Monday, February 7
Jodhpur to Fort Dhamli – 117 K (taxi)
After 1 full day of antibiotics I have begun to feel better but I decided to ride the taxi one more day and I’m glad I did. We arrived at Fort Dhamli around 10:30 am and were given a room for three. Up until this point, I’ve roomed alone(but that’s not counting the mouse in my room last night). J We all three took a nap and were refreshed when the riders began showing up.
Like many of the villages in this part of Rajasthan, Dhamli’s history dates back thousands of years when their ancestors fought mighty battles and the brave warriors were given towns and villages for their valiant service. The fort where we are staying is more like a hacienda than a fort. The inner courtyard is lovely and they actually have pet dog who is well cared for – including shots. She has a 2 month old pup, so I assume that she is still not spayed, but at least she has a name and stays in the compound area away from the streets. Here she is:
The owner of much of the village including the fort is, . He gave us a tour of his town and the school here. Everyone was happy to have their photos taken and it was a great way to get photos of a nice village and its ambiance. Here are some photos I took here:
Women on the street weighing their goods:
A darling little girl standing in her doorway:
The school children in the school yard.
The children 13 and older are in a separate classroom:
The school here has over 200 students from grade 3 through the upper grades. Margaret, one of the keepers of the fort (a Canadian) established the school here several years ago and it has grown from 6 students to its current 200+. They now offer a free lunch to students which increased the size tremendously. When we entered the school yard, the students were assembling – one young gal was asked to lead the others in an english alphabet song. They are learning english because it is the “business language” and the elders are hoping for bright futures for many of their children because if they can learn english they can get better paying jobs in the cities. Aren’t they beautiful?
More village walk pictures:
The corner mailbox hanging at one of the shrines in town:
Women seamstresses – making money to help support their families.
An oil press where they process sesame and mustard oils:
Inside one of the houses, kitchen utensils line one wall