Day 14: Barathpur

today was supposed to start with a visit to the local nature reserve to look at birds, snakes ...
and then a cycle to Agra to see the Taj Mahal
but i had bad diarrhea, and couldn't even leave my room
hence the view;

Day 13: Jaipur to Barathpur

early start (in fact, earlier than many of the rickshaw cyclists, who were still in 'bed')

stereotype confirmed: it seems Indians do ride 'on' their trains

entrance to B.'s walled city (with bright green moat)

peacock in upper balcony of ruined mansion

Day 12: Jaipur
day started with rain, again
It was supposed to be a rest day, a tourism day; I did almost no sightseeing but got exhausted. I just cycled around the old city, taking pictures (so forgive today’s breaking of the ‘couple per day’ limit) and eating snacks.
cycle repair district

I got as far as the ticket booth for the City Palace, Jaipur’s No.1 tourist attraction, but a combination of worry about leaving my bike unattended for several hours, not being in the mood, and not wanting to shell out Rs.300 meant the booth was as far as I got. I chatted with some tourists about cycling (whenever anyone asks if I recommend cycling around India I hesitate for … well, for ever, really, don’t commit to an answer either way).
Jaipur is full of great (pink) buildings; Hawa Mahal is one of the best

So I spent my money on a kulfi ice cream and the permission to photograph some snake charmers.
kulfi sellers (and eaters)


feeding cows and birds is another (local) tourist attraction

The whole day now makes me wonder if the 200+km detour to Agra will be worth it if I’ll just hang around outside taking photos.

One thing nice about Jaipur is the large number of Indian tourists (probably because it is only 230km from Delhi and therefore possible as a day trip by bus): makes it feel ok to be a tourist.tourists eating kulfi

Day 11: Bundi to Jaipur

a long long slog along a road with little interest but with agressive truck drivers running me off the road
i would have loved to join these boys swimming in the river but had to press on

Day 10: Chittorgarh to Bundi

taking a shortcut to Bundi, I passsed this caravan of almost 100 camels and families of nomadic "tribals" moving home

brahmin house


BJP electioneering in Bundi

Day 9: Udaipur to Chittorgarh

despite the rain, Chittorgarh Fort was well worth a visit

Jain temple at Chittorgarh

Day 8: rest/tourism/repairs day

my rest day starts back at the lake, where women wash their saris


i stood on this street corner for almost an hour waiting for interesting subjects to come round corner


Udaipur palace (one of few places i can recommend paying the entrance fee)




holy man begging (and posing for photos) at Udaipur's main temple

Day 7: somewhere ... to Udaipur

i don't know why, but i expected Rajasthan to be hilly
it isn't, but some bits are pretty


R's main attractions are its cities, however, and Udaipur's palaces around the lake give it the deserved nickname of India's Venice.




i arrived shortly before sunset, just in time for a wander round, few pics, and then an Indian beer as tomorrow is a rest/tourism/bike fixing day

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