Like on our first trip to Rajasthan in 2012, we opted against travelling low budget. Instead we chose “mid-range” hotels and restaurants. This trip could definitely be done a lot cheaper than spending 40 Euros per person per day (which does not include the international flight nor the visa fees), but allowed us to enjoy some incredible comfort. Continue Reading →
Archive | India
Havelis As A Great Lodging Option
Travelling with a teenager for the first time ever, we figured that taking chances with accommodation was not a wise thing to do. So a bit more comfort than usually was planned. Another first timer was that we used TripAdvisor for all four locations. And they did not let us down. Continue Reading →
Highlight Hunting In Delhi
During our trip in 2012, we came to believe that Humayun’s Tomb, the shrine of the Sufi Saint Hazrat Nizam-ud-din and Gandhi Smriti were Delhi’s three must-sees. So off we went again, sharing these incredible places with Kelly. Continue Reading →
Getting Around Delhi The Hard Way
As if travelling around Delhi was not crazy enough per se, we did our best to make it even wilder… Arriving at 05:30 am by train from Ajmer, we thought it a good idea to take the metro to our hotel. Continue Reading →
Sufi Saint Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti
Staring us down at the shrine of the Sufi Saint Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti
The TukTuk dropped us in a maze of small, busy lanes, which opened into a wide street packed with people. But bang – without any traffic! It came almost as a shock. None of the screeching and honking that seems inseparable with motorized vehicles in India. Why? We could only guess. Most likely a precaution after a bomb went off near the shrine in 2007. Continue Reading →
Ajmer From Different Angles
On our very last day in Rajasthan, we got a good dose of sacred places. Gilles insisted on visiting the Dargah (shrine) of the Sufi Saint Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti in Ajmer. It made sense, since this is where we boarded our night train to Delhi that night. Continue Reading →
Money-Driven Pushkar
With high hopes we met Mr. Sharma again: the descendent of one of Pushkar’s oldest religious family was to enlighten us about temples and the holy lake. But what a difference to the walking tour the previous day! Mr. Sharma’s narrations were tedious and above all, hardly intelligible. Poor Kelly suffered thorough all this without complaining once. Continue Reading →
Rural Pushkar
Pushkar has changed, Mr. Sharma explained. And he should know, a 5th generation descendant of a Brahman family. Now his family lives next door to the Seventh Heaven Hotel and advertises their services there: walks around Pushkar, Henna Painting, Indian meals… Continue Reading →
Pushkar – The Holy Cash Cow
Over three thousand (3.000!) pilgrims arrive daily in tiny Pushkar, Hindi from all over India and even abroad. They come for one reason – to leave money with the countless priests and temples. Even the most devout Hindi commits the odd sin that hurts his karma… A pilgrimage to Pushkar and a pile of money can undo that. Continue Reading →
Ajmer Junction – Crazy Station, Crazy Ride
Except for firing the tour guide in Chittogarh, the day had passed with the preciseness of a Swiss clock. Ajmer Train station finally offered a bit of excitement. At around 11:00 pm it was nothing short of a shelter. The floor was completely covered with people wrapped in shawls, sleeping on the hard concrete. Outside it was as busy as any train station in India. Continue Reading →