Blogs from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India, Asia - page 72

Jodhpur is the 'blue city', so named for the propensity of many home owners to paint their houses in a pale blue colour (fashion? or to discourage mosquitos?). Notably, the city is dominated by the very impressive Meherengarh Fort, perched on a prominent hill, overlooking the plains around. We see that in Rajasthan, now and always the most sparsely inhabitated part of the sub-continent, cities were located around strategic landforms that could be protected against neighbouring warlords. Before travelling here, I didn't realize the importance of Maharajas in the history of India. Many retained political power into the 20th century, and their descendants appear to continue to act as figureheads today. Reention of the rajas throughout India as instruments of local government was one of the reasons that the British were able to gain control of ... read more

Woke up refreshed,had breakfast-I find a boiled egg balances the curry of the night before and set off to see the Amber Palace. We arrived at the magnificent site to find that the only way up was by elephant or a boring landrover so we elected for the elephant. I carefully selected what I thought was a docile beast (not that I know anything about elephants) and we clambered aboard, but not before our guide had regailed us with stories of how someone was killed a few weeks ago by a rampaging elephant. WE clung on to the ponderous beast and looked down about 2.5 m as we swayed from side to side and made our way up a very steep and slippery slope. The view was superb, albeit a bit scarry, with the palace looming ... read more

Woke up early and was really lookig forward to our visit to this famous 'wonder of the world' Taxi took us to within a mile then we had to transfer onto a pony and trap to take us to the Taj. Paid 1500Rp to get in and our guide explained that it had taken 22 years and 30 million to build it about 350 years ago. Apparently some love sick Maharaja built it for his dead wife as a token of his love (might have been better to give it to the poor people) When we finaly saw it I have to say it was a magnificent white marble structure which captured the light in a very special way making it seem to glow. The architecture was fantastic with brilliant carvings and marbles inlaid with semi-precious ... read more

We then vuisited a very tranquil and peacful park-the place where Ghandi and subsequently Indira Ghandi and her son Ravi were cremated. There was a single black marble stone with a perpetual flame in recognition of his simple lifestyle- it was quite moving.We visited the REd Fort and several Kashmire Crafts shops before returning to our hotel. Next day we visited the home of Indira Ghandi. Here we witnessed a museum of her life and struggles-she appeared to be similar to Maggie Thatcher in many ways. There were many exhibits including the sari in which she was shot and the pyjamas in which her son Ravi was blown up. In her garden was a glass plaque showing were she was assasinated. We then visited the Railway museum where we were able to climb on and off ... read more

What a contrast, New Delhi with its clean wide tree lined avenues and pristine government buildings and Old Delhi, which being complimentary is a slum! where seemingly millions of people cling on to a pathetically poor existance living with their pigs and cattle in the most appalling open sewered streets. Cripples, beggars and women with countless children all begging for whatever they can get. I saw men and women openly urinating in the narrow open sewers which they call streets, and pigs and cattle feeding for what they can get from the mountains of uncollected rubbish and men walking round with rustly old rifles presumably for either crime or protection. Every type of shop and business seems to be present from barbers shops consisting of a chair and a mirror hung from a tree to butchers ... read more