We enjoyed an awe-inspiring week in the amazingly photogenic Rajasthan, a state patched together from a hundred feudal kingdoms. Until after Indian independence – through Mughal and British rule – the kings continued to hold power.
The former royal families are still around, and the successful ones have turned some of their properties (hunting lodges and palaces) into hotels and set up trusts to open their larger forts and palaces to the public. We visited the walled cities of Jodphur, Udaipur and Jaipur.
Like the whole of India, Rajasthan is largely rural, producing grains and beans and raising sheep, goats, cows and water buffalo. Camels are still used to pull carts, and elephants haul tourists in Jaipur.
Our favorite stop was the tiny town of Narlai, where we spent two nights. We could walk the entire town in minutes and enjoyed getting a feel for village life.
The second night there was Anne’s birthday, and it happened to coincide with a special dinner out in the country at the site of an historic step well. The well, with it’s huge granite steps leading down to the water, became a magical setting for our dinner.
We also got to visit the homes of shepherds and farmers living very traditional lives. It was a great privilege to get a glimpse of their family lives.
We’ve got lots of photos in our Rajasthan slideshow.
See more photos in our Rajasthan slideshow.
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