20171018 -20171019 - Jodhpur

Today is basically a travel day from the desert to Jodhpur.  We stopped at Osian to check out some temples.  As I was heading to what I thought were a group of temples, some suspicious looking guy yelled at me and told me to go the other way.  Since my driver asked me to follow him, I did; and so I just found myself a spot guide.  He turned out ok - took me to the temples, waited patiently while I took my pictures, told me what I can and cannot do, etc.  His facts might not be 100% correct, but he got me to the temples.  When we got back to the car, he took me to the group of temples that I was heading to originally ... they were just ruins!

The Sachiya Mata Temple has 16 spectacular arches at the entrance way.  Unfortunately somebody decided to put a blue tarp on top to shield people from the sun and a railing in the middle ... and thus they were not spectacular anymore! 
The Jain temples turned out to be better ... I was the only one there.  It was so serene that I just sat in the shade and enjoyed the tranquil moment and the intricate sculptural decoration.



carved pillars in the Mahavira Temple

As I was leaving, I notice two rows of carving on the wall - there are over 100 of these little portraits and they are all different ... the facial expression, the placement of hands or legs, the stuff they are carrying ... so creative!


The next day was spent mostly in and around the Mehrangarh Fort.  I got an audio guide and did the fort / palace exhibits by myself and at my own pace ... and I had a great time! 
Rising perpendicular and impregnable from a rocky hill that itself stands 120m above Jodhpur’s skyline, Mehrangarh is one of the most magnificent forts in India. 

The building materials were chiselled from the rock on which the fort stands, the structure merges with its base.



Notice the 90 degree turn at the gate ... it is intended to slow down the attack, as are the heavy spikes on the door ... against the ELEPHANTS!



















set of small hand prints - the sati marks of
royal widows who threw themselves
on  their maharajas' funeral pyres
Elephant Howdah - wooden frame encased with thick
embossed polished silver foils

















A bamboo screen is shown on the right.  The above picture is a blow up of a small section.  These screens are made from very fine bamboo splints, with each splint individually wrapped in ikat-style twist less silk yarn, to create a floral lattice work!


Sheesh Mahal - Hall of Mirrors

Phool Mahal - private audience hall
 
Takhat Vilas - personal retreat of Maharaja Takhat Singh - who had 30 queens and numerous concubines! 


the intricate carvings ... the jalis (latticed screens) carved in stone latticework that keeps the area cool and gives privacy






















check out the different panels of lattice work on the left and how they look on the 'inside'


Jodhpur - the BLUE city

Jaswant Thada - the elegant pillared marble memorial with fine lattice carving is the
chhatri (cenotaph) of Maharaja Jaswant  Singh II 

Did I tell you that today is Diwali - the five-day festival of lights, celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world. The festival, which coincides with the Hindu New Year, celebrates new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness.
Many, many people in the bazaar ...
and I walked through it all by myself!

lighting of diyas - oil lamps
outside an Hindu temple


Somehow I ended up on a rooftop restaurant - facing the fort and the blue city!

and get to enjoy a free fireworks display from various neighbourhoods!

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