Atfer leaving the hussle and bussle of Jaipur we wandered what Pushkar would have in store for us. I knew it was a small place, famous for its holy lake and 52 Ghats, 1000 temples, colourful shops and special lassis. Nothing prepared me for what we found.
Pushkar is a tiny city, reached by a single track road off the main road from Jaipur, you pass through dozens and dozens of marble exporters on the way in. When you enter the city perimiters you are stopped and a toll to enter is charged to the driver. To the left of the toll is a large sign. No drinking, only vegetarian food to be ate, no littering etc.
As we drove into the city we were surrounded by low hills and mountains the sky was white with cloud cover and a misty faze.. I sat purched on the edge of my seat waiting to see Pushkar in all her glory. But nothing, we drove down a very messy dirty street, full of shops, some open but many closed. Lots of cows and pigs littered the street not plastic.
We turned the corner and the road narrowed, there to the right was the Pushkar Palace, our home for the next night. From the outside it look understated, but once we entered and were taken to our room, the view we were greeted with was like something out of a movie. You have to look at my FB pictures to reall yget an idea of what we saw. The hotel was grand in a shabby chic way, The old mixed with the new. Its out of season here, so it has an eary stillness and quietness about the place. ALmost like a horror movie but not quite.
The view across the holy lake was awesome and yet somehow spine tingling. We didnt unpack, there is not point for one night, so off we went to the see if we could partake in a puja ritual. It was facinating and very moving to chant in Hindi and throw petals and spices and rice etc into the holy lake. But there is a cost like anything. Voluntary contribution in Pushkar is not the same as that in Hemel and during anf after the ritual you are hassassed as to how much you are going to give for the people of Pushkar etc. They wanted 500r for each member of my family and had I been asked this one month ago I would have happily obliged but we are at the end of our trip and we are actually counting our pennies/rupees. I raised my sunglasses looked into the eyes of my priest and said. 'voluntary means to give what you can'. I will give 100r. He was not happy but I was not being told what to give. I walked away feeling rather let down by the expereince because of this. But within a few minutes I'd forgotten. Janet however didnt get off so lightly, she is such a push over and needs a course into how to say NO. lol.
We wandered off around the market and were greeted by many smiles and hello's. We were the new comers to Pushkar and everyone wanted to show us their wares. We met a guide called Goppi and he took us to see a temple and showed us the sights.
Tired now we headed back to the Palace for dinner and a rock hard bed.
Karen x
Pushkar is a tiny city, reached by a single track road off the main road from Jaipur, you pass through dozens and dozens of marble exporters on the way in. When you enter the city perimiters you are stopped and a toll to enter is charged to the driver. To the left of the toll is a large sign. No drinking, only vegetarian food to be ate, no littering etc.
As we drove into the city we were surrounded by low hills and mountains the sky was white with cloud cover and a misty faze.. I sat purched on the edge of my seat waiting to see Pushkar in all her glory. But nothing, we drove down a very messy dirty street, full of shops, some open but many closed. Lots of cows and pigs littered the street not plastic.
We turned the corner and the road narrowed, there to the right was the Pushkar Palace, our home for the next night. From the outside it look understated, but once we entered and were taken to our room, the view we were greeted with was like something out of a movie. You have to look at my FB pictures to reall yget an idea of what we saw. The hotel was grand in a shabby chic way, The old mixed with the new. Its out of season here, so it has an eary stillness and quietness about the place. ALmost like a horror movie but not quite.
The view across the holy lake was awesome and yet somehow spine tingling. We didnt unpack, there is not point for one night, so off we went to the see if we could partake in a puja ritual. It was facinating and very moving to chant in Hindi and throw petals and spices and rice etc into the holy lake. But there is a cost like anything. Voluntary contribution in Pushkar is not the same as that in Hemel and during anf after the ritual you are hassassed as to how much you are going to give for the people of Pushkar etc. They wanted 500r for each member of my family and had I been asked this one month ago I would have happily obliged but we are at the end of our trip and we are actually counting our pennies/rupees. I raised my sunglasses looked into the eyes of my priest and said. 'voluntary means to give what you can'. I will give 100r. He was not happy but I was not being told what to give. I walked away feeling rather let down by the expereince because of this. But within a few minutes I'd forgotten. Janet however didnt get off so lightly, she is such a push over and needs a course into how to say NO. lol.
We wandered off around the market and were greeted by many smiles and hello's. We were the new comers to Pushkar and everyone wanted to show us their wares. We met a guide called Goppi and he took us to see a temple and showed us the sights.
Tired now we headed back to the Palace for dinner and a rock hard bed.
Karen x
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