We are woken by a dawn chorus and a beautiful sunrise. A walk around the camp area reveals weaver nests. The Baya Weaver, Ploceus philippinus, also known locally in Hindi as Baya or Sonchiri, is a renowned bird in Rajasthan famous for constructing intricate, hanging, retort-shaped nests. These master architects, often found in colonies near wetlands and farmlands, use grass and leaves to build nests featuring a long, downward-facing tunnel to protect against predators.
Leaving our camp and head into Jodhpur we pass many stone quarries and stone cutters.
Our tour today takes us further into Jodhpur to explore the Jaswant Thada and Mehrangarh Fort.
The Jaswant Thada is a beautiful memorial in marble often described as the “Taj Mahal of Marwar” and was built in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singhjill of Jodhpur (1873-1895) by his son Maharaja Sardar Singhji (1895-1911) completed in 1906 A.D. Some of the marble glows a warm gold as light penetrates the same.
The main hall has been built like a temple where puja (ritual) is also performed. The worship of ancestors is common to the Rajput clans.
There is a lake adjacent to the Jaswant Thada, we see Yellow Bittern, Indian Cormorants, coots, moorhens, swifts and a variety of raptors.
The Mehrangarh Fort is a massive 15th-century hilltop citadel in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, rising 122 meters above the city. Founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, this 1,200-acre fortress is renowned for its intricate and exquisite architecture and artwork. The thick-walled palace houses an extensive museum displaying arms, paintings, and royal artifacts.
From the fort we can see the “Blue City” it is famous for its striking, blue-painted houses, particularly in the old city/Brahmapuri area near the 15th-century Mehrangarh Fort.. Originally painted by Brahmins to symbolize caste, this tradition evolved into a practical solution to keep homes cool in the desert heat and repel insects.
This city is very much cleaner and has less litter in comparison to previous cities, we note a lot more young women working in the hotels suggesting this city is less conservative than past cities we have visited.
As for the weather it has been kind if you are an Indian or Aussie.
We will let the pictures explain the rest.
