November 27th 2006
Woke up 5 am. Had tea, showered, and while Pavan was still dressing up, I went up to the roof of Pushkar Palace Hotel to watch the sunrise. After 1/2 an hour, Pavan joined me. The daylight appeared but NO SUNRISE YET! Could hear some pooja in the near distance, very soft and soothing in the morning hours. It was a beautiful and serene morning.
Contrary to our belief that there may be poojas held below the hotel room the night before, that was not to be. That just looked like a ghat, similar to ones in Rishikesh where the evening pooja was held.
7.00 am - We returned to our rooms as the sun must have risen behind the mountains and we never saw it, just had the day break. Must make a note of it to capture the sunset in Pushkar, amazing sight that was. Ordered our breakfast in our room (Aloo and Gobi Parathas, and mosambi juice Rs 330 +50, paid Rs 400 total).
Before heading out, walked along the lake (behind the hotel) to take some more pictures from a different angle. Not allowed to wear shoes, Pavan decided not to go, I put my sneakers in my backpack and started to walk along the lake where a lot of devotees were praying, getting trained in becoming pujaris etc. People are very devoted who come here and really believe that a dip in the lake washes off their sins. In fact, I saw a family, where 3 generations were taking a dip in the freezing cold water, that included a young child not older than 3/4 years old. I went till as far as I could walk without slipping or falling. There were a lot of pigeons, and sometimes hundreds of them flew together, and got some really good shots.
On returning back from my walk, I saw Pavan talking with some people. He was still talking with Bhavani Shankar Parashkar, who had earlier told us that shoes are not allowed on these religious shrine. He told Pavan how Pushkar Palace had broken some laws to acquire this place (our hotel) and were now facing a stop order to complete some construction in some areas behind the hotel. He complained about the Municipal Corporation.
9.30 am - Saw Saravan Singh ready in the taxi, that means we can leave soon.
9.55 am - Leaving Pushkar Palace after clearing the bill (Rs 1700 on a kachcha bill, no tax), we had paid for our food separately.
10.15 am - Reached Ajmer on the way to Bundi.
Payal has been trying to call but the calls keep getting missed.
10.30 am - Left Ajmer.
On to the 13th District - Bundi.
12.10 afternoon - Stopped on the way at Mayur Garden (Kekadi) for tea.
12.20 pm - Left the rest station, which was a dinghy little place, but we were able to use the washrooms (so so) - good thing I always carry with me the paper soap strips that I bought at CVS and some toilet paper from the last hotel room.
2.08 pm - Reached Bundi.
2.20 pm - Reached Ishwari Niwas. The manager was not showing us good rooms, after a lot of rejections, since there was not much difference from one to the other, we finally accepted one room, but I wish I had insisted on one of the newer rooms in the other building, or threatened that we were leaving.........as I got a chance to peep in a room while going to the restaurant, and the same room next morning, that was quite nice. They had a group of bikers who were expected there, and maybe when we arrived they did not know how many of them would be there. Anyway, I was very disappointed with our room, and I will not stay in this hotel again. Even Saravan Singh was not happy with their service. The room was small, the bathroom was quite bad, and would get wet easily with a bath, nothing to stop the water running all over the floor. The bed has a reddish cotton sheet to cover it, which looked like it really needed a wash. All the rooms had these similar sheets, except in the newer rooms in the building which also houses the restaurant.
3.30 pm - After lunch, we left for the Bundi Fort. Saravan Singh took us as high as he could, and this Fort is huge, with another older, higher Fort behind it, but not possible for us to go to. So, we started our walk along the rugged path, which had natural slip stoppers. In those days, they constructed the stone roads in such a way that humans, elephants and horses could climb up and not slip. It was beautiful inside, very big and many many decorated walls.
There was this one guy, a self proclaimed guide, who despite our NO's kept walking with us. In a way we were glad, as we would have missed the huge Swing, Jhoola, which was 97 ft high, made of stone. It must have been the pride of this Fort when in use. It was meant for the royal ladies to relax in and was built within the Zanaana (ladies' quarters).
5.05 pm - Returned from the Fort to the Taxi.
5.25 pm - Reached Ishwari Niwas. Bought some small items like tea bags, creamer (Amul) and some crackers/buiscuits (In India crackers and cookies are called biscuits).
5.40 pm - Returned to the room with our grocery.
Since we had eaten a heavy and late lunch, we missed dinner and again settled for tea and biscuits etc.
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