corporate employee who lives a run of the mill kind of life and believe in doing things as per the books and perfectly. Now he is not that carefree and fun loving story teller she met at Corsica. And from here the movie starts to talk about the struggle and fight of dual personalities, what were the reasons for Ved having such dual shades of personality, Ved’s struggle to break free from a typical urban corporate lifestyle after meeting Tara and Tara’s patience and pain in seeing Ved’s  fight back and struggle.

Any movie with Deepika in it is bound to have a substantial role for the heroine but not this one. Tamasha is about Ved and his struggle to fight his dual personalities. I am sure when Ranbir would have read this script he would have realised the risk he was taking. And with two earlier failed experiments of Roy and Bombay Velvet, it takes a lot of courage to continue experimenting. Tamasha gives you same Ranbir that we left in Rockstar. He is intense, he is fun loving, he is passionate and he is pained. Deepika is ravishing in the first part and very powerful in the second part. Her expressions in the second part are  a treat to watch.

Unfortunately A.R.Rahman’s music is not as good as in Rockstar, however the background music is very powerful. The song Tum saath ho is melodious and is beautifully shot. Heer to badi sad and Safarnama are also good.

Make no mistakes this is one complicated and complex movie and just like Rockstar some will like this and some will just not like it. Imtiaz Ali’s story telling is not too viewer friendly and he expects his audience to be a bit more intelligent and proactive. The chemistry of Deepika and Ranbir is fabulous. The second half of the movie is intense and a bit heavy. If only Imtiaz could have cut down the Corsica and some songs and got back straight to the point this would have been more gripping. Plus he totally missed showing the role of Tara during Ved’s fight back and how she was the sole reason behind it.

Watch it for Imtiaz Ali, watch it for Deepika and you cannot miss it at any cost for Ranbir. And don’t feel bad if you don’t like it, sometimes it’s better to see something intense and meaningful than ride a Chennai Express or finding Prem Ratan Dhan.

Rating 4.0/5.0 

Pushkar Fair, though every year offers the same elements apparently, has something new to perceive and remember every single time you experience this heaven on earth :) These are the 9 golden moments captured by us in Pushkar fair 2015.

1. Sunrise

When the dust mixes with golden light falling from sun, the ship of desert shines beautifully exuding absolute delight !

2. Ghats

If you really want to see and know how ‘ghat ghat ka pani’ tastes and looks, there is no better place than Pushkar.

Dear December,

We wait for you all year long, we crave for these pleasant chilled breezes which ain’t too strong and not too weak, we love the rush with which you arrive and suddenly change our lives with your winter aroma, and last but not the least, we love the package that you bring along and we never want these 31 days to pass. But being a Jaipurite, we have some special attachment with you. Do you know why? Here are the reasons :D

1. Beautiful afternoons at Padao/Nahargarh
   
   
2. Kadhai Ka Doodh At Saras Parlor
3. Interesting events like Jewellery and fashion shows
4. Bird Watching At Chandlai and Barkheda
5. Winter Snacks -Samosa, kachori, jalebi, mirchi bada, dal ke pakode
6. Christmas Holidays
   
7. Basking in sun at Central Park
8. Shopping for Jaipuri Quilted Jackets
   
9. Kite Flying
10. Bonfire nights
11. New Year’s eve
    
12. Kuch Meetha Ho jaaye – gajak, Tilpatti

Jaipur and its street food goes hand -in-hand. With the vendors selling mouth-watering delight on the streets is sure to tickle your taste buds. So, Jaipur Beat decided to take you around the hustling – bustling lanes of Raja Park for some gastronomes delight.

1. Nand Ke Golgappe

Some call it golgappas, some puchkas, Pani Patashi and so on, but on the streets of Raja Park, everyone shouts for Nand Ke Golgappe. With number of flavoured waters, it gives a khata- meetha taste to that crunchy patashi and adds that absurd smile after putting that one whole patashi in your mouth.

2. Marky Momos

Marky Momos came to present Chinese food in the way it should be and restore the splendour of Chinese cuisine. It has earned its reputation for its Honey Chilli Potatoes and Hot n Sour Chicken Soup.

3. Sethi’s Barbeque Restaurant

One of the favourite hangout places, especially for the non-vegetarians, Sethi’s offers some exquisite tandoori snacks. It has some mouth melting tikkas and to ask for some extra masala and lemon wedges, adds to a perfect tanginess to the visit.

4. Julie Furniture Ki Bhelpuri

Even though it does not have its origin here but the bhelpuri wala right opposite Julie Furniture in Raja Park has that unique taste since years now. Everyone coming down to Jaipur visits here. Serving Bhelpuri in its original style, i.e. in a daily newspaper like no other Bhelpuri wala, is its USP.

5. Swami Cafe

Another synonym to South India food in Jaipur is the Swami Cafe. Dosa is one of those Indian foods that are popular all over the world. But coming down to Jaipur not having Swami’s dosa is a visit incomplete.

6.  Golgappe wala near Parnami Mishthan Bhandaar

Apart from Nand Golgappe wala, this golgappe wala stand right at the corner near Parnami Mishthan Bhandaar and serves the best dahi wale patashi and normal patashi.

Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and even PC for a bit , we have seen that before? Remember Ram Leela? And here comes another movie with an eponymous movie title narrating the story of the Maratha Peshwa Bajirao (Ranveer Singh) and half Muslim half Rajput Mastani (Deepika Padukone) which is nothing like the previous Romeo-Juliet rip-off.

Like you know, the movie doesn’t begin with the grand entry of either of the actors, but with the flamboyant set you can’t take your eyes off of ! And then begins the story of Maratha kingdom reigned by Bajirao who has a beautiful wife Kashibai (Priyanka Chopra) and a headstrong mother Radhabai (Tanvi Azmi) and midst all his glorious victories, he runs into Mastani a.k.a Deepika, who looks so gorgeous as the warrior of Bundelkhand, dressed majorly in the palette of beige and white, typically justifying her Muslim look.

The movie goes on with some history, wars, romance, heavy poetic lines some of which are actually beautifully written, and it sure moves at a leisurely pace, but what grows on you are both the lead characters. Ranveer Singh wins you over and over again with his perfect body, swift walk and the smooth Marathi accent that literally steals your heart and makes you believe that no other actor in Bollywood right now could have bettered the role of Bajirao.

The next in line is Deepika, who initially comes across as a loyal warrior, an obsessive dreamy lover, but eventually her pain and unconditional love grows on you and the passion between them can be felt in every scene where they are together or even when they are apart.

One noticeable thing in the movie was the excessive use of water, be it Bajirao walking in a pool of water to greet an enemy, pouring water on Kashibai in a love making scene, crossing a river in a rainstorm to meet Mastani or standing in a fountain extending a hug to her, the movie uses water extensively and proves the same in the climax.

Priyanka fits well in her mellowed character of a helpless faithful wife who watches her husband fall in love with another lady but deals with it gracefully and honourably. Tanvi Azmi as Radhabai is shown to have extremely opposite relationships with Kashibai and Mastani, where she is extremely fond of the former, she truly hates the latter. Mahesh Manjrekar, Aditya Pancholi and Milind Soman are also there, although the big question is why ! But we don’t mind Milind Soman because he still looks like an Old Spice ;)
The one thing that really lets the movie down is its music. Except ‘Deewani Mastani’, sung by Shreya Ghoshal, every song is more of a lullaby and gives a feeling of déjà vu.

All in all, the movie is a onetime watch for the grandiosity, costumes, passion, colors, dialogues, romance, a little bit of history and Ranveer Singh, who according to us is the actual hero of this film.

Rating – 3.5 Beats

There’s nothing like the rich smell of cakes and cookies and other baked items, when Christmas is around the corner. The mood is already set in the town for Christmas and everyone is looking for yummy Christmas cakes, cookies, etc. Christmas trees are all decorated with a star and kids are eagerly waiting for their Christmas presents from Santa can be seen. If you are looking for delicious cakes to get that sparkle to 2015 Christmas on your dinner table, here are the best bakeries where you can get sweet Christmas cakes.

1. Brown Sugar Bakers & Café

If you want to add that perfect sweetness in your life this Christmas, Brown Sugar gives you a wide range of cakes in all its three outlets. One can always find the bakery filled with youngsters as it offers some really nice unusual combinations of food and above all, an appealing ambience, all at a very reasonable price. Though it makes some outstanding fruitcakes.

Address – Tilak Marg, C- Scheme, Jaipur

2. Bake well

Bake well, is among the oldest bakeries in Jaipur. It has been serving the masses in Jaipur, specially the locality of Raja Park with some fresh and delectable home-made bakery items. Bake well also prepares pineapple, chocolate cakes and festive delicacies during the festivities. It prepares some delicious rum cakes and fruitcakes during Christmas.

 Address – Raja Park, Jaipur

3. Nibs Chocolate Boutique

As toys are to kids, Nibs are to chocolate lovers! Nibs is the perfect confectionary in the pink city where you can savor really strong taste of coffee beans in everything, from cakes to pastries, to a dip of cookies in a cup of coffee.

Address – Sanjay Marg, Hathroi, Jaipur

4. Cakes ‘N’ Cookies

Catering the youth as well as the families, Cakes & Cookies in Raja Park definitely offers something crunchy and crispy Christmas items attracting the crowd from all around. Though the most tried and asked cake is the Chocolate Excess Cake, which can totally take you in the chocolate factory, it makes special cakes for Christmas celebrations.

Address- Raja Park, Jaipur

5. Miss Bakers

With classic pink and white theme and open ambience, Miss Bakers is known for some of its mesmerizing looking designer cakes with finest decorations. If you really want the energy treat go for the most famous and its specialty – Red Velvet Cake. It also prepares some delicious Oreo Cheesecakes and home- made chocolates, which simply are melt in the mouth. As they also specialize in designer cakes, if you really want to surprise someone this Christmas, just give Miss Bakers an idea and you will be surprised with not only the look but also with yummilicious taste.

Address – Ashok Nagar, C- Scheme, Jaipur

6. Dzurt

With some unique and different varities of cakes, patisserie, muffins, macaroons, Dzurt looks amazing and tastes super- licious! Jaipur got a patisserie shop with a totally new concept. Some of the specialty includes red velvet cheesecake, lemon drizzle cake, chocolate mud pastry, tarts, pies and the list is endless. Although it seems to be a little expensive patisserie but the cakes and above all the ambience surely attracts your attention.

Address – Jacob Road, Civil Lines, Jaipur

7. Bake Hut

Bake Hut adds a sweet tooth to the pink city by giving some pleasing taste to each and every bakery item from the menu. You can find number of cakes and cookies but, the chocolate fountain & live brownie station is the latest edition.

Address – Opp. Jaipur Hospital, Tonk Road, Jaipur

Last but not the least!

8. Lovin’ Oven

A craze of eating healthy in Jaipur continues to grow. Lovin’ Oven has come up with this distinct concept of catering to healthy lifestyles. Lovin’ Oven is a home-style bakery in the town. If you want the Christmas to be sugar free, Lovin’ Oven lets you live a healthy lifestyle with the same sweetness as any other.

Address – Mansarovar

The smell of freshly baked products is just not comforting but can simply make you hungry! So, head down to these bakeries and make your Christmas eve special, full of fun and frolic.

Merry Christmas :D