Day 48 – Jodhpur to Nagaur, Rajasthan (Kanyakumari to Leh cycling)

Health care center for cows

Bidding goodbye to the Blue City, I left for Nagaur. My timing was good from the very start, and I covered 65 km in the first three hours. My friend’s mom packed some food for my journey. I came across a hospital for cows and other animals, which is quite famous in the whole of Jodhpur and Bikaner district.

Health care center for cows
Hospital for cows

It was a very happening day, filling me with the thrill of anticipating the unknown. I searched for a gurudwara at Nagaur, where I thought of staying for the night. I reached there, tracking its location on my GPS. Later I realised that it was not a Sikh gurudwara but Shri Vishuddhanandji Saheb gurudwara where satsang is done. It has its own long history with it, which I came to know in the evening. People there were very friendly with me and were quite amazed with all the information I was giving them. They treated me very well. A guy in the evening took me around the premises and showed me all the religious aspects of this place; he also gave me quite a lot of knowledge about its past, which I was glad to receive.

Cycling in scorching heat
Cycling in scorching heat

I went out at 5 p.m., riding my bicycle through narrow streets, and realized the antiquity of this place. The Nagaur city has a very long and interesting history. It also has a huge fort in its city center. When I was roaming around I could see “jali” windows in most of the houses in the old city, and this made me feel as if I was in the era of Alif Laila.

Nagaur Fort
Nagaur Fort entrance

It got quite unusual when I was suddenly asked to leave the gurudwara at 8 p.m. Five people came and asked me to vacate and leave. I have not seen them before during the day and I did not actually like the tone of their voice. I am quite a peaceful guy, after all. They told me stay in the Piti Dharamshala near the railway station, saying it was quite cheap. Realising that I held little weight in the matter, I packed my luggage and left.

Fort as seen from outside
Fort as seen from outside

I roamed around, looking for some cheap accommodation and ended up at the dharamshala only. It was a comfortable stay and I will always cherish this experience of mine.