I didn’t get to write anything yesterday as I was exhausted when we got into the hotel in Jodhpur, also known as “the Blue city” because many of the houses are painted blue. We had travelled from Udaipur by coach, but we had a few stops on the way.
Wednesday 16th November
We had an early start travelling in the direction of Ranakpur. We saw many things on the way including a couple of weddings. I have never seen so many beautiful vibrant colours of the dresses and saris that the women were wearing. Many of the dresses were red – for energy. The groom arrived on a white horse which was covered with red glitter decorations.
There was so much to see on the way: people cooking by the side of the road, cows walking on the road, sheep and goats crossing the road and to be up to date with Indian day-to-day goings-on, queues and queues (and I mean long queues) of people outside banks waiting their turn to withdraw money. This monetary situation is a real problem here. The people need money so have to queue for hours – hours that they should be working. They are missing all these hours work resulting in not getting paid. The situation will probably get worse before it gets better.
We visited the Jain Temple in Ranakpur. The architecture is so exquisite – for example there are 1,444 carved pillars in the temple, no two of them alike.
Thursday 17th November
Again an early start.
We visited a textile company where they made tablecloths and duvet covers etc. for export. They also made scarves from cashmere and bamboo and others from yaks’ wool. They supply Hermes and other designers.
From there we visited the Mehrangarh Fort, also known as “The Royal Fortress”, one of the largest forts in Rajasthan.
In the afternoon we took a jeep ride to the Bishnoi village. We visited the home of a 3-generation family where the elderly prepared opium tea for us. This was a ceremony in which he ground some opium in water and filtered it twice before drinking. We then visited a potter and a weaver. I find it fascinating learning how people live. I think that we in the West can learn a lot from this tribe – that they are so content with the simple and unmaterialistic life they live.
Eureka moment today. I was able to obtain rupees – the hotel changed some money for me. Now I don’t feel so bare.