| Mandore, Rajasthan, India |
One of several similar Royal Tombs in the Mandore Gardens
A storefront in the village of Mandore.
Musicians in the Mandore Gardens
Visitor feeding Mandore Gardens monkeys
| 1 to 5 December 2003 |
On 1 December we checked out of the Abhay Days Hotel in Jodhpur and for 70 rupees
(US$1.55 ) took an autorickshaw taxi to the village of Mandore, about six miles (10 km)
away. Upon arrival we checked into Mr. Surendra Gehlot's Mandore Guest House, which
consissted of a dozen or so round bungalows with thatched roofs set in a shady lush
garden with benches, chairs and tables, serving as a dining area. We were charmed by
Mr. Gehlot's family, who run the guesthouse. The first evening we extended our stay in
Mandore to four nights instead of the originally planed two, and changed our car trip to
Udaipur accordingly. The four-day stay at the Mandore Guest House for the two of us
including all meals totaled 320 rupees (US$72)
(US$1.55 ) took an autorickshaw taxi to the village of Mandore, about six miles (10 km)
away. Upon arrival we checked into Mr. Surendra Gehlot's Mandore Guest House, which
consissted of a dozen or so round bungalows with thatched roofs set in a shady lush
garden with benches, chairs and tables, serving as a dining area. We were charmed by
Mr. Gehlot's family, who run the guesthouse. The first evening we extended our stay in
Mandore to four nights instead of the originally planed two, and changed our car trip to
Udaipur accordingly. The four-day stay at the Mandore Guest House for the two of us
including all meals totaled 320 rupees (US$72)
Also staying at the
Mandore Guest House
were nine volunteers,
mostly from England, who
had come for several
weeks to help improve
living conditions in a
nearby Vishnoi village.
We enjoyed
conversations with the
volunteers and the
charming Gehlot family.
A wonderful experience!
Mandore Guest House
were nine volunteers,
mostly from England, who
had come for several
weeks to help improve
living conditions in a
nearby Vishnoi village.
We enjoyed
conversations with the
volunteers and the
charming Gehlot family.
A wonderful experience!
Our bungalow at the Mandore Guesthouse
Getting a haircut at the
Mandore Guest House.
Mandore Guest House.
Mr. Gehlot's daughter showing her room and displaying her saris and jewels..
Some of the English volunteers ready to bike to work at nearby village.
A five-minute walk from the our guest house are the Mandore Gardens, Mandore's main
tourist attraction. The Garden includes several intricately carved cenotaphs, temples,
and tombs, some religious statuary, and a small museum. The structures were built
centuries ago while Mandore was the capital of the principality of Marwar. The
Mandore Gardens are also the home of hundreds of long-tailed monkeys who are fed by
devotees of Hanuman, the Hindu Monkey God.
tourist attraction. The Garden includes several intricately carved cenotaphs, temples,
and tombs, some religious statuary, and a small museum. The structures were built
centuries ago while Mandore was the capital of the principality of Marwar. The
Mandore Gardens are also the home of hundreds of long-tailed monkeys who are fed by
devotees of Hanuman, the Hindu Monkey God.
Detail of a temple carving.
Wall carvings in the Mandore Gardens
The village of Mandore is pleasantly untouristed and a good place to observe
Rajasthan village life. Yet Mandore is less than a half hour drive from the
attractions of Jodhpur, a major city.
Rajasthan village life. Yet Mandore is less than a half hour drive from the
attractions of Jodhpur, a major city.