The delights of Kaurali, India

I'm carrying on with my stories of a two-week tour of Northern India in 2007.  

January 27, 2007: Upon arrival in Kaurali we checked into the Bhanwar Villas palace hotel.  The money that our tour company (Imaginative Traveler)  paid the Maharajah who owns the hotel went towards renovations on his beautiful city palace which we would see the next day.  This Art Deco summer palace which was constructed in 1938 lies on the outskirts of the city.  Our tour guide (known to the ladies as Mr. Hotty)  handed out our keys and when I went to mine I nearly fell over - it was HUGE!  The bathroom was as big as my living room let alone the rest of the place.  Mr. Hotty told me he had given me the largest room and not to tell anyone.  

As is common in Asia one part of the bathroom was a "wet room" where you shower.   Most places have slip proof tiles underfoot but I've encountered the odd one where you had to be very careful.  I recall tripping on the step up into the"business" part of the bathroom on a middle of the night trip! 

Mr. Hotty came to my room (insert heavy panting - kidding!! not really) to see how I liked it. He told me he wanted me to meet someone so I grabbed my camera and went with him.  WELL….here was a mom dog (boxer) owned by the Maharajah named Simone with her darling 7 black puppies.  The American mom was holding one and of course, I had to grab one and we had a real doggie fix.  We are both dog people and it was so hard not to touch the strays but we knew we couldn’t for our own health & safety. (eg: rabies)  Dad was supposedly the Maharajah’s yellow lab named Simon but from the look of the pups I’d say Simone isn’t telling him everything!!  

We were given the beautiful garlands when we checked in. 

Simone feeding her babies and below there's dad..a real tough life for him. Ha! 

Three of us went for a walk to the local market and were enjoying not being harassed for money until a little urchin asked for ten rupees but we ignored him. (and cursed the tourist who had given him money)  Other than that one kid no one else asked us for money.  A refreshing change!  The children followed us everywhere and we got used to our “entourage”.  Everyone stared at us though as they don’t get many tourists here. (that has probably changed in the thirteen years since... ) 

This is one of my favourites of all the photographs I have taken on travels.  I just wished I'd have framed it a bit better and hadn't cut off the top of his turban. 

Back at the palace, we had a delicious dinner with fresh veggies (including red carrots which at that point in my life I had never seen before) from the palace gardens. This was of the rare times I went off my "in India" vegetarian diet (just to be on the safe side) and enjoyed a wonderful chicken dish. 

Here is a view of the palace with the lush organic garden full of goodness that we were fed during our stay. 

We sat and talked in the delightful courtyard after dinner.  Looking at the website now the hotel has been renovated but I kind of preferred it as it was then! 

Then I slept in my palatial suite.  Although I have to say the mattress was still as hard as the rest of the hotel beds in India!!!

Sunday January 28^th -   After our usual masala omelette (which I loved) for breakfast we went on a walking tour of Karauli and visited the city palace which was exquisite.  Much nicer than some of the more famous palaces we had visited up until that point.  The City Palace was originally built in the 14th century however there are only a few remains - most of what stands now was constructed in the 18th century. 

There were renovations going on while we were there. 

We also were able to attend a Hindu ceremony in a local temple which for obvious reasons I didn't photograph.  Of course, we had our usual entourage of shouting “hello!” children.   

There was a stop at a bangle shop (Karauli is famous for its beautiful handmade bangles) and we all had to have ours enlarged as our hands weren’t as dainty as the Indian womens.  I bought a small assorted box full for gifts for friends. Unfortunately while they are beautiful, they break easily so I only have a couple left. 

I think the Indian people are the most physically beautiful of all I have seen in this world. They are beautiful in spirit as well. 

We nearly caused a riot with both adults and children congregating around watching us.  I was able to get some fantastic photos of the children on my digital camera - they loved seeing the pictures and would struggle to be the one right in front of the camera! Nowadays it's not PC to take photos of children but they sure loved it and I don't regret it one little bit!  Karauli was definitely the highlight of the trip to me -experiencing a typical Indian town, our lovely palace home and unlimited doggie cuddles. 

We saw a few more things on our way back...

After a late lunch of soup, sandwiches & pakoras we had a rest and then the camel carts came to pick us up.    We sat on blankets on the flat cart and it was great - we got to see the homes just outside of town and the children yelled "hello" to us.  We stopped at a lovely picnic site by a lake then went back via the same route with just as many “hellos” as before.

We had two carts for the 8 of us. (including our guide Mr. Hotty)  

No this isn't Mr. Hotty (I'm making you wait, ladies!)  We definitely got the prettiest camel; or at least the most "dressed up" one!!!  

Lots of waves and smiles!!!  

At a turn around point we got off the cart and watched women doing their laundry.  (I've never complained about washing clothes in an automatic washer or dryer since...) 

There was a shelter for picnics with the inevitable hopeful hungry monkeys ready to beg, borrow or steal your food (or cameras; they're not picky). 

I was amazed at how calm the camels were.  They walked sedately along the road despite blaring horns and shouting humans. 

After the ride was over we headed back to our rooms to clean up before dinner which was another wonderful homemade meal.   

Monday January 29^th  - Time to leave Karauli. How sad.   

Time to say goodbye to Simone and one of the friendly fellows that worked at the hotel. 

The route was scenic and I was able to get some shots from the van - images that stay in my mind are: children and adults bathing at the local water pump, homes made of dung, people waving, bright saris and most of all the beautiful smiles! 

After another huge buffet lunch at a hotel along the way we arrived at Keoladeo National Park which is known for its many birds (over 350 species).  We traveled by electric bus and stopped at various places - the very first thing we saw was a rock python.  I am deathly afraid of snakes so I can’t believe I watched it with fascination as it slithered back into its hole.  I think because I knew we were going to see it and I was prepared - if we had come across it unexpectedly well I would probably have died of heart failure on the spot. 

I didn't see any in this park! 

It slithered into the hole to its left.  My first python in the wild! (I avoid the reptile house when I visit zoos..so guess my first python ever!)  Little did I know less than four years later I'd be looking right down at one from on top of an elephant praying that I didn't fall off on top of it!!! 

We saw kingfishers and other birds -  I am not good at what bird is which but they were pretty!!  Sadly I wasn't able to get any pictures.  We didn't see any four-legged residents of the park. 

Then it was on to Agra.  The normal hotel was being renovated so we were put up in a beautiful new business hotel.   Another delicious buffet dinner and off to bed with dreams of what tomorrow would bring!