This time again I got an opportunity to be part of the exciting literary event called as Jaipur Literature Festival. The event happens at the Pink City Jaipur which is the capital of the Colorful state of Rajasthan.
As expected, this event was no less exciting than the previous ones.
As shared in my previous blog on Top 10 reasons to attend Jaipur Literature Festival, JLF is a literature festival which attracts writers from around the world.
I planned my schedule to attend this event as I checked out the list of Authors who were visiting here from around the world. The details are available on their website. I was particularly excited about meeting Helen Fielding the writer of Bridget Jones Diary one of my favorite book. Did I meet her? Yes of course and we even interacted over exclusive delegate dinner at Amer Fort.
Read ahead to know more about this amazing literary event which has so much to offer and explore !
Colorful Interiors were unforgettable
Super excited I was on day one, as I reached to witness amazing debates after one year. I heard some great topics and discussions to ponder upon and participated in the sessions.
Check out the slideshow below from our Instagram Page.
Also day one is full of excitement for the person who loves colors. The interiors of this event are extremely colorful. It adds on to the vibes of festivity. As expected this time the welcome area was made up of “cardboard wind chimes”, painted in different colors, depicting the “windows of Hawa Mahal”. As shared in my previous blog on JLF this area was earlier decorated with puppets and a year before by Colorful Rajasthani Umbrellas. I love the colorful interior each year. Here is the sneak preview of the decorations this JLF 2018 had to offer.
Sessions in various Gardens
Next, I reached various gardens called as Front Lawn or Mughal Garden or Baithak or Charbagh. This time too they were welcoming as ever.
Tip- It got more crowded this time than before, so I chose morning time to avoid the crowd and enjoy sessions.
There was a room reserved for delegates to attend the sessions exclusively, and that was some relief when the crowd grew up. The sessions happen back to back and one might need a break .In case you need a time off from the session you can even enjoy shopping at the same venue.
I opted for Delegate Experience, I decided to visit this event as the delegate and it made my visit one of the best ever!!
As a delegate, you can dine out with authors and enjoy special debate discussions. One needs to book the delegate ticket online in advance and it is worth every penny.
Delegate Lunch Experience
This event was nothing less than a vacation package for me and no vacation get over without mentioning the food. As shared in my previous blog on JLF the Diggi ki Chai and the food is amazing.
This time as a delegate I got exclusive lunch inside the Diggi Palace, with amazing live music from around different part of India. Here is a look at the lunch over live music an event I cannot forget.
Ending the day with the Musical evening at the Clarks Concert
The evening as a delegate is the one you don’t want to miss out.After a long day full of discussion and book launches the writer and delegates visit at hotel Clark Amer for the musical evening. One can go to Clarks Amer to attend various live fusion music and hear famous artists like Karsh Kale, David Gray, Kutle Khan and many more. They even had amazing Jazz and Blue session, followed by contrasting live folk music.
Tip – The evening ends with exclusive dinner at the poolside where you will bump into your favorite author which can give an opportunity to interact with them.
Exclusive Theatre at Hawa Mahal
We all have visited Hawa Mahal at the pink city Jaipur but this time I got an exclusive offer as the delegate.
We were excited to get the opportunity to witness theatre performance called as “The Troth” inside the Hawa Mahal and in Nighttime.
Hawa Mahal of the fort of wind is so beautiful. It was amazing to get inside at night where it was lit up so beautifully that only the video below can explain it. Sitting next to writers from around the world we witnessed this amazing show in the open air under the dazzling starry sky in the heart of Jaipur city in Rajasthan.
An evening I can never forget at Amer Fort
To make the event special there was live music by Classical Musicians playing Sarangi at the Welcome gate of the Amer Fort called the Ganesh Pol. There was a tribute to Gazal Singer Jagjeet Singh singer Shekhar Ravjiani.
I reached Amer fort in the night and witnessed how beautiful it looked. Earlier I visited the fort in morning time but night charm is exclusive. Now open in the night I can never forget this experience called as night tourism by Rajasthan Tourism. The video below shares how grandly we got welcomed at this event.
As if the welcome was not enough we stepped up to realize comfortable sitting arrangement done outside the grand and royal welcome gate of Amer called the Ganesh Pol. The video below shares how grand was this musical evening at Amer Fort and Ganesh Pol.
Need I say more there was exclusive dinner event at the not so common area of Amer Fort and the master drummer of Rajasthan Natthu Lal Solanki performed live here!!
I met all my favorite authors here over dinner and discussed tips on writing and gathered inspiration. An evening I can never forget in my life.
Coming back to the literature event and book launches. The video below describes how the sessions were done and so much knowledge one can gain in this exciting event.
Plan your trip to Jaipur in January to attend this amazing event which always leaves you inspired. Leave comment below to share how you felt about this virtual tour of an excisitng literary event !
I have been to Jaipur many years ago and this city has always giving me plenty of surprises. The last time I went, I didn’t have enough time to explore so many places. I wish to go back to do more of the ‘to do list’ that you have suggested.
I visit Jaipur often and believe me every time I discover something new . You are right theres a lot to see. Next time plan your trip it in January as you can see this event too.
oh em gee! look at all these pictures! the event sounds fantastic and so entertaining! I haven not been to a festival in ages, let alone a literature festival! But i am such a bookworm and literature lover that i am sure i’d love to attend!
Glad you are literature lover too and I could share this event virtually with you 🙂
I love the bright colors in each of your pictures! I looks exactly like an event I would love to attend!
Glad I could share this event virtually with you, colors here are so amazing indeed.
What an amazing event to experience! It all looks so colourful and beautiful. I would love to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival one day!
Thank you, glad you liked this post! The colors makes me go back here every year 🙂
That’s good to know that being a delegate gives you a better experience. It’s cool that you got to meet the authors and such.
Yes, as delegate one get such amazing options to see exclusive sessions, one of the best lunch and dining experience, concert passes an opportunity to meet authors. Totally worth it 🙂
The pink city of Jaipur is truly beautiful…being an Indian I will try visiting there ,Rajasthan food heard a lot will try for sure !!
Thank you, glad you liked this post! That’s one reason Rajasthan is my favorite destination.
It sounds like a really exciting event! I used to go to almost all the book fairs from my home country, when I used to live in the capital. I was always nervous to meet my favorite author and get his signature on his newest book. And a great opportunity to discover and buy new great reads.
You will surely love this place. the sessions are amazing and we get the opportunity to meet the authors and get a book signed. Thank you, glad you liked this post!
This looks like an incredible festival. So glad to hear it leaves you inspired. I bet it is amazing to attend and so much fun.
I met such great personalities, authors and celebrities here over lunch dinner and sessions and I realized you always learn so much when you meet such intelligent people. Thank you, glad you liked this post!
Wow, it looks like this place has a little of everything for everyone! Sounds like great spaces for dining and also for swimming. So fun!
You are right, this event offers so much. Thank you, glad you liked this post!
This sounds like such a great event. It must have been really awesome to meet all your favourite authors!
Yes as the delegate I got the opportunity to attend dinner with them. Thank you, glad you liked this post!
festival looks super interesting! I wish I could attend! and the architecture of the place is lovely, great style.
The venue is so royal, it only adds to the feel of it. Thank you, glad you liked this post!
This sounds like an event that would have been really nice for me to attend. I would have loved interacting with authors and also being in that garden.
I met Helen Fielding here, a few years back I heard Jhumpa Lahiri here too and many other authors. Thank you, glad you liked this post!
Wow! This event sounds and looks wonderful! I was in awe at your pictures and video of the decorations, I love colourful backgrounds. Also what a great opportunity to dine and meet your favourite writers!
Thank you, glad you liked this post! It was indeed very colorful.
What a beautiful place! I am a huge fan of colour so this looks amazing to me. There is so much to see and do! That pool looks lovely as well. What an interesting festival to go to! How did you get started with it?
Thank you, glad you liked this post! I started visiting here a few years back and each time I got glued to the color and festivities. My husband introduced me to this event as he is an avid reader and read about this festival. We decided to explore this event and got so much in return, that we are now a regular visitor to this fest.I am already waiting to attend the one in 2019 🙂
There’s so many different types of event and festival all over the world and reading articles like this make me understand how little I know. Thanks for sharing this exciting literary event!
Thank you, glad you liked this post! Plan a trip someday to this event. 🙂
This looks like a fantastic festival. Your photos are so lovely and attractive. and that is such a great opportunity to have a chance to take dine and meet your favorite writers.
Thank you, glad you liked this post! I loved meeting the authors 🙂
looks amazing there 😀 Great post!
xx
Patricia & Miguel
http://www.freeoversea.com
Thank you, glad you liked this post!