Hall of Deities, Government Museum & a Temple in Mandore

I once traveled with a Berlin gentleman who bewailed Asians' penchant for colors. "Asians love to color their world with such vivid colors, they are sometimes tacky," he observed. True enough, Thais loved their yellow Mondays; Filipinos love their nationalistic yellows as well. Who can deny the interplay of reds, oranges and golds in Chinese Temples? I don't see anything wrong with that. I don't think India has a unified color scheme. The world would be a dour place without a multi chromatic hue. "Berliners prefer blacks, grays and blues and anything in between," he added. So does most of Europe. I am aware.

The Hall of Deity or Hall of Demi Gods is a bigger hallway next to the Hall of Heroes. In this "room", decked with white pillars, stone carvings (from a single huge stone) of 33 crore Gods adorn the place in lurid colors! It's more of a "shrine" which holds "allegedly" 300 million Hindu Gods. Some quarters call it 300 million Devis and Devtas. I could swear there are just a few dozens.

Nearby the Hall of Heroes is a simple Hindu Temple with few local visitors. Also nearby is a Mandore Government Museum. You have to walk through a gate (shown below, the one with a green gate) and turn right. The museum contains relics from the nearby rock terrace temples. There's nothing much to see inside, to be honest. Free entrance but photography is not allowed. When I forgot this rule, I was reprimanded. I didn't think it mattered because I was snapping "outside" the museum hall - you will see this particular photo (2nd to the last) below. It's just a secluded place outside the museum building so I don't understand the restrictions.

I love the entrance gates though, very princely. It would cap my visit in the ancient royal capital of Mandore - a kingdom that flourished for 700 years before the rise of the Rajput maharajas.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Buddhist temple


Walking towards the entrance to the Mandore Government Museum.


Gate through the Mandore Government Museum


Photography of this place is prohibited. Oooppps!

Hall of Heroes at the Mandore Gardens

I'm into folk tales and folk heroes. Unfortunately, there's not a lot of materials to find about North Indian folk stories in Manila. I should probably content myself with the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. It's such a blessing then when, during my travels, I get to find places with attributions to these colorful, mystical stories.

Within the Mandore Gardens' compound stands a "Hall of Heroes", a decidedly guileless hall dedicated to Rajput folk heroes by way of a single piece of rock! Yes, a single huge rock has been used to carve out 16 figures dating back 17th to 18th century. The hallway is supported by white pillars. If you look at the roof, it's the same piece of rock displayed inside the hall. Such masterful work. How they were able to preserve this - when they've pretty much neglected the amazing rock terrace temples nearby - is also a wonderment.

These statues have been exquisitely conjured, coated with fine plasters, and painted with white or light brown (tan), a far contrast to the luridly painted figures of deities and Hindu Gods at the bigger hall (Hall of Deities aka Hall of Demi-gods) next to this hall. Earthy heroes, monochromes: check! Demi gods and Hindu deities, vivid colors: check!

In front of this hall is a grassy lawn with a shrub shaped like a camel and a solitary bench facing sideways. You could rest there but there's so many better places for introspection or relaxation in the compound than here.

It's an easy visit and it's free of charge! Nearby this simple building is a sparse working Hindu temple with few locals offering flowers and other stuff. It's comforting to watching people exercise their faith. We all have prayers to offer, and it's always an inspiring thought to know that people believe in a Higher Being. Otherwise, this sentient life is but an accident of nature. I'd rather not be one. I'd prefer my existence to mean something more than the vagaries of accidents.

This is the Eye in the Sky!


Hall of Heroes



A single rock to carve 16 statues.

















Ek Thamba Mahal at Mandore Garden


Secluded spot at the Mandore Gardens


The distance from Ek Thamba Mahal.

At a neglected ancient city of Mandore

mandore photo courtesy of phileasfogg

I found myself at an almost empty garden of spectacular temples in various states of neglect in the city of Mandore, north of Jodhpur. Some of these temples could equal the grandeur of the Ayutthayas and Sukhothais of thailnd, yet the local government doesn't seem to care. In fact, a visit to this park is absolutely free of charge - an unusual situation in all my travels in India where every single tourist spot is leavied heavily!

Mandore is an ancient city, an old capital of the Marwar state (now Rajasthan). The intricately designed structures rise from the backdrop of the surrounding Rock Terraces.

It was a good thingthat my autorickshaw driver decided to join me. It was a bit unnerving and eerie, roaming the park gardens alone. Having said that there are several spots to be enjoyed. Squirrels and medium-sized monkeys litter the area. A child busker carrying some ethnic looking guitar-type instrument was following me around, playing a dissonant music that had no melody at all. Finally, there's the Hall of Heroes as well as a Government Museum (10 rupees for foreigners, 5 rupees for locals).

The highlight of my visit was meeting a group of Boy Scouts. Kids all over my travel have been very welcoming. I always get "hellos" from smiling children everywhere. I snapped their photos after their egging me. It was my pleasure.

On my way back, we passed by several camels hauling off cartloads of building blocks and slabs of woods. Local color seems to runneth over.


Tonight, I shall take my midnight train going further North in the city of Jaisalmer, located at the fringes of the Thar Desert - India's Sahara (and already bordering Pakistan to the west). I pray that everything goes quite well.