An start to a long drive day took us southeastward out of Rajasthan and back into Madhya Pradesh, a large state near the geographical center of India on the Deccan Plateau, the start of several consecutive days of camping and visits to historical and religious sights. The first night out we camped near Mandu for an early morning visit to the sight.

Mandu is a ruined city picturesquely located on top of a forested plateau with palaces, tombs, monuments, and mosques spread around numerous sights . Mandu was founded by Afghan rulers of India in the 10th century and became the capital of local kingdom ruled by Afghans after the Mughals captured northern India around 1400. Nowadays, Mandu is a small town surrounded by what are considered the best ruins of the era of Afghan influence in India.

We spent the morning wandering around several enclaves of ruins, mosques, and tombs with what must have been the worst local guide ever, one who insisted on herding around him so we would have to listen to him by constantly yelling "Excuse me!" However, overland travelers don't herd well. Afterwards we continued southward into Maharashtra state, much of it on divided toll expressway to an isolated campsite near a reservoir. Unusual for camping in India, no locals came to visit and gawk at the foreigners engaged in strange activities like setting up tents and cooking on tables beside a truck. One of our drivers, For evening entertainment, Bertie (one of our drivers) climbed on top of the truck, held up a pink sari blowing in the breeze, and treated us to an impersonation of the bus roof scene from the Australian movie "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert".