India - Part 1

New Delhi,  Secretariat Buildings at sunset.  These buildings house the ministries of Finance and External Affairs.  We saw a number of monkeys running around the grounds whose job it is to keep the birds away!  We ventured out in the late afternoon to explore Delhi as we arrived on the holiday known as Holi, festival of colors and merrymaking.  The Indians throw water ballons and squirt water guns with brightly colored water at each other and their favorite target...tourists!!   We watched from our balcony...lovely from far, but far from lovely!

This picture is taken in Mandawa, a village in the province of  Rajastan, Land of Kings and palace hotels!  The woman and girl are making treats (similar to pasta)  for the Holi festival (Hindu festival of color and merrymaking).  They are on the ground floor of their haveli (ornate mansions with an inner courtyard).  We are taking the picture from the balcony of the second floor.

This working manual well supplies some of the water for the village of Mandawa.  Oxen walked down & up a hill to raise and lower a large bucket while two men guided the operation.

Bikaner, Rajastan; a desert town in the north.  This assembly hall is in Junagarh Fort, constructed between 1588 and 1593 by Raja Rai Singh.  A major feature of the fort and this room is the amazing quality of the stone carving.  Included in this room were the usual Rajput weapon collection.
 
 

Bikaner, Rajastan.  These camels are returning after a hard day's work in the dessert!  They live on a government-managed camel breeding station.  This
station supplied camels to the British Army during WWI.

Jaisalmer, Rajastan.  We absolutely loved Jaisalmer... no other city compares to it.  It is a desert fortress, known as the "Golden City" because of the color imparted to its stone ramparts by the setting sun.   We snapped this picture of the city fort from the rooftop of our inn, the Killa Bhawan, at sunrise.  Built in 1156, the fort crowns the 80 meter high Trikuta Hill.  Below is the old city and central market, all within the city walls.  We would wake early and rush home for sunset just to take in scenery as the sun and the city performed their magical dance.

Jaisalmer, Rajastan.  This goat lives in the fort and you can see from the color of the stones why Jaisalmer is called the Golden City.  We wandered through the many narrow, winding, stony lanes within the fort and came across him.   He had a nice view of the Pakastan border!   A quarter of the ciy's population (44,000 people) lives in the fort.
 

Jaisalmer, Rajastan.  A narrow lane within the fort.  The canopy above commemorate the marriage of a resident in one of the homes.

Jaisalmer, Rajastan.  Besides the amazing architecture and art within the fort, the cows provided great entertainment.  Martha would clap really loudly as we approached a cow.  The cows are used to being spanked with a paddle to shoe them away so they do not take kindly to suprises from behind!  The loud clap was to say "helllloooo" as she did not want to risk charging!

Jaisalmer, Rajastan.  This cheeky little boy with his nice Mom and sister live in the fort.  He was determined to have his picture taken.  Their house is brightly painted and within the fort;  the majority were golden sandstone
 

Jaisalmer, Rajastan.   This picture is taken on the top floor of the Patwon ki Haveli, most elaborate and magnificent homes of the Jaisalmer merchants.
 

Jaisalmer, Rajastan.  The staff of the Killa Bhawan...an exceptional, hospitable group.  This picture was taken at sunset.  The Inn's owners are Indian and French .  The Inn is similar to a Bed & Breakfast and has 4 magnificent guest rooms, each uniquely decorated.  It is a MUST for anyone visiting the city.  We stayed three nights and left with friends and memories for life!

Jaisalmer, Rajastan.  Martha in her bathrob enjoying the rising sun from the rooftop of the Killa Bhawan.

Jaisalmer, Rajastan.  A sitting room within the Killa Bhawan.  Many of the letters and postcards sent to our friends were written here.  The room has a beautiful window seat from which to take in the city sights and enjoy a breezy night.
 

Ranakpur, Rajastan.   A marble ceiling within the Chaumukha Temple, or Four-Faced Temple, one of the biggest and most important Jain temples in India.  This well-kept marble temple was built in 1439 and has 29 halls, supported by 1444 pillars, no two alike!  The Jain religion is contemporaneous with Buddhism and bears similarities to it and Hinduism.  Jains reject the caste system, believe that the universe is infinite and was not created by a deity, revere life and avoid injury to all living things.  Due to their believes, they are stict vegetarians and some Monks actually cover their mouths to avoid the risk of accidentally swallowing an insect!

Ranakpur, Rajastan.  One of the intricate 1444 pillars within the Ranakpur Complex.   This complex lies in the remote, agrarian, and peaceful valley of the Aravalli range.
 

To India Part 2...
 

Back to Index