A trip to Ranakpur: A place known, a destination Unknown.
The partly decadent Aravalli, Tropical desert forest, picturesque Jain temple, gurgling hilly brooks, and nature’s deadliest predators--- constitute the world of Ranakpur: A lifetime trip down memory lane. The two are simply different: a ‘Tour’ to somewhere, and ‘Travelling’ that place, in real. The former is making an itinerary, booking the transport, conforming accommodation in the best possible hotel, and finally ticking against the checklist of a few ‘Tourist’ spots. However, ‘Travelling’ is more of a conscious experience on parts of individuals and is a process of continuous exchange between the ‘Other’ and ‘I’. It is more than just visiting the places of popular interest, buying souvenirs, or finding the perfect frame for a catchy social media feed. I remember, somewhere I came across a beautiful description about who a ‘Traveller’ really is, by the French litterateur Baudelaire. The man delineates: a ‘Traveller’ is ‘An observer, is a prince, who is everywhere in possession of hi...