The highlight on this drive was the Jain temple at Ranakpur. Very intricately carved facade and interior. Quite a few Indian tourists there too. It was a spectacular drive over the Aravalli ranges through rural farmlands, with camels, rocky cliffs and ancient water wheels still being operated by water buffalo, at the moment with painted and decorated horns to mark Devali. Passing through little towns there were lots of sights including lots of colourful turbans and saris The idea was to go to Deogargh to break the journey to avoid a long trip all the way to Jaisalmer and it was just as well as several things held us up and we arrived 9pm when we expected to be there by late afternoon. To begin with it turned out to be further out of our way than tour leader expected. Then we detoured to a camel farm where they are doing some very good conservation work with the camels. However it turned out to be a waste of time as all but one of the camels were not there but had gone to Pushkar for some reason (not the Pushkar festival and sale.)
And even when we decided to support them by buying some camel soap and paper products they had very little stock available. Once back on the road again we struck road works on a road that already had a 30k speed limit. Night fell and we were on this road which was also narrow and windy and as happens at home, the trucks appeared and all traffic jostled for position. At one point a car had not pulled over far enough to pass or to allow us to pass but he kept waving us through. The driver could not drive properly; couldn’t pull over or reverse and there were long impatient queues forming in both directions. Drivers left their cars to help and it turned out they had to lean in and steer for the guy. He turned out to be drunk! Rumour has it that the Gujaratis come over to Rajasthan where they can drink, especially at Devali time. Anyway we got through and presume he continued and made it down the mountain one way or the other. Of course he too would have had to avoid the cows and camels on the dark road. We eventually got to our hotel many hours later. It was quirky and quaint having once been a haveli and still managed by the local royal family. Time to rest up for whatever would come our way on the next leg to Jaisalmer.
And even when we decided to support them by buying some camel soap and paper products they had very little stock available. Once back on the road again we struck road works on a road that already had a 30k speed limit. Night fell and we were on this road which was also narrow and windy and as happens at home, the trucks appeared and all traffic jostled for position. At one point a car had not pulled over far enough to pass or to allow us to pass but he kept waving us through. The driver could not drive properly; couldn’t pull over or reverse and there were long impatient queues forming in both directions. Drivers left their cars to help and it turned out they had to lean in and steer for the guy. He turned out to be drunk! Rumour has it that the Gujaratis come over to Rajasthan where they can drink, especially at Devali time. Anyway we got through and presume he continued and made it down the mountain one way or the other. Of course he too would have had to avoid the cows and camels on the dark road. We eventually got to our hotel many hours later. It was quirky and quaint having once been a haveli and still managed by the local royal family. Time to rest up for whatever would come our way on the next leg to Jaisalmer.
No comments:
Post a Comment