Rat Temple & Jodhpur - City of Blue

On the way from Bikaner (Camel Safari) to Jodhpur I checked out a very "interesting" temple commonly known as the "Rat Temple". You guessed it - rats are considered holy in this temple and are fed generously.While walking around the temple (in my bare feet mind you - no shoes allowed), I had to watch out for not only stepping on a rat but also on their droppings. It is thought by the believers that eating food covered in holy rat saliva is claimed to bring good fortune. I was not interested in attaining good fortune in this way. Parts of my exploration around the temple were through darkened hallways where I could just barely see the shadows of the rats so as not to step on them - quite creepy really - but character building, no?

I arrived in Jodhpur, a desert city (camel carts are part of the traffic) where many of the homes surrounding the stunning Meherangarh Fort are painted sky-blue. This sea of blue buildings is not only beautiful but also thought to repel insects. The fort, built in 1459, juts 400 feet high above the city. This is likely the best preserved and most interesting fort in the state of Rajasthan. There were various palaces within the complex and a beautiful display of Palanquins (elegant carriages lifted by 4-6 men that carried the Maharajas and Maharanis (Queens) through the streets).