Camp Bliss: The Name Says It All

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Due to the mass influx of visitors and pilgrims to the small village of Pushkar during the fair, tented camps are set up as temporary hotels. When we first thought of making this trek, Kyle did a little Internet research and the first place he found was Camp Bliss...a small tented camp among an orchard. Unlike us, we searched no further and booked it for nine days. It has turned out to be an excellent decision.

Dad and I arrived before the fair actually began because we wanted to see the herds of camels coming over the sand dunes and arriving before everything was set up. We were the first guests to check-in at the temporary camp and we have seen guests come and go as the week has progressed. Everytime we see someone check out, we assume they are so sad to leave and we are thankful that we do not have to be the ones leaving our little oasis in India.

Camp Biss is an all-inclusive which includes all of our meals, snacks, drinks, etc. So we wake in the morning to a grand buffet, trek back to the tents for a traditional Indian lunch and then close down our day with another fantastic buffet. We have turned into pigs who spend a lot of time eating, but we have also (temporarily) turned into vegetarians.

Due to the spiritual beliefs of the local religion and due to the proximity to the holy sites, Camp Bliss is completely vegetarian (including no eggs) and does not even encourage the wearing of leather (slip on shoes are given to each guest upon check-in). For these same reasons, there is no alcohol allowed.

Also in the luxurious tents, each guest is given an all-white traditional, local outfit. I have been wearing mine to dinner and now that Kyle has arrived, he has joined in the fun!

During our first morning here, we watched the staff chase a family of boars out of our campsite. The mother boar and her babies kept hiding behind tent flaps in an attempt to dodge the staff. It was a funny rodeo scene.

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Photos

Our New Home
We have a luxurious tent with a bathroom (with permanent-quality plumbing) and hot water. The bathrooms have moon-roofs--I can see the stars and moon when I am showering! It gets hot during the day, but the breeze seems to go through the netting quite well. And it gets very cool at night--we are using two blankets and other guests are using hot water bottles in their beds! This makes for some serious good sleeping!

View Before Breakfast
Dad and I are always the first ones up (even up before the staff), so we go to the "lounge" or "lobby" tent to use the internet, drink tea/coffee. One morning we heard a strange noise and assumed it was coming from the kitchen. We quickly realized, the sound was coming from above us...there was a hot air balloon so close we could talk to the people in the basket.

Ever-Changing Artwork
Camp Bliss has an artist on staff and everyday he does something different in the sand. He uses colored chalk to create these designs. I was particularly drawn to this night's creation-there were little camels along all of the pathways.

The Dining Hall Tent
Where we spend a lot of our time! We are eating our way through this fair with some of the best breads we have ever eaten. Surprisingly enough, the spices have not effected us...yet!

The Hotel Lobby/Lounge at Camp Bliss
We spend a lot of time here sipping tea/coffee. This is also where other guests get massages, henna, etc. Please note the beautiful chalk art in the sand...the resident artist changes everyday.

Camp Bliss Art Walk
This was the entrance to the lounge tent. The artist also has started painting some murals on the walls and last night, an art installation was installed in the middle of camp.

Comments

[Scott]

Thanks!
Thanks for including us in your adventures! Looks like so much fun! Scott and Renee

[LLarson]

enjoying your blog
loved the camel cowboying by the man from Kansas!

[Christy Crensbaw]

sand art work
I M writing from cell phone. Photos are incredible. Sounds like a true oasis.

[Christy Crensbaw]

sand art work
I M writing from cell phone. Photos are incredible. Sounds like a true oasis.

[Meredyth Jones]

Roy's "office"
Beautiful place to study!!