SOUNDS of SOULS
Forbes India|April 10, 2020
With its serene atmosphere and intimate performance spaces, the centuries-old Ahhichatragarh Fort plays the perfect host to the Sacred Spirit Festival
UDAY BENEGAL
SOUNDS of SOULS

Some two hours after touching down at Jodhpur airport in mid-February, I found myself at the gates of the Ahhichatragarh Fort, after making my way through the helter-skelter of Nagaur, a rather unremarkable town. Located halfway between Jodhpur and Bikaner, Nagaur is a typical old Indian town confused about its place in the modern world—it is choked with vehicles, shops and loudspeakers blaring everything from calls to prayer to sub-bass-pumping Bollywood hits. But although chaos engulfed the fort from all quarters, inside was a whole other world altogether.

Row upon row of white tents were set within the sand-and-stone acreage of the 12th-century fortress, looking like a luxe barracks: Each tent was outfitted with a double bed, heater, floor fan, converted electric ‘laltains’ and a bathroom with running hot water and toiletries by a luxury ayurvedic brand. Traditional Rajasthani designs and motifs brightened up the otherwise staid safari tents, lending a local touch to the bedspread, durries, and curtains.

As I set off on a walkabout around the property, scaled a flight of stairs to the ramparts and circumambulated the site, the contrast between the chaos outside the fortress walls and the serenity within became stark.

This story is from the April 10, 2020 edition of Forbes India.

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This story is from the April 10, 2020 edition of Forbes India.

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