Bikaner is the town/area in India that has the largest number of camels and also holds an annual camel festival where traders and tourists come from across the country to do business and enjoy the festivities. After the camel safari all we wanted to do was to take a nap, but after lunch we were whisked off to visit yet another fort.
It was beautiful, but by this stage my brain had decided it had seen too many forts/palaces and it would much rather be sleeping. The one thing I do remember was being told about the queen’s bed: it was very low to the ground so that the king could perform Kama sutra positions and not risk hurting himself when he fell off the bed. I knew I was missing something in my life. Take that as you will.
We wandered around for a little while – I should have paid more attention but I was over it by this stage. However, the next place we visited was something a little more interesting – the Rat Temple. Yes folks, at this temple, rats are holy. And sacred. You WISH you were here. It was ace, I loved it!!
Apparently in this area the locals believed that if you lead a good life you are reincarnated as a rat, so they believe all the rats here are reincarnations of their ancestors and hence are duly worshipped. You walk in and a few rats scurry across the floor, paying attention only to each other or food. Walk into the main courtyard and you see many more rats – my favourites were the ones sleeping within the fences (check the photos). I know that I want to take you here Mum – you would love it!! J
Despite how beautiful they are, the place was unfortunately not well kept – rat faeces were everywhere and there seemed to be no attempt to clean up anything that the rats left lying around. Now, whilst this didn’t bother me too much, it certainly did other members of the group who decided to wait outside. That and the fact that many of the locals that come into the temple prostrate and kiss the ground. G. R. O. S. S. Ah, to have my ancestors come back as rats. Did I mention you’re not allowed to wear shoes inside because it is a temple? No? I have some washing to do. J
After that I was pretty ready for bed, but we ended up stopping in at a camel breeding farm. We had a quick look around – they were mostly feeding, but the poor studs were tied up looking very sad and I just wanted to pat them, they looked so miserable. The babies were pretty cute though – we were fortunate enough to encounter one that was only 1 day old. Awwwwww.
Thankfully dinner came next and now I’m sitting in bed winding up this post so that I can get up for the early morning train tomorrow. Apologies for the ‘and then’ style of my last few posts – I am just so freaking tired I can’t think straight. I promise that I will return to my regular awesome self at some point in the future. Probably when I get back.
Peace out!!
Bikaner photos
