29 ~ Should've had a top on saying “New Zealand” : Khejarla
“Where are you from?”
23.12.2018 - 23.12.2018
View
India 18 - 19
on bruceontour's travel map.
Finally reached Fort Khejarla, another heritage hotel after 2pm / 14:00.
Khejarla seems to rise out of the Narwar plains like a sentinel. A sturdy fort, it is quite simple and uses very little ornamentation to break the almost forbidding exterior. The interiors too are simple and neat where the guests can look forward to genuine Rajput hospitality as most of the staff come from the local village.
https://jodhpurfortkhejarla.com/
Making charcoal
Of the Fort’s 42 rooms, I wasn’t staying in one of the 16 rooms in the old fort itself but neither the less was more than happy with my huge room situated up high on the fort’s parapet. Glad that I didn’t have to take my bag up the many stairs to my room but I did take it back down the next morning using the Osprey back pack feature for the first time.
View from outside my room
Rest of the afternoon was supposed to be at leisure but for me it was a walk around the village.
While they are used to tourists, I was still the focus of attention being the only tourist walking around. Again, the shop keepers were only too obliging for their photos to be taken.
I should have had a top on saying “New Zealand” as one of the first questions was “Where are you from?” Then of course cricket was mentioned with both current and former Black Caps names banded around.
I stood watching the old men playing a game on the veranda and one said to me “photo, photo” and gesturing me to take their photo which of course I gladly did.
Then there was the old man who couldn’t speak much English at all but insisted that I sit and have a chai with him, served by the young chai wallah.
I was surprised by the number of barber shops in this small village.
At the Computer Academy, Parash called me in and we talked about what he was doing training villagers to use computers. Met his father and nieces and nephew.
Then one of his best friend took me on the back of his motor cycle the short distance to the outskirt of the village where he worked at the local petrol station and yes, no helmet! Another chai was downed!
From there I slowly walked back.
Making bricks
Kachori. Deep fried pooris which are made up of refined flour and carom seeds stuffed with variety of fillings (dal, peas, masala) etc.
Still playing cards as I walked back
During the 3.5 hours capturing what would definitely be one of the highlights of the trip having taken nearly 300 images plus the videos.
Did I take a photo or two of every shop keeper in town? Felt like it!
It was nearly 6pm / 18:00 and time for sunset when I got back.
There was this group of 3 gentlemen whom I asked permission to take their photo and it turned out that one seated was the owner of the Fort. Currently run under management, he will take it back in 6 years’ time. It has been in his family for 450 years.
The sunset was nothing to speak of but I had the views of the surrounding countryside from the Fort.
Dinner = Garlic Naan 50 rupees / NZ$1 / US$0.70.
Jeera Pulao 180 rupees / NZ$3.60 / US$2.50.
Basmati rice tampered with cumin seed and salt 260 rupees / NZ$5.30 / US$3.60.
Mangodi Hara Pyaaz dumplings made from a combination of different lentils simmered in rich thick gravy 225 rupees / NZ$4.60 / US$3.15.
Plus GST and a tip came to 900 rupees / NZ$18.20 / US$12.60.
Posted by bruceontour 00:02 Archived in India Tagged khejarla Comments (0)