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The Pretty City Girl | Indian Travel & Lifestyle Blog


More than a year ago, I started my journey of finding myself on a 40-day solo trip around India. The plan was simple: to thrive and survive. 

I included all the places I wanted to visit or were too unique to my taste. The first place, which was closest to Maharashtra (my home) was Mount Abu. However, reaching here wasn’t easy. So I booked a train to Udaipur and then a bus to Mount Abu.

I reached Udaipur at 4 in the morning and waited at the railway station for 3 hours before my bus to Mount Abu.
I had a mix of feelings. My mom had come to see me off at the Vasai Road station. Bidding goodbye was the toughest part. I remember looking at her through the glass window of my three tier ac train and the train moved as she stood on the platform. I started weeping after she left and the co-passengers just looked at me.

Later an elderly woman asked, “Are you going for studies or a job?” I said, “I’m going on a solo trip around India. Mount Abu is my first stop. I’m going alone.” She gave me blessings and that’s how my journey started.

I remember having crying sessions every now and then not because I felt lonely but because I was carrying a baggage from my past which I wished to erase completely. 

Reaching early morning at 4 in Udaipur wasn’t that smooth. It was still pitch dark, the station was empty but I chose to wait there, on a black bench for three hours. I nibbled on Hide & Seek and yearned for tea. Unfortunately the canteen opened at 8 am so I couldn’t have my morning tea. I rushed for a private bus stop and hopped on in my bus, the semi-luxury bus was hopeless with its torn seats and rusty interiors. My journey to Mount Abu started...

The reason I’d picked Mount Abu was merely due to curiosity. For some reason, since childhood, I always assumed Mount Abu was some sort of a desert with treasure chests burrowed beneath the sand. Where characters from Arabian Nights appear magically...


However, Mount Abu was just like a regular hill station.

The walk from my hotel to the Nakki Lake was quite a challenge because the road was frequented by drunk men in groups and I was walking alone, pretending to be Salman Khan or some ‘bhai’ of that area with my chest pumped up and arms stretched out. Perhaps my only weapon was the fact that I knew to speak Marwari, thanks to my Rajasthani neighbours. 
By using Google Maps, I reached the lake and with my boat rider, I rowed for 30 mins. The experience resembled to Nainital’s Naini Lake. Post boating, I tried climbing the Toad Rock but neither my guts nor my stamina allowed me to. I planned on going back to the hotel before it turned dark. 

Post dinner, I slept but was woken again as my periods had started! Just the 2nd day of the trip, and the ‘crimson wave’ had hit me. The next day was going to be the busiest. I had plans of sightseeing Mount Abu followed by an overnight sleeper-bus journey to Jaipur. I myself know how I pulled it off. I popped a pill to avoid the pain and the blood flow was reduced too due to it. But my strength had weakened completely. I was exhausted! I reached Jaipur the next day at 5 am. 

HOW TO REACH MOUNT ABU

The best way to reach Mount Abu is by getting down at any major city such as Jaipur or Udaipur and then take a bus to Mount Abu. You can book a bus via Redbus. After reaching the bus depot in Mount Abu, hire a cab to your hotel. The minimum cab fare is Rs 100. 


WHERE TO STAY IN MOUNT ABU FOR A SOLO FEMALE TRAVELLER

Mount Abu is a hill station that lies near the border of Gujarat, an India state where the sale of alcohol is prohibited. So when the residents want to party, they drive down to Mount Abu. The chances are high you spot men around the restaurants and on roads who are there for nothing but consuming a lot of alcohol. 

And when I had been to Mount Abu, I came across a very few families; I saw groups of men the most. And though that does not always mean you're unsafe, risking life is not advisable. I recommend going for a family-friendly resort, preferably a 3-starred resort for ensuring maximum safety. These resorts also have tie-ups with decent cabbies and the experience of touring the place will be safer and better. And although this means shelling out Rs 1300-2000 a night, it will be worth it in the end. 

Where to stay in Mount Abu? I had stayed at Hotel Aravali, which I recommend a hundred percent for its hospitality, rooms, staff, food, and an extremely jolly owner, whom I met personally during my stay. In case the resort is overbooked, then go for any good resort (not a lodge, not a shady place) as close to the Nakki Lake as possible. Hotel Aravali is quite close and I had walked down until the lake. 

THINGS TO DO IN MOUNT ABU FOR A SOLO FEMALE TRAVELLER / MOUNT ABU ITINERARY

Day 1
Two days are enough in Mount Abu, especially if you're alone and seeking a break from your everyday schedule. I would suggest leaving the hotel a bit early, around 3pm and heading to the Nakki Lake (try to get a hotel near to the lake so that you can walk instead of paying Rs 100, which is the minimum cab fare). Near the market outside the lake, try dal bati or any local dish. 

indian girl on boat

Post your meal, go boat riding at Nakki Lake followed by a climb on the Toad Rock. Again, there will be groups of males but you might come across females too (not solo, of course). So when climbing, just be prepared for men, especially if you don't know the local language. 

I suggest getting down from Toad Rock before it turns dark as the forest could get lonely and not safe considering it's a hill station and you're a solo female traveller in Mount Abu. Head straight to your hotel before it is dark. 

Take a nice shower and have dinner at the hotel. 

Day 2
For the second day, book a day-cab from the hotel or from the local taxi union the previous day. Usually the package includes Shankar Math, Honeymoon Point, Nakki Lake Selfie Point, Lover's Point, Trevor's Tank, Shree Somnath Mahadev Temple, and Guru Shikhar Hill Point. All the places are touristy honestly but there's nothing else you can expect from a commercial hill station. While the Trevor's Tank is a place located between forest, where you can sit for hours and contemplate, the Guru Shikhar point is the highest peak of Mount Abu, something you should not miss, especially for the view. 

For a solo female traveller in Mount Abu, the best way to truly enjoy the place is to relax and rewind at your resort (which is additionally why you should go for a nice property) and enjoy the boat ride at Nakki Lake. For food, apart from local cuisine, there's also Domino's near the lake in case you're looking for hygiene standards during the COVID times. 
December 29, 2020 1 comments
mutter paneer with onions and roti

Which dish do you make the most in winters? For me it's probably gajar ka halwa and all possible recipes using green peas. So whether it is Recipe for Mutter Paneer or mutter parathe or patties, you cannot get enough of this seasonal veggie. For any recipe, my go-to person is my bestie Keshav. I always ask him for recipes and he ends up giving really delicious, authentic recipes from his mom's kitchen. This is the third recipe I'm trying and it's been a super hit in my household so far. Last time it was Panchratna Dal and Gud ke Chawal recipe, this time it is Mutter Paneer recipe restaurant style (psst! also wait for Methi Mutter Malai recipe coming soon)

INGREDIENTS for MUTTER PANEER RECIPE
250gm paneer, diced
1 1/2 cups, green peas
Tomatoes, diced
Onions, diced
Yogurt
Cashews
Green chilli
Ginger 
Garlic
Green cardamoms
Peppercorns
Cumin seeds
Bay leaf
Red chilli powder
Coriander powder
Garam masala
Cumin powder
Turmeric
Salt
Sugar

MUTTER PANEER RECIPE RESTAURANT STYLE

Note: If using store bought paneer, soak in warm water for 20 minutes before you begin the recipe. And if using frozen peas, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes before using in the recipe.

onions tomatoes fried for Indian curry

1. If you're using fresh green peas, then put them on boil.
2. Meanwhile, heat a tablespoon of oil in a pot/pan on medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add green cardamoms, peppercorns and cumin seeds. Sauté until the spices are fragrant and the cumin seeds sizzle for few seconds.
3. Then add onions, ginger, garlic and green chilli.
4. Cook for five minutes until the onions are light brown and soft.
5. Add tomatoes and cashews. Continuing frying. 
6. Cover the pot with a lid and let it cook for 6 to 7 minutes until the tomatoes are really soft.
7. Turn off the flame and let the mixture cool down a bit. Once it has cooled down a little, transfer to a blender and grind to a smooth paste. Keep aside.
mutter paneer with onion and roti
Liked Recipe for Mutter Paneer? Pin it for later!

8. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a pan on medium heat. Add bay leaf and then add the red chilli powder.
9. Sauté for few seconds until you see a nice bright red colour.
10. Then add in the prepared onion-tomato paste back into the pan and mix well.
11. Add the coriander powder, garam masala, cumin powder, turmeric, salt and sugar. Mix well and cook the spices for a minute.
12. Whisk in the yogurt, stirring continuously until it mixes well.
13. Then add water to the pan and let it come to a boil.
14. Add paneer cubes and boiled green peas. Stir and then cover the pan. Let it simmer for 6 to 7 minutes on medium heat.
15. Sprinkle some garam masala on top and enjoy with onions and roti. 
December 26, 2020 No comments
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I'm Rutuja, a travel & lifestyle writer and youtuber. I make videos and love to explore the unexplored. Welcome to my blog! Read more about me.

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