Let’s talk about love! Not something I’m overly familiar with but inspiration can strike when one least expects it. Love comes in many shapes and forms, it can be loving, it can be all encompassing it can be tough, it can be nuanced, it can be nurturing. These forms can also be expressed in many ways, let’s take symbolism for example;
Mayur meaning peacock, in this instance a rare white peacock, fascinating, mesmerising, unique, to be cherished. Romantic love.
Basant meaning spring, the bursting forth of colour, flowers in bloom, joyful, playful, romantic.
Jal meaning water, décor depicted by cranes, graceful and beautiful they mate for life and mourn for life. Romantic, everlasting love.
Gowhduli meaning cow dust time, that special time of day, after a day tending cattle in the meadows, time for play and music and entertaining friends, it is a special light at this time of day. Love of friendship.
Sawan the monsoon rains, replenishing, quenching, nurturing, a time of joy, love, celebration and poetry. Romantic, live affirming love.
Padma meaning lotus, in this case the flower that surrounds you, a flower that is teased by birds and bees, flitting and flirting, taking and giving, immersive and nurturing. Romantic immersive love.
Diwali a celebration of light over darkness, victory over evil, the love of life, health, prosperity. ???
Sakranti a celebration of the winter solstice moving into spring, depicted by joy and light and colour and playfulness and in Jaipur the Kite Festival a time to play, to take in the warmth and, energy and healing of the sun’s rays. Life affirming, nurturing love.
Utsav meaning festival, in this case, the festival of the celebration of the bringing of a new life. Depicted by mango leaves and marigolds and children’s toys and In this case a depiction of, the birth of Lord Krishna, depicted by a deep red symbolising the nurturing of a mother’s love.
This is really where this tale begins.
A love of art, a love of culture, a love of nature, a love of stories for what are we without stories?
All the above are rooms, in Jaipur’s latest boutique hotel offering where each room has been designed to celebrate the life and loves of this playful Indian God. A god of compassion and protection, a god depicted in many forms as a prankster, a child god, a lover and a hero.
We often talk about a ‘Labour of Love,’ but I’d rather think of this as a creation of love. Such thought, such fun, such stories and such skill came together in just seven months, driven by the desire to see the finished product. Oh how I wish for this story it had been nine!
When I heard that a hotel had been created about a god I did wonder if it all might be a bit much for the western palate, but this is a place where you come, check into your room, marvel at the décor throughout and then either think, ‘Well, this is all rather nice,’ find out the story about your room and head out sightseeing. Or, you can delve into the stories, the nuances and the intricacies with your hosts, Shan (artist and INTACH specialist) and Diviyani (Avid Jaipurite and foodie) who explain it all in such a wonderful, easy and evocative way that it draws you in.
Naturally, little Miss Curious over here not only got drawn in, but went on a rollercoaster, read up on the poetry of Surdas and Kabir, went down rabbit holes and three days later, I’ve forcefully dragged myself out to scribe these few lines. A thesis wouldn’t be enough!
But, I hear you ask, you can’t go nosey(ing) into other people’s rooms to look at the artwork and get the full story. And no, you can’t. But that’s where their latest offering comes in, The Laalee Thali! This is a meal with a dish designed around each room, where pictures are shown, stories are shared and food imbibed to create an experience on a plate! What fun!
A RARE Hotel isn’t just becoming aware, a RARE Hotel isn’t just about rooms, it is about the story, experiences, ambiance, and being eco conscious. Well, we’ve got the story, they’ve created more experiences than I’ve mentioned here, and they’ve also planted over 300 trees around the neighbourhood (and their own garden) to provide shade and a home to the local birdlife.
Now then, back to me and where this started, love not being something I’m overly familiar with! But I was put in Jal, with the cranes that mate for life. I mean, I can take that as a sign right? I’ve a good few years left in me yet? Or perhaps it depicts my relationship with India….. Or perhaps I’m just overthinking it?
Regardless, a RARE Hotel isn’t just a stay, it’s the quintessential essence of what India is, and that is The Laalee.
To explore how we can work together:
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Email: experiences@indianexperiences.com