Page 26 - Soul of India: The Colorful South
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sandstone outcrop. The fort itself was built _SL_ ZQ L S`XLY MPTYR 4Y QLN_ TY ZYP QLXZ`^
from chiseled pieces of its sandstone base, instance in 1730, more than 360 Bishnoi
creating an image that Rudyard Kipling once aTWWLRP]^ ^LN]TʭNPO _SPX^PWaP^ _Z ^LaP L ^XLWW
OP^N]TMPO L^ ɭ_SP bZ]V ZQ LYRPW^ QLT]TP^ R]ZaP ZQ VSPU]T _]PP^ ,^ bP Pc[WZ]P _SP^P
LYO RTLY_^ ɮ ,Q_P] bT_YP^^TYR _SP R]LYOP`] Bishnoi villages, we’ll have a chance to learn
ZQ 8PS]LYRL]S 1Z]_ bPɪWW YPc_ aT^T_ 5L^bLY_ more about their culture by witnessing an
?SLOLɨLY PWPRLY_ XL]MWP NPYZ_L[S OPOTNL_PO opium ceremony, in which opium is dissolved
_Z 8LSL]LUL 5L^bLY_ >TYRS 44 bSZ^P T]]TRL_TZY TY bL_P] _SL_ T^ _SPY ^_]LTYPO LYO O]`YV Q]ZX
plans brought prosperity to this otherwise dry _SP SLYO^ BP XLd LW^Z SLaP L NSLYNP _Z
region. Today, many locals visit the memorial spot local wildlife, perhaps including nilgai,
_Z ZʬP] []LdP]^ LYO ʮZbP]^ _Z _SP OPNPL^PO LY_PWZ[P^ LYO RLePWWP^
XLSL]LULɨL^ bPWW L^ _Z TYO`WRP TY bSL_ T^
said to be the best view of Mehrangarh Fort. BPɪWW ]P_`]Y _Z Z`] ]P_]PL_ QZ] W`YNS LYO
Later, we’ll stroll through the lovely Mandore you’ll have some free time this afternoon to
Gardens, set on the former cremation grounds ]PWLc LYO LOXT]P _SP MPL`_d ZQ Z`] OP^P]_
ZQ =L_SZ]P ]`WP]^ BPɪWW aTPb _SP RL]OPY^ɪ surroundings. Later this afternoon, we’ll visit
red sandstone cenotaphs and perhaps have a ;SLWZOT L YPL]Md OP^P]_ NT_d VYZbY L^ _SP
chance to meet their most famous residents: ]PRTZYLW S`M ZQ _]LOTYR LYO NZXXP]NP BPɪWW
the playful langurs Z] MWLNV QLNPO XZYVPd^ ^PP ;SLWZOTɪ^ PY_P][]T^TYR YL_`]P ʭ]^_SLYO
O`]TYR L aT^T_ _Z _SP WZNLW XL]VP_ bSP]P
BPɪWW SLaP W`YNS L_ L WZNLW ]P^_L`]LY_ LYO bPɪ]P WTVPWd _Z ^PP NLXPW^ _Z_TYR ML^VP_^ ZQ
_SPY NZXXPYNP Z`] O]TaP _Z 6STX^L] BPɪWW WZNLWWd []ZO`NPO ^LW_
M]PLV `[ _SP O]TaP bT_S L ^_Z[ TY :^TLY L
desert town, to view the impressive Jain -LNV TY 6STX^L] OTYYP] T^ L_ Z`] ]P_]PL_
?PX[WP _SP]P BPɪWW WPL]Y LMZ`_ _SP 5LTY -]PLVQL^_ 7`YNS /TYYP]
]PWTRTZY bSTNS _PLNSP^ YZY aTZWPYNP LYO
SLaP L NSLYNP _Z aTPb _SP TY_]TNL_P ]PO ]ZNV
carvings on the temple’s walls before Day 6 Kheechan cranes • Visit salt pans
NZY_TY`TYR ZY _Z 6STX^L] BSPY bP L]]TaP TY BPɪWW ]T^P PL]Wd _ST^ XZ]YTYR _Z bT_YP^^
6STX^L] bPɪWW NSPNV TY_Z Z`] OP^P]_ ]P_]PL_ LY Pc[PN_PO ^TRS_ TY _SP OP^P]_% OZePY^ ZQ
LYO dZ`ɪWW SLaP ^ZXP _TXP _Z ^P__WP TY /TYYP] OPXZT^PWWP N]LYP^ ʮdTYR STRS LMZaP _SP ^LYOd
this evening is at the retreat. dunes outside the rural village of Kheechan.
-]PLVQL^_ 7`YNS /TYYP] 0LNS dPL] _SP MT]O^ ʮZNV _Z 6SPPNSLY _Z
P^NL[P _SP SL]^S bTY_P]^ ZQ >TMP]TL BPɪWW
have the chance to observe the birds from
Day 5 Desert Safari • Visit Phalodi Market _SP ^SZ]P^ ZQ 6SPPNSLYɪ^ WLVP YZb L N]LYP
Today, we’ll leave our desert retreat behind as nesting site.
we indulge in a unique glimpse of life in rural
Afterwards, we’ll return to our retreat, where
=LUL^_SLY ZY L UPP[ ^LQL]T :`] UPP[^ bTWW _LVP
dZ`ɪWW SLaP ^ZXP Q]PP _TXP _Z ]PWLc LQ_P] Z`]
us to several remote Bishnoi villages to meet
early start. Perhaps you’ll participate in a
_SP XPXMP]^ ZQ _ST^ ^ZNTZ ]PWTRTZ`^ 3TYO`
NZZVTYR OPXZY^_]L_TZY ZQ ]`]LW =LUL^_SLYT
sect. As we’ll learn, the Bishnoi people are
N`T^TYP Z] _LVP L OT[ TY _SP Z`_OZZ] [ZZW
VYZbY QZ] _SPT] WZaP ZQ YL_`]P MPWTPaTYR _SL_
the life of a plant or animal is as important as
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