Traveling India - Part Ten

As I have prepared the previous nine blog entires, I have enjoyed reviewing our many pictures we took during our travels in India and remembering all that we experienced.  This final India entry finds us in Delhi.  

We flew to Delhi from Jodhpur on day 13 of our trip.  After a flight delay, we finally were checked in at the Lalit Hotel.  This happened to be Sam's birthday.  The tour group sang "Happy Birthday" to him in the lobby, and he was presented with a bouquet of flowers. Later, a decorated chocolate cake was delivered to our room.  It was about 9:30 p.m. by then and not a good time to celebrate with friends who were tired from the long day. Even though it was a small cake, we could not eat it all ourselves; so Sam decided to take some to the Andersons, as Kay had been sharing his razor with Sam for several days when Sam's razor was missing.

Sam's birthday cake and flowers delivered to our

hotel room in Delhi.

How many people do you know 

who have celebrated a birthday in India?

Here is the background story about the missing razor.  On the 8th day of our tour after flying to Delhi from Varanasi, we were instructed to repack our things in preparation for the next four days when we would be traveling by bus with only the carry-on luggage and would not have our big suitcase until we met up with it again in Delhi at the end of the trip.  When we arrived in Samode, Sam did not find his razor.  He remembered using it after his bigger suitcase was packed and picked up; so after searching through everything, he wondered if he had left it in the hotel room in Agra.  Thankfully, fellow tour member, Kay, shared his razor with Sam each morning; so he did not get to looking like one of our bearded guides.  This arrangement was working just fine.  Then, in Pushkar on day 10 of our tour, Sam's razor magically appeared on the bed.  He did not see it when he got out his clothes before taking his shower, but there it was when he finished dressing!

A major sightseeing attraction in Delhi is the Qutb Minar, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  It is the second highest tower in India.  The tower is surrounded by several other ancient and medieval structures and ruins, which are collectively referred to as Qutb Complex (or Qutub Complex).

Qutb Minar is a 240 ft. high pillar.

Construction was started in 1193, 
after the defeat of the Hindu kingdom in Delhi and

the beginning of the Muslim rule in India, 
which ended only in the 19th century with the arrival of the British.

Even today the Qutb remains one of the most important

"Towers of Victory" in the Muslim world.

The domed structure at the right is the tomb

of Iman Zamin, who was a saint from Turkestan who

settled in India around 1500 and was buried here in 1539 A.D.

 The Qutb Minar has five distinct stories.

The first three are made of red sandstone,

and the fourth and fifth stories of marble and sandstone.

The inscriptions in the Kufic style of calligraphy form

regular bands throughout the pillar.

The stairs inside the tower coil steeply.

During a school field trip in 1979, there were a number

of children who fell to their death, so it is now closed to tourists.

 This is the unfinished base of the Alai Minar,

which was started by Alauddin Khilji as his

Victory Tower and was intended to be two times

as high as the Qutb Minar.  It was abandoned just

after completion of the first story soon after the death of 

Alauddin in 1316, and this is what remains today.

 These school children are on a field trip in the

Qutb Minar Complex.  Part of the unfinished Alai Minar

can be seen in the background at the left.

 Iron Pillar

in the Qutb Minar Complex.

It is 23 ft. high and believed to have been built

in the 5th century A.D.  Interestingly, it has never

gotten any rust since it was built.

The following six photos were also taken at the site of the Qutb Minar Complex and are ruins of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque and courtyard:

Following Sabir, our guide, with the "Fun for Less" red sign.

Quwwat-ul-Islam (Might of Islam)

Ruins from the first mosque built in India after the 

Islamic conquest of India.

An inscription over the mosque's eastern gate

informs in Persian that the mosque was built with material

from the destruction of 27 Hindu temples.

  (Ooma, a member of our tour group,

is currently from Utah but was born in India.)

Another view of the ruins of the mosque.

It was started in 1193 A.D., simultaneously with

the construction of the Qutb Minar (shown in

photos at the beginning of this blog entry).

The mosque is the oldest mosque in northern India.

We wandered through the ruins and took photos

while our guide provided historical information.

(Sam and Narene)

Young Muslim men wearing prayer caps

called "taqiyah" to emulate Muhammad.

One of the prominent landmarks we saw on our driving tour of New Delhi was India Gate.  Later, we also went on a walking tour near our hotel and even saw the inevitable McDonald's. 

 

 India Gate

The President's House and government buildings.

Seen on our tour of New Delhi near the

government buildings.

 Folks boating and enjoying a day in the park.

There is a definite contrast between New Delhi and Old Delhi.  The newer part of the city has wide streets, big squares, spacious parks, and large governmental buildings.  In contrast, Old Delhi makes one feel like you are going back in time.  On our driving tour of Old Delhi we went by the Red Fort, passed shops and street vendors, and toured the Jama Masjid Mosque.  The next six photos are taken from the bus as we drove through Old Delhi.

Various modes of transportation.

 Narrow streets

A pedestrian street

Street vendors in the foreground and 

typical yellow-topped Indian taxis in the background.

A look at the tangle of wiring that is prevalent.

Driving by the Red Fort

We ascended the long stairs to tour the Jama Masjid, which is the largest and best known mosque in India.  It was completed in 1658 A.D., having been commissioned by the builder of the Taj Mahal.  The name is a reference to the weekly Friday congregation prayers of Muslims.

Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque)  

where the ladies had to put on kimono type covering,

and men had to if they were wearing shorts.
(Narene)

A pond in the courtyard of the 

Jama Masjid Mosque.

The courtyard can hold up to 25,000 worshippers.

We did not have to remove our shoes when we visited the mosque, but we did have to take our shoes off to visit the Raj Ghat memorial to Ghandi.

 Raj Ghat memorial of Mahatma Ghandi,

the site of his cremation, 31 January 1948, the

day after his assassination.  It is left open to the sky

with an eternal flame burning, and fresh marigold blossoms

are the added color on the black marble platform and shorter stand.

 Raj Ghat is located on the banks of the Yamuna River

 with a stone path leading to the walled enclosure

where the memorial for Ghandi is located.

Park grounds at the Raj Ghat Ghandi Memorial

At the end of day 14, we gathered in the hotel waiting for our departure to the airport for our flight home.  This was an opportunity to take final pictures of tour members who have become our friends and to thank those who had made our time in India memorable.  (I appreciate having the pictures of other tour members not posted here; but to keep this from getting any longer, I have opted to post our group photos at the end of this entry rather than photos of couples and individuals.)

Singh (left) was the guide on the "yellow" bus,

and Gale (our "red" bus) and Sue Lemmon ("yellow" bus)

were our tour escorts representing "Fun for Less."

Although we didn't spend as much time with

Singh, since we were on the other bus; we

did opt to go with his side tour to Sarnath when

we were in Varanasi.  He was very enthusiastic

in sharing his knowledge about the Indian history.

Here we are with Sabir, our guide on the "red" bus.

The man in the blue shirt was from the Indian

tour company that worked with "Fun for Less."

The lovely lady standing between us is the

main contact person in India who was wonderful in

making arrangements for our tour to be

all that it could be, including the warm welcome

we received at each of our hotels.

Saying goodby before the bus leaves to take

us to the airport. 

Group photo of tour members assigned to the "red" bus.

Photo taken at the Taj Mahal in Agra.

[standing, l to r] James Whelan, Lilia Whelan, Linda Lingenbrink, Robert Lingenbrink, Bliss Johnson, Nathan Pace, Sabir, Marabeth Malmgren, Michael Menlove, Ooma Menlove, Richard Howell, Marlin Shelley, Brent Weber, Carolee Weber, Sam Ireland, Scott Lorimer, Ann Seamons, Jennifer Pace, Steven Ericksen

[sitting] Darlene Rasmussen, Gloria Howell, Kathryn Shelley, Narene Ireland, Desiree Lorimer

[kneeling] Indian tour rep, Gale Lemmon, Leonor Marquez, Makayla Eriksen, Lucinda Ericksen, Lance Huddleston

[not in the photo:  Timothy and Joan Paine]

Group photo of tour members assigned to the "yellow" bus.

[standing, l to r] Suzanne Jensen, Cary Jensen, Lyn Harrison, Orval Harrison, Norman Davis, Natalie Todd, Singh, Gerhard Ruf, Rodney Chandler, Avis Chandler, Patricia Grimmett, Sandra Evans, Nile Evans, Susan Baker, Sandra Janroga, Julee Anderson, Kay Anderson, Jean Habel, Sue Lemmon, Steven Habel

[seated] Agnes Horn, Sherry Davis, Deon Ruf, Helen Carlson, Yvonne Whitmore

We would be pleased to meet any of these new friends again sometime, somewhere, maybe on another "Tour for Less" trip! 

Traveling India - Part Nine

Leaving Pushkar, we traveled in our tour bus to Jodhpur, which is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan.  The city is known as the "Sun City" for its sunny weather all year round, and it is also referred to as the "Blue City" due to the blue-painted houses around the Mehrangarh Fort.

Photos taken on our way from Pushkar to Jodhpur:

How would you like to be the guy on top of that big load?

Always room for one more!

It is typical to see trucks painted with bright designs.

 
 
Who has the right-of-way?

The photo is taken through the window of our bus.

 

Leisurely crossing the road.

Recycled rocks 

The next photos were taken at the 

Jaswant Thada,

which is a white marble memorial built by Sardar Singh in 1899 

in memory of Maharja Jaswant Singh II. 

It is an active cremation place for

the royal family of Jodhpur.

Jaswant Thada, 
sometimes referred to as the Taj Mahal of Marwar.


 
Jaswant Thada is built entirely of intricately carved sheets 

of marble.  These stones are extremely thin and polished, so

they emit a warm glow when the sun's rays cross their surface.

A closer look at the monument or cenotaph.

(Narene)

Inside the Jaswant Thada mausoleum is a marble throne

where photographs of the Maharajas are displayed.

Locals paying their respects tie prayer scarves along a

thin rope near the throne.

An ornate gazebo on the grounds of Jaswant Thada.

(Makayla, our youngest tour member, and her grandpa.)

 A view of the city of Jodhpur 

from the Jaswant Thada monument area.

Playing for the tourists.

The wall on the horizon as seen from Jaswant Thada.

Umaid Bhawan Palace
as seen in the background from Jaswant Thada.
It was constructed in 1929 as part of the famine relief
project for the people of Marwar to give them
employment and was completed in 1943.  It is
still the private residence of the royal family.

Mehrangarh Fort was our next attraction to visit.

It is one of the largest forts in India.

Mehrangarh Fort is situated 400 feet above the city,

and a winding road leads to and from the city below.

Mehrangarh Fort

Looking down from the top of Mehrangarh Fort.

Artillery on the upper level of Mehrangarh Fort.

Mehrangarh Fort is enclosed by thick walls with a series of

seven gates set at an angle so attacking armies could not

charge them with any success.

This photo shows why Jodhpur is referred to as the
"Blue City."  It is reported that the Brahmins, or
members of the priestly class, first colored their houses
blue to set them apart from the rest of the population.
Soon, however, others followed suit.

The "Pearl Palace" or Moti Mahal in the Mahrangarh Fort

was built in the 16th century and was used 

as a Hall of Public Audience.  The walls are decorated

with niches where lamps were placed to provide lighting.

 This room was identified by our guide as the

"bed chamber" of Takhat Vilas.  It is decorated from
ceiling to floor with paintings on a variety of subjects, from 
Hindu gods and goddesses to European ladies.  Even the
floor is painted to look like a carpet.

The Phool Mahal or "Palace of Flowers," which is believed

to have been a private hall of pleasure where dancing

girls performed for the enjoyment of the Maharajas.

It is the grandest period room in the fort with its

ornate ceiling in gold filigree and mirrors, stained glass 

windows and screens, and paintings on the walls.

This photo was taken looking out a window across

the courtyard to another wing of the palace.

A closer look at the intricate details on the facade.

Part of the fort is now a museum.  One of the rooms

was full of elephant seats, called a "howdah," which was
fastened onto the elephant's back.  The front
compartment with more leg space and a raised
protective metal sheet was for the royalty, and the
rear seat was for a body guard or attendant.
I think the one in this photo may be the historical piece
presented to Maharaja Jaswant Singh in 1657 
along with an elephant and 100 horses.
 

An exhibit of palanquins, which are conveyances, usually

for one person, carried by poles on the shoulders

of four or more bearers.

The red sandstone coronation throne of Sangar Choki

which is covered with a white marble facing.

A Maharaja's portrait.

We passed by this fellow who seemed to be part

of the exhibit in the museum.

Walking through the fort at one point we saw this

sign, and I thought it fitting to add it right after

the preceding photo.   It is interesting to see their

alphabet as compared to ours.

A gate into the market area of the Old City of Jodhpur.

A public altar near the bottom of the fort.


We stayed in the Trident Gurgaon hotel in Jodhpur, 
and the next morning we went to Sardar Market 
before flying to Delhi.


 Sardar Market gate



I bought three silk saris here and later two more for
the granddaughters when they play dress-up.



We could see Mehrangarh Fort from Sardar Market.

Our group visited a silk shop 

where we were shown beautiful silk bedspreads.

 

I think this is the silk bedspread the Andersons bought.

This bedspread was pieced together from special old
fabrics and was probably the most expensive one.


 
 Mostly we walked around Sardar Market, but we
also had the experience of riding in this taxi.
(Sam and Narene)

This man is making a stool.

The man in the cart has found an unusual place to read.

A variety of fruits for sale.

Colorful vegetables piled high.

Here I am being shown all the different kinds of spices

for sale, including "special natural Kashmeeri saffron,"

at the M. M. Spices shop.

According to the sign, it is a "world famous Indian spices shop,"

"recommended by Fodor's and many government guide books."

We found the Clock Tower where we were to meet

our guide and group at a specified time.

This cute little girl smiled back at us.

The ever present Brahmas.

Venders, shoppers, and a young bull make up the scene.

I would not want her job, but it looks like she is

needed to pick up after the cows.

The traffic moves slowly but without signs of road rage.

After joining our group at the

Clock Tower, we left Sardar Market

to go to the airport for our flight to Delhi.

Delhi will be our last stop and the final blog entry for our travels in India.