Day 5 - journey to Ranthambore
Not such an early start this morning, thank goodness.
Our first stop was at Fatehpur Sikri - a red sandstone fortress. Again this was absolutely stunning and I could easily imagine the carpets and fans and rich clothing of the Rajah. Photos will be forthcoming. It was very, very hot here, approaching 40 degrees towards midday.
Most of the rest of the day was spent on a loooong drive to the train station at Bharatpur, but the journey was enlivened by the spectacle of thousands of pilgrims making their way to a temple for a festival for the goddess Durga. All along the road were stalls given them free food and water and shelter. It was an incredible sight and we were very lucky to be in the right place at the right time. At some point we stopped for a drink and a buffet lunch, which was really delicious, with gulab jamun for dessert, and then more driving until we eventually reached the station. Lots of photo opportunties here - people crammed into trains (nobody on the roof, disappointingly), people selling chai and pooris, beautifully coloured saris, red-faced monkeys.
There was a crush to get onto the train but inside our first-class carriage it was perfectly comfortable. Carol made me laugh bu tasering me with some sort of electric bite-soother thing from Asda. It was actually rather pleasant. I might have to buy one... And when Michael announced that he had a stiff one (meaning his leg)... well you can imagine :)
Unfortunately we couldn't take photos from the windows as they were screened, but eventaully we arrived at Sawai Madhopur and transferred to our hotel at the Ranthambore game reserve.
The Nahargarh Hotel is unpronounceable but utterly, utterly gorgeous. It was built in 2005 around the remains of a palace, and is like a fairytale. I'll never forget arriving in the dark to the scent of frangipani and jasmine, and the reflection of hundreds of candles in pools of water.
We ate our tandoori dinner al fresco by candlelight this evening, under the bright stars.
What a day.
Our first stop was at Fatehpur Sikri - a red sandstone fortress. Again this was absolutely stunning and I could easily imagine the carpets and fans and rich clothing of the Rajah. Photos will be forthcoming. It was very, very hot here, approaching 40 degrees towards midday.
Most of the rest of the day was spent on a loooong drive to the train station at Bharatpur, but the journey was enlivened by the spectacle of thousands of pilgrims making their way to a temple for a festival for the goddess Durga. All along the road were stalls given them free food and water and shelter. It was an incredible sight and we were very lucky to be in the right place at the right time. At some point we stopped for a drink and a buffet lunch, which was really delicious, with gulab jamun for dessert, and then more driving until we eventually reached the station. Lots of photo opportunties here - people crammed into trains (nobody on the roof, disappointingly), people selling chai and pooris, beautifully coloured saris, red-faced monkeys.
There was a crush to get onto the train but inside our first-class carriage it was perfectly comfortable. Carol made me laugh bu tasering me with some sort of electric bite-soother thing from Asda. It was actually rather pleasant. I might have to buy one... And when Michael announced that he had a stiff one (meaning his leg)... well you can imagine :)
Unfortunately we couldn't take photos from the windows as they were screened, but eventaully we arrived at Sawai Madhopur and transferred to our hotel at the Ranthambore game reserve.
The Nahargarh Hotel is unpronounceable but utterly, utterly gorgeous. It was built in 2005 around the remains of a palace, and is like a fairytale. I'll never forget arriving in the dark to the scent of frangipani and jasmine, and the reflection of hundreds of candles in pools of water.
We ate our tandoori dinner al fresco by candlelight this evening, under the bright stars.
What a day.