villages Part 2

MINDOLI - a hive of activity

lots of painting going on

no brushes required

this chap had the same idea!

lavender this time, applied with a brush

and any repairs to walls need a mixture of buffalo 

poo, chopped straw and water

meanwhile

a little shrine with rangoli decoration

grandma showing her grandchildren the

art of painting rangoli - she left them to

finish it off, just standing back giving

the odd word of advice

looking through to a courtyard

so our two days in Bundi came to an end. 

back to Udaipur for Diwali, sorting out a few odds and ends

laundry is a must

we rescued a tortoise run over by a car

he must have a very hard shell and seemed to be fine

one of several chai stops on the way to Udaipur

and relax before our next adventure

Bundi

There is something charming about the old city of Bundi, admittedly it could do with a bit of brush and polish!    Not so many tourists visit,  the main attraction is the Bundi School of Mogul paintings in the old crumbling Palace, plus the surrounding countryside.

We stayed at Nawal Sargar, formerly part of the royal palace.   Good choice.  Right in the middle of town with a garden over looking the lake.   Nice place to sit, eat and relax.

With only a few days to go before Diwali the market was bustling.   

new bangles

all the old bangles, except two, are cut off

the new set is separated and, one by one, heated on

charcoal, a piece cut out (to fit?) and placed on the arm

the bangle is pushed together to form a circle then

manipulated between the two old bangles

eventually the last two original bangles are cut off

so may decorations to choose from

A trip to the Villages - every village has it's own distinct dialect and local crafts as well as being set is rich fertile farming land.  The Basmati rice was ready for harvesting, one of the major crops in this area.

SATOOR

Mostly traditional houses here with very few modern monstrosities.   It has a feeling of calm and peacefulness - and lots of children!

the village potter

and his wife - fascinating watching her decorate the pots

with a simple brush divided into two, using white clay. 

 Circles, lines, squiggles and dots produced with in seconds

typical houses

look, quilts drying on a roof!

this next to the dhobi ghat which also has separate area for men and woman

to bathe.    So you do you washing, hang it out to dry and have fun with you 

friend splashing about in the water

part 2 very shortly

in need of a cup of chai

the connection is a bit slow/tedious!

rock paintings

A day to remember.   With our guide Kukki, we set off early in the morning on a 
voyage of discovery.   Kukki, has been searching the land (and hills) around Bundi 
since he was a boy.   Apart from arrow heads, coins and bronze tools etc. etc., he 
also discovered rock paintings dating from the Stone Age through to the Bronze Age.
A lovely man, and a great storyteller.  We were entranced all day long.   His web
site is http://kukkiworld.com/, well worth a visit.


Out from Bundi the land is very fertile, wheat, mustard growing well.  The rice almost
ready for harvesting.   After a while the scenery changes to a sparse landscaped,
mostly shrubs and trees.    We stop and walk for ten minutes for the first 'surprise'.
A beautiful waterfall cascading down into the valley below.

A walk of 2km in the broiling heat, brought us to a smooth ledge jutting out across

the gorge.     Where vultures fly.   We could see their nesting/roosting sites, and,

there, above out heads were a group of vultures just gliding on the thermals.  Such

a fabulous sight, especially as these birds were on the verge of extinction.

Scrambling up and down, squeezing through small gaps, negotiating thorn bushed,

we were amazed and the rock painting.    We saw only a few sites, and there are

many more.   A few pictures - Kukki's website has more information.

earth colour stones

on the left, a shaman - to his left a hunter with

bow and arrow (and quaking knees)  below

him, a man with a lasso

a group of woman waving and shout to frighten the

animal, play the bowmen on the other side.   It is

thought the women are off African appearance

On the way back we stopped on scrub land, and there beneath our feet, we could

see evidence of worked stone and agate cut into sharp blades.

The country side is the home to the Bhil people.  We stopped at one of the villages

but very few people were about.  Possibly working in the fields.

Bhil houses with typical decoration.  I love the blue

house with the painted train.

We arrived back in Bundi early evening, very dusty, with heads

full of wondrous things.   A fantastic day.

To Bundi

via Ranthambore, to go on a tiger safari.  Unlike our last visit when five tigers
were spotted, this time, apart from a pug mark, nothing.  I think they have gone 
on holiday.

And so to Bundi.   The old city is a delight to wander through.  Slightly off the 
beaten track, not so many tourist make it here.


Monkeys rush down from the palace in the early morning, to return in the evening.  
Then it's the turn of the bats!

Goats enjoying the morning sun

fresh mooli from the market

Kota Dori cloth being woven.  Kota is the next town, 

famous for the production of this cloth.   Very fine cotton 

scarves dupattas, and saris.  Pattern or single motives

 are added, woven with metallic thread.