Dogs fighting in the street at night wake us all and the volume increases when the owners yappy little dog adds its barking. One dog is really picked on, it is practically screaming. A few hours later it happens again. Disturbing.

We leave the hotel for the Udaipur train station at 5am. The train leaves on time at 6am and we arrive at the station near Pushkar at 11:30am. This time we are in a seats only coach with no sleeping berths. The train ride passes quickly and when we disembark it’s a half hour taxi ride to our hotel. 

The New Park Hotel is very comfortable and we enjoy lunch out in the back garden. The staff sets up for a wedding while we eat.

 

In late afternoon Garima takes us into town for an orientation walk. It’s about 20 minutes  from the hotel to the centre of town. 

Pushkar is a very spiritual place for Hindu people. It is the only place that has a temple dedicated to the creator god Brahma. There are over 400 temples here and people bathe in the water of the ancient man made lake to wash away their sins. No alcohol or meat is eaten or served in town. However you can order alcohol at some restaurants, it just comes disguised (paper wrapped around the beer can) and on a separate bill.

Pushkar is also a hangout for hippies and backpackers. You see Westerners clothed like the locals who look to be in the process of “finding themselves”. Bhang lassis are big here. Bhang is a very strong marijuana that they add to some foods and drinks. Such items are usually identified by adding the word ‘special’ or ‘happy’ as in “special banana lassi”.  For now we are staying away from any food or drink that is prefixed by bhang, happy or special. Apparently you won’t remember the rest of your day if you partake.

We check out one of the main ghats (steps leading to the water) called Varah Ghat. There are 52 ghats that surround the lake. People are bathing from the ghat in the holy waters of Lake Pushkar.

As with most places, the cows almost outnumber the street dogs. We see one holy cow nudge a surprised pedestrian in the butt.

 

We walk through the narrow main street filled with shops and food stalls to the steps of the Brahma Temple. This is definitely a market shopping mecca, especially for clothes. Leaving a visit to the temple until tomorrow we make our way back though the streets to catch the sunset.

 

We watch the sunset from the Sunset Cafe at Jaipur Ghat which has a beautiful view of the lake ringed with ghats. Many people are at this ghat to watch the fiery sun go down over the lake as someone plays a rhythm on the Nagada drums.

 

The day ends at the lovely Om Shiva Garden Restaurant where we all laugh over the details of our night of illness in the Thar Desert while the peacocks seem to call for help from the darkness.

Back at the hotel I can hear a party going on. I put my earplugs in and head to bed.

Meanwhile, Paul asks the hotel reception if he can get a beer in his room. As Paul later learns, his request resulted in hotel staff running into town to obtain said beer. When the illicit cargo arrives at his room door, Paul is taken aback when the beer bottle is pulled out of its hiding spot down the front of the delivery man’s pants and presented to him.