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This crematorium is situated picturesquely on a hill with a good view of Mehrangarh Fort, below. "Electric" cremations are being encouraged these days, as it takes a good amount of wood to accomplish the same in the traditional way. Remember, the population of India is one billion. Electric methods may not become very popular until the wood runs out.
"Not another fort!" Yes, this is Jodhpur's Mehrangarh Fort, dating back to 1459, and it's worth a visit as the rooms contain interesting artifacts from the bygone Maharaja era.
Left: In the days before exploding shells, solid cannon balls were wasted on these meters-thick fort walls, leaving barely a dent. Right: Facade of the palace's well-appointed apartments.
On the way up, at the Iron Gate, sati hands mark the spot where grieving royal widows touched the wall before going on to self-immolation. We are told that sati was not compulsory, contrary to our misconceptions, but that the widow was permitted to do this only after counseling failed to dissuade her. Today, sati is outlawed.
View from Mehrangarh Fort: If Jaipur is the Pink City, Jodhpur's certainly the Blue City: The buildings are painted with an indigo tint, which initially started to identify Brahmins' residences, but later, so we're told, everybody started using indigo as it seems to repel mosquitoes.
The Maharajas of old traveled borne in a houda. The colorful hookah man really didn't smoke, but he did strike a good pose in hopes of a few rupees.
This women's beauty chest is accompanied by another instrument of beauty: On the left, looking somewhat like an oversized rolling pin, is a weight for women to "work out" with. The Maharajas didn't mind if they themselves were on the portly side (one was over 500 lbs, 7 feet tall and 4 feet wide). But they clearly wanted their women fit and trim!
A gilded cradle for a privileged royal infant and a mannequin featuring typical high-born Rajasthani woman's dress and accessories
On the way out of the fort, I see an extremely rare sight -- a domestic
cat. While dogs and cows are to be found everywhere, this is the first
cat I see in weeks. Foiled after stalking a bird in a bush, this feline
seems definitely more feral than domestic.
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