A Tour of Royal Rajasthan

We started our journey to the land of Rajas and Rajputs on 17th Night. The Train was Mador Express which starts at 9.00 pm from Old Delhi Railway Station. We were seven of us (Mahesh, Hari, Tapas, Pramila, Rakhi, Dinesh, Ram). Dinesh had gone from office to his East of Kailash apartment. He had told that he would come directly to the station. The rest of us went from office to Coconut Grove for dinner, by Company bus which goes near that place. We had some good food there. There was some delay if the payment of check. That added to the excitment at a later stage. We then started by 2 Autos. One auto carrying - me, mahesh, pramila. Another auto carrying  Rakhi, Tapas and Hari. As usuall, both the auto lost track of each of each  other. This part was really making things interesting with excitment. All the tickets were with us. We reached the station before the other Auto. We waited for some time outside and  went into the station assuming that the other group would reach in time. meanwhile Dinesh joined us. Mahesh set out to catch the other group. The other group makes an announcement for reaching Mahesh. Mahesh then meets Rakhi and Hari on the way and asked them to proceed to the compartment and he went to search for tapas who has wanted to search for us in the entrance again. then mahesh returns unsuccessfully. we all board the train. It was 2 minutes before  the train started. Tapas comes running and panting, also fuming with fury. We then all settled down in our coupe. After a few minutes of rest after all the running around  we all started Playing Dumb Charades (The game is to guess Name of Movies - Hindi and English) till late in the night (around 12.20). It was good fun. The TTE (Ticket Checker) found that we were going on for too long. He request us to go to sleep. We then went to sleep.

Journey to Jodhpur

Journey to Jaisalmer

Sight seeing trip at Jaisalmer

                                         We went to all the  seven temples which are inside the fort. Those temple are so beautiful with intricate sculptures, carvings and statues. I was thoroughly amazed by these temples. The peace and nice vibrations, which reined inside these temples, was so much pulling that I would like to visit again. The jain agarbattis (?) made the experience a pleasant one. We could see people living inside the fort. We had spent around 1 and half hours in side the fort mostly visiting the temples. The people who are currently living in the fort are the decendants of those who used to live in the fort during the Rajas and Maharajas.

There are other attractions in the city. They re the old havelis which were built during the Rajas' times for the Diwans.  We visited two of the old the havelis. and spent some 1 hour each in of the havelis (old houses). This photo we took on top of the Diwan's haveli. The Adventurous Seven posing for a "Poto" in the scorching sun.
  This haveli was supposed to be almost as tall as the fort itself. But later on the Raja dismantled 3 top floors as this was not reducing/dimishing the stature of the Fort. Now it is much shorter than the fort. The entry fee was Rs 15 per head. The guide came for free The guide was very intendly explaining that the haveli was made without any cement like binding materials, but only with Sand Stone, Iron and wood and that the entire haveli could be dismantled very easily. Rakhi was in a jovial mood. She asked the guide, how that could be possible and asked him to prove his point by pulling out a stibe pointed  out by her. The Guide was fuming on the question, that too from a girl ? But Pramila was the buffer for this situation. She was asking simple question which was easy for the guide to answer. His Ego boosted started his Teacher like explainations and questions like "did everyone under stand or not - ask right now". We were all chukling behind him thinking we are going to take any exam or anthing like that on the construction of the diwan's haveli. He took us to every floor and explain in detail about the intricacies of the each of carving, the constructions of the floor, coloured light in the rooms. He went to say that that was how the discotheque were in those days J. Then we drove to the other haveli which was much bigger than the first one. We had food in a resturant and returned to the hotel.

Journey to the Sand Dunes

                    We then went to a Jain Temple to offer our prayers for a safe journey through the desert. This seemed very much like a journey how it might have been in those days. We can see see Dinesh sitting inside the temple. The photo was clicked from the upper floor of the temple.  The other photo shows Rakhi and Dinesh on the parapet wall of the temple. This temple was beautiful too. But the intricate carving work in the other temples in the jaisalmer fort were not present in this one. This was very simple yet very beautiful. We offered out prayers in the temple. we also took some snaps of the temple. We then had some cool water at the temple from the earthen pot. Then the we continued our journey. The jeep took us to a point where the camels were waiting for us. we loaded all the food and other supplies on to the camels and set out into the desert. The Camel safari and ride was very good. we were on the camel backs for almost  for  2 hours.

We all go on our feet for some time after the tiresome drive in the jeep. We stretched ourselves and relaxed for some time. We had brought along with us in the jeep the necessary supplies for 2 days or so we intend to spend in the desert. The camel drivers loaded the supplies on to the camels. Meanwhile  we chose our camels and braced ourselved for the camel ride. Hari gets ready for the action with a snap with the camels. All others are also get ready with the ritualistic "Poto" These "Potos" show some nice  moments before we started our camel safari. I have already gone on camel rides but I knew that this was not the same as normal camel rides we have at melas and other gatherings, as we were going to go into the deserts and land which can be easily travelled only on camel back and not other modes of transport. We got onto the camels for the ride into the desert.

Tapas on his camel, on the way to the sand dunes. We stopped to check out some wild camels with its calf. Some of the wild camels are not actually wild, but let loose by their owners for crazing, thats what the my camel's driver said. During the 2 hour journey the Rakhi made friends with the camel divers. They we really looking up to her for suggsestions on how to learn new things. We finally reached the san dunes. the place was isolated and only sand and dunes everywhere, where we pitched our tents. the tents were also brought along from the hotel. The camel owners then fixed brought the some other supplies from their near by village. then we had some  nice time rolling along the sand dunes. We looked so small on those dunes. we then took long walks on the dunes and the aridlandscapes near by. We would have very easily walked for 10 Km on that say itself. The caravan guys had already made arrangements for our tea. They also started to cook our dinner.  We were all were playing and taking photographs of the setting sun. and the camels. Hari then took the camel for some pose making and photoshots. After the photo session, Hari couldnt make it lie down L. I slowly brought the camel to the place where we had pitched our tents and made it lie down. I was able to control the camel very easily J
 
 

 While going and while returning the  owner of the camel let me control the camel. After all the fun in the dunes, the food was ready. it nice food under the fullmoon night. We then went for a long stroll deep into the desert. up and down the sand dunes. The moonlight was so nice in the desert. After approximately 2 hours we returned and then a session of Dumb Charade again. we were playing till 12.30 or 1.00am. then we went to sleep inside the tents. Tapas started throwing his hand here and there in the sleep. One fell on my face as a slap. I yelled. He too woke up thinging I was having nightmare. But once he was awake we all slept well (as the arms throwing stopped). The camels were also lying down near the tents. We could hear them Chewing the cud. one BurrHup...!, then chew, chew, chomp chomp,... silence. then again  BurrHup...!, then chew, chew, chomp chomp,... silence. Hari said that he was able visualize the internals of the camel in this process.

  Early morning hari woke up first (around 6.30). He took photos of the rising sun. He then went for the woods. Everyone woke up before me. I was having a good sleep as I didnt have proper sleep due the slapping sessions of Tapas. I then woke up at around 8.00 am.  The Camel Drivers had made tea for us, we had tea and some breakfast prepared by them. I just had 2 slices of bread and jam. and the tea was cold. By the time we had finished our breakfast. it was alomost 9.30am.

We all started on camel back at around 10.00. This camel ride was the most memorable one. With the camels galloping, we had some bouncy ride too. We first visited a water hole.

The water was pretty cool. we continued our ride. we stopped at a place for some rest. Mahesh's camel was getting restless it would stand up even before Mahesh could climb and sit on its back. The camel driver had a tough time controlling it. then we all set out again after all the hungama. We rode through deserts, arid lands, jungles, sand stones, and finally we came to the place where were supposed to part company with the camels and board the jeep. There the camel driver made some good food for us. We were took rest under the shade of a tree. we were all discussing philosophy, and all things. Hari was on one side saying that religion and culture were one and the same. some arguing for it and some against it. Tapas was shifting side all along. (basically he would tilt to the side which was percieved to stronger in that argument ) but he claimed to be supporting the weaker side. Hari was effectively the so called 'Rebel' telling that there is not god. Religion was enforced and not accepted etc. He was also giving ideas of how to run the world. Basically lecturing away to glory.

Bedouin Dinesh on the way back

  During the course of Discussion we had finished the Lunch. Soft drink was also brought in from the nearby village. it was Damn costly, it was 20/- a bottle as it was bit away from the city. then after the drinks we had some photo sessions. we gave 50 rupees to each of the camel driver as tips. We then boarded the Jeep to go back to jaiselmer. On the way back we went to the ruins of an old city  which was vacated overnight for some vague reasons There was some story which didnt give much attention  to. for a moment I felt like being in the US as they were charging Rs 10 for seeing the ruins. you know in the US also you have such spots which they call conservation of heritage and charge some money to go in to see those place (ex Natural bridge where you can find Washinton's Sign on a rock).

Just before parting company with the Camel Drivers

 The heat was too much, we then returned to a village to see some peacock. As we were strolling here and there to check out the peacocks. we happend to meet a villager who was very insistant on taking us to his house whose elder brother (tuliram) was the head of the family, tuliram was supposed to be the younger brother of the that area Congress MP, Col. Sona Ram Choudry. The family was so very much proud of him that they brought out phooto of him in his Colnel dress. They were treating the girls with great respect. First they thought Rakhi was a foreigner. but once she started speaking Hindi they were knowing that she was Indian. They called the 2 inside the house while we sat in the shade in the court yard.  We took some phoootos of the house and the people and we made way for jaislemer. I could really feel the warmth of their hospitality. only thing was, I was no mood for so much hospitality at that time. They were interested to have phoootos of the girls and their own. So they asked  atleast 20 times, if we would send the phootos without fail. ( I think Pramila has  sent their photos already)

Everyone with the Tuilram and family J

  We reached the hotel. We had to go to the station to catch the train to New Delhi. We went to a resturant in front of the station and had food. when we started to go to the station, Rakhi forgot to pick her hand bag. She was worried. then she went back to the resturant and collect the hand back. (BTW all the tickets were in her hand bad). we started our return trip. Again a session of Dumb Charade happened. We also had a game of story telling, in which each person will be given a short period of time, in which he could give some portion of the story according to his immagination. the next individual will continue the story from where the first one left off. after some time it started to look boring. Then came a hillarious game. 2 poeple will speak in a language no one can understand. 2 others will interpret this conversation. In real time we have to think of the sequence, and give some meaning full interpretation. also the 2 persons talking in the foreign language will have to act out emmotions. The interpreation should be in lines of the emotions. I and hari were doing the talking in the foreign language. My interpreator was tapas and Haris interpretor was Dinesh. We had some good fun in that game. Then it was time to go to sleep. We got up at 5.30 or so, as train would reach Delhi cantt at aroun 5.45am. Tapas, Rakhi, and myself took an auto and went to kaparseda and then to office to pickup his car and went home in his car.

A well planned trip with loads of fun on each day comes to an End.
The End.