Pushkar

The seventh wonder of the world, apparently, the holiest place in India, where drinking, smoking etc is strictly forbidden.
Reached by yet another 4 hour jeep ride across rural India, this city is truly magical.
There are more temples than any other building, plus sacred cows everywhere, even atop roofs.
The colour shines from silver/glitter/gold carvings, colourful statues of numerous Deities, and market stalls lining alleys leading to a holy lake.
The first evening we arrived at yet another ‘good’ Indian hotel (i.e. basic, no hot water and very iffy power-my own plug and torch are proving invaluable).
Down through the market to watch the sunset over the holy lake, serenaded by musicians and beggars-mainly children-then on to a fabulous dinner at a place called ‘out of the blue’ …..A choice without curries, yippee!!
An Israeli supper of falafel and humus gave me strength to agree to a 5 am mountain climb to watch the sunrise….and so a few hours later…………..
It was a very steep climb, uneven rocks, lit only by the odd lamp, but, armed with our torches, about half the group, 8 of us, braved the cold and pitch black, and took the tuk tuk at 5 am to the foothills and off we set.
By the time we reached the top over an hour later the pink glow was emerging in the sky, and we drank chai to the sound of temple bells as a perfect globe rose above us.
Down for a well deserved massive breakfast of pancakes, banana and honey!
And then for another first-a two hour camels ride into the sand dunes…my legs are so000 sore this evening.
But worth every minute (and rupee). Our guides set up a camp in the desert and cooked us supper (curry, yes, but with chai, coke, and traditional sweet deserts, so the full three course menu) which we ate on cushions as fire dancers whirled between us.
Today I have been in India a week, but it feels like a year-the sensory overload is overwhelming, the peace and ‘spiritual’ air transcends the grim and filth, and despite the exhausting travel, the experiences have been extraordinary. This truly is a magical country.