Jodhpur

5-7th November 2004.

Founded in 1459, the "Blue" city of Jodhpur is a maze of different blues, that lies on the edge of the Thar Dessert. The old city is a tangle of narrow winding streets where tuk tuks and bikes roar past you. You therefore have to be constantly on guard not to get run over. It is also the place that 'Jodhpurs' trousers get their name from.

Traditionally, the blue city idea originates from the Brahmin class who all settled in one part of the city. Due to their immense importance they painted their houses blue to make a clear line for the riffraff. Now everyone wants to be in Brahmin class and paints their house blue. It's also supposed to a natural mosquito repellant...mmmm.

Jodhpur Fort looms on the horizon from wherever you are in town.

Upon entering the fort, you are greeted with some rather cheery cannon ball marks from where the Raj of Jaipur got upset with the Raj of Jodhpur over some dowry disagreement. Luckily, oil and not dowries start wars now.

The photo on the left, shows the handprints of the Raj's widows who all got on his bonfire to burn themselves alive in "Sati" and die with him at his funeral. The 20 or more handprints suggest he was doing OK for himself.

The Raj's elephant seat looks a bit posh as well.

The turban boys are normally struggling to stay awake at this time of the day but today they are arguing over who has the best Tash.

The rooms in the fort were a little opulent as well.

The markets sell some pretty odd stuff.

This is the Cenpotaph of the Raj and his family

... which is of course stalked by these two young musicians. These two were pretty good compared to the two grandads out the front who had stolen small children for the day to dance to the music that they couldn't play.

A nice sunrise and a meal overlooking the fort.

The next day it was off to the palace to see all the crap that Europeans had been off-loading onto the Raj of Jodhpur. Clocks, glass swans and all sorts of tacky stuff adorn the trophy cabinets, that had been given as gifts over the years.

This is a typical Jodhpur scene with Claire running away from boys who are dying to practice their English and most likely ask for a pen, chocolate or some rupees for our trouble. This is one joke that is running a bit thin at the moment.

The colours of Rajastan are amazing.  The colours are in contrast to the dry dessert.

Jodhpur is also home to the largest cows horns we have ever seen.
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