Exploring Ajmer

After a six hour drive from Agra we arrived in Ajmer, the 5th largest city in Rajasthan.  Ajmer is surrounded by the Aravalli Mountains.  It is a pilgrimage centre and also a base for visiting Pushkar which is situated 11km northwest of Ajmer.

Ajmer

Exploring the streets of Ajmer became a challenge.  There seemed to be no sidewalks in India and as cars, tuck-tucks, bikes, camels, dogs, cows, pigs, buffaloes, bicycles, rickshaws and trucks all try to pass each other, the pedestrian is at the bottom of the food chain.  The golden rule:  do not hesitate at any moment in time, be decisive and cross the street!

We love exploring parts of a town or city where the locals live and tourists seemed to be non-existent.
We ended up in a beautiful neigbourhood with old colonial buildings with rusty colourful doors.  Narrow, winding alleyways with women hanging laundry on balconies and men catching up on the latest chit-chat.  Cows lurking around every corner, seemingly ready to pounce. Women in beautiful saris carrying water buckets and eager to engage in conversation.