Countryside around Pushkar
No meat (but delicious replacements!), no eggs (but still pancakes for breakfast!), no alcohol (but everywhere bhanglassi!), no kissing (but having a private room!): welcome to holytown Pushkar. Being now used to Indians being mainly vegetarian but still using egg in many ways, following those easy Pushkar-rules is almost like being home again.
As we arrived to the busstation we were slightly disorientated without having a map. So we walked towards the lake, central point of Pushkar and by lucky chance ended up in Seventh Sea Guest House. Our hotel is slightly odd; it's the cheapest place we ever stayed (2€ per day) and we have a nice room with hot water & TV on 'our own' second floor. They have a restaurant but we've never seen anyone in there. There's seven rooms to let but we've only once seen (one) another tenant. Most of the time we seem to be the only people in hotels premises.
Pushkar is not only one of the most holy Hindu pilgrimage sites (the only Brahma temple in India is here) but also famous for something lot more earthly - shopping. The streets around the lake are full of small shacks selling all kinds of Rajasthani handicrafts, tailors, jewellers and as we are living 21st century also plastic kitch items (mostly themed around Hindu gods) have reclaimed their space. We, not unsensitive for all those bright colorful crazy items, also finally bought some nice clothes to take or send home.
Ghats
Pushkar is concentrated around the holy lake surrounded by ghats. As it is religious ground you are not allowed to photograph worshippers or wear shoes nearby it. This is kinda hard as stone ghats are boiling hot under desert sun.
Holi colours
Ritual-evening before Holi
Last couple of days there has been Holi Festival - a spring harvest welcoming. Or more commonly known as festival of colours.
"after the party"
