I was in some last hours of my Jodhpur trip , next morning i was going to leave for Bikaner . Nothing much was left in Jodhpur now for me to see , though i would say still i left some attractions i wanted to explore , but i have kept them for my next trip to Jodhpur.

These last hours i was going to spend in the Old Bazaar area of Jodhpur , which is built around the Clock Tower , which i can say is the land mark of that area.

I have seen Clock towers before also , infact in Delhi also i have seen but so far this was the most well maintained , and accurate which was a surprise as it was showing the exact time.

clock tower is standing in middle of the old City bazaar or “Old Haat Bazaar” of Jodhpur . Though previously this place was made as the rooms for Elephants , in previous times elephants used to live in these big halls but later on according to the need they were shifted to some other places , and halls were divided in small shops , which are still owned by the people who are working their from that time , now maintained by their lineage.

This Old Bazaar or Sadar Market retains a traditional village bazaar feel. It’s chaotic and colorful, and sells almost everything (including handicrafts, spices, saris and fabric). If you feel uncomfortable in crowds, you might prefer to take a walking tour rather than explore the market area yourself, as the congestion can be overwhelming.

I was unaware when i had spent two hours there , just roaming on the streets and clicking pictures. Sun was down and i could see the Mehrangarh fort lighted up from their , as this clock tower of Jodhpur is just below the Mehrangarh fort.

Suddenly this sight of clock tower was in front of me. clock tower was lighting , colours of the dial area kept on changing. Wish i could have gone upstairs , but i was late and didnt got the permission to go upstairs , though only upto 1st floor is allowed.

I had read it right before leaving for Jodhpur , that without a visit to Clock tower of Jodhpur and the old haat bazaar , a trip to Jodhpur is incomplete.

 

Watching a Parrot in front my balcony and not able to click his beauty would lead me to a place where i would find parrots and parrots and more and more and that place was Qutub Minar in New Delhi.

I have been there before also and i knew that i would find the best clicks of parrot there only. Left early in the morning at 6.00 Am in the morning and it was after a long time when was getting up so early.

I just went for the look out , though in between i was clicking the pictures of the historical monument , Qutub Minar and its complex which one of the the most visited tourist destination in India.

Tallest minar in India, originally an ancient Islamic Monument, inscribed with Arabic inscriptions, though the iron pillar has some Brahmi inscriptions,and is a UNESCO world Heritage site.The Qutub Minar is made of red sandstone and marble. The tower has 379 stairs,is 72.5 metres (237.8 ft) high, and has a base diameter of 14.3 metres, which narrows to 2.7 metres at the top storey. Construction was started in 1192 by Qutub-ud-din-Aibak and was completed by Iltutmish. It is surrounded by several other ancient and medieval structures and ruins, collectively known as the Qutub Complex.

According to the local folklore, anyone who can encircle the Iron Pillar with their arms, with their back towards it, can have their wish granted.

The authorities had to build a fence around the Pillar to prevent damages to the column due to the corrosive qualities of sweat – Sticky backs in the hot Delhi summers

 

 

 

Some of the clicks of the Qutub Complex which defines on their own their discription.

Now was the time to click for which i was here , Parrots. And in these structures there were plenty of Parrots , early morning and they were fresh and with full of activitites , and i was loving it.

Then i was onto a specific parrot who was rubbing himself and was playing with his feathers. This was going to be my best shot i knew , i set my camera on Manual mode did the need full setting and put it on Continuous click.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These were some of his playfull mood pics , but it was not over here , i was waiting for my best and he also wanted me to have my best click of the day. Suddenly he changed his position and his tail was on my side , didnt knew why he was changing his position. But then he gave me my best click.

 

 

I was overjoyed after seeing this shot , this is what i had came here today.

An amazing 2 hr spent , sacrifice of good tight sleep atlast paid me with the best and rest of day was all happy happy , just watching this picture. Already gone for printing and very soon would be in a frame.

Waiting for my next best shot now.

 

 

 

Just a walk away from Mehrangarh fort , Jaswant thada is the royal cremation place of Jodhpur rulers. Built with white marble and that too , so thin sheets of white marble are used in making ,that they were carved and moulded in the shapes.

Inside the main tomb of the Jaswant Thada , Cenotaph of Maharaja Jaswant Singh has been placed , on whose commemoration Jaswant Thada was built by his son Maharaja Sardar Singh.

Around the main tomb , Royal cenotaphs of other royal family members have been made. After its completion in 19th century this place has been declared as the Cremation place for the royal family of Jodhpur.

Jaswant Thada have some nice views from the terrace in front of the cenotaph.To visit the Jaswant Thada one have to go through the rocky hills. This also lends a mystic aura to the whole visit. Do make sure to visit this architectural delight while on a tour to Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

 

 

Day was 2nd October and it was the National holiday and like everyone for me it was also the best day to go out with family and spend some nice time. Tried to jot down some places and in the end my Niece had left me for two options. First was the Delhi Zoo where she had been before also and second one was Sultanpur lake bird sanctuary.

Second option was best suited for all of us as nobody had been their and it was the best day to explore something new.

My Mahindra Quanto was ready for its long drive , Sultanpur Lake Bird Sanctuary in Gurgaon district of Haryana state was just some 40 Kms away from our home and it was going to take only an hour or so and succesfully we had reached there in some 1hr 15min time and thank god weather was amazing.

As we reached there , we got our first surprise , it was Forest week and for one week it was going to be free entry , except on tuesday the day on which this sanctuary is closed.

This year it had been a very high rainfall in the North region of India , thanks to that it was lush green and the Lake was full.

Just a minute walk away and i was almost to the best possible point from where i could see the best view of birds, though from the entry gate i had already walked some 10min but in a sanctuary it is obvious.

Very soon i had realised here that my new Nikon 55-300 mm telephoto zoom lens was not going to be sufficient here. I needed one bigger one , and suddenly something was into my wish list. Though i was trying my level best to capture best pics.

At the starting these White breasted stork were quite camera shy but later on they decided to give a good click of them.

This shot of mine was the best shot of whole lot of some 300 odd pictures. Surely this picture is going to be framed.

This bird was sitting very calm but suddenly dont know what she decided and flew , but she gave me this marvelous click, though a bit blurred but it has got its beauty.

But my camera was following her and found her sitting just on the next tree.

And below that tree some more lovely birds were waiting for me.

Now it was the time for me to take test of mine and try to capture a flying bird , now it was actual test of my zoom lens and how i follow the birds wind. Beautiful sky was waiting for the shots.

 

 

 

 

Our fantastic visit to Sultanpur lake bird sanctuary was going to end and each of us were hungry so it was the time to go to nearby Pelican Restaurant of Haryana Government , though i would seriously point out this thing that there service was on snail pace so try to avoid and take your packed food. Though it is not allowed to take food inside , but in the outer lawn just adjacent to ticket counter one can have their food , many families were enjoying there picnic there.

One of the best holidays spent with the family.

 

For any trip a place to stay is the main necessity and that place should have the main ingredients to be considered as the bestest of choice. Home away from home , good ambience , easy to reach , well maintained property and the staff who is at service at the slightest of call and one of the main ingredient is Pocket friendly. I am always in the look out for these type of hotel’s and in the search i happened to reach my Hotel in Jodhpur which was Mandore Guest House.

I had searched this guest house, by the help of Tripadvisor. But dont get confused by the name of this place , once you have reached here it doesnt look like a guest house.

 

 

After a Day long journey from Udaipur with many stop overs , what else i could have imagined. Thanks to Mr. Surender(owner) who gave me the best of room.

My first view of Mandore guest house was quite a unique for me also , how could they name such a nice property as Guest house , lush green property it was like i had entered to somebody’s farm house.

At the first moment only i was too much impressed by their warm welcome , filling up the personal details in a register is a common thing but here they were very courteous , “Offered me a welcome tea of which i was in badly need , and rest of the work would be done later on sir you first freshen up you are coming from a long journey , paper work could be done later on”  , what else could i expect.

Day long journey , tiredness had grabbed me and it was the time for a tight sleep.

 

The time when i had checked in , i was so tired that i had missed this Bonsai just in front of my room. I have always loved the Bonsai tree and here at Mandore Guest House they were in plenty.

 

Next morning i had to leave the hotel quite early , as i had only one day to explore Jodhpur. It was quite early and when i came out of my room to see the lush green Mandore Guest House in day light , first voice came in my ears , ” Good Morning Mr ” it was some foreign guest staying in hotel that time and was on his morning walk , and the other person following him was Mr. Surender (owner of Mandore guest house).

I also gave them a bit of company , only for a single round , may be they had time but i had to leave for my tour so i left them and came back to room to freshen up.

 

They had given enough time and company to have a look of the property. These were the Huts of Mandore Guest House which they had built just to give a feeling of rural touch to the customers who prefer a blend of rural and luxurious living both at same time. Though due to heavy monsoon , these huts were not occupied and were to be opened after september month only.

 

When i came back from my day long tour of Jodhpur , i had just this much of energy that i could enjoy the feel of their Restaurant. Awesome food with awesome ambience this was the best part. Sorry had no pictures of food , as i was too tired and too hungry that i forgot to click.

But this thing i would sure put in notice.

This property has been made by a very different concept , which was some time user friendly and some time hampering also. No room service in this hotel , even no phones and Televisions in the room , though i was offered the only room with television in it.

I do asked them for this concept , Mr. Surender had a very reasonable answer for it. He said , ” we want people to come out from room , have a chit chat with other guest’s and even my family also lives here whole day. That is why we have not given Television in any room except one , and one television has been placed in the common sitting area to which we call “Baithak” ( a local word for drawing room in India).

A nice concept with a nice initiative , many visitors include these things which they have omitted as the part of luxury , but for the owner of Mandore Guest House , meeting people knowing there culture and telling them ours is the main motif of this place and is the main ingredient of Luxurious stay for them , though rest of all ingredients were also present.