India Part 3

The dreaded bug caught up with me in Jhodpur.  Luckily it struck in the evening after all the sightseeing had been done.

I cancelled my visit to the Kumbalgarh Fort and we made it straight through to Deogarth. This stopover was just for one night to break the journey and I spent the whole day in bed. I felt a lot better the next morning and was eager to go to Raknapur, our next stop to see the temple.
First I thought – please not another temple – but this one was different. It is not a Hindu temple, but was built for the Jain religion.
There are 2 buildings on the site, a small one and the big main one.

This temple houses 1444 columns, all made of marble, all are beautifully carved, each one with a different pattern.

There are 4 entry gates, one on each side, but only one is open. To enter I had to put a pair of long trousers on, because my shorts did not cover the knee.
We were not allowed to photograph the images of their gods, but we could take picture of everything else.
I was most impressed by these magnificent buildings.
Lunch was on the way to Udaipur in the Maharani Bagh Resort and I enjoyed every minute of it. I was sitting in a little roofed Rotunda and a couple of Chipmunks thought that my lunch looked too good to be ignored. So we shared the pappadams and bread after which one of them decided it was all too much and had a little rest.

The remainder of the road to Udaipur was BAD. And I mean BAD. I have never in my life driven on roads like it. I was shaken from pillar to post and felt quite ill.
The Sheraton in Udaipur, situated at one of the artificial lakes, made up for any discomfort and I soon was o.k. again.
After a good night’s rest my guide picked me up for the ride through town to lake Pichola near the City Palace. This palace too has been converted into a hotel, with the current Maharadja still living on the premises.

Another part of the palace is a museum which I visited with hundreds and hundreds of other tourists.
The founding Maharadja of this City Palace is a favourite with the Indian people.
A story is told about him and his horse and his body armour is on display in a small room, approx 3 x 3 metres. Every Indian who visits has to see this armour. The room was filled with people when I arrived.
So I waited for them to leave.
And they did. They filed past me, 10, 20 then more came out, and more, and still more – there must have been about 50 or 60 in that small room. I just stood there with my mouth open!
Nothing special my guide told me, 25 people in a Jeep is about right!  
I had a boat ride on the lake and it was nice to see the city from the water.
It was here in Udaipur that I said good bye to Mr Singh, my faithful and very good driver.
I had one night in Delhi, and naturally, sightseeing was included. I saw the India Gate and some of the buildings the British built, then we drove to view the Qutab Minar, the oldest mosque in India. These are spectacular buildings indeed.

I did enjoy a beer by the pool on my return, but had to get ready for my long flight home the next morning.
India, I really enjoyed my visit!