Bengal Paint Quirks
Part of the dining room ensemble, this crockery cabinet is tailor-made from plywood and MDF with ivory coloured lacquer, fluted glass shutters, and brass handles from Studio Made. The pendant light hanging next to the cabinet is from IKEA, and is made from steel with an acrylic coating and glass crystals. Arjun Krishna
The client handed over a well-defined briefto incorporate neutrals, French design, mouldings, and cornices, tropical monotone wallpapers and brass detailsalbeit with a unique twist. “The design was born out of two schemes put together: delicate French detailing and a chic farmhouse feel,” explains Mehra. “We swore by neutrals in this project. The palette is dominated by ivory, greys, beige, cream, pista green, sea blue, and taupe. For furnishings and upholstery we chose linens and cottons; while the carpentry sees neutral paint shades with some brass-and-cane elements. We used a lot of wallpapers to be able to transport the clients to another space and time,” she adds. Also read: Ahmedabad: No two rooms are alike in this gorgeous bohemian weekend villa
This corridor leads to the door which open out into the backyard of the house. As this space is. bengal paint quirks.
Bengal Paint Quirks
beautifully curated pieces of furniture and furnishings. The 17-foot showstopper, painted by artist Sachin Samson, forms the backdrop for the living room seating. The artwork is almost life-like. It portrays the celebration of life, and the joy of immersing oneself in the moment. Tijara is an ancient settlement, possibly the Trigarta Pradesh (land of three craters) alluded to in the Ramayana. The construction of the fort, with artisans from as far off as Kabul, was started in 1835 by Balwant Singh, a prince of Alwar who had been awarded the parganas of Tijara, Kishangarh, Mandhan, Karnikot and Mundawar, with the capital at Tijara, when the Alwar state was split up after the death of his father Bakhtawar Singh in 1814. Maharaja Balwant Singh was building the fort in honour of his mother, Moosi Maharani, who had committed sati. But his premature death in 1845 put a stop to the construction. When the Neemrana Group took over the project, there were only three structures on the ground: the Rani, Mardana and Hawa mahals. So reimagining was not an indulgence, it was a necessity. Honestly, if I didn’t know this, I would not have been able to tell. The new construction has.
Bengal Paint Quirks
touches. Glass bricks at the bottom of the pool let in shimmering beams of natural light. In another section of the fort, an auditorium with theatre-style seats salvaged from Mumbai sits above some new rooms overlooking a Japanese garden conceived by Vivek Shukla, Resident Manager and gardening enthusiast. A Jain restaurant with chowki-style seating is in the works. As if all this weren’t enough, the Tijara experience has been enriched immeasurably by the introduction of art into the equation. Each of the rooms has been decorated by an artist, architect, photographer or designer featuring original artwork as well as reproductions, and is named after them. (I stayed in Laila Mahal, with its private octagonal turret room as a bonus, and loved Laila Tyabji’s inspired selection of textiles including the intricate kalamkari fabric hung above the beds.) Some have simply contributed the art, after which the creative minds at Neemrana swung into action and conceived the interiors around it; some have, quite simply, poured their souls into it. Shukla-ji was nice enough to show me several of the rooms. The experience left me stunned. The Surya Mahal with its modern twist on the mango motif, for instance, features installations by artists.
Bengal Paint Quirks
for specific nooks and crannies. I loved the Darbar Hall in the Mardana Mahal, with its clever ikat tiles which could easily be mistaken for a carpet. I got into the habit of checking on the horse busts on the ground floor of the Rani Mahal. I adored the view from the glass lift tucked away in the Rani Mahal. But most of all I liked climbing the stairs up to the Hawa Mahal and feeling the wind on my face. Forts are all about the view. Strategically placed on an Uluru-like outcrop, Tijara offers fine views of the surrounding countryside including the date plantation flourishing next to an erstwhile dam wall dating to the British era. And the best views are from the Hawa Mahal. My meals at Tijara were all excellent, with a healthy selection of salads on offer, and, possibly, an unhealthy spread of desserts too. But I like to maintain a balance, so… The best part is, Tijara is also trying to make a change outside the fort walls, working for the upliftment of the nearby village of Sarheta in areas like sanitation and health for the last few years. Most recently, Neemrana Hotels, with help.
Bengal Paint Quirks
Peeyush Bachlaus, GM, Marketing, Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd, told me that there were plans to introduce art therapy for the kids as well. “We are actively considering art therapy for the special needs children of Sarheta with the help of the Neemrana Group of Hotels,” he said. Who would have thought a coat or two of paint could catalyse such a change. But then that’s the story of Tijara in a nutshell too, isn’t it? GETTING THERE Tijara is an approximately 100km/2.5–3hr drive from Delhi, via Bhiwadi. It’s the closest such heritage property to the NCR. It’s an easy drive but do stay alert for the turnoff at Dharuhera towards Bhiwadi on NH48. THE STAY Tijara Fort-Palace (₹ 6,500 onwards, includes breakfast, GST extra; neemranahotels.com) currently offers around 70 rooms across the fort, the majority being in the Rani and Mardana Mahals. More rooms are in the works. Descriptions of the rooms are available on the Neemrana Hotels website and we’d definitely suggest you go through them before picking one for your stay. You’ll probably want to return anyway, just to stay in another room and have a totally different experience. WHAT TO SEE & DO Places of tourist interest.
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