Day 4: MANDAWA - KARNI MATA - BIKANER
Friday, May 04, 2012
Today we didn't even need the alarm to get up. Tonight we will remember it as the night of the “attack of the mosquitoes” or of “the airplanes” and it is that it looks like the bicharracos were great. We are full of bites all over the body and it is very hot. These are the sensations with which we have opened our eyes, in a day in which we will go from bug to bug, in a while we will be in the Karni Mata Rat Temple.
Here it dawns before 5.30h, so when we got up, daylight was already entering through the small windows.
Before going to breakfast I make a coffee in the water heater and I find that the nescafé is expired: more than 6 months ago! But it doesn't matter, with the night I've spent, "pa inside" that this is India!!! :))
You have to start the day with a smile !!!
Views from our room in Mandawa
At 7 we leave the Castle Mandawa Hotel on the way to Temple of the rats Karni Mata, known especially for its inhabitants and owners: the rats!
We arrive around 10.30 in the morning always crossing roads surrounded by desert that become quite monotonous in this trip to india.
There is nothing different in the landscape on this route, so it is much longer than yesterday from Delhi to Mandawa
Once in the Temple of the rats Karni Mata, we paid 20 rupees per person for the cameras, since the entrance is free, leaving the shoes before at a ticket office also free.
Mahendra wants to join us in the visit of Karni Mata and he comes with us without thinking.
Temple entrance of the Karni Mata rats
Temple of the rats Karni Mata
Entry DetailsTemple of the rats Karni Mata
The first thing we do is put on our socks, not for nothing, but imagine how the Temple of the rats Karni Mata Inside, we believe it is the best.
And from here, as we said yesterday ... it is best to see the images:
Colors in theTemple of the rats Karni Mata
Temple of the rats Karni Mata
HennaTemple of the rats Karni Mata
More practical information to prepare your trip to India
- 10 essential places to visit in India
- 10 essential places to see in New Delhi
- 10 essential tips for traveling to India
- The best travel insurance for India
Temple of the rats Karni Mata
Let's go to the other place ... Temple of the rats Karni Mata
To drink milk!Temple of the rats Karni Mata
Details ofTemple of the rats Karni Mata
Upon entering, Mahendra tells us something we had already read: that if we see a white rat, we will have good luck.
Today is a bit complicated for me, so seeing her after being 15 minutes inside the Temple of the rats Karni Mata... and not only once, if not up to three times, it makes me leave with a smile on my mouth ... call me superstitious ... maybe yes, but it's something that has made me comfort on this day ... and that was just a white rat, but it has been MY white rat !!
1st time we see the white rat !!!Temple of the rats Karni Mata
Temple of the rats Karni Mata
2nd time we see the white rat !!!Temple of the rats Karni Mata
Feeding the rats in a closed enclosure.Temple of the rats Karni Mata
Temple of the rats Karni Mata
Leaving theTemple of the rats Karni Mata
Last goodbye
I get friends again ...
As we left we looked for a bin to throw the socks after visiting the Temple of the rats Karni Mata, until we realize that we are in India!! There are no litter bins here, so we cannot do anything other than throw them in the middle of the street ... Of course, there is no one who takes away the gesture of looking back and forth because of the shame of doing so ...
We are just under 30 kilometers from Bikaner and we decided that it is almost 12 noon, we can go to the hotel Bikaner to leave the bags and then about 2 go to eat in the city of Bikaner Then visit it.
Today we stayed at The Laxmi Niwas Palace hotel.
Upon arrival, a building that amazes us is presented to us. It seems taken from a story.
We pay a lot of attention as soon as we arrive and when we see the room we are surprised at how good it is… we don't even want to think about the suites!
Room at The Laxmi Niwas Palace in Bikaner
Namaste Bikaner
Shortly before 2 pm we went out to meet Mahendra again.
Before we took the opportunity to take some pictures of the hotel, because the truth is that it is worth remembering ...
The Laxmi Niwas Palace in Bikaner
Pool at The Laxmi Niwas Palace
The Laxmi Niwas Palace in Bikaner
“Working” at The Laxmi Niwas Palace
As hunger is tightening we go straight to one of the restaurants recommended by the guide, the Gallops.
There we eat naan, tandoori chicken and tandoori potatoes plus 2 sodas and two coffees for 1000 rupees. The truth is that a little expensive for what it is, but hey, we will have to pay that it is the most recommended of Bikaner in the forums and in the guide.
Gallops restaurant in Bikaner
From here we just have to cross the street to reach Fort Junagarh of Bikaner, but in the end we go to the car park because it is unbearably hot at this time in India.
Crossing the street!!
We pay the entrance of 200 rupees per person and we go straight inside.
We found a very ornate Fort and much better than we expected and had read. We really like it a lot.
Fort Junagarh in Bikaner
Fort Junagarh in Bikaner
Details at Junagarh Fort
One of the rooms of Fort Junagarh
We are going through it for a long time, trying to find some shade, but at this time it is quite impossible to cool off, so after 45 minutes, we begin to lighten the pace, to try to lighten the visit a bit.
Junagarh Fort
Junagarh Fort
Views of the city of Bikaner from Fort Junagarh
Junagarh Fort
Junagarh Fort
Curious method "put out fires" in Fort Junagarh
Junagarh Fort
It's almost 5 in the afternoon, so after the visit of the Fort of Bikaner we go straight to the Jainí Temple of Bhandasar.
At first we thought we could walk, but after seeing the time it took us by car, we were glad to let Mahendra recommend us to go by car.
Jainí Bhandasar Temple
Interior of the Jain Bhandasar Temple
Views of Bikaner from the Jain Bhandasar Temple
Images from the Bhandasar Jain Temple
Jainí Bhandasar Temple
Jainí Bhandasar Temple
Our vehicle: car not the cow.
Bikaner
Now it's time to go back to Bikaner hotel, The Laxmi Niwas Palace, to take a shower, although what we would really like to do is to stroll through the city, the heat has got us quite tired and we prefer to lie down for a while to be 100% this evening.
The idea is to have dinner at the hotel restaurant that is highly recommended in the guide and in the forums. We hope to succeed!
After a shower and a little relaxation in the pool, by the way quite dirty, we will have dinner. They have the tables prepared in the center of the building and there is a music show, puppets, dancing, all very well staged.
We eat lamb and kebab plus roti, coke and beer, all for 2000 rupees.
Yes it is expensive, but the food is very good and the place has to be paid, these are some of the "luxuries" that we are allowing.
Although if we think about it cold, the change is about 28 euros. What would cost us any dinner in Spain in a place of good price.
The truth is that we can say that we believe it has been the most “story palace” place where we have ever had dinner, so we can't even think about the price of dinner.
We have to celebrate that we are finally in India.
And now we only have one thing left ... go to sleep !!!
At the moment these days are being calm and we are discovering a India Awesome!!
Day 5BIKANER - JAISALMER
