DAY 5 : INDIA : Jodhpur

Weather : hot, hazy (with heat and pollution) and 30+

 

 

Jaisalmer to Jodhpur

   

 

Lots of traffic on the road today, Sunday.

Trucks and tuk-tuks crammed with people.

 

 

.....and goats.

 

 

Family walking their cows for sale at the market

 

 

The market was set up in the desert - camels, goats and cows for sale.

 

 

Lots of locally made homewear products for sale, including

colourful strips of cloth used to make bases of beds and camel saddle covers.

 

 

We saw many pink sandstone quarries. This is now a major export

for Jodhpur - interstate and internationally to Africa.

 

 

Our heritage hotel tonight is Ranbanka Palace.

www.ranbankshotels.com

 

 

A welcoming swim on arrival

 

 

Local women waiting for a bus to transport them to the temple for

a special celebration for the wedding anniversary of the god, Shiva and his wife, Parvati.

 

 

Shrine in local temple decorated for the celebration.

 

 

 

Mehrangarh Fort

Not another fort, we thought, but we were in for a big surprise.

 

 

Built in 1459 by Rao Jodha to protect themselves from rival states, the ramparts are up to 36 metres high.It features spectacular sandstone carving and wonderful view of the sprawling city (1 million inhabitants).

 

 

Although still owned by the present Maharaja it is open to the public as a museum which has been maintained by entrance fees and the museum shop. Here is one of the elaborately decorated rooms where the Maharaja held court.

 

 

 

Our guide today was Kanal. This is at the entrance of a memorial to Jaswant Thada Singh, a maharaja in the 19th century. His wife built this marble structure in memory of him. It is set in beautiful gardens overlooking the city. Jaswant Thada Singh was responsible for improving schools, health and providing a water pipeline to every household in Jodhpur. It is now serviced by the Indira Gandhi Canal - a first in Rajasthan and all in the 19th century.

 

 

This is in the grounds of the memorial to the Maharaja . Until Moghul times Hindus just burnt bodies on funeral pyres and spread the ashes without further acknowledgement but with the influence of Muslims, who bury their dead in mausoleums now Hindus build similar structures to commemorate their dead relatives although they do not house bodies or ashes.

 

 

 

The busy Sandar Markets.

 

 

Textiles, silver, handicrafts for sale.

 

 

Vegetables, sweets and spices as well.

 

 

We enjoyed a meal at a local restaurant, On the Rocks, just near our hotel, is a leafy garden restaurant with an excellent menu and great atmosphere. We've downloaded the Rajasthan section of the Lonely Planet, which has helpful suggestions for restaurants and some wonderful tips for each city.

 

 

 

M&M

 

mm_smith@bigpond.net.au