We arrived in Pushkar yesterday afternoon. The road trip was a mixed affair, starting with highway driving, then bumpy village roads. The poor little Tata, Deepak's car, we call it the 4 wheel drive tata or tata camel whatever terrain we are on. Tata is an affordable Indian make of car. In between driving Deepak spends his time cleaning the dust off and out of it. He says he owns 30% of tata, bank owns 70%. I told him that sounds normal the world over.
We had read in the bible (Lonely Planet) that Pushkar is a Hindu pilgrimage town. We both missed the part about no eggs, no beer and strictly vegetarian. How is Jim coping many of you are thinking! Not bad actually because quite a few hotels/restaurants we have stayed at have been vego. He has been ordering vegetable pilau and lots of pappadums but there has always been beer. Beer in Pushkar is another story.
Pushkar is a strange mix of pilgrims, hippies and tourists.
The main street is a full on shopping bazaar, nothing like anything else we have seen. We went for a walk yesterday afternoon but became overwhelmed so didn't stay long. It was more and more of the same hippie pants, tops, hangings, cushion covers etc. Normally we would be interested to buy gifts or furnishings but we have such a long way to go so we are not looking at the moment and once you stop to have a look it is very difficult to leave without buying.
Getting back to the beer situation. Jim said let's have a drink at that roof top restaurant which I had pointed out earlier. Jim asked for beer and yes "no problem" the waiter whispers but it will come in teapot and he places his finger up to his lips and says shh! So the day ended well.
The hotel has a swimming pool within a relaxing courtyard. The water is too cold for swimming but nice to sit around, have lunch and read. The vegetable burgers we had for lunch yesterday and today are really good. It is a quiet sanctuary to get away from the hippie/tout scene going on down the road at the bazaar and at the temple.
This morning we visited the holy Brahman Temple. It was spoilt by a tout desperately trying to persuade us to place our flowers (which we were given prior to going into the temple) in the lake. Lucky Deepak was close by and told us to keep walking with him back to the car. He said this is a trick to take you to the lake and then they demand 2500 rps ($50). I had read it in the bible as well but wasn't quick enough to realise what was happening.
We decided to take our flowers to the ghats this afternoon to place in the water and pray for our loved ones, that's the ritual. Anyway, I was directed by a priest to the waters edge and carried out the ritual with him. Poor Jim was harassed by a tout to part with money in respect of his priest who was dressed in jeans and shirt looking nothing like a priest. The touts do spoil the experience, something which could be special.
We had read in the bible (Lonely Planet) that Pushkar is a Hindu pilgrimage town. We both missed the part about no eggs, no beer and strictly vegetarian. How is Jim coping many of you are thinking! Not bad actually because quite a few hotels/restaurants we have stayed at have been vego. He has been ordering vegetable pilau and lots of pappadums but there has always been beer. Beer in Pushkar is another story.
Pushkar is a strange mix of pilgrims, hippies and tourists.
The main street is a full on shopping bazaar, nothing like anything else we have seen. We went for a walk yesterday afternoon but became overwhelmed so didn't stay long. It was more and more of the same hippie pants, tops, hangings, cushion covers etc. Normally we would be interested to buy gifts or furnishings but we have such a long way to go so we are not looking at the moment and once you stop to have a look it is very difficult to leave without buying.
Getting back to the beer situation. Jim said let's have a drink at that roof top restaurant which I had pointed out earlier. Jim asked for beer and yes "no problem" the waiter whispers but it will come in teapot and he places his finger up to his lips and says shh! So the day ended well.
The hotel has a swimming pool within a relaxing courtyard. The water is too cold for swimming but nice to sit around, have lunch and read. The vegetable burgers we had for lunch yesterday and today are really good. It is a quiet sanctuary to get away from the hippie/tout scene going on down the road at the bazaar and at the temple.
This morning we visited the holy Brahman Temple. It was spoilt by a tout desperately trying to persuade us to place our flowers (which we were given prior to going into the temple) in the lake. Lucky Deepak was close by and told us to keep walking with him back to the car. He said this is a trick to take you to the lake and then they demand 2500 rps ($50). I had read it in the bible as well but wasn't quick enough to realise what was happening.
We decided to take our flowers to the ghats this afternoon to place in the water and pray for our loved ones, that's the ritual. Anyway, I was directed by a priest to the waters edge and carried out the ritual with him. Poor Jim was harassed by a tout to part with money in respect of his priest who was dressed in jeans and shirt looking nothing like a priest. The touts do spoil the experience, something which could be special.
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| Our accommodation, Master Paradise Hotel |
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| Ayurvedic practitioner - picking up something to prevent stomach upsets |
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| Horse riding lessons anyone? They're free. |
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| Ghats of Pushkar |
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