Friday, 21 August 2009
Photo- Jaipur astrological park
One of the old Maharajahs was a massive astrology fan and built this park full of working astronomical things..
The Rajastan express....
A whistle stop tour really, we left Jaipur refreshed and in high spirits and headed for Pushkar a pilgrimage site with lot's of Hindu and a Brahaman temple all around a small sacred lake. The setting was beautiful it's just a shame the monsoon hadn't got this far North and the lake was reduced to a small duck pond. They've had the foresight to build a few concrete pools though so the devout can still bathe and make their offerings. The devout seems to include quite a few young euros on gap years, possibly who have had too many bhang lassis and feel the need to immerse themselves deeper into Indian culture. It may be nice to be young and innocent but because we're not (well innocent anyway!) we just laughed at them. All baggy pants, bare feet and coloured splodges on their fore heads and beads and bangles everywhere. I've no doubt a few people reading this (Luke) will be going "oh my God yeah...that was me man!" hahahahaha...
Thursday, 6 August 2009
Agra
Agra was less than a days drive away and passed without incident (at last). Duly sorted for accommodation we had a quick bite to eat and set the alarm for 0500hrs to get to the Taj Mahal for 0600hrs. The fact that it was our wedding anniversary was more by luck than judgement but the greatest ever monument to enduring love, you've got to admit, is a pretty good place to spend it. It's talked about loads, and whenever something gets as built up as the Taj then you always go to it with a little trepidation. We needn't have.. walking through the South gate and seeing it framed in that arch was breathtaking. Speechless we both looked at each other with tears in our eyes. It is truly magnificent and when you appreciate why he had it built it makes it even more significant. Wow.
Feeling ever more lifted we drove over to the fort in the afternoon. It gets by passed by a lot of tour groups as from Delhi they really only have time to visit the Taj, but if you get the opportunity it's well worth a look. I'd say it compliments the Taj in some ways, tying up the loose end of the stories and giving you the opportunity to see the Taj in the distance as the imprisoned (by his son!?) emperor would have have seen it. And the architecture and stone work is astounding.
Feeling ever more lifted we drove over to the fort in the afternoon. It gets by passed by a lot of tour groups as from Delhi they really only have time to visit the Taj, but if you get the opportunity it's well worth a look. I'd say it compliments the Taj in some ways, tying up the loose end of the stories and giving you the opportunity to see the Taj in the distance as the imprisoned (by his son!?) emperor would have have seen it. And the architecture and stone work is astounding.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
