Entries about deogarh

The heritage Deogarh Mahal hotel was built in 1670 A.D. The Mahal stands at a height of 2,100 ft / 650 metres above sea level with its bold battlements, domed turrets and balconies offering a commanding view of the surrounding Aravali Mountains and its rugged rock-strewn countryside dotted by a number of lakes.

https://www.deogarhmahal.com/

My room was near the top. The hotel had a labyrinth of passageways. It is so easy to get lost or certainly mis-orientated here.

Spent some time wandering the roof terraces with its many different levels looking down at Deogarh below. One could so far into the distance plus no pollution or haze at all.

Told where on the hotel roof it was best to capture the sunset. By now the shadows over the buildings below were lengthening.

Sun finally dropped at 5.45pm / 17:45 below the hills in the horizon. I stayed there for another 30 minutes watching the colours change.

Hardly anybody were in this hotel tonight. Some attended the complementary 6.30pm / 18:30 dance performance before the hotel dinner service started at 7.30pm / 19:30.

This is a Rajasthani folk dance only performed by professionals called Bhawai.

Bhawai is a folk dance with swaying and twirling movements that is performed by women from certain tribes from the state of Rajasthan. This folk dance is one of the state’s most exciting dance performances as it involves tricky balancing acts, right from balancing seven to nine brass pots on the head to balancing oneself (along with the pots) on narrow and unstable objects like a glass bottle, brass plate or the edge of a sword. The brass pots can and are often substituted by an even greater number of earthen pots.

Bhawai is also one of the most colorful performances of the state as the women wear bright colored ghaghra cholis and dupattas. The men from these communities offer the music to this dance, using string and percussion instruments. Bhavai dance is often misinterpreted from ‘Bhavai’ which is a folk theatre form of Gujarat.

Dinner = Lal Maas - smoked boneless lamb preparation simmered in rich tomato gravy 550 rupees / NZ$11.10 / US$7.70.
Jeera rice 220 rupees / NZ$4.60 / US$3.10.
Garlic naan 110 rupees / NZ$2.30 / US$1.60.
Kingfisher lager 230 rupees / NZ$4.80 / US$3.20.
Plus GST and a tip came to 1,400 rupees / NZ$28.30 / US$19.50.

Leaving the hotel at 3pm / 15:00, spent the next nearly 2 hours walking the streets.

First towards the lake where this guy who couldn’t speak any English wanted me to see his baby goat and also showed me where he lived.

A shop keeper called me in and we had a discussion about what I thought of India ….

He mentioned – corruption, politics, illiteracy, poverty and pollution being his concerns.

His friend was a barber. Cost 30 rupees / NZ$0.60 / US$0.40 for a cut. He could make anywhere between 500 and 1,000 rupees / NZ$10.40 – 20.80 / US$7 - $14 a day.

Water chestnut which is a popular street fruit called as “Singhara”. When peeled, it is white in colour from inside. Can be eaten as it is, boiled or roasted over coal served with salt and chilli.

After watching him for a while, he gave me a jalebi. A street food sweet, jalebi is found across India and even Iran. Deep fried flour batter, then soaked in sugar syrup. It can be served both cold or warm in a circular shape, similar to pretzels. Hot jalebi can be enjoyed with hot milk (cup) or cold and can be by itself or with Rabri, an Indian condensed milk dessert.

Yes, it was very sweet. I offered to pay but no. Again, something that I had enjoyed in Mumbai.

https://bruceontour.travellerspoint.com/51/

Got back to the hotel early (11.30am / 11:30) so off we left for Deogarh.

More marble and granite and through a tunnel.

Forty minutes later did a side detour to see Sas Bahu Temples at Kailashpur, the modern name for Eklingji. Ten minutes was all that I needed here.

Here is the link to Tripsavvy:

Nearby at Nagda, and worth seeing too, are the ancient 10th century Saas Bahu temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temples are covered in intricate sculptures.

https://www.tripsavvy.com/interesting-places-near-udaipur-1539757

Passing Kelashpuri village was unusual in that it was built on a hill unlike all the previous small villages that I had passed which were on the flat.

Arrived in Deogarh just after 2pm / 14:00 and check-in at the heritage Deogarh Mahal hotel.