Common Langur or Hanuman Monkey (Semnopithecus Entellus) around Pushkar, Rajasthan, India
Pushkar has changed, Mr. Sharma explained. And he should know, a 5th generation descendant of a Brahman family. Now his family lives next door to the Seventh Heaven Hotel and advertises their services there: walks around Pushkar, Henna Painting, Indian meals…
Mr. Sharma then walked us to the outskirts of Pushkar, an area that was farmland until not long ago. Now guesthouses and hotels have sprung up to cater the ever-growing tourist crowd. Farming has moved to the foot of the hills that surround Pushkar, quite a distance from the market. So now farmers need motorbikes to take their ware to the market. One reason for the chocked up streets in the small center…
Landscape in the surroundings of Pushkar, Rajasthan, India
Woman working in the fields, near Pushkar, Rajasthan, India
Woman going to the market, Pushkar, Rajasthan, India
That day in the countryside was our absolute favorite in Pushkar, away from the crowds, quiet, in the middle of nature and blooming fields, since these small farms also supply the tremendous amount of flowers needed for the religious ceremonies. Monkey families sat on stonewalls bordering the fields, watching us like guards. Every time we stopped to take photos of them, Mr. Sharma would say, “Wait till you see my friends.” He then led us up a hill, and indeed, after a bit of whistling a large family of Hanuman Monkeys came racing down, so many it seems like a stampede.
Common Langur or Hanuman Monkey (Semnopithecus Entellus) around Pushkar, Rajasthan, India
Common Langur or Hanuman Monkey (Semnopithecus Entellus) around Pushkar, Rajasthan, India
What made them storm down were bags of popcorn that Mr. Sharma had brought. The monkey tore at him and his bags, following a clear hierarchy. After the first excitement was over Kelly was allowed in the circle that had formed and fed the monkeys by hand, who gently took the goodies from her hand. Once the leader of the pack had filled his stomach, the group had to move back up, where we spotted a small temple. A young priest took care of things – guess what? Feeding more chunk food to the very same monkey family. At this point we started worrying about the animals’ health. Needless to say that the plastic bags containing the chips and popcorns were thrown away and covered the entire area around the holy place. Mind-boggling.
Common Langur or Hanuman Monkey (Semnopithecus Entellus) around Pushkar, Rajasthan, India
Common Langur or Hanuman Monkey (Semnopithecus Entellus) around Pushkar, Rajasthan, India
Enthused by Mr. Sharma we could not wait to meet his daughter, who advertised her Henna Painting skills in our hotel. Kelly and Heidi both had their arms and hands done, a fun and memorable experience. While we waited for each other, Ms. Sharma had us sample some of the food she was preparing. We wanted more of all this and agreed to spend another half day with Mr. Sharma, visiting the temples and the lake. Big mistake!
Heidi & Kelly getting a Henna Painting in Pushkar, Rajasthan, India
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