Grand Escapades
Travel Photography & Travel Experiences of Africa, South America, the Middle-East & Asia
Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi, India
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 →
Kelly on the bus in Delhi, India
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 →
Staring us down at the shrine of the Sufi Saint Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti
Dargah of Khwaja Muin-ud-in Christi, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India
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 →
Nasiyan Red Temple, a stunning Jain Temple, Ajmer, Rajasthan, india
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 →
Women at the market in the streets of Pushkar, Rajsthan, India
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 →
Common Langur or Hanuman Monkey (Semnopithecus Entellus) around Pushkar, Rajasthan, India
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 →
52 bathing Ghats surround Pushkar Lake, Pushkar, Rajasthan, India
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 →
Train arriving at Ajmer Junction Station, Rajasthan, India
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 →
Chittorgarh Fort, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India
The long, long wall of the Garh (fort) running along the top of a hill greeted us long before arrived in Chittor. Thirty overwhelming kilometers of wall encircle the fort. Our hearts fell – how could we possibly visit this place during one afternoon – a very hot afternoon. Was this doable? Continue Reading →
Prehistoric Rock Paintings, discovered by OP “Kukki” Sharma near Bundi, Rajasthan, India
A small mountain range was where we stopped after an hour drive. Marching for another hour on parched lifeless grounds took us to a beautiful gorge with lots of green trees at the bottom, once the hunting ground of the Maharana. Continue Reading →