Quick stop in Mathura today before heading onto Agra for the night. Mathura is the supposed birthplace of Krisnha - the Hindu Jesus, and has a very Mecca-Ish feel to it. It's also the capital of the Hare Krisnhas - you know, the guys in the airport who try to sell you flowers?
So, before going to the main temple, we stopped at a few smaller ones for photos. The thing that surprised me about the city was how aggressive the touts are.
We were stopped at a train crossing for about 15 mins, and through that time "guides" kept coming up to our car and pestering us for tours. In every other city I've been to, you say no and they will (eventually) walk away, but here they put their hands in your car so you can't drive away, follow you when you try to get out, and even open your car door!
The 3 experiences we had with them were enough to give me a bad vibe about the city.
Then we reached the temple. This place supposedly has the rock that Krishna was born on, and because it's such a holy place security is very tight: no cameras, phones, or other electronic devices are allowed in, and before you do go in, you're patted down twice.
Whites beware: the second pat down is very personal, especially if you stand out.
After you get in, the first thing you'll notice are all the guards standing around with their assault rifles. Like I said, the place is protected.
Suji went to the main temple and said her prayers, and then deposited a gift of money, which she was told not to give to the priest because they tend to take it for themselves.
Finally, after that, we went down a long tunnel to the chamber that held the stone. It was very intricately carved, but after a minute the priest drew a curtain for prayers. Exit me. Stage right.
When Suji finished her prayers we walked around some more and got some lassi - Krisnhas favorite drink, apparently. Our driver gave us a quick history lesson about Krishna and then we made our way back to the car...followed by more touts of course.
We later found out that these guides spend all their money drinking and are, essentially, beggars.
The whole time we were there, I was surprised; it's really sad that this is how corrupt such a holy place could be become.
So, before going to the main temple, we stopped at a few smaller ones for photos. The thing that surprised me about the city was how aggressive the touts are.
We were stopped at a train crossing for about 15 mins, and through that time "guides" kept coming up to our car and pestering us for tours. In every other city I've been to, you say no and they will (eventually) walk away, but here they put their hands in your car so you can't drive away, follow you when you try to get out, and even open your car door!
The 3 experiences we had with them were enough to give me a bad vibe about the city.
Then we reached the temple. This place supposedly has the rock that Krishna was born on, and because it's such a holy place security is very tight: no cameras, phones, or other electronic devices are allowed in, and before you do go in, you're patted down twice.
Whites beware: the second pat down is very personal, especially if you stand out.
After you get in, the first thing you'll notice are all the guards standing around with their assault rifles. Like I said, the place is protected.
Suji went to the main temple and said her prayers, and then deposited a gift of money, which she was told not to give to the priest because they tend to take it for themselves.
Finally, after that, we went down a long tunnel to the chamber that held the stone. It was very intricately carved, but after a minute the priest drew a curtain for prayers. Exit me. Stage right.
When Suji finished her prayers we walked around some more and got some lassi - Krisnhas favorite drink, apparently. Our driver gave us a quick history lesson about Krishna and then we made our way back to the car...followed by more touts of course.
We later found out that these guides spend all their money drinking and are, essentially, beggars.
The whole time we were there, I was surprised; it's really sad that this is how corrupt such a holy place could be become.
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