Hassan Ali – The three – in – one driver at Kumbalghat

While returning after lunch in a restaurant on the New Year day , my wife Malathi suggested we call Hassan Ali , our taxi driver who took us around Rajasthan during our ten days vacation at the Club Mahindra resort at Kumbalghat in September  this year. Luckily , he was at home and not on duty and answered my phone . We wished him and his family all the best for the new year and he was very happy we called .

If our stay , travel and sight seeing were enjoyable and memorable , Hassan Ali played a major part in this . Right from the time he met us outside Falna railway station , he touched a tender chord in our heart . I lost my spectacles in the train and was in trouble from the word GO and he promptly offered to take us to a shop en route . In spite of his best efforts in getting the shop keeper to come and open the shop at 7 AM , he could not trace him out . Ali then told me not to worry as at Kumbalghat , he has a few spare spectacles at home which I can try out . He took us near his home and told his daughter to bring the specs for my trial . Unfortunately , I did not find my size .

Looking at his attitude and support , I requested the travel desk to assign him for us throughout our stay and travel at the resort . Luckily I bought a new spectacles at Udaipur next day .

Throughout our association with Hassan Ali , he performed the three roles of a tourist guide , story teller and an expert driver  with such elan that we remember him with nostalgia even now  . The Rajasthani folk lore  pepped up with spicy and at times scary details , his jokes about politicians  , his concern for our comfort  and well being , his knowledge about the Mewar and Marwar heritage all distinguished him as a class by himself  – A great person to meet and work with indeed . Our visits to Haldighat , Ranakpur , Jodhpur and Jaisalmer  were so enjoyable and we never felt any fatigue thanks to the company of Hassan Ali  .If anyone wants to engage him at Kumbalghat , call him at + 91 96100 29425. I assure you – it is much more than value for money !!