Apart from the Taj Mahal, which was the highlight of our holiday, we visited many other spectacular palaces and forts, richly carved and decorated.There were plenty of visitors at all these sights.
Here are just a few of the photos.
This is the Birla Hindu temple in Delhi.
It rained whilst we were here and several members of our group slipped on the wet marble steps wearing over-slipper/socks. We felt safer in bare feet. No-one was seriously hurt, luckily.
The golden domes of the Bangla Sahib Sikh temple
in Delhi. Again it was wet when we visited. The carpets were sodden inside and it smelt of feet but the drum music was so beautiful and the mirror mosaics inside quite stunning.
This temple fed thousands of people every day (free) and we were priviledged to visit the cavern-like kitchens to watch the meal being prepared.
Humayun`s tomb in Delhi.
Humayun was the second Mughal emperor. He is buried here. It is the first example of a garden tomb and was the inspiration for the Taj Mahal.
It was built in 1565, commissioned by Humayun`s senior widow, Haji Begum.
The Lotus Temple. This is a Baha`i House of worship.
It was completed in 1986. It is surrounded by nine pools and 227 acres of green lawns, quite something in the middle of Delhi.
Followers of all faiths are invited to
meditate and attend the daily services.
Here I remember crocodiles of waving, smiling
schoolchildren in their matching saris.
The Qutb Minar.
It was built in 1192, a truly outstanding feat for the time.
It announced the advent of the Muslim sultans.
This is the entrance to the Red Fort in Delhi.
The Red Fort remains a powerful symbol of Indian nationhood. It was here that the national flag was raised for the first time when India became an independent nation in 1947.
This is the inside of the Agra Fort.
Begun in 1565, it is surrounded by an empty moat once filled by the River Yamuna.
Inside is a large marble pool which, according to legend, used to be filled in Nur Jahan`s time, with thousands of rose petals so that the empress could bathe in its scented waters.
Fatehpur Sikri Mughal Capital.
Built in 1571 by the Emperor Akbar, it was the Mughal capital for 14 years.
The five storied building in the photo is where Akbar`s queens and their attendants savoured the cool evening breezes.
This magnificent entrance (Ganesh Pol) is to the Amber Palace in Jaipur. Inside is the Shish Mahal, a chamber of mirrors and quite beautiful. It was difficult to show its beauty in any one photo.
People could visit by hiring elephants to carry them up to the fort (we came by jeep)
It was a truly stunning sight to see many many elephants arriving in the courtyard
to the sound of drums and horns.
The Meherangarh Fort.
Rudyard Kipling was awe-struck by this "creation of angels, fairies and giants."
The royal apartments are now a fine museum and the richly decorated rooms are a sight to behold.
Jodphur, the Blue City.`
The Ranakpur Jain Temple.
The carvings inside and outside this temple were awe-inspiring. Even the steps were carved. It was actually quiet, and a swarm of bees were hanging quite happily from a gargoyle, (spotted by my sister.)
Our guide told us we would not want to be near them in May.
The gardens were full of black-faced monkeys.
Just some of the fine detail.
Udaipur City Palace.
As we entered this palace, one of the princes passed by, not on an elephant, but driving a
golf buggy of all things.
This photo was taken from our boat on Lake Pichola just as the sun was setting.
This is the Jag Mandir Lake Palace on Lake Pichola.
Inside there are lovely gardens and luxury apartments.
(A very nice loo as well.)
In the extensive site of the Chittogarh Fort was the Kalika Mata temple. It was 38 degrees here.
From here we walked down many steps to see the source of the Gaumukh Reservoir, where I saw the boy diving for coins in the green murky depths.
The following day we travelled back to the UK .....from 39 dgrees to ice and snow!!
Putting this blog entry together has helped to clarify the places we saw, in my mind. Adding the personal memories also helps, otherwise they become a bewildering blur.
It was built in 1565, commissioned by Humayun`s senior widow, Haji Begum.
It was completed in 1986. It is surrounded by nine pools and 227 acres of green lawns, quite something in the middle of Delhi.
Followers of all faiths are invited to
meditate and attend the daily services.
Here I remember crocodiles of waving, smiling
schoolchildren in their matching saris.
It was built in 1192, a truly outstanding feat for the time.
It announced the advent of the Muslim sultans.
The Red Fort remains a powerful symbol of Indian nationhood. It was here that the national flag was raised for the first time when India became an independent nation in 1947.
Begun in 1565, it is surrounded by an empty moat once filled by the River Yamuna.
Inside is a large marble pool which, according to legend, used to be filled in Nur Jahan`s time, with thousands of rose petals so that the empress could bathe in its scented waters.
Built in 1571 by the Emperor Akbar, it was the Mughal capital for 14 years.
The five storied building in the photo is where Akbar`s queens and their attendants savoured the cool evening breezes.
People could visit by hiring elephants to carry them up to the fort (we came by jeep)
It was a truly stunning sight to see many many elephants arriving in the courtyard
to the sound of drums and horns.
Rudyard Kipling was awe-struck by this "creation of angels, fairies and giants."
The royal apartments are now a fine museum and the richly decorated rooms are a sight to behold.
The carvings inside and outside this temple were awe-inspiring. Even the steps were carved. It was actually quiet, and a swarm of bees were hanging quite happily from a gargoyle, (spotted by my sister.)
Our guide told us we would not want to be near them in May.
The gardens were full of black-faced monkeys.
Just some of the fine detail.
Udaipur City Palace.
As we entered this palace, one of the princes passed by, not on an elephant, but driving a
golf buggy of all things.
This photo was taken from our boat on Lake Pichola just as the sun was setting.
This is the Jag Mandir Lake Palace on Lake Pichola.
Inside there are lovely gardens and luxury apartments.
(A very nice loo as well.)
In the extensive site of the Chittogarh Fort was the Kalika Mata temple. It was 38 degrees here.
From here we walked down many steps to see the source of the Gaumukh Reservoir, where I saw the boy diving for coins in the green murky depths.
The following day we travelled back to the UK .....from 39 dgrees to ice and snow!!
Putting this blog entry together has helped to clarify the places we saw, in my mind. Adding the personal memories also helps, otherwise they become a bewildering blur.
What an absolutely amazing trip - you obviously all had a brilliant time.
ReplyDeleteFantastic photos.
Thank you. Yes we certainly saw some incredible sights and had fantastic experiences but it did have its ups and downs.
ReplyDeleteSuch spectular architecture! Very beautiful. I wish Hungerford was a 'blue town' (I don't mean tory!!) Jodhpur looks so pretty.
ReplyDeleteIt may have looked pretty but it was also possible to see myriad tiny fires with the smoke going straight up into a blanket of smog/fug/whatever, hanging over the whole city, in the early morning sunshine.
ReplyDelete