Udaipur, Rajasthan‘s most romantic city
After another long drive, a detour on a dirt road and a visit at Ranakpur, one of India’s biggest, most important and very nice looking Jain temple, we got to Udaipur. We don’t really feel the romance, maybe we just did too much sightseeing in the last few days? Udaipur might have pretty lakes and […]
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Jodhpur, the blue city
Back from the desert, the landscape gets greener again, and more hilly. Mehrangarh, Jodhpur‘s impenetrable looking fort was built in 1808 and is a very impressive sight, with some great view points surrounding it. From there, we walk through the narrow alleys of the blue city. Traditionally, only Brahmin were allowed to paint their houses […]
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Jaisalmer – the golden city
Jaisalmer is so far our favorite city in Rajasthan. Founded in 1156, it’s the second oldest fort in Rajasthan, prospering from its strategic position along the silk route. Today the city’s economy is built on tourism and huge military camps, due to the close proximity to the Pakistani border. The fort and surrounding town are […]
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Temple of Rats
It‘s a long drive from Jaipur to Jaisalmer, so we stop overnight in Bikaner, to visit the Bikaner Fort and the Temple of Rats. That one is special. The story is that a local lady living there in the 14th century lost her son in a drowning accident. She then decreed that all members of […]
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Jaipur – the pink city
In 1876, the Maharaja of Jaipur had the city painted pink, traditionally the color of hospitality, to welcome the Prince of Wales. Today, the inhabitants of the old city are still obliged to preserve the pink facades of their houses and shops. After a forced ride up to the fort on elephant back, we get […]
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Ranthambhore, searching for tigers
For the wildlife part of our tour, we visit the wetlands in Keoladeo Ghana N.P. on a trishaw tour to look for its many birds and Ranthambhore in a 20-seat open truck for a chance to spot one of the 50 plus tigers in the park. Unfortunately we don‘t, we only get to see tiger […]
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Agra – city of love
When Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved third wife of mogul Shah Jahan died giving birth to his 14th child in 1631, Shah Jahan decided to respect her last wish to be buried below white marble. Going all the way, over the next 22 years he built the Taj Mahal, with 20’000 workers involved, many of them […]
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Varanasi – city of light (part 2)
On the first day we have an evening boat tour and watch the prayer ceremony to mother river Ganges. Early next morning, we watch the sunrise and morning ritual bathing and have a walk in the alleyways of the oldest part of the town. It’s all so narrow, they built shops and kitchens it what […]
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Varanasi – city of light (part 1)
Varanasi is incredible to visit. It’s one of the world’s oldest continually inhabited cities, and one of the holiest in Hinduism. To die in Varanasi frees the soul from the cycle of rebirth and offers immediate moksha (the Hindu version of Nirvana). Pilgrims come to the ghats (embankments with stone steps) lining the Ganges to […]
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Delhi p.2
Old Delhi, New Delhi On arrival, the pilot mentions low level smoke and we realize quickly that this is not the same as low level of smoke. It‘s foggy and smells of wood fire. Our hotel is in New Delhi, the modern part of the city, designed and built by the British in the 1920‘s. […]
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Delhi p.1
Old Delhi, New Delhi On arrival, the pilot mentions low level smoke and we realize quickly that this is not the same as low level of smoke. It‘s foggy and smells of wood fire. Our hotel is in New Delhi, the modern part of the city, designed and built by the British in the 1920‘s. […]
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