After five days in Mumbai, we got our first taste of Indian Rail. The conditions are pretty rustic in sleeper class (equivalent to maybe 3rd class) with people sleeping on every inch of the floors on the overnight trips. The caste system appears to still be quite prevalent in India. Observing a beggar on his hands and knees wiping the floor of the train with a dirty cloth and the looks of disgust from surrounding passengers said it all.

We took the train to a small town called Jalgaon where we were treated to some power cuts, just have to take it all in stride. We took a day trip from there to visit a 500 to 700 AD buddhist religious site built into caves. Ajanta caves is another world heritage site beautifully situated on a massive S-curve bend of a river.  Some of the paintings were a little difficult to see due to the wear and tear over time but you could imagine the site during its glory.  Very nice and peaceful.  We stayed in Jalgaon for two nights and then made our way to the small town of Mandu.  

It was quite an effort to get to Mandu, involving one train and three buses, at one point we got off and then back on the same bus.  Sometimes a relatively expensive taxi ride is worth it, you live and learn.  On the plus side we got to see some out of the way places and countryside that most tourists wouldn't, I feel like we have done that a few times now.   

Mandu is a fort and palace that was constructed by Afghan rulers of the area in the 11th century.  The old city was fairly intact and the walls and palace areas were nice to visit.  We spent a day wandering around and appreciating the beautifully detailed, unique architecture. Organizing our time in India, and wanting to get to Rajastan fairly quickly we left after one night and took a bus to Jodhpur.