Elephants carrying tourists up to Amber Fort in the morning, near Jaipur, the Pink City, Rajasthan, India
We were so thrilled by Amber Fort that we returned the next morning on our beloved bus Nr. 5, primarily to take more photos of the fort in a different light. Only to find -most shocking – the place swarming with busloads of package tourists, all lined up for riding up the short ramp on an elephant. Continue Reading →
Amber Fort, near Jaipur, the Pink City, Rajasthan, India
Asking an employee at the Atithi Guesthouse as how to get to Amber Fort we got this answer: “Take bus Nr. 5! It is a lot faster than an auto rickshaw and cheaper, of course”. We were puzzled: faster? Still traumatized from walking noisy and boiling hot streets the previous day, we were a bit hesitant first. But there was no excuse for not trying… Continue Reading →
Hawa Mahal, the “Palace of Winds” or “Palace of the Breeze”, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
The Palace of the Wind, the name itself gives you goose pimples, let’s your imagination run wild. A huge, airy palace, with royal princes and princesses strolling around, their loose silky dresses tousled by the wind. The Hawa Mahal was none of this, it is not even a building proper. It is a façade, a most stunning one though. Continue Reading →
Witnessing one of the many processions (this time for peace in the world…) in Jaipur, the Pink City, Rajasthan, India
Festivals & processions are Jaipur’s trademark. These attract loads of visitors, India and non-Indian alike. So we were rather disappointed when the festival calendar for April showed none. The bigger was our surprise when we literally happened to run into one! Stepping out into the street from a little yard that harbored a vegetable market, we stood face to face with an elephant. With its head beautifully painted, it swayed along the street carrying an elegantly dressed man and a child. Even in India, at least in an urban area, this is not the most common sight! Continue Reading →
Streets of Jaipur, the Pink City, Rajasthan, India
Travelling for days, getting little sleep, the heat and a five-hour train ride left us in a shaky state. Nevertheless, immediately after we arrived in Jaipur, we trotted off to explore the Pink City. On foot, on boiling hot concrete, along one of Jaipur’s busiest, most congested streets… All sights were closed when we finally dragged our exhausted bodies into the Old City. Refusing to admit that this was a pretty silly start, we continued, fighting our way through the narrow alleys of the bazaar. Feet burning, mood crumbling, we wondered who would rebel first… Continue Reading →
On the train from Agra to Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
With 1.2 billion on the move, transport becomes a challenge. More and more Indians are able to afford private transport of various kinds, from scooter to large SUVs. Add an ill-adapted infrastructure in a megacity and you have got the picture… Continue Reading →
Panch Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, near Agra, Rajasthan, India
Despite being completely exhausted, we travelled the 55 kilometers to Fatehpur Sikri early, very early in the morning. Naturally we wanted this huge complex of palaces and majestic buildings to our own. Besides, with these temperatures you cannot afford a late start and who wants to miss the pleasant soft light for taking pictures? Once outside of Agra, traffic vanished and we covered the distance in less than one hour. The 20 € for a car plus driver were well invested! Continue Reading →
Itimad-ud-Daulah, better known as the “Baby Taj”, Agra, India
Mughal tombs and palaces are Rajasthan’s trademark. The delicate decoration inside (lots of tiles) and outside is a mélange of Islamic, Persian, Afghan and Indian styles, but the most striking characteristic is the symmetry and clarity. All tombs follow a certain format! Continue Reading →
Outside Walls of the Red Fort, Agra, Rajasthan, India
Our entire focus was on Agra’s most famous sight, the Taj Mahal, so the beauty of 16th century Agra Fort, a mélange of red sandstone and white marble, came as a pleasant surprise. For its early Mughal ruler, Akbar, it served as a mighty fort. The huge moot running around is the first hint of its defensive character during times long gone. The impressive outside walls are dark-red and the majority of the buildings are of the same color. Later, Sha Jahan used his favorite building material, white marble, to turn this fort into a palace. Continue Reading →
Taj Mahal, Agra
What are the ingredients of its unparalleled fame? Millions of people who have never seen it get goose pimples when the very name is mentioned. Add myth and legends to supreme elegance and voilà! There it is: this unique recipe lifts it above all other Mughal tombs. Continue Reading →
