JOWT… The tagline says it all. Enriching lives through travel.
Many must be identifying with the line, most must be wondering how, and few must not even have noticed.
As I started penning down my travelogues, memories flooded and, all the time I felt a warm glow as each destination enriched me, and every time I returned a new person with an incremental change and so Justonewayticket.in was born.
My journeys enriched me and I wanted to spread the joy by sharing my experiences which evolved me and changed my perspective towards life. I feel today I am more patient and can survive better, dealing with life as it comes, can endure being minimalist and topmost as a traveler, I am aware what responsibility I carry.
So what is that, enriched me? The touristy itinerary. Yes that too is important, hadn’t it been there, probably the world tourism industry wouldn’t have been the success it is today, but there is much more than just the touristy itinerary.
As I traveled along the beautiful destinations, stories unraveled about the human community across the world, Art, Music, food, architecture, and sharing moments became the highlight of the journeys and made a difference by enriching me. I started looking beyond the itinerary which I feel should be the thing …..For a traveler.
The unforgettable Hampi
As the trip took shape, visiting all monuments and ruins was, of course, the primary activity. Intriguing as they are, I wanted to hear it from someone who belonged to the ruling dynasty. My efforts and perseverance led me to the 19th in the lineage of the Krishnadevraya dynasty, the present royal family head.
With my brief introduction, excited to the moon but apprehensive, I remember posting a message, a prompt response and acknowledgment made me dance..
Welcomed by a forty year young dynamic royal his highness, a Mech. Engineer who spent a few years working abroad, and is now back to his roots with vigor to reestablish, reinstate certain traditions which were very much there and helped in the upkeep of the monuments. With help of the locals, the work is in progress and he talks fondly about the history and with zeal about the upcoming projects taken up for the region and preservation.
With the royal family
The next five hours were spent with the royals of three generations each coming from a different lineage having stories to narrate about each one’s dynasty and kingdoms, battles fought, palaces and forts that were to be abandoned, the rich culture, traditions, and food which are still adhered to and passed on the younger generations so that they are carried further.
The tour of the old, modest size but technologically renovated palace gives us glimpses of yesteryear’s and years to come. We are tongue-tied. I call this as modest as I see a bigger palace ruins just across the road, destroyed by Tipu Sultan.
Enriched I am! With a bagful of stories and memories with a closer insight in history and the life of the people who created it all. How education is and was important, how they too as royals had loads of responsibilities to be fulfilled.
State and people always being the propriety over families. How women were superlatively respected and regarded with their suggestions and opinions …… How the land, its rules, and traditions have to be followed and protected from being extinct… As I listen I am overwhelmed and grateful for his highness’s work, generosity, and yet the streak of being royal. justonewayticket.in/magical-miracle-called-hampi/
While I buy I think of the weaver … Yeola Paithani weaver
This day trip immediately after the pandemic is utterly memorable. The traveler was out on the loose after almost a year. Stacked in our cars we are to meet the weavers of the five and nine yards silk ceremonial fabric of India.
Especially in my part of the world i.e Maharashtra, Paithani is a must have. Just 80 km away is the hub of Paithani weaving. A small town called YEOLA which blooms with many power looms and few hand looms.
It’s every bride and the Bride’s mother’s dream to have this luxurious plush delicate silk woven in intricate patterns majorly colorful birds, flowers and leaves taking the center stage. The borders are a typical pattern a connoisseur can identify the make from the border. Buyers throng from all over the world.
The Mungikars are famous weavers like many, but we chose him as he still weaves on a hand loom. Though the weaving has shifted from hand to power it’s the same feeling of Organic and non-organic.
We are welcomed by a 90 year old Grandma, with a broad smile and content oozing from her face. She says, she is happy to meet people after long, as before this is what she did. Story telling her way through weaver and silk art stories and ultimately making a sale.
As the many five yards are unfolded each one having a story are eyes twinkle. We go from crimson to red and the mind visualizes each one hanging in the wardrobe but it’s not to be, as the prices are skyrocketing.
The 90 year old and the weaver have been closely observing us, and now he is excited about a probable sale. It’s as near as to fall prey to the predator.
As we move to the loom which I never knew would be a life-changing experience. The hand loom is set in a small room, and is covered with spindles in various silks and zhari threads.
A plain weave with weft figuring the designs, the sound of spindles being pulled and the rhythmic coordination of hand and feet to create some legendary motifs. It takes ten to fifteen days to create a five yards Paithani.
Mr. Mungikar works eight to 10 hours each day and every piece is sheer precision, right from the quality silk and zhari thread purchase, it’s dying, it’s weaving and selling its painstakingly long process.
Once a dying art is now revived and thanks to worldwide recognition the tradition of weaving is passed on from generations after generations at the Mungikars especially on the hand loom which is enriching.
I go back to the one hanging in my wardrobe and make another purchase, a very small contribution to the hard work of the community of weavers, and the arts and culture of my country.
Normally as a traveler, I feel the communities should be empowered to sustain their art and this can happen only if trade and commerce happen directly through the outlets by the government.
Sustainable Travel
So JOWT (Just one way ticket) is all about returning as a new person with value addition to self, peers, family and to the society. If you wish to experience these elements in travel feel free to connect to us on my social media handle or write to me on justonewayticket20@gmail.com
We are happy to share the resources we have. Stay tuned to Blogs by Varsha Mahore. Enriching lives through travel.
Upbeat Experiences
Kutch: http://justonewayticket.in/the-kutchi-zhola-_bagful-of-memories/
Bhutan: http://justonewayticket.in/bhutan_the-happiest-country-in-the-world/
Amritsar: http://justonewayticket.in/for-the-love-of-chole-kulche-amritsar/
Planning a trip to Hampi to check the itinerary
Hampi: https://justonewayticket.in/itinerary-for-hampi-and-badami/
