We weren’t exactly offered tea at this potter’s house we forced ourselves into. Made do with a live pottery demo and teacups in a corner.
The luxury-homestay,The Padmini Haveli guest house is the ONLY place (till now, atleast) you can stay at, inside the fort boundaries of Chittorgarh. And it is an experience not to be missed. Agreed that the stay costs a bit too much, the meals are a bit steep and a Langur could be lunging over your head at any moment, it is THE place to stay. Even if a few kilometres away, it feels so far from the dusty and characterless Chittorgarh town. In the best way possible.
There are 113 temples in Chittorgarh. Some intact, some overly-popular and some be-headed.
None, were visited by me.
Having travelled a long way from home I was clutching onto my mini-Kaavad preciously. I had seen it in Delhi and could have bought it there. But for some reason, that makes no sense to me, I told myself I’ll buy it only from the craftsman. I found out where these craftsmen lived, read about them and marked Bassi on my travel-map (which is in my head). So steering this years’ new year trip towards Chittorgarh might have had an ulterior motive after all. Chittorgarh, and 26 kms further, I was at the craft village which is the only place that makes temple shrines (and mini ones too). I was there. And I got what I had come for. What I didn’t know was that the National Award winner himself would invite me to his house for a cup of tea.
