Wednesday 26th March 2008
Travel: New Delhi to Mandawa
As arranged, Raj our Tour Operator and Guide came with Satbir, our chauffeur,
to our hotel to meet us at 8.30am. As we set off on that lovely bright
Summer morning,
Raj paused and sent a prayer for us all: it was going to be a long drive and
Lord Ganesha in particular, was asked to look after us and remove any
likely obstacles off our way.
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The drive out of New Delhi took over an hour but this didn't matter due to
the constant amazement caused by cows in the middle of the road,
vehicles driving towards us on the wrong side of the road, colourful pedestrians,
took-took taxis, rickshaws, motor-bikes...
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Around mid-morning, Satbir turned off the main road and drove down into a field:
a surprise visit to some of his
relatives who live in a small isolated farm. We were greeted with much
kindness by Mataji and Papaji (the well-respected 'elders'), and by
the rest of the family. They offered us some Buffalo milk flavoured with dry-roasted
cumin seeds and some Masala Chai (tea).
Satbir looked so happy with his brother! The men smoked a long pipe which was passed
around with much conviviality.
It was amazing to see how little is needed to live - a good eye-opener
to us, Westerners! The main items owned by these warm and welcoming people seem to be
essentially a few tin goblets and plates and some bright religious effigies.
We learnt they live simply, drinking the milk of their buffaloes, and eating the
onions and potatoes they grow in the field around the little (2-room) farm.
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We then took the road again: Satbir was then taking us to his own home in a little village,
further along our road. As we got there for lunch, this was another special times full of
magic and surprises!
We met Satbir's pretty wife and his lovely son, Sachin, a bright young man of 15.
Having marvelled at the sight of a camel resting on the ground, a few doors down the
street from Satbir's house, the next surprise was upon us! Satbir worked some of his
own magic: within minutes, the camel was up and pulling a cart around the village - with us in it!
This truly was a magical tour: the ride probably took some 10 to 15 minutes... but
in my perception it had lasted all afternoon! Many kind faces greeting us on the way ('gora' -
'the foreigners/white people') were in the village: all came out to greet and cheer on the way!
In the afternoon, Satbir helped his wife cooking a meal for us. We felt so priviledged
to be able to be invited in an Indian home
and share a day in the life of these lovely people!
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Back on the road to Mandawa! This was a long drive but so interesting: villages
buzzing with typical Indian rural activities, the
Rajesthan countryside, and always lots of camels...
After night-fall we arrived at Mandawa - Our hotel, Mandawa Castle,
was a real castle, a real 'Arabian Nights' Castle! At the end of this long, magical,
event-packed day, as we passed through the draw-bridge and
drove into the grand, faintly lit-up castle courtyard, pinching ourselves
wasn't even going to bring us back to reality: the dream had become reality!
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That night, unfortunately - but also fortunately - I didn't sleep much. The dietary 'extremes'
of the day were probably beginning to catch up with my system... I say fortunately, because
the fact I laid awake for so many hours meant I was able to soak the magic that
filled the air at Mandawa Castle!
The warmth of the night, the proximity of a Mosque echoing in alternance the
the fluty female voices followed by the deeper wailing
voices of the male worshippers
and the mystical atmosphere of Mandawa Castle all contributed to a wonderful
'Oriental Tale' feeling!...
images of the day:
Delhi to Mandawa Slideshow (40 images)
