CLAUDIA & CARSTEN'S WORLD EXPEDITION

On our way to the metro station

We stayed 10 days in New Delhi, very close to the aiport, so to get into the city we had to walk 30 minutes (or take a rickshaw as we did here in the photo) and then the metro for one and a half hour ride.

Rickshawing through Chandni Chowk

Chandni Chowk is one of the oldest markets in New Delhi.

Walking to the Red Fort

Red Fort Main Entrance

The Red Fort was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty for 200 years, until 1857.

Gardens

Gardens

No comments....

One of our first glimpses at the real social segregation (cast system) in India.

Cooking in the kitchen

Walking around Chandni Chowk

The temperature was around 35 degrees, with probably 90% humidity. Noisy, polluted, dirty and hot...

Chandni Chowk

Jama Masjid

Jama Masjid is one of the oldest mosques in India. It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan around 1644, same emperor who built the Red Fort and the Taj Mahal. I had to wear extra clothes to get in.

View from Jama Masjid's Tower

View

Gurudwara Sisganj Sahib Sikh Temple

Inside the Sikh Temple

Sikhism is a branch of the Hindu religion, originated around the 15th century. It is the 9th largest religion in the world, with around 28 million followers.

Temple Kitchen

"Sikh" means "disciple" in Punjabi language, so the Sikh are disciples of the Ten Sikh Gurus. Sikhs believe there is only one God, and it is the same for all religions. All religions, races and sex have equal rights. The goal of humans should be to live an exemplary existence, earn an honest living and avoid temptations and sins so they can merge with God.

Temple Kitchen

One common feature of the Sikh temples is the common kitchen. They feed 3.000 people every day and all people, poor or rich, are welcomed to join. The food is paid by the donations of the Sikh community, in the same way as Catholic give "mandas" at the church, Sikh give money which pays for this food.

Gandhi's Tomb

We walked many kilometers to reach Gandhi's Memorial, but it was really not so interesting.

Starbucks.....everywhere....

One cup of coffee here, costs the same as it would in Chile, so around USD 3, or 200 Indian Rupees. For that money you can buy a full meal for one person in a normal restaurant (not the cheapest) in India. If you buy food on the street, it would probably pay for food for 3-4 people.

New Delhi Central Train Station

Amer Fort in Jaipur

This palace was the residence of the Rajput Maharajas and their families. The fort is originally believed to have been built by Raja Man Singh during 967 AD.

Amer Fort

Elephants are used as tourist attractions in all of India. Elephants need to be close to the water in order to keep cool and hydrated. These elephants shown in the picture, walk all day carrying tourists up and down the fort at temperatures of up to 50 degrees and no water available.

Fort

Main Entrance

View from Palace

Gardens

View

Gate

View

Jaipur

Hawa Malal

Jaipur Centre

Tuk tuk in Jaipur

Train from Jaipur to Udaipur

Udaipur Train Station

Pichola Lake - Udaipur

Lake

Jagdish Temple

The Jagdish Temple is a Hindu temple built by Maharana Jagat Singh I around 1650.

Jagdish Temple

Jagdish Temple

Jagdish Temple

Jagdish Temple

Sacred cows in Udaipur

Pichola Lake

City Palace Gate

Pichola Lake at Night

Flying Foxes

Dinner

City Palace of Udaipur

The City Palace was built with the establishment of the Udaipur city by Maharana Udai Singh II and his successor Maharanas over a period of 400 years, starting in 1553.The Maharanas lived and administered their kingdom from this palace, thereby making the palace complex an important historic landmark. Today the palace is preserved by a Fund established by the Maharanas family, so it is very well maintained (unlike many other buildings in India).

City Palace

Udaipur is called "The Most Romantic City in India", because parts of the James Bond movie "Octopussy" were filmed in the Palace and around the city.

Udaipur seen from the Palace

Squirrel trying to cool down

Everybody has their own way to escape the 45 degrees....

Zoo

Train to Pushkar

Pushkar

Typical Indian city landscape

Our hotel in Pushkar

Pushkar Lake

Train back to Delhi