I fell for Bundi by reading about it on the Indiamike Travel Forum. What I found most curious on that long thread was the description of a guest house that had a pet turtle! Then imagine my surprise when after landing and securing a hotel there, Brat 2 and I stumbled upon it as soon as we started up looking for breakfast. It is called the Mangalam Guest House. It is family run affair (most of the Havelis in Bundi are) and a huge place.
The Guest Book at the Mangalan Guesthouse, Bundi, Rajasthan
We rang the bell outside the Haveli and a girl called out. We asked if we would get some breakfast and she asked us to come in. She is a small girl studying in class 6 and has an elder and a younger sibling. We asked for Aloo Paratha (flat Indian bread filled with potatoes) and chai (tea) and while we were waiting the young girl kept chatting with us.
A Painting at the Mangalam Haveli, Bundi, Rajasthan
A specialty if Bundi is that every house if full of beautiful paintings and within the Bundi Palace there is a place called Chitrashala (The house of paintings) which houses some of the best paintings.
Gopi the Turtle at the Mangalam Guesthouse, Bundi, Rajasthan
And soon enough the turtle walked in, and was around for a long time. It is one animal that I did not felt afraid of, even went as far as touching its tough structure fleetingly, it felt like a stone.
Brat 2 was mildly amused that I knew of all this right from the start. But then he would tease me for every small thing that he would ask for and I would say I don’t know. He would make the most exaggerated faces and say’ “You didn’t read about it on the internet?”
PS. I have written the Bundi article and sent it across to Gonomad yesterday! It is the Orchha one that I am finding difficult to write!
how come you didn't try more closer picture of Gopi?
A pet turtle is so quirky and cute.
Hi Mridula,You went the whole hog on Bundi and I loved it. Apart from Gopi, the street scenes were just great. I loved the feel of life in there….Wow!Julia
It is a real turtle?In picasa I thought it as a sculpture and ignored.The last time I saw turtle was way back in 1999 at Kamakhya temple at Gauhati, Assam.They were surely bigger..:)
I have never seen a turtle. But I have heard that if it bites, it will leave you only after a broken finger.
There are a few would post it sometime Shrinidhi.Yes Namita :DThank you for your wonderful comment Julia.Tarun it is a real Turtle!Megha on the contrary the kids at the Haveli assured me that this ine didn't bite! I hope they were not kidding.
I liked the english translations for Indian words. These places would have such a unique charm about them.
VS I am quite pathetic at translation. 🙁
I really liked the caricature in the guest book 🙂
That is why I clicked Pooja 😀
thanks for talking a lot on Bundi, and the pictures. feels like visiting it sometime.
Yes Rocksea Bundi is a small but beautiful place and already a lot of foreigners are there.