The original plan was to drive from Jaipur down to Ajmer where we would stay for two nights, doing a day trip to the holy town of Pushkar. However Jaspul suggested that we stay in Pushkar as Ajmer was busy and noisy compared to the tranquility of Pushkar. I duly changed our hotel booking and I'm not too sure what the place is like.
There is one thing that I do want to see in Ajmer and that is the Jain temple. Known as the Red Temple from its outside or the Golden Temple from what it contains. I don't think this place gets many western visitors which is a shame because they are missing a treat. The inside is a visual extravaganza of golden artifice but also an intellectual insight into a completely different way of looking at our world. A little like the Christian Bible I'm not sure how literally to take the ideas (nor l suspect do believers). Here is the first text that you can read on entering the temple
.
This is the first of many such tablets giving you the full explanation of what this place is all about. I'm sure you get the drift. I suppose this is the equivalent of creating a diorama to illustrate the book of Genesis (Bible not Band).
This was created in 1865 along with the two storey hall which is decorated all round with gold, silver and precious stones. The flying peacocks and especially the elephant gondolas add a naive contemporary flavour. The multitude of reflections from the windows do detract from the quality of the pictures but it is worth trying to look closely.
We are looking at the representation of the 13 continents and oceans, and the illustrated biographies of some of the gurus/prophets/gods. I'm not sure which is the most appropriate word.
So time to push on in the car to Pushkar (sorry). This involves driving over the Snake Mountain, maybe named after the hairpin bends in the road over the pass.
Pushkar is a major place of pilgrimage for the Hindu religion. Devout Hindus should make a pilgrimage here at least once in their lifetime. It is a small town built round a lake which was formed when Brahma dropped a lotus flower. The story goes on but you get the gist of it. There are 54 bathing ghats and 400 Temples. It really is a seriously holy place. Vegetarian and no alcohol, people are expected to be modesty dressed and not display affection physically. There is, however a distinct whiff of hashish around. It is the unearthly collision of commercialism with spiritually and those who only come to stand and stare.
The hotel that I selected online through booking.com turned out to be even more spartan than our last one, so we tried Jas' selection. This was not one to write home about (which ironically I am now doing) but we decided to take it. Like so much in India it has seen better days but it has a serviceable restaurant and a slightly Art Deco feel.
There were some rather colourful people about including a good number of ageing hippies who seemed to have worn about as well as Mick Jagger and some of nature's rather more handsome creations.
To illustrate the commercial side of Pushkar Helen agreed to use this shop. The traders are friendly polite and very keen but not over pushy. Prices were generally fixed, written down and consistent.
This is one of the largest Hindu Temples which we wanted to visit. On entering this gateway we were stopped and a sign was pointed out to us that foreigners were not allowed. That's another religion off the list.
This is the Sikh Temple, where in stark contrast, all are welcome.
There is one thing that I do want to see in Ajmer and that is the Jain temple. Known as the Red Temple from its outside or the Golden Temple from what it contains. I don't think this place gets many western visitors which is a shame because they are missing a treat. The inside is a visual extravaganza of golden artifice but also an intellectual insight into a completely different way of looking at our world. A little like the Christian Bible I'm not sure how literally to take the ideas (nor l suspect do believers). Here is the first text that you can read on entering the temple
.
This is the first of many such tablets giving you the full explanation of what this place is all about. I'm sure you get the drift. I suppose this is the equivalent of creating a diorama to illustrate the book of Genesis (Bible not Band).
This was created in 1865 along with the two storey hall which is decorated all round with gold, silver and precious stones. The flying peacocks and especially the elephant gondolas add a naive contemporary flavour. The multitude of reflections from the windows do detract from the quality of the pictures but it is worth trying to look closely.
We are looking at the representation of the 13 continents and oceans, and the illustrated biographies of some of the gurus/prophets/gods. I'm not sure which is the most appropriate word.
So time to push on in the car to Pushkar (sorry). This involves driving over the Snake Mountain, maybe named after the hairpin bends in the road over the pass.
Pushkar is a major place of pilgrimage for the Hindu religion. Devout Hindus should make a pilgrimage here at least once in their lifetime. It is a small town built round a lake which was formed when Brahma dropped a lotus flower. The story goes on but you get the gist of it. There are 54 bathing ghats and 400 Temples. It really is a seriously holy place. Vegetarian and no alcohol, people are expected to be modesty dressed and not display affection physically. There is, however a distinct whiff of hashish around. It is the unearthly collision of commercialism with spiritually and those who only come to stand and stare.
The hotel that I selected online through booking.com turned out to be even more spartan than our last one, so we tried Jas' selection. This was not one to write home about (which ironically I am now doing) but we decided to take it. Like so much in India it has seen better days but it has a serviceable restaurant and a slightly Art Deco feel.
There were some rather colourful people about including a good number of ageing hippies who seemed to have worn about as well as Mick Jagger and some of nature's rather more handsome creations.
To illustrate the commercial side of Pushkar Helen agreed to use this shop. The traders are friendly polite and very keen but not over pushy. Prices were generally fixed, written down and consistent.
This is one of the largest Hindu Temples which we wanted to visit. On entering this gateway we were stopped and a sign was pointed out to us that foreigners were not allowed. That's another religion off the list.
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