The Bishnoi -crafts,culture and beliefs
by lynnehamman
A fascinating day trip out of Jodhpur is a visit to the Bishnoi villages, in the countryside south of Jodhpur.
The villages scattered around have houses built from mud and thatch, all with veg gardens, and wild animals roaming around (particuarly black-buck).
The Bishnoi are craftspeople, and their skill at pottery and weaving can be observed first hand. They also observe strict principles regarding everyday life.
The Bishnoi are followers of a 15th century sage called Jambeshwar, whose 29 principles (bis noi) are based upon total protection of all forms of life, and the enviroment.They are strict in their beliefs, and believe that their re-birth will be in the form of a Deer. So strong is their belief in preservation that unlike most Hindu communities, Bishnois bury their dead instead of cremating them. This is because of the strict prohibition on the felling of trees, the wood of which is required for cremation.
They have herds of goats, and camels, and tend them with great care.The weavers use camel hair in the weaving process, and beautiful dhurries (rugs) are woven after the materials are dyed with vegatable colouring.
Men wear predominantly white, but Bishnoi women dress in vivid colours, and much ornamental silver jewellery. The nose rings are striking.
Villages we stopped at were:
Gudda Bishnoi
Mogra
Salawas (famous for weaving)
Kakuni (for pottery)
Rohet ( good lunch stop at hotel)
Kakuni is the southernmost village, and is 26km south of Jodhpur.
Travel agencies in Jodhpur can arrange a 4wheel drive taxi, and 6-8 hours allowed for the trip.
There are numerous refreshment stops (dhabas) along the way, and at Rohet there is a good hotel for lunch.
Jaswant thada
by mantru
To the left of the Mehrangarh Fort complex is the Jaswant Thada of Jodhpur, Rajasthan. It is a 19th century royal cenotaph built in commemoration of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, the 33rd Rathore ruler of Jodhpur. The son of Maharaja Jaswant Singh, Maharaja Sardar Singh, in the memory of his father, built the Jaswant Thada. The cenotaph has two more tombs within it. Near to this are the royal crematorium and three other cenotaphs.
Famous Jaswant Thada in Jodhpur, India is an example of architectural brilliance in India. It is a white marble memorial, built out of intricately carved sheets of marble. The carving shows the genius of the sculptors. These stones are extremely thin and polished. As a result, the outside surface of the monument emits a warm glow when the sunrays fall on its surface. There is also beautiful marble jali work on the cenotaph. You can have some nice views from the terrace in front of the cenotaph.
The cenotaph of Maharaja Jaswant Singh displays portraits of the rulers and Maharajas of Jodhpur. The main memorial has been built like a temple. To visit the Thada you have to go through the rocky hills. This also lends a mystic aura to the whole visit.
Takhat Mahal
by Canadienne
This photo will give you a sense of what the interior decoration looks like in the royal apartments. The Takhat Mahal was a royal bedchamber and is covered in lavish paintings with reflective globes on the ceiling. Many rooms have had their artwork, coloured glass and gilding maintained; others have been renovated and now hold museum collections.
The howdah collection, a room with carriages that were pulled by elephants, is fascinating for some of the audio program narrative that accompanies it. There's a neat re-telling of the scandal that occurred when the British media caught a photo of a queen's ankle as she exited a carriage!
Jaswant Thada
by umashanker
Jaswant Thada is built in white marble, in commemoration of Maharaja Jaswant singh.It is the most beautifull cenotaph i have ever seen in all Rajasthan.This is so beautifull that it can be compared with Taj Mahel.
Mehrangarh Fort - Takhat Mahal
by Willettsworld
This excuberantly painted room with a wooden ceiling was the favourite retreat of Maharaja Takhat Singh who ruled from between 1843-73. He is said to have had some 30 queens and numerous concubines. It was during Takhat Singh’s reign that the British came to dominate India. And in this bedroom, which was also used to entertain, we see evidence of their arrival - the Christmas balls hanging from the wooden rafters were added in the 1930's and are a wonderfully fitting variation to traditionally mirrored Indian ceilings!
Entry to the zoo 7 aviary
Clocktower
just walk here !
canon with wheels for mobility
