We are currently in Udaipur and have just been watching the sun set over the lake with the palace -or rather very expensive hotel - sitting in the midst of the water. Last night we were in Pushkar again at a lakeside at sunset by the bathing Ghats and in the crowded market street. Both these places are rather more user friendly that the previous places we have been - nice to wander the streets and enjoy the bustle.
We had better come clean - we are living in luxury at the moment, being driven from place to place by Subash our driver and enjoying some rather up market accommodation -last night in Pushkar we had a room in the finest place there complete with beautiful gardens, swimming pool,man in turban at the gate who saluted you. We are going to be drummed out of the backpackers fraternity for this. And today we are in a similar place overlooking one of the lakes. We took this form of travel when it became clear that getting a train out of Delhi to Agra and then training it down in stages to Ahmedebad was going to entail at least two extra days in Delhi so we have taken a budget busting decision to go in comfort. This means we get delivered to lots of sites, get advised on what to pay, get told stories and sung to a bit as we go. The downside is some very long journeys and the indescribably dangerous driving that is the norm on Indian roads. We are here two nights and then at last we get a train to Ahmedebab - an overnight and very slow sleeper which I can assure you we are greatly looking forward to - particularly as we are in first class (and this means first class with bunks not the Egyptian version) but as senior citizens we get one third off all rail travel so that puts first class in the good value category.
Brian
Pushkar was realy lovely and I am beginning to think that I might be able to manage India.
The god all the temples are dedicated to in Pushkar is Brahma, he went to Pushkar with out his wife, took up with a young woman selling yoghurt and married her. His wife came along and was extremly cross and said that his punishment was that the only place in India that would have temples to him was Pushkar. It is lovely, higledy piggledy little streets full of shops selling lovely things, the mosy gaudy temples you can think of, all coloured lights and garlands of flowers. Monkeys, cows, loads of little birds, pidgeons by the hundred and hippies of all nations.
At the lake side there are steps down to the water (a bit murky looking for bathing) and people walk down to the water and pray and throw in flowers, all sorts of ladies in the most beautiful cloured clothing, old chaps in dhotis, youngsters in western style clothing and lots of chanting and bell ringing coming from the temples. Also you can look at people's shops with out being chased down the street, its all fairly relaxed.
Tessa
We had better come clean - we are living in luxury at the moment, being driven from place to place by Subash our driver and enjoying some rather up market accommodation -last night in Pushkar we had a room in the finest place there complete with beautiful gardens, swimming pool,man in turban at the gate who saluted you. We are going to be drummed out of the backpackers fraternity for this. And today we are in a similar place overlooking one of the lakes. We took this form of travel when it became clear that getting a train out of Delhi to Agra and then training it down in stages to Ahmedebad was going to entail at least two extra days in Delhi so we have taken a budget busting decision to go in comfort. This means we get delivered to lots of sites, get advised on what to pay, get told stories and sung to a bit as we go. The downside is some very long journeys and the indescribably dangerous driving that is the norm on Indian roads. We are here two nights and then at last we get a train to Ahmedebab - an overnight and very slow sleeper which I can assure you we are greatly looking forward to - particularly as we are in first class (and this means first class with bunks not the Egyptian version) but as senior citizens we get one third off all rail travel so that puts first class in the good value category.
Brian
Pushkar was realy lovely and I am beginning to think that I might be able to manage India.
The god all the temples are dedicated to in Pushkar is Brahma, he went to Pushkar with out his wife, took up with a young woman selling yoghurt and married her. His wife came along and was extremly cross and said that his punishment was that the only place in India that would have temples to him was Pushkar. It is lovely, higledy piggledy little streets full of shops selling lovely things, the mosy gaudy temples you can think of, all coloured lights and garlands of flowers. Monkeys, cows, loads of little birds, pidgeons by the hundred and hippies of all nations.
At the lake side there are steps down to the water (a bit murky looking for bathing) and people walk down to the water and pray and throw in flowers, all sorts of ladies in the most beautiful cloured clothing, old chaps in dhotis, youngsters in western style clothing and lots of chanting and bell ringing coming from the temples. Also you can look at people's shops with out being chased down the street, its all fairly relaxed.
Tessa
ps added a few pics to this one and to the Taj Mahal, here is a picture of the lake at Pushkar, Standing by the swimming pool at our Pushkar hotel and (sorry its the wrong way round, its the wrong pic) a picture from the Amber Fort, Jaipur
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