Next stop was a small town called Orchha. It is becoming a bit of a tourist attraction due to the many impressive cenotaphs, palaces, and temples.
On the way there we stopped off at a hand made paper factory that provides jobs for women. They recycle cotton rags and paper into high quality paper that is used for arts and crafts and posh certificates. Rags and paper are shredded, bleached, mixed with alum and soaked/beaten for a while. This slurry is then poured over a fine mesh in a tray to make a flat sheet of paper goop, this is turned out onto a cloth and squished to remove more water, then the sheets are dried, pressed and trimmed. All in all it seems a fairly uncomplicated process.
The hotel we stayed at was right by another 'holy' river, apparently during flooding last year was 6 feet under water. There was certainly a smell of fresh paint! There was also a pool, so more people tower fun was had while we 'recovered' from the bus ride.
Then, the actual sightseeing. Right by our hotel were a number of huge cenotaphs. Cenotaphs are memorial buildings for the dead which don't actually have the body there. As Hindus usually cremate their dead, cenotaphs are not uncommon for the rich and powerful. (note that the Taj Mahal is tomb, not a cenotaph, as the people were Muslim and are actually interred there). These cenotaphs were very impressive and surrounded by nice gardens, apparently donated by a film company after they were planted for a film that was shot here.
I was rather excited to see the buildings liberally sprinkled with Indian / Long-billed vultures! Maybe no one explained to them the difference between a cenotaph and a tomb.
Next we went along to the two palaces in town. Large and impressive buildings, stuffed with just the sort of architecture you'd expect in an Indian palace, though there didn't seem to be a lot of actual rooms considering the size of the building as much of it was open courtyard. I suppose in this heat and without AC people wouldn't want to spend a lot of time inside.
Next day was a 'lazy' day before heading to the overnight sleeper to Varanassi and the River Ganges. I awoke stupidly early, decided to make use of the cool morning and went out for a walk, across the river, to the wildlife sanctuary there. It was shut, but monkeys in the sanctuary don't seem to care too much about opening hours.
There were a good number of people down at the river washing themselves and their clothes, and a good number seemed keen to have their photos taken! There were also a bunch of Black Faced Langor Monkeys, who have really really long arms and legs, and seem to spring/bounce along when they want to move.
Down by the river I also got a great view of the cenotaphs. Along the road through the sanctuary, the Rhesus Macak's were out in force, and people driving past on buses occasionally threw them food.
Finally into town for a bit of breakfast before getting back to the hotel for a mostly lazy day, though there was more pool fun :-)
On the way there we stopped off at a hand made paper factory that provides jobs for women. They recycle cotton rags and paper into high quality paper that is used for arts and crafts and posh certificates. Rags and paper are shredded, bleached, mixed with alum and soaked/beaten for a while. This slurry is then poured over a fine mesh in a tray to make a flat sheet of paper goop, this is turned out onto a cloth and squished to remove more water, then the sheets are dried, pressed and trimmed. All in all it seems a fairly uncomplicated process.
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| Rags ... to riches! |
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| Shredding |
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| Mulching |
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| The hard bit |
The hotel we stayed at was right by another 'holy' river, apparently during flooding last year was 6 feet under water. There was certainly a smell of fresh paint! There was also a pool, so more people tower fun was had while we 'recovered' from the bus ride.
Then, the actual sightseeing. Right by our hotel were a number of huge cenotaphs. Cenotaphs are memorial buildings for the dead which don't actually have the body there. As Hindus usually cremate their dead, cenotaphs are not uncommon for the rich and powerful. (note that the Taj Mahal is tomb, not a cenotaph, as the people were Muslim and are actually interred there). These cenotaphs were very impressive and surrounded by nice gardens, apparently donated by a film company after they were planted for a film that was shot here.
I was rather excited to see the buildings liberally sprinkled with Indian / Long-billed vultures! Maybe no one explained to them the difference between a cenotaph and a tomb.
Next we went along to the two palaces in town. Large and impressive buildings, stuffed with just the sort of architecture you'd expect in an Indian palace, though there didn't seem to be a lot of actual rooms considering the size of the building as much of it was open courtyard. I suppose in this heat and without AC people wouldn't want to spend a lot of time inside.
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| Large wild bee hives under on the palace |
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| Hundreds of Martins flying overhead |
Next day was a 'lazy' day before heading to the overnight sleeper to Varanassi and the River Ganges. I awoke stupidly early, decided to make use of the cool morning and went out for a walk, across the river, to the wildlife sanctuary there. It was shut, but monkeys in the sanctuary don't seem to care too much about opening hours.
There were a good number of people down at the river washing themselves and their clothes, and a good number seemed keen to have their photos taken! There were also a bunch of Black Faced Langor Monkeys, who have really really long arms and legs, and seem to spring/bounce along when they want to move.
 |
| Egyptian Vulture! |
Down by the river I also got a great view of the cenotaphs. Along the road through the sanctuary, the Rhesus Macak's were out in force, and people driving past on buses occasionally threw them food.
 |
| About 5 motorbikes went past laden down with plastic garden chairs |
Finally into town for a bit of breakfast before getting back to the hotel for a mostly lazy day, though there was more pool fun :-)
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