A journey to India: Rajasthan - 6. Jodhpur

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Jodhpur

The blue city (not quite as blue as it is reputed to be) is characterised by a splendid fort, gigantic above the city and beside it an extensive area of parkland-  where I worked very happily. 

The main part of the city, despite having much of interest, including the most splendid clock tower and  long long lanes with seemingly endless little shops is dilapidated, to the extent often of being disagreeable.

Cactus, 24.5 x 27 cm - available

Plants on a hillside, Jodhpur, 24 x 27 cm - available

A hillside, Jodhpur, 30.7 x 29.2 cm - available

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A journey to India: Rajasthan - 5. Udaipur 4/4: lanes

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Lane behind Baba Palace Hotel, 30.5 x 34.5 cm - available

White house, Udaipur, 27.2 x 30 cm - available

Blue house, Udaipur, 28.6 x 29.5 cm - available

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A journey to India: Rajasthan - 5. Udaipur 3/4: from the hotel roof

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Life on flat roofs seems to have been really embraced in Udaipur-  an alternative India free of traffic chaos, where clothes hang to dry, carpets are aired, kites fly, people sleep, sit around or have little parties.

All works are oil on card

Udaipur, from the roof of Baba Palace hotel, looking north-east, 37 x 30 cm - available

Udaipur, from the roof of Baba Palace hotel, looking east, 29 x 31 cm - available

Udaipur, from the roof of Baba Palace hotel, hills, 28.2 x 24.2 cm- available

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A journey to India: Rajasthan - 5. Udaipur 2/4: in the park

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Udaipur, pergolas, 27.5 x 26.5 cm - available

Udaipur, a temple in a park, 28.1 x 27.5 cm, available

Udaipur, trees in a park, 27.9 x 27.5 cm - available

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A journey to India: Rajasthan - 5. Udaipur 1/4: from our room at Hotel Baba Palace

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Udaipur:  from our room at Hotel Baba Palace

We stayed in a fine old hotel in this lovely city. Fine, that is, apart from the plumbing in the bathroom. 

But I can lay drainage problems to one side when a room faces a splendid, noisy Hindu temple. 

Udaipur, Jagdish Chowk temple, 36.9 x 30 cm - available

Udaipur, the steps of a smaller temple, 27.3 x 29.6 cm  - available

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A journey to India: Rajasthan - 4. Bundi

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4. Bundi

This little place was recommended by the guides, on account of its fine fort, and step wells. Being smaller we thought it might be more relaxing than Jaipur.

 It was indeed calmer and it does have a good number of interesting buildings as it rises up to the castle above the town. But it is not, really, very pleasant, being very dirty and often impoverished, with child beggars and squalor. The famous step wells are all filthy as, alas, is the lake just beyond the castle. Kipling`s house and elegant gardens needed maintenance but were pleasant nonetheless

 But  I found it all right to work in, especially taking advantage of one or two rooftop cafes for a view: I thank the proprietors for their hospitality.

 Thus began my love affair with Rajasthan rooftops.

All works are oil on card

Bundi, from a cafe, 31.7 x 36.7 cm - available

The gardens at Kipling`s palace, 35.5 x 31.5 cm - available

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A journey to India: 1. Delhi, 2. Agra and then Rajasthan: 3. Jaipur

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A journey to India

This is the first trip done accompanied, with Ms M. K. , a fine travel companion.

1. Delhi

Delhi was vile: filthy, polluted and with scammers all over the place. Then it rained, transforming into a a mixture o mud and excrement. We left after one night.

2. Agra

Agra was also nasty for similar reasons, and we left after we had seen the obvious sights.

Rajasthan

General

The weather being almost always perfectly sunny, and never too hot, the trip allowed me to work steadily in Rajasthan (where we arrived after leaving Delhi then Agra): Jaipur, Bundi, Udaipor, Jodphur, Jaisalmer and Pushkar. 

The architecture of Rajasthan is often very typically "Indian": golden hilltop fortresses, palaces, coloured temples and mysterious lanes.

3. Jaipur

Jaipur is a rich destination, with fine architectural sights and endless shops selling all manner of stuff. It is hard work, simply crossing the road is difficult because of chaotic traffic. 

But Bani Park, where we stayed, a mainly residential quarter not far from the centre, is more manageable.

All works are oil on card

Jaipur, Bani Park, block, 25 x 27.5 cm - available

Jaipur, Bani Park, arch, 26.5 x 28 cm - available

Jaipur, Bani Park, Arch with trees, 28 x 28.5  cm  - available

Jaipur, Bani Park, View from a hotel room (charlady) 29.7 x 27.8 cm - available

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