Ajmer, Pushkar, Jodhpur

  Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Saturday, January 24, 2009

Adhai den ka Jhonpra

We leave really early this morning as we have a long day ahead before reaching Jodhpur.
We first stop in Ajmer. I found this town cleaner (less garbage lying around) but somehow was stinking far more than the others. It is also the missing limb fest. Every two meter, you can see people with a missing arm, leg or some other repulsive diseases begging in the street. In Ajmer, there is India s most important Muslim pilgrimage centre. I don't feel like going in but Sean goes, covers his head with his woolen hat inside out(thought the Guinness logo would not really do it in a mosque). After than we walked towards the ruins of Adhai Den Ka Jhonpra mosque. The legend says it was built in two days and a half. It is nice. Still, cant wait to get out of here.


We drove to Pushkar, which has a much different feeling. It is an Hindu pilgrimage town and has 400 temples lying around the holy lake. Priests are harassing you to buy some petals to throw in the lake as a sign of respect. Everyone and everything is going into the lake for praying. We start to have enough of removing our heavy shoes to get into temples and mosques. Would be easier with sandals, but the floor is so disgusting we would not risk it. We visit various temples (Sikhs, the ones with the turbans who never cut their hair, or the Jains who live half naked) After reading a bit more about the Jains, Sean is wondering how to become one. Not gonna happen as to have to be vegetarian. We haven't eaten any meat since we left Delhi. Every place is vegetarian, sometimes even not having eggs. We have a meal near the lake, a veggie burger for me to change from the usual Indian food.

spot monkeys looking for food

We arrive in Jodhpur in the afternoon. Jodphur is the blue city, refreshing colour for winter and also supposed to repell insects. When we arrive we are not given the room we wanted as the person who was supposed to leave the room is sick and cannot go. He promised to upgrade us the day after. The roof terrace has an unbelievable view on the Meherangargh fort.

Carry the water

We have noticed that body gas is nothing to be ashamed of in India. A guide burping loudly when explaining the story of the Maharajah or the grandma owning the guest-house letting one rip as I am writing this post .It seems totally normal.I should try it, just for the craic.