We didn't have the advantage of a tour guide so I had to rely on Donna. I must admit she did a good job for day one here. We arranged for a car and driver who was suppose to speak English but didn't. Oh well, this is India.
An hour drive through the city, on the outskirts there is the Sanjay Ghandi National Park. Luckily this is off the regular "tourists" track and was spectacular and positively serene. No crowds at all.
The Kenheri Caves, situated in the park, date from the first century BC and are carved from the natural basalt rock formation. There are 109 caves including the a great hall and many compartments for Buddists monks that worshipped here centuries ago.
The entire cave network is connected by an underground water system and each cave is ventilated. They were no longer used after the 10 th century. There is an unfinished ceiling painting in cave 34.
As we left the site, we had an audience of curious locals grooming each other.
From the caves we headed back to reality and the major daily trafiic of a very big city. We headed to a mall for some shopping. You would swear you were in the Eaton Centre. A far cry from the rural shops we have been accustomed to for the last two weeks.
It took our driver an hour to get back to the hotel. A gin and tonic was looking pretty good. But first we needed to explore the beach and get our bearings for the start of Holi Festival tomorrow. I don't know what go expect but we plan to wear clothes that we can throw in a bag till we get back home. It appears it will be a very colourful festival.
Apparently it is not cool for the men anywhere in India to wear shorts. I do to know how they stand the heat wearing long pants.
We managed to find a liquor store and a corner convenience store. Back in our room and now just finishing the third g&t before dinner.
Mom has always been a great tour guide!
ReplyDelete(posted by Amanda)