My Tourings-2

HI DEAR ILITES
:hiyaLAST TIME I DID PROMISE A GLIMPSE OF JODHPUR. BUT FOR THAT BETTER PLACE WOULD BE http://jodhpur.nic.in/tour.htm OR THE WIKIPEDIA.
ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE...THOUGH IT WAS MY FIRST TRIP TO JODHPUR , BUT MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN THERE MANY TIMES IN THE LAST 20 YEARS. ACCORDING TO HIM- THE CITY HAS IMPROVED IN THE LAST 4-5 YRS. MEHRANGARH FORT FOR EG. HAS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER. ANOTHER THING IF YOU WISH TO VISIT RAJASTHAN, DO SO IN WINTERS OR IN THE RAINY SEASON.
MY NEXT TOUR TOOK ME TO A PLACE CALLED CHOHATAN- SOUNDS LIKE CHOTTAN- IN THE HEART OF THAR DESERTIN WESTERN RAJASTHAN,INDIA
THE DESERT GEOMORPHOLOGY IS AT ITS BEST. THE HILLS ARE AS IF A MOUND OF STONES WHICH HAVE BEEN HOLLOWED AT PLACES. DESERTSCAPE IS BEST SEEN FROM THE TOP OF A HILL, AND IT IS FASCINATING BUT INTIMIDATING TOO. I AM UNLIKELY TO FORGET THE VIEW OF ILLUMINATED VILLAGES LOOKING LIKE DIWALI LIGHTS ON A STARLIT NIGHT. IT WAS AMAZING THAT WHAT WE CONSIDER A PLACE WHICH HAS NOTHING TO OFFER CAN BE SO BEAUTIFUL AND CLEAN.​

THIS TIME AGAIN THERE WAS A VISIT TO A TEMPLE, THAT IS VIRATRA TEMPLE NEAR CHOHATAN. IT IS ON A SIMILAR HILL OF HOLLOW LOOKING STONES WITH 1200 STAIRS , NO I DID NOT GO UP THE PLACE. I VISITED THE ONE ON THE FOOTHILL AS BOTH THE TEMPLES ARE OF YOGMAYA DEVI. THE ONE ON THE TOP OF THE HILL IS IN A CAVE WHERE THE ORIGINAL STATUE WAS FOUND. AFTER TWO MONTHS THERE WILL A FAIR , IN THE MONTH OF BHADON. THE LOCAL LORES GO TO SAY THAT TRERE IS A WATERFALL WHICH GETS WATER ONLY DURING THE FAIR AND PEOPLE CONSIDER THIS WATER HOLY. PEOPLE COME FROM FAR OFF TO VISIT . IT IS EVIDENT FROM THE ELABORATE ARRANGEMENTS AVAILABLE FOR BOARDING AND LODGING, AND MEALS. PLUS THE HAVAN KUNDS ARE THERE FOR HAVANS TOO.​

ABOUT TWO KMS IS AN ANOTHER TEMPLE WHICH IS ALSO A DURGA TEMPLE. WHEN WE REACHED THERE IT WAS LOCKED BUT SEEING US A MAN WHO WAS TENDING A CAMEL CAME UP AND OPENED IT FOR US. THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE WAS RUSTIC. WE LIVING IN THE CITIES HAVE FORGOTTEN THE SLOW PACE OF LIFE IN COUNTRYSIDE. NOBODY EXCEPT US WAS IN A HURRY. WE WANTED TO GO SEE ALL AND RUSH BACK. FROM THOSE PEOPLE I LEARNED THAT THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH TIME IN LIFE AND WE SHOULD TRY TO FINISH AS MUCH TASKS ONLY .
THE SAND KEPT ON GETTING INSIDE MY SANDALS AND I KEPT ON WASHING THE SAME.WHICH WAS A MISTAKE AS SAND WOULD STICK TO WATER. ONE SHOULD NEVER DO THAT IN A DESERT. IT IS EASY IF WE LIVE LIKE THE LOCALS DURING OUR VISIT TO ANY PLACE.
ONE THING WHICH I HAD NEVER SEEN WERE THE SHIFTING SAND DUNES. AND I AM UNLIKELY TO FORGET THEM AS OUR VEHICLE GOT STUCK IN ONE OF THEM. THIS SHIFTING SAND CHANGES ITS SHAPE AND THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ONLY IN A STORM. THIS PARTICULAR SAND DUNE'S ROUTE IS CROSSED BY A ROAD, AND WE TRAVELLED ON IT. THIS DUNE SEEMINGLY COVERS THE ROAD EVERY FEW DAYS.THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PULLED BY A TRUCK.
THE LAST , BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT HALT WAS THE 'DUKAN'.
THIS IS A HOUSE/ SHOP/ENTERPRISE WHERE LOCAL THREAD WORK AND WOODWORK STUFF CAN BE SEEN AND BOUGHT . THIS NOT EXACTLY A SHOP AS THE SHOWROOM IS MORE LIKE A STOREROOM. AND THE WORK IS COLLECTED TO BE SENT FOR EXPORTS TO TEN COUNTRIES. THE ANTIQUE LOOK, THE MIRROR WORK, AND WHAT COLOURS:drool. THIS TIME I COULD NOT RESIST AND BOUGHT
BAGS( FOR GIFTS) AND SOME CUSHION COVERS. BEAUTIFUL AND VERY GOOD WORK AKIN TO GUJARATI WORK FROM KUTCH.
THE BEDCOVERS WERE BEAUTIFUL, THOUGH A BIT COSTLY, BUT WORTH EVERY PENNY, AS SO MUCH OF LABOUR GOES INTO IT.
I WAS TOLD - DO NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE OF THINKING THAT IF YOU HAVE VISITED ONE DESERT CITY YOU'VE SEEN THEM ALL. THEY ARE NOT ALL ALIKE AND MY EXPERIENCE TILL DAY HOLDS THIS TRUE.
BYE FOR NOW
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MAY OUR INTELLECT BECOME PIOUS````` ​