On the way to Bikaner, Raj Kumar, our driver made a slight detour to show us the Khurja Bird Sanctuary. This small body of water lies along the path of cranes migrating from Russia so the state of Rajasthan has set it aside as a sanctuary.
Once in Bikaner, our first stop was a tour of Junagarh Fort. While all of the forts we have seen bear a definite stamp of Rajasthani style, each one is different from all the others. Some are better preserved than others and many are being repaired and restored. In a country where space is at a premium, I'm happy to see that there is still value in preserving the ancient sites.
After lunch, we went out to the Camel Research Center for a look around. Our guide told us quite a lot about camels, most of which I have sadly forgotten. Two things stand out, though. There are four different kinds of Dromedary (one-humped) camels, and the males masturbate by swishing their tails over their testicles.
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| A mother and baby. All of the camels in this pen are either breeding females or their offspring. Sadly for us, it was feeding time so we had a great view of lots of camel behinds and not very many camel faces. |
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| The same baby, nursing from its mom. |
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| This area is reserved for the adult males currently being used for breeding. |
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| And for the brave tourist, camel rides were available. However, riding up and down in a corral could hardly compare with our ride out into the desert to watch the sunset so we passed on this. |
Camels have a really elegant way of carrying themselves and moving. I don't think I'd ever get tired of just watching them amble through the busy streets, aloof to all the clutter and clang of traffic going on in a world that is so obviously beneath their dignity.
Next stops: Mandawa and Navalgar via the Kurani Mata Rat Temple.
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