From Udaipur to Pushkar on horseback

December 08, 2015

From Udaipur to Pushkar on horseback - Day Nine

A very, very long day. We must have covered close to 55km. The horses, for the first time since we left, seem a little tired. I still can’t believe how fit they are, much more than I am anyway.

The highlight of the day was by far a morning stop at a temple. We had been riding for hours in the bush, in the shadow of a giant cement factory that seemed to follow us, no matter how far we went.

The temple is located on a small hill, behind a giant banyan tree. A fleet of steps take you to a tiny chamber where the priests sit. There were another 5-6 people sitting there too. The moment we walked in the priest asked us where we were from and what we were doing here. It’s the first time I see a priest take such interest. He chatted with every single person who walked in, including a group of young boys. He asked them why they weren’t in school and warned them they would have to deal with him if he found out they were up to no good.

The priest and the old men smoked together and had some opium. Incidentally, I was told that opium is usually smuggled inside trucks of sugar cane that can cross state borders without too much hassle.

In the evening, we rode through a town a little bigger than the ones we usually go through. It wasn’t a very pleasant experience: a lot of honking from guys on bikes making some unpleasant comments. I missed the country side and the more friendly people.

Fortunately, we camped in a harvested field a few kilometres from the town so we could enjoy some rest. Our last night camping before reaching Pushkar.