Photos from India

These are just a short selection of some of the best photos from India to tell the story. We have many more if you have a spare hour or two!



So we started off in Delhi on Tuesday 2nd August having arrived the night before. First stop was the Lakshman temple and our first bindi.




Then on to the India Gate - we have a similar picture from the Arc de Triumph in Paris.




Francisco met a cobra




We paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and Indira Gandhi




And went to the Lotus Temple which is from the Baha'i faith. Like the Sydney Opera House I felt. Very peaceful though.




This is Qutb Minar which dates from 1100AB. A minaret.




Another shot. It really was very lovely.




And then on to the magnificent Red Fort which was `closed' for India Independence day (or so we were told by the falling apart man).




Another shot




And another




And another




We then went to the largest Mosque in India - the Jamar Masjid. We look a little uneasy as we were - there were people in all sorts of state of health here. Disturbing to our western eyes. We could have been back 2000BC......




but then we took the very modern new Delhi metro. These two photos summarize how varied India is. Day one - a great day seeing Delhi which is a bustling, busy, polluted city with some great sights.




Next stop Agra and the Sheraton Mughal hotel.




This building needs no introduction.




It isn't paint - each word is carved in.




And there is a Mosque on one side and a symmetrical building on the other. Cannot be a mosque as faces the wrong way. We have 50 or so Taj Mahal pictures if you are interested!




Then on to Agra Fort - not as nice as Delhi but still impressive.




And again.




Next day (4th) we went to Fathepur Sikri - an old fort that is world heritage listed. It was amazing.




again




and again




This man became our guide and managed to get 500 rupees out of me for the poor children of Fathepur Sikri. I have good karma at least!




There is a lovely mosque here too




and again showing the tomb




Then on to Jaipur but we went to the Amber palace first. This was a really gem that we had not heard about. Really worth a visit, especially as we got there by elephant. It was call Pookali.




Me on elephant




Francisco on elephant




A few shots of the palace




Subtle decoration for once.




Lovely mirrored walls




And a view of the walls




Then Jaipur itself and this is the palace




People live here.




Look at this door




Francisco had a tabla lesson




Camel on the street




Palace of the Winds with lots of peep holes so women could see but not be seen




I went and hid - I was also trying to escape from the Jaipur men!




Then on to Janta Manta - the observatory




Lots of toys for measuring the positions of stars and planets built for Jai Singh




We went to visit his tomb afterwards - Francisco needed to chill.




We got henna here too - a stain. If it stains well it means your husband loves you lot. Nothing to do with pale skin!




Then we went back to Delhi and I had my meeting with a monkey. It changed our plans a little so we had a second day in Delhi.




We got to meet Tan's Dad.




Francisco got kuta pajamas, useful for Amritsar




And we got to go to this cool bar before going on to Amritsar.




In Amritsar we saw the Golden Temple - amazing gold plated temple. The main Sikh temple so we had to cover up our hair here.




so lovely




it shone when the sun it hit




Francisco looking Indian




Then we caught a taxi to Wagha to see the border crossing after Francisco bought a drum




It's a bit like changing of the guard.




Chants of `Hindustan' rather than India. Don't think the Sikh's were too amused by that.




Then on to Haridwar one of the seven holy cities of Hinduism and one of the oldest cities in the world apparently.




We made it in time for the Arti where the Hindu's purify themselves in the Ganges.








View of Haridwar from another Temple




Nice cow




Statue of Shiva




Fiona making peace with Hanuman the Monkey God




Then to hippy Rishikesh, a bit like Banos in Ecuador












These are the flowers you buy to release into the Ganges as an offering




And the arti in Rishikesh








Finally Mussorie at 2000m in the Himalayas. Tranquil place for India!








We went horse riding




And I did yoga here rather than in Rishikesh




We stayed in a lovely place here.




And Francisco had his favourite meal - lovely tika paneer




We have to end with the great god of India - the cow!