Party Bus...
Hello Everyone, We are saying farewell to Agra today, and heading out west via Fatehpur Sikri The abandoned city of Akbar The Great, to Bharatpur Keoladeo Ghana National Park where we will spend the night . The lost city of Fatehpur Sikri is immaculate. It was deserted only 16 years after completion in 1569ad due to fresh water complications but its spectacular court and palaces leave an outstanding legacy to this great emperor. It is said that dancing girls were used as human chess pieces on its checkered inner court floor whilst musicians played on the sandstone island surrounded with fountains......our Guide here is the Iman who I have to say was amazing. Iman is from the villages which now surround this once great City, his knowledge and command of our language is extraordinary as he takes us back in time ...close your eyes and you can hear the giggle of the dancing girls, the musicians master their song , whilst the sun beats down in its non forgiving way.
After the palaces comes the Great mosque, once again we are thrown into the throng of Hawkers and beggars. We have had to remove our shoes here, and the sandstones is red hot under our toes....as we try and navigate our way on the patchwork areas of shade that surround the area, whilst bemused Indians look on wondering what is the new dance we are all trying to perform ! very funny indeed Again we bid farewell to Iman and embark on what is again comparatively short journey to Bharatpur Ghana National Park, but TII (this is India) so will take several hours along what is now the Rural (bumpy) roads of Rajasthan.
Bharatpur is the ornithologists dream land with over 300 different species of birds, this once Duck shooting reserve is now a tranquil world heritage site protecting the very many species that were hunted here. The most spotted species were the Cranes as they perched like giant pink winged balloons from the trees before taking off and swooping down into the lake beneath to catch the odd meal. Cycle rickshaws are used to navigate the peaceful paths, our turban clad rickshaw driver who sported a wonderful Rajasthani styled moustache left in convoy along with the rest of the group pointing out the various different birds along the way until sunset where we headed off back to our resort styled hotel for the small drinks party that Rafeeq and I had organised on the Bus for us this evening . This was huge fun and we were able to have a good laugh and get to know Suman and Irshad as they played host to this short but much enjoyed merriments. Early Start in the morning for our continuing westerly road trip towards the Forts and palaces of Karauli...
Love to everyone Christine
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