PICTURES OF THE LAND PORTION IN INDIA
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The scene out our window from the Hans Plaza Hotel in New Delhi. This area was a restaurant and bar that fortunately for us was undergoing renovations seeing that we were in the Low Tourist Season. The months of high temperatures and high humidity are considered Low Season.. Boy, do we ever pick em! |
Notice in these two photos the road is almost empty. This is about 7:00 AM and no one wanders out yet. The sky was mostly blue but lots of smog. |
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Some of the buildings look a little worse for the wear of the years, but this is a nice area of New Delhi |
The sun was just coming up and the mist was adding to the gloom. By noon, no mist just heat |
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If you look closely, you can just see a monkey on the bar. This is the 6th floor .. how did it get there??? |
Maybe he was looking for the hair of the monkey that bit him last April??? |
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He sure was not afraid of anyone. The Hotel claims that he is not a pet! |
Elsie fell in love with this guy ... must be the mustaches??? |
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We went to Old Delhi to visit the spot where Gandhi, fondly known by millions as "Bapu" or father, was cremated in 1948 after his assassination. They have made a beautiful park-like setting with the above Rules ...Hmmm just how would they describe in court "Any other undesirable Activity"? |
One of the gardeners who came from the same area as Gandhi has taken over the ceremonial part of this site. He meets with the pilgrims from all over the world and leads prayers. |
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This being the low tourist season, not many people are visiting, and most of them are Indians. Next month the crowds of the world will arrive. |
In most cities this beautiful green space would be covered by people enjoying the grass and sunshine. Obviously, not here. Not more than 250 yards away a city teeming with 13 million people roars with life. |
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The Jama Masjid, one of Asia’s largest mosques. The gate in front leads to a huge marble courtyard that contains the washing pool and the entrance to the Mosque facing Mecca, of course. You can see the press of cars and people. |
Elsie and the guide standing on the steps up to the entrance. Here we have to take off our shoes. Boy, did our socks take a beating this trip! On the left hand side is a very large Market Place that had been here for centuries. |
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The Domes of the Mosque can be seen over the walls of the Mosque |
Time to negotiate for a bicycle rickshaw ride through the market's tiny streets. |
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This is the major road on the side of the Market and just up ahead, we turn left to enter the market proper. It is too small for cars to navigate so trucks become rickshaws. |
The peddler has to be very strong and quick to navigate his way through here. Elsie is looking pretty relaxed eh. |
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The road gets narrower and all the little shops sell just about everything you can imagine. Most of them are about 10 feet wide and about 25 feet deep. |
The guy just ahead of Elsie had to be nuts. Those boxes were full and very heavy. |
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The truck on the left here is the propane delivery van for the shops in the area. Somehow, the guy peddling got us through here without hitting anything or anyone. Just how. I don't know. Lots of yelling and arm waving helps! |
This area has not changed much in 150 years. |
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The local florist delivery man. We were still moving here even with this press of people |
Just coming out of the market heading back to the Mosque and the A/C car |
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Does Elsie look relieved in getting off? Notice the size of the bike peddler! Of course, a liberal use of Beetle Nuts helps.
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Humayun’s Tomb, built by the widow of the second Mogul Emperor, Humayun. It is an outstanding monument in the Indo-Persian style, a precursor of the Taj Mahal. Notice the similarities between the Taj and this building. Many of these sites are World Heritage supported. | |
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If you can read this??? Then look at the next several photos... |
Tomb Enclosure of Isa Khan located in the same park like area of Humayun’s Tomb |
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Tomb Enclosure of Isa Khan located in the same park like area of Humayun’s Tomb |
Tomb Enclosure of Isa Khan located in the same park like area of Humayun’s Tomb |
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Like the Taj, you have to walk up to the Tomb but before you see it you must pass through a gate. The gate in the middle of the picture leads to the Tomb. Here, unlike the Taj, you can see the dome of the tomb as you approach the gate |
This is the Tomb itself. We walked up to it, climbed the stairs to the first level. By now the day was near its end -- touring wise. We had been going straight from 8:30 and now it is approaching 4:00. It is HOT and HUMID and we are tired!!! |
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Tomb Enclosure of Isa Khan .. note the similarities |
Last look through the trees |
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If you can read this ... |
Back in the Hotel for lemonade!!!! After consuming probably several litres of water each during the day, the tartness of the lemonade is sure welcome |
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Elsie hardly enjoys this!!! |
Next day up, showered, fed, and on the road at 8:00 AM to head to Agra. At this time we were thinking that we would never get over the jet lag. That last flight form Chicago to New Delhi lasting over 15 hours was brutal!!! |
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We took some pictures as Mr Roger roared along some of the most unbelievable highways (?) |
This is still in New Delhi, and Mr Roger kept pointing out the huge buildings in the back ground that housed the "phone centers". We said nothing!!! |
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Indian life seems to centre around the highway shoulders. Houses behind and lots of little shops on the road side. It is like this all the way to Agra with the exception of the fields between the many villages where the same scenario repeats itself. |
People standing around often drift into the road. This is a main highway and is only two lanes about 8 feet wide. There most times are no shoulders. |
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Pandemonium rules ... this guy on the bike is delivering propane to someone! |
The oxen on the sides of the road often decide to cross the road unexpectedly. Now, just why does an ox cross the road? |
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This is a clear open stretch of road. Notice the speed limit. I don't think that we ever got up to that speed, and this is like the Trans Canada for India. The 200 kms between New Delhi and Agra took us over 4 1/2 hours. The woman here is carrying feed for the Cows of her village. |
Then you hit another little village and the traffic becomes truly chaotic. Vehicles coming from all directions at the same time. God knows how far this tractor came on the main highway ... his top speed would be under 20 kms per hour. Passing becomes an art form! |
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As I said, each village becomes more chaotic. |
The sign on the back of this truck asks for the horn to be used. Here in Canada, if you toot you horn, you are pissed with someone. Here they talk to each other with it. If you wish to pass, you toot and pull out. Depending on how close the vehicle is that is heading toward you, the horn tone moderates. If the person ahead is not a threat, you just toot. If you require the vehicle ahead to slow down you lean on it and if you are panicking, you lean on the horn and wave your hands out the window. Just how there is not total carnage on the roads I don't know. |
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There are even tolls on the roads ... I wonder where the money goes ... not into road improvements I'll bet! |
Road side shops |
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I think you could buy anything along this highway! |
The old and the new |
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A Mosque we passed ... let's see, beautifully built religious structures amidst the poverty of the nation. Does this sound familiar? |
Cows, of course, have the right a way and can be found at any time on the road |
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This guy looks hungry ... but traffic stops until he makes up his mind where he wants to go |
How do you run a transportation system???? |
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We arrived in Agra about 12:30, checked into the hotel and quickly headed to the Taj Mahal. The weather is every bit as uncomfortable here as in New Delhi. If you remember, just before we left, Muslim Terrorists exploded some bombs in New Delhi. This has made the Government want to protect their priceless buildings so you now have to park cars about a mile from the entrance to the Taj and either walk or take this horse cart to the gate. We rode ... walking is not an option. |
Now let's see ... Elsie is up and in, the man with the Baltimore Costs cap is the guide, and I have to get in too. There was limited room beside Elsie so the Guide got in there. I had to hold on for dear life on the back. We passed the Government Leprosy Hospital ... I thought that leprosy was eradicated??? ... we pass lots of little shops --surprise surprise -- and an old ex 4 star hotel to get to the gate. |
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The security here is as tight as at the airport! I had my camera case gone through and the wires that I use to plug the camera into a TV to preview pictures were not allowed. So, I had to rent a locker and store the wires there until we left. |
This guide was excellent! As he got into his stories, his eyes sparkled and his arms waved. He obviously loved his topic. The couple walking by had been staring at Elsie ... more about the reaction to her later. |
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The entrance gate to the site was to the left of this shot. The site is huge!!! In order to get to the Taj itself, you have to approach through the gateway ahead. |
Notice that you still can not see the Taj from this perspective |
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As you approach the gate, the Taj becomes visible and sort of shimmers ... |
People stop here and just stare!!!! |
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From this spot to the Taj is 150 to200 yards |
WOW |
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With his back to the Taj, the Guide took this picture. This is the Gate through which we entered. Our shirts are soaking wet here.. it was a magical moment. |
Again, like Humayun’s Tomb, there is the first level to climb to enter the Mosque itself. |
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Instead of marching our way straight to the front entrance, the Guide took us to the right side where there were fewer people and more shade. As I said, he was excellent! |
He talked and walked. A constant flow of information ... fascinating man. |
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The entrance gate as we slowly got closer to the Taj itself |
As a Park, this is a beauty. Add the Taj ... and WOW |
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What can I say? |
What can I say? |
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What can I say? |
What can I say? |
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We are just about to climb the first level. Shoes are off and we are ready!!! |
All white marble, but as the Taj is about balance, there is a Mosque to the right side of the Taj so there has to be one to the left. Both have to be identical in every way. |
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The famous reflection shot was not possible this day ... but I tried! |
Apparently, the Emperor Shah Jahan who had the Taj built, had 4 sons. His third son was the military type so he sent him south with an army to protect his vulnerable southern flank. He built the Taj on the banks of the Jamuna River. His plan was to build a mirror copy on the other bank but this time to make it out of black marble. The thing about the Taj is that everything is balanced .. right and left, up and down ... so it was obvious to him that the Taj in its entirety needed to be balanced. He just started to build the linking bridge when his Number 3 son in the south with the army heard that his father had died and that his older brother had taken control. Immediately, he marched his army north to seize the kingdom, but unfortunately for the poor sod, it was just a rumour, and his father was alive and well. Too late for niceties at this point so "in for a penny in for a pound" he attacked his father's army, defeated it and declared himself the Emperor. He then imprisoned his Dad in the Agra Fort up river from the Taj where he could still see the Taj in the distance. Shah Jahan died at the Fort and his son buried him, beside his beloved wife, in the Taj. Sort of a neat story!! |
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The heat was getting to all of us ... mandatory rest period. |
As soon as you climb the first level, everything is white marble. |
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Red sandstone as you approach. The affect of the white and red together is quite remarkable! |
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This is a shot from the first level, towards the Mosque on the left side. Notice that most visitors are Indian at this time of year. |
This is a view back to the Main Gate from the first level. Apparently, when tourist season is in full swing, it is hard to walk because of the crowds. I sure can believe that. |
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The obligatory "I was there shots" continue |
The obligatory "I was there shots" continue |
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The obligatory "I was there shots" continue |
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The obligatory "I was there shots" continue |
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The obligatory "I was there shots" continue. A couple of times, Indian couples would approach Elsie and ask her if they could have their picture taken with her. We were puzzled until the Guide explained that it was her pale complexion and light hair that interested them |
The obligatory "I was there shots" continue ... the last of my water ... Oh Oh! |
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The obligatory "I was there shots" continue Elsie insisted!! |
The obligatory "I was there shots" continue |
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WOW |
WOW |
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The guide left us in front of the Taj and said that he would meet us back at the entrance gate. About 1 1/2 hours later, we got back to the meeting point ... exhausted, soaked, entranced and HAPPY. |
This is one of the magic moments of my life. I had always wanted to visit here and the Taj turned out to be more than I expected and even hoped for. No matter what happens on the trip from this point on... it was WORTHWHILE!!! |
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It was hard to leave!!!! |
This pole carries all the electrical to the Taj ... |
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This is the little village just out side the security gate. Notice what they sell the most of? I wonder why? We are heading to the hotel for a well earned dinner and sleep ... of course the A/C is important also!!! |
The next morning up early again ... shudder ... pack, shower, feed and get ready to head to Jaipur. But, before we leave, a visit to the Agra Fort ... yet another 15th Century Mogul Fort, where the son of Emperor Shah Jahan imprisoned his father. |
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After you walk up a narrow entrance path ... these guys did understand how to make a Fort impregnable.. you arrive at the centre courtyard. |
This is where the Mogul would meet the people weekly and dispense justice...??? |
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For some reason, they are now growing stuff here ... I did not fully understand just why. |
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Lots of arches leading further into the Fort |
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This is from the "prison" where the Emperor Shah Johan was kept |
Obligatory "I was there" shot |
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This is the view that Emperor Shah Jahan had of the Taj and was as close that he would get to it until his death. |
The river is the Jumuna which flows into the Ganges River eventually |
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All sorts of different arches |
Our last view of the Taj!!! |
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This is the wall carving in the harem ... hmmm |
It really is a spectacular building! |
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The obligatory stop at "my brother's shop". Here the inlay work is done for both tourists and replacement parts for the Taj |
They made some beautiful stuff |
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These are the pre cut stones that will be inlaid into the table below. All this is done by hand... really intricate work. No, we resisted buying anything ... |
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Mr Roger cranks up the old Tata and off we head to Jaipur. |
This road is not as good as the one from New Delhi to Agra. Same sort of idea with the shops and stores on the road side, but much worse condition. |
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Things are poorer here it seems. |
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Lots of people standing around |
Not only people just standing around |
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| Agra to Ranthambore (260 KMS / 7 hours). En-route we visited Fatehpur Sikr, the deserted red sandstone city, built by the Great Mughal Emperor Akbar as his capital and palace in the late 16th century. It was abandoned soon after it was built when the local wells went dry, and it remains today in much the same condition that it was over 300 years ago. It is complete with palaces and mosques and used to be a town larger than London when it was originally constructed. Now, it is an extraordinary place to wander around with its buildings in near perfect condition | Well, yet another 16th century Mogul Fort. I'm getting a little tired of these!!! |
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Here the workers are repairing the place using the same techniques used to build it -- not because they want to be authentic, but this is still the methods used to build things here. |
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This tower is supposed to be the site where some famous elephant was buried or not ... I can not remember the exact story. It might mark the spot where the river was centuries ago. |
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Lots of beautiful carvings and arches |
Rather dirty though but at least we could keep our shoes on. |
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After the balance of the Taj, this place looked disjointed somehow |
Oh well ... we were there so ... |
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Another reflection shot tried ... oh well ... |
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Main Palace straight ahead and ... |
on the left the Harem ... |
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Inside the harem Courtyard |
Back on the road to Jaipur |
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Transportation comes in all styles... |
This is the half way rest stop for lunch. Not a bad place at all. Clean and they had cold drinks!!!! |
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This is the Tata we rode in. about the size of a Honda CRV and quite comfortable for short people. |
Our Driver, Mr. Roger helping Elsie in the car. His driving skills were fantastic thankfully !!! |
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A road side restaurant ... |
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These shops sold everything ... |
In fact some were barber shops, and we actually passed several in a row that were dentist shops. You could see people getting their teeth worked on ... no electricity |
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More road hazards |
From the epistle ... Please remember that the roads here are only 2 narrow lanes, and that they provide the main transportation link for everyone. Everyone uses the roads and most of the road sides in the little villages are covered by huts, stores, dentists, barbers etc. Anywhere near a village is totally chaotic while in the countryside it is only completely chaotic. The fastest the car could reach would be bursts of up to 50 km's when passing another vehicle and trying to dodge the oncoming vehicles. Trucks roar along past camel carts, stationary cows, oxen herds being moved between fields, and oxen pulling carts full to over flowing with any product a farm might produce or require. Top that off with pedestrians of all ages -- babies to old folks -- cyclists, pot holes, stretches of gravel, tree limbs lying on the surface, dead dogs purifying on the road sides and the worst we saw .... a man's body sprawled on the road side obviously dead. One man was standing over the body looking down and the rest of the villagers were standing 10 feet away mostly ignoring the scene. I asked Mr. Roger where the police were. His comment, "maybe they come in 1 hour, maybe in 8, or maybe never. Who knows." I asked what happens to the driver of the vehicle that hit him and his response, "pay 500 or 1000 rupees and police go away ...no problem." ($20.00 to $45.00 US). He then thought for a second and added, "unless it is a Tourist and then everyone comes quickly." This seemed to be OK to him and he returned to whistling. Elsie and I just sat there ... price of life differs in India. |
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A little loaded down truck that was probably doing less than 20 kms per hour. The huge truck lumbering towards us was going faster ... just how fast was a guess |
But you have to pass ... so, onto the horn pull out and hope like hell! | |
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All sorts of transportation types here |
No longer regal ship of the desert ... now ship of the main highway???? Most of the lumber carts were pulled by these guys ... a new twist on logging trucks. |
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Fuel stop ... cheaper than gas ... here the gas costs are a pretty consistent equivalent to just under $1.00 US per litre .. a lot of money here. |
Everyone has the use of the roadways and all seem to respect that fact |
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| Well, we arrived finally in Jaipur by 7:00 in time for beer, dinner, and a chance for our nerves to settle down. Thank goodness for single malt scotch!!! | Jaipur is a bit of a garbage tip!!! Garbage lying around for the pigs, dogs, and goats to fight over. People living and sleeping amid all this clutter. But this is the famous Amber Fort and the day is young!! |
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Yet another 17th century Mogul Fort ...Wheee!!! Here though the guide was not an inspiring personality! |
As you can see from the previous pictures, the fort is on a hill so a climb is necessary to get there. Fortunately, we did not have to walk! |
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This is the entrance to the road to the Fort. Again, these guys knew how to construct Fort De fences. |
Our ride awaits us! |
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Now the idea is, one climbs up to a platform the height of an elephant, then as the Mahout brings the beast along side, one steps gracefully onto the platform on the elephant's back. At least that is the goal. Those beasts do NOT stand still. Elsie made it with style and lets just say ... I made it... |
Does that elephant look happy??? |
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And off we go ... |
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Elephants going up and coming down ... not much room here |
If you are not the lead elephant, the view never changes |
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Views from the elephant's back |
Views from the elephant's back. Everywhere you go there are people selling something |
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The walking path back down |
Views from the elephant's back |
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Dismounting platform. The cost of the ride was included on our tour costs, but the jerk of a guide said as I'm getting off the beast, "Tip the Mahout" and then walked off. Elsie had gone ahead, and I had no Indian Cash with me so the only answer was to use American. Unfortunately, the smallest I had was $5.00 so you can imagine the look on the Mahout's face at the size of that tip. It probably was what he made for the whole day's work. |
Off to get more people up to the Fort |
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By the time I got up to Elsie, and replenished my Indian Currency from the backpack, the Guide had returned to tell me that I had to pay 50 rupees (about $1.00 US) for a camera pass to take pictures in the Fort. The smallest note I had was 100 rupees so he took that, bought the ticket, gave it to me and wandered off. Where is my change? No worries ... tip time is coming for him ... and guess what???? |
The main gate of the Fort at the end of the entrance road. |
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This would be a very difficult Fort to attack ... nestled in the hills like this. |
A beautiful building |
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Looking down on the road we took -- on elephant back -- to get up here |
The carved arches are incredible |
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We were there shot.. |
After 300 years the colours are still pretty vibrant |
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Lots of construction and the Guide with his bored monotonic voice was getting to me. He really managed to convey and attitude of absolute indifference to his topic |
Wonder what they would do without donkeys??? |
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The structure really was quite interesting |
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Still we climbed higher into the Fort ... Oh Good ... more steps!!! |
Lots of construction with bamboo used as support. The guide led us, for some obscure reason into every area that was being worked on. We had to climb over and under so much of this stuff that my back started to say .... wait a sec!!! |
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Not many tourists at this time of year ... that was one good thing! |
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Entrance to Hall of Mirrors where mirrors were inlaid into the solid stone ... |
Neat place the Hall of Mirrors |
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Woman carrying water to the plasterers who were working on a wall |
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Looking towards the harem ... I don't know why I took this shot??? |
Spreading red plaster on the walls of the path to the top of the Fort |
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As always ... monkeys |
As you can see, there was a lot of construction, and you get an idea of the size of these brutes when compared to the motorcycles |
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The only way down is to walk. This is a change this year as before you could ride down. But, some tourist fell off the swaying platform so now everyone walks. Elsie is being very careful passing the elephant |
You can see the difference in size. You notice that Elsie is looking downwards and being careful where she steps... Hmmm, I wonder why?" |
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The elephants work for two hours and then are taken to be fed and for a swim |
The vacant Old Summer Palace in Jaipur. Apparently, a hotel company have bought it and are putting in a 5 star hotel here. Open after renovations next year. |
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Yet another visit to "My Brother's Shop" -- again jewelry. It is not that bad as all of these places are air conditioned, and they give you a free cold drink. Again we bought nothing... |
This is the city Palace of Jaipur. These guys are the guards. Lots of museums here. |
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This one is interesting. Notice the very large silver urns? They were made by the Indian Sultan who went to England to attend Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. All the Brits who came to India would not drink local water so he decided to do the same thing. Brought Indian water to England so he would not have to use the local water supply. A little in your face???? |
Carved from a solid block of Marble and there were two of them. |
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`Palace of Winds’, otherwise known as Hawa Mahal. It is really an elaborate facade behind which the ladies of the court used to watch the daily goings on in the street below. It is extremely intricate in its pink sandstone carving. The cool wind blows through its facade of windows and latticed screens through which the queens of the court once viewed the streets |
View from our hotel room in Jaipur ... The Holiday Inn if you would believe it!!! Up early (5:30)the next morning for the flight to Mumbai. |
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We flew to Mumbai in one of Air India's local flights and arrived around noon at the hotel. We were really sleepy so a nap was in order. No lunch and that was a very large mistake. Plus, I was taking Imodium for a "sensitive problem" and food was the last thing I wanted. This is the Taj Mahal Hotel built by the British as a Government building right at India Gate where most people entered India. |
This is the tower that they built to enlarge the Hotel room capacity ... sort of a comparison of Victorian and modern architecture I know which one I prefer!!! |
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The India Gate erected to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary December 1911. Just to the left of the gate is the only pier left here, and that tiny one is where you get the boat to take you on the 1 1/2 hour trip to Elephant Island located in the harbour of Mumbai |
When you get there, you still have to walk about a mile to get to the bottom of the steps that take you to the Caves. Fortunately, there is a little train like thing to take you to the stairs. The beautifully sculpted rock-cut temples on Elephant Island are 9 nautical miles from Bombay and are reached by taking a motor launch from Gateway of India. They are believed to have been created between 450 and 750 AD, when the island was known as Gharapuri, the Fortress City. The Portuguese renamed it Elephanta because of a large stone Elephant near the shore. The caves are reached by climbing 100 steps to the top of the hill |
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The Elephanta Caves are a complex of Shiva temple caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site established in 1987. The caves are thought to date back to the Silhara kings of the 9th through 13th Centuries. |
Actually there are a several caves here carved by hand into the solid rock |
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Impressive carving in solid rock |
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The view down to where the launch arrives and departs for India Gate |
And always the monkeys .... |
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Mom and Son watching me carefully. This was very close to the days end for tourists and the monkeys are ready to take over |
This little guy swore at me and actually lunged at me trying to bite ... Don't worry I'm quick!!! |
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This is as far as Elsie got on that hot humid afternoon. The local merchants took her under their wing. After little sleep, little food and the heat, Elsie felt the need to sit down. Check the epistle for more on this ... |
Pretty tall order??? |
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| The little train that could??? We got back on here to head back to India Gate. | ||
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On returning we went for a short city tour. This is on Marine Drive that they call "The Queen's Necklace" as the night lights are really spectacular |
More of the Marine Drive views |
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I was there!!!! |
A monument to the Little Old Lady who lives in a Shoe. This is in a park beside the Jainist Towers of Silence. See epistle... |
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This is a very large public laundry. You bring your clothes in the morning and during the day, one of these guys standing up to his knees in water in his own cubicle with his own rock, will beat your clothes clean. They are hung in the clean air to dry. |
What a job eh? Been around for over a 100 years just like this. |
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Busy place |
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