Jodhpur is known as the Blue City….and I had just thought it was named after funny looking trousers. It was also beginning g to seem that every city in Rajasthan was “The City of……”. It wasn’t until we got up above the city in the fort ( yes kids we are off to see another fort/palace..), that we saw why….
While in Jodhpur we saw the Jaswant Thada – a memorial to a whole bunch of maharajahs. Our guide was great – he pointed out that almost all the faces were painted the same they just changed the crazy Rajasthani mustaches on each guy. After that it was up the hill to the Mehrangarh Fort. After so many forts/palaces this one was well named – Meh! The views from above the blue city though were pretty sweet….
Pilgrims Along The Way
As we travelled thru Rajasthan we were amazed by the tens of thousands of people we saw walking along the side of every road and highway. These were pilgrims going to one particular temple. Many of the pilgrims walked 500-700 km and then back again. People would put huge marquee tents out on the side of the road with free food etc and people would just crash out in these stents to sleep.
In one area many peoples shoes would wear out and they were just abandoned by the roadside and new, cheap ones were available. It was a crazy party atmosphere and they are given very inexpensive prices to see the forts etc. When I asked our guide – how did the ticket sellers know they were pilgrims he replied simply – by how they talked and smelled. The pilgrimage would happen as the crops grew so these folks had no work, the planting was done and now they awaited the harvesting so – might as well walk 700km!
It was how colourful the saris were that drew my eye…..and despite what our guide said – they were remarkably clean for such a long walk. But the fort was packed like a sardine can.
