We had expressed our desire to go on a village safari to our host Mr Anshuman and he has arranged for a jeep to pick us up and take us around. The plan is to go on a desert safari, to spot black bucks, visit the Bishnoi tribe, see block printing, weaving and opium ceremony.
I was initially reluctant for yet another desert safari in Rajasthan. The Jaisalmer desert park was not so exciting, not many birds or animals spotted, and we were famished travelling in the sand, sun and cold. But there was nothing else to do today – the option was trekking at the rock park, but we then chose to go on the desert safari when Mr Choturam Prajapati convinced me that there is a fairly good chance of black buck spotting here. So plan for today – Desert safari and shopping at the Sadar market and clock tower market.
Black bucks & Nilgai
I have not seen any of these two before, so I get ready to try out this tour. And Mr Prajapati was right, this safari proved to be an experience of a lifetime. I am not disappointed for sure, as we see ample of black bucks, supposed to be rare now. Could see big groups of antelopes including black bucks, also spot a male nilgai (a species of antelope). We get out of our jeep, find a spot in the middle of the desert with animals running around us, although at a distance, I feel like I am in heaven. Definitely one of the best days of my life. Animals when they are safe from human beings, is when Mother nature flourishes.
We humans need to learn how to live in sync with these birds, animals and wildlife. A very famous actor was here years ago on a shoot and he hunted a couple of black bucks for entertainment. The local Bishnoi community slapped a case against him that went on for almost 15 years and the actor was acquitted in the end, such a sad ending – powerful humans can kill mute animals as per their whims and fancies and still get away with the sin.
Opium ceremony.
Although opium business is illegal in India, it is harvested in Chittorgarh for religious cermonies. We visit a village home in salawas. An old man with his grandson is at home, maybe everyone else is on the fields at work. He shows us how they consume opium during cermonies, the process of converting the chocolate opium bar into a liquid drink. He offers us a drink but we politely refuse, he is surprised and says that it is very mild and will not affect us at all. He mentions how in the village cranky newborns are given 1 sip of this very diluted drink so that they sleep for longer time.
Block printing / pottery
Our driver takes us to a home in some village for block printing and pottery. I expect to see the factory or workshop where block printing is done, however we are here in a place where this person from the printing community (chippa community) is selling block printed bedsheets. So its more like a shop and the person simply shows us a sample of how block printing is done and gets busy selling his bedsheets to us. So if you are keen on visiting a workshop, be specific so your tour guide can take you to such a place. Nevertheless, we buy a bed-sheet from here.