Diary: Wednesday 15 March 2000

Wednesday 15 March 2000

Travelled the 90 km or so to Mandu. We stopped a little way outside Indore (to ensure fewer spectators) and replaced the mended shock absorber. True to predictions, it barely lasted 30 minutes before the weld broke, forcing us to stop and remove the offending article. Oh well, you can but try! We bounced our way along shocking roads and arrived at Mandu around lunch time.

Mandu is a spectacular place. Perched on a hill above the Plains, covering an area of 20 square kilometres, lie the scattered remains of an ancient fort and city. The landscape and views are stunning. We ate a leisurely lunch chatting to a British guy, allowing the worst of the mid-day heat to pass.

We then set out to explore the ruins of the ancient town which are now serenely dotted amoungst the fields and grazing of peasant farmers. The crumbling, majestic palaces provide a surreal contrast with the peasants mud huts. This is a fantastically peaceful place (for India). Very few tourists visit the area and hence you are able to explore the ruins in peace, taking time to enjoy the atmosphere without the constant hassle of touts and guides vieing for your money. Fabulous! The region is also fairly unpopulated by Indian standards, so you can actually find tranquil spots where you are actually alone.