Post #22: Rajastan desert get-away

We love deserts. We try to get to the desert in the USA about every year -- West Texas, New Mexico, etc. -- and we wanted to get to the desert in India. So we took our third overnight train trip and set out for the Thar Desert in the princely state of Marwar in Rajastan, very close to the Pakistan border.  Marwar translates as the "land of death", so this is the equvalent of India's Death Valley. Rugged terrain, rugged people. 

We find great beauty and awe in the desert, and great similarities among all of the the arid places we have visited over the years. 

The Thar Desert is certainly a little different than our US/Mexico deserts -- here there are camels, ancient forts, maharaja palaces, and towns abandoned centuries ago.

Meet Rocky and Rajiv who gave us a great, albeit bumpy  ride

Ken recuperating from the  ride while dinner is being prepared

Surrounded by the remains of an abandoned town, women and their kids head home after returning from a water run.

Historic cenotaphs, the royal burial site, with modern day wind farms

A full life in the desert shows in her face.

JAISALMER- the Golden City

We arrived by overnight train to this 12th century city which will definitely explode once the airport opens in the coming year.  Its winding, narrow streets are lined with magnificently carved, sandstone  historic mansions called havelis and  more populated by cows than tourists.

Cows, cows and more cows in this town

The intricate carving in the hallway of our haveli hotel is typical of havelis.

One of the grand havelis 

Forts such as this one typically included a palace for the maharaja. This was no exception.

JODPHUR - the Blue City

Another much larger city dominated by a perfectly situated fort that has never been captured and is still run by the royal family.   Emerging from its sandstone base, it is a wonder and an architectural feat.  Historically in the city only the Brahmin caste painted their houses blue but more recently others have adopted the practice.  Supposedly the color blue repels insects.

Mehrangarh, the 16th century fort 

A peak at the "Blue City" with its fortifications.

Color in the local market

A vendor with a pile of trinkets