Photos of Dundlod

So here are a few photos - after all, what is a story without photos :)

Leen with an adult female horse (mare). One of the first big horses we dare to groom (clean)!

Leen's favourite/favorite (depending on where you are in the world) horse. A one year old male (colt). A feisty little beast, that carried the attitude of a rebellious teenager. He bit me and charged me on day one... and would walk up to us for a pat by day 10. 

The fort (top story). The walls needed a repaint, and repairing, and replastering... and there were many walls, but thats what happens after 250 years!

View from the 2nd floor balcony of the main entrance. Leen loved the old WWII jeeps parked here and there.

Despite shoveling horse poo, feeding and grooming during the day, we lived with the "Maharaja". That means we ate and were served like kings. Literally. Here is a photo of breakfast (before the omelettes came out to party!). 

This fort really was an Oasis in the rural town of Dundlod. In the state of Rajasthan actaully! Relatively clean water (but not drinkable for foreigners), Western style toilets, electricity for between 5-10 hours a day, minimal littering (inside the fort)... an Indian heaven! Literally.

Maharaja (for some background) is a name given to a "Lord" of a large portion of land. Before independence, India adopted a "feudal system", where Maharajas were given rule over large regions of land. This system does not exist anymore, but land and titles were traditionally handed down from father to son. The family owning this fort are direct descendants of the previous Maharaja. After independence, much of the land owned/governed was overtaken by the new Indian government, so Maharajas were left with only a a fraction of their property (i.e. a few forts, houses and many fields of crops).

The whole time we were there, something didn't sit right with me. A hierarchical system enforced by culture and tradition, glorifying a family who other than their inherited wealth, have very little marketable, desirable qualities! Helping them push paper around, we discovered that the family (with much influence from a particular British lady) has recently been pouring energy into "breeding the Marwari horses". Their farm land used to feed their horses, and their fallow land used as paddocks. Marketable skills? Deserving of a fort, with 4 star accommodation and food provided, deep pockets, and a full time servant staff of 15 people?

On the bright side... despite the flaws of the Feudal system, this family was known to be lenient on taxing the local farmers, especially if there was a poor harvest season. Now, farmers and businesses are taxed annually by the government, irrespective of their yield and performance. I'm a little torn in my judgement. 

Kinda. 

Ok - not at all.