Whisky, Wildlands & Wonder: The Quiet Magic of Durbar by Godawan Estuary Water

By: Ayandrali Dutta

The fabulous background of Abheygarh Khetri, Rajasthan, played host to an extraordinary gathering took shape in early January — not a festival in the customary sense, but a mindfully crafted cultural immersion known as Durbar by GodawanEstuary Water. What sets this experiential event apart is its rarefied blend of heritage, conservation, craft, and conviviality. This quiet immersive celebration of mindful luxury, Durbar weaved together music, cuisine, conservation, and living heritage in a form that deliberately turns away from excess and grandeur.

Hosted at Abheygarh, a hilltop palace, the second edition of Durbar unfolded not as a crowd-driven fest but as an intimate, intentionally slow experience. The moment guests arrived, they were invited to be present — to listen to the land, engage with stories, and participate in dialogues that resonated beyond the event’s two days.

At its heart of the event lies Godawan Estuary Water’s artisanal single malt whisky — named after the Great Indian Bustard, one of the country’s most critically endangered species. The brand’s purpose, and by extension Durbar’s, is deeply rooted in conservation. What might have become a symbolic motif instead becomes actionable: partnerships with wildlife experts, NGOs, and village communities have helped increase the Bustard’s numbers from 96 to 173 — a quiet yet meaningful victory in the long battle for this fragile grassland ecosystem. Durbar, therefore, becomes an extension of this work — creating space for reflection, awareness, and shared responsibility without sacrificing the joy of craft and community. And paying to the bird from the desert Vikram Damodaran, Chief Innovation Officer DIAGEO India, said, “Durbar was conceived to bring to life the three stories that define Godawan: conservation of the Great Indian Bustard, craftsmanship and the spirit of Rajasthan, through culture, dialogue and meaningful partnerships with communities. With the second edition, we have continued to build an ecosystem of musicians, artisans and partners who share these values.”

This intentionality is palpable from the first moments. Abhimanyu Alsisar — the curator whose vision bridges thoughtful restoration and cultural stewardship adds, “Opening Abheygarh’s doors for Durbar was personal. Durbar is a celebration ofRajasthan’s living heritage, presented in a way that feels both timeless and new. Khetri offers the perfect canvas for this chapter—a destination steeped in history, waiting to be rediscovered. Together, we are curating a journey that places craft, music, and conservation at the heart of mindful luxury.” 

Music & Memory 

Music at Durbar doesn’t aim for bombast; it creates emotional bridges between tradition and the present. The carefully curated roster — featuring NIMAD Live, Trilok Gurtu, The Nuqta Project, The Tapi Project, and Shye Ben Tzur with The Rajasthan Express — crafted performances that felt both rooted and expansive. These were not just concerts but collaborations tuned to the rhythms of place, architecture, and moment, letting sound unfold like an elegy and celebration in equal measure.

Cuisine as Narrative 

Likewise, food emerged as narrative. Rather than names like Nikhil Merchant – , Vernika Awal, and Jasleen Marwah anchored their creations in provenance and technique. Each dish spoke of regional intersections — a dialogue between land and palate that reflected the spirit of Rajasthan’s culinary heritage through a contemporary lens.

The two curated dinners were:

Earth and Spirit: Punjab × Rajasthan by Vernika Awal

An evocative exploration of culinary contrasts, this menu traces the conversation between Punjab’s generous, agrarian richness and Rajasthan’s measured restraint. Through flavour, technique, the experience reflects themes of migration and belonging. 

Sky and Soul: Kashmir × Rajasthan by Jasleen Marwah

A sensorial journey that brings together Kashmir’s alpine warmth and Rajasthan’s desert ingenuity. Rooted in traditions of preservation, spice, and survival, the menu mirrors Godawan’s philosophy of unmistakably Indian in spirit. 

These thoughtfully designed series saw leisurely lunches that was led by Nikhil Merchant. These indulgent feasts unfold across striking venues saw local flavours layered with narrative and time-honoured techniques, accompanied by the gentle cadence of folk traditions. Food here is not merely served—it is storied, savoured, and shared. 

Craft, Culture & Consciousness 

Workshops and installations — from pop-ups by Nila House and Boito, to Phad scroll narratives brought to life with painting and music — transformed Durbar from “something to witness” into “something to inhabit.” Guests didn’t simply consume culture; they navigated it with curiosity, empathy, and an unhurried pace that is increasingly rare in experiential events.

This is the true alchemy of Durbar: it honors Rajasthan’s living traditions while inviting contemporary voices into conversation. It refuses the spectacle for spectacle’s sake, choosing instead to frame every exchange — whether over a glass of Godawan whisky or under a canopy of stars — as a moment worth attending to with full presence

The result was an experience that invites guests to step beyond passive appreciation, encouraging them to inhabit culture—engaging with it deeply, personally, and in rhythm with the land.

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