Thaindian News

Jodhpur, Oct 5 (IANS) It was a hectic but fascinating day for British royals Prince Charles and his wife Camilla Parker Bowles who had come to this historic city in Rajasthan Tuesday on a day’s visit during which he even danced with folk artistes.

After spending almost one full day meeting army officials, visiting erstwhile royals of Jodhpur and spending time in a village to observe a water harvesting and conservation project, the British royals flew back to London from here at 8.20 p.m., officials said.

Earlier in the day, the visiting couple was accorded a royal welcome by the erstwhile rulers of Jodhpur when they arrived at the Umaid Bhawan Palace here, sources said.

Gaj Singh, erstwhile ruler of Jodhpur, his wife Hemlata Raje and his daughter Shivranjani welcomed the prince and his wife in a traditional manner.

“He was garlanded amid traditional welcome songs and dances by folk artistes,” said sources close to the erstwhile royal family of Jodhpur.

Prince Charles also held discussions with the former royals on different issues, including the preparations for the wedding of former prince Shivraj Singh.

The British guests were served a royal lunch, which included continental, Indian and Rajasthani cuisine. “He especially enjoyed the traditional Indian sweet, halwa, and lichi juice,” sources said.

After the lunch, he rested a while in the palace, sources said.

Prince Charles earlier arrived at an Indian Air Force station here at 11.55 a.m. in a chartered plane from Chandigarh and was received by senior air force and army officials.

District Collector Sidharth Mahajan and Superintendent of Police Mahesh Goyal were also present, officials said.

“After spending a few minutes at the airport, Prince Charles drove to the army’s desert corp’s headquarters where he met Commander Narendra Singh,” an official told IANS.

Later in the day, Prince Charles visited the famous Bijolai Fort and witnessed the natural beauty of the Kaylana Lake.

He also looked at the initiatives undertaken by local NGO, Jal Bhagirathi Foundation, for water harvesting and conservation, sources said.

The prince also visited Tolasar Charna village and gained first-hand knowledge about the culture of Marwar region and its water related festivals. He and his wife were very excited after their interaction with villagers, sources said.

In the village, he also participated in a function organized on a pond developed by the foundation and took stock of the traditional water resources and water conservation methods.

As the British royals reached the pond, they were greeted at glittering functions showcasing the cultural richness associated with festivals.

On the one side, there were glimpses of the Holi festival while, on the other side, two children were shown anticipating or forecasting the weather using the traditional methods.

It was here that the prince started to dance with folk artistes. “He loved the folk songs and dances so much that he joined the folk artistes and danced with them for few minutes”, sources added.

Before their departure, the royal visitors enjoyed dinner with Jodhpur’s erstwhile ruler Gaj Singh at Bal Samand heritage resort where, too, folk songs and dances were organised.

The Prince of Wales first visited the city in 2006.