We left Mumbai for the culture rich state of Rajasthan and in the past week we've visited Jaipur, Jaisalmer, are now in Jodhpur (yes where the name of the riding trousers came from), and will be heading to Udaipur tomorrow afternoon. Jaipur, the state capital, borders the eastern reaches of the Great Thar Desert which stretches far westward into Pakistan. The desert consists of tiny tribal villages dotted about and every hundred miles or so are fortified cities which all have one aspect in common -a dramatic sandcastle-like fort perched atop a rocky hill jutting out of the barren flat landscape. Within these forts are meandering cobblestone streets, centuries old mansions called havelis with intricate stone lattice carvings, and tiny ancient houses. There is a timeless feel walking within these forts even despite the tourist
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