Taj Mahal and Fatephur Sikri

Ajmer: Mayo and Barefoot Colleges

Tom with Principal of Mayo and our guide from Rajputana Discovery. Mayo is a prep school originally for the Princes of Rajput, who arrived with full staff and horses. Barefoot College is, in contrast, a place for villagers to learn from each other how to set up solar panels, harvest water, deal with social and health issues.

Raj of Binai

Greeted with music, flowers, and sandalwood, we enjoyed a very special lunch at the home of the Raj. Delicious food surrounded by rugged hills, unspoiled village, ancient ruins, parakeets, and peacocks. Now open for homestay! Highly recommend.

Chittaurgarh

30 km fort complex. Note goddess of smallpox.

Udaipur

Highlight of our stay in Udaipur was trekking and lunch at Mountain Ridge with Piers and a tribal guide. Spectacular rural Udaipur.

Ranakpur

Jain Temple of gorgeous marble carving near Udaipur. Spotlessly clean and soothing. Sandalwood and saffron mixture used in the shrines. Johnny counted 86 shrines, one of the biggest.

Jodphur

Fort in Jodphur is beautifully restored. Also enjoyed a jeep safari to see craft villages of woodblock fabrics, pottery, dhurries. Woman pictured is Bishnoi, a tribe known for preserving nature.

Holi!

Around Doon

With the other Bobbi in HM garden, boys in Mussoorie, Holi (festival of mischief), and Johnny in his Doon School uniform.

Amber Fort elephant

Tibetan monastery visit with Sister

Sister Karma and me with the monk who let us into the very large shrine at a Buddhist seminary monastery in Dehradun, the beautiful Tibetan Library, a tribute to the Gods in the shrine (made entirely from sugar), one of many portraits of lamas at the shrine (this one western born, Lamas are reincarnations of Gods. There are many lamas, Dalai Lama being the highest. Sister's brother is a lama).

Delhi homestay

With Major Chandrakant