We are not in Kansas anymore, Toto!
More accurately, we are not in little ol’ Mudgee anymore. Instead we are in a car driving through the depths of dusty Rajasthan, India.
Today will be day five of our Opulence of Rajasthan tour and I am struggling to put into words all that we have seen. India is such a land of contrasts – from gobsmacking beauty to heartbreaking sadness, and always an eye opener.
Our little traveling party of three women, and our patient driver, left New Delhi on Monday. We have been working our way eastwards and arrived in Jaisalmer yesterday afternoon. As we have travelled, the terrain has become increasingly desolate and now we are well and truly on the outskirts of the Thar Desert. To the point where this afternoon our plan is to pull on our johdpurs, mount up and head off on our camels out over the sand dunes.
In the meantime I will try to share a little of what we have seen so far. Even in the middle of nowhere there is something to look at, even if it just the crazy traffic.
Asif, our driver, is great company and is happy answer all our crazy questions and sometimes even he has his camera out taking photos too!
Enjoy the snaps below. I will try to be a better blogger over the next couple of weeks, but no guarantees!
Chandi Cowl market in Old Delhi
Through the streets of Jaisalmer
Sunset over Jaisalmer
Views from the car
Making new friends at Ramdevra Hindu Temple
The inhospitable countryside as we edge closer to the Thar Desert
Happy pilgrims on their way to Ramdevra
Transport in India!!
Thousands of rats at Rat temple at Phalodi
A rubbish mountain (the photo really doesn’t show its true size) at Bikaner
Beautifully painted houses at Mandawa
One of our hotels…
Road conditions are a little basic in places..
Life...one big adventure 
The colours! The heat! It looks fabulous! 🙂 🙂
LikeLike
It is fabulous! Just back from another day’s sightseeing and exhausted from all the input! Talk about sensory overload!! It is not too hot at all – 8-24°C each day and most days we start with a jacket on. An amazing country. Mel
LikeLike
I always imagine it hot but of course it’s a big continent and it will depend on time of year 😎🍹💕
LikeLike
Exactly! Apparently the heat really kicks in in March. The locals tell us the average Summer temperatures hover around 46°C and often up to 50°C!!! Needless to say there is zero tourism at that time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great photos Mel! Looks like an amazing experience. Culture shock indeed!
LikeLike
Yes, it is. An awesome, amazing, colourful, overwhelming culture shock!
LikeLike
Amazing photos Mel. Rat temple!!!!! Enjoy (without the rats!) ….
LikeLike
Yes, the rat temple was pretty confronting for us Westerners, but when in Rome…😁
LikeLike
If you say so!……. and they revere rats why??? Please enlighten us on the finer qualities of a rat! 🙂
LikeLike
Well, apparently the rats pull Lord Ganisha’s (the God that looks like an elephant) carriage. Ganisha looks pretty big, so that explains the thousands of rats! I will take their word for it. If nothing else, us cringing Westerners provided much entertainment to the locals!
LikeLike
Interesting to know … Still makes me cringe though!
LikeLike
Yup! I😳
LikeLike
Great photos – I want to go but not to the rat temple
LikeLike
I don’t blame you in the slightest! I am still trying to get my head around the fact that they revere something so ugly…and the smell!!!! The other lady on our tour bowed out of this ‘attraction’ and I think she was the wise one!
LikeLike
Amazingly captured. 👏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks. We had the most amazing trip. Mel
LikeLike
Interesting and worth discovering, meanwhile I invite you to read my two day expedition in Jaipur this year https://sunniesmybunnies.wordpress.com/2019/05/01/2-days-in-jaipur-with-kids/
LikeLike
I am sure traveling with children in India would be a whole new experience and a very happy one. Indian people seem to love small children! Have a good day, Mel
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Mel, indeed travelling with children is exciting and challenging sometimes . But yes full of fun.
LikeLike