Neemrana: Forts, Snakes and Sadhus

One of the pedal yatris prostrating herself on the road in Jaipur.

Yesterday we left Jaipur and on the way out of town we got caught in a large “pedal yatra” or as it might be translated a “walking pilgrimage”. There were thousands of pilgrims walking to some obscure place for some reason unbeknownst to us. I say walking, when in reality they would walk a few steps then prostrate themselves, get up and do it again. This would go on for 80 km, I was told. After making our way through this group we were back on the highway and on our way to Neemrana, a sleepy little village only 2 and a half hours from Delhi. In Neemrana we checked into a renovated 15th century fort/palace that is now a hotel, we will stay two night then head to Delhi and fly home on the 28th.

This morning before breakfast I hired a local guide and we visited a 1000 year old Kali Temple, an ashram full of Sadhus and a village of snake charmers. What did you do this morning?

Yatris on the road out of Jaipur.

A priest of the ancient Kali temple in Neemrana performing his morning puja.

Even though snake charming was banned in the 1990 it is still practices by the Garudi cast. At a Kalbelia village outside of Neemrana.

Children learn as early as 4 years old how to work with cobras. But the trade is dying since they can make more money as day laborers.

A sadhu or “Baba” under an ancient banyan tree at the ashram in Neerana.