Delhi
India
Neemrana
Jaipur
Agra
INDIA 2016 ITINERARY Chicago, U.S.A.
February 12
Delhi, India
February 14
Neemrana, India
February 14-15
Jaipur, India
February 15-17
Agra, India
February 17
Delhi, India
February 17-19
Amsterdam, Netherlands February 20 Chicago, U.S.A.
February 20
Exploring the Detroit airport during our six-hour long layover
Our early morning arrival in Delhi received a warm welcome by Abhinav and his friends
Watching the sunrise from the rooftop terrace while a stray dog found its way into the kitchen
NEEMRANA
Neemrana Fort-Palace overlooking the town of Neemrana
Neemrana Fort-Palace is a six-acre historic resort terraced on the side of a hill. Starting in 1464, it continues to be added on to over time. Our room the Surya Mahal, meaning “Sun Palace� in Hindi, became our sixteenthcentury residence for the night.
As we hiked to the top peak, we took in beautiful views of the surrounding Aravalli hills. We then rode ďŹ ve thrilling zip lines back down to the palace, the longest line being 400m.
Watching an Indian band perform at the hotel’s amphitheatre
Enjoying a buffet dinner of traditional Indian cuisine surrounded by the picturesque setting of the palace at night
JAIPUR
Amber Fort built into the Aravalli hills with Jaigarh Fort perched on the crest behind it.
Amber Fort
The views surrounding Maota Lake. Amber Fort served as the capital of the Kachwaha Rajputs from the 16th to 18th centuries until it was moved to Jaipur.
On our climb to the fortress, we stopped to try some papadum, a crispy thin bread, which also interested the passing goats.
Sheesh Mahal - The Hall of Mirrors
OPPOSITE: We descend into the subterranean passages of Amber Fort. THIS PAGE: These passages lead to a steep climb along the ramparts up to Jaigarh Fort at the peak of the hill.
At the top of Jaigarh Fort, taking in the views of Amber and Jaipur below. We also found monkeys hanging out in a tree.
ABOVE: Jaigarh Fort is the home to Jaivana, the world’s largest cannon on wheels. It measures over 20 feet long and weighs about 50 tons.
OPPOSITE: While leaving the fort, we encountered a marionette show and were met by monkeys and puppies.
Panna Meena ka Kund
Built in the 16th century, this stepwell not only served as a source of water but also as a community gathering place to chat, relax, and swim during the afternoon heat.
Jal Mahal THIS PAGE: The “Water Palace” appears to float in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake. Only accessible by boat, the palace is currently closed to visitors. OPPOSITE: The chaotic streets of Jaipur, always filled with cars, motorcycles, tuk-tuks, people, cows, and several other animals.
Hotel Umaid Bhawan
Galtaji - Monkey Temple
Galtaji is an ancient Hindu pilgrimage site built within a mountain pass. A natural spring ows down into the temple complex, ďŹ lling a series of pools in which pilgrims bathe. A large tribe of rhesus macaque monkeys now live within the abandoned temples.
We continued our climb up the hill behind the temple complex to reach a stunning view of the surrounding hills and city below. On our way back down, we made a few monkey friends with our bag of peanuts. Well, at least before Ankit was startled and threw the entire bag.
As part of a Hindu prayer ritual, we were marked with a Tilaka on our foreheads and received a Kalava, a sacred thread tied on the wrist to ward off evil to its wearer.
Vidyadhar Garden
This picturesque garden was built in the memory of Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, the architect of the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur. The garden is designed according to Shilpa Shastra, an ancient architectural treatise, the same texts Vidyadhar used while planning the city of Jaipur.
Jawahar Kala Kendra
This multi-arts center was built in 1991 to preserve Rajasthani arts and crafts. Designed by architect Charles Correa, the plan is inspired by the original city plan of Jaipur. It consists of nine squares and applies concepts from ancient architectural principles called the Vastu Vidya.
City Palace
The City Palace is an 18th century complex which served as the seat of the Maharaja of Jaipur. It is located in the heart of the “Pink City”, the salmon-colored old city enclosed by fortified walls. On the day of our visit, workers were preparing the palace for a lavish wedding that evening.
Jantar Mantar Built in 1726, these large, abstractlooking sculptures are actually astrological instruments used to measure celestial data such as time, location of stars, angles of planets, and predicting eclipses.
Hawa Mahal
The 953 jharokas on this “Palace of Winds� are ornate bay windows with intricate latticework screens which allowed the woman of the court to discreetly watch the activity on the street below. The pink sandstone palace is only one room deep to allow wind to easily pass through and cool the building.
While walking past the City Palace at night, we encountered several elephants adorned in colorful, elegantly painted patterns. We were able to interact with the elephants while they were waiting for the wedding procession to begin.
THIS PAGE: For dinner, we tried several Indian street food dishes including samosas, papdi chaat, kachori, and dahi bada. OPPOSITE: After a long day, we relaxed back at the hotel on the roof top terrace, drinking KingďŹ sher beer while watching and participating in traditional Indian dance. The one woman managed to dance while balancing six bowls on top of her head.
AGRA
The recognizable and majestic Taj Mahal
THIS PAGE: The streets of Agra including the mess of construction and a cart selling colorful packets of chewing tobacco. OPPOSITE: The Great Gate is the sandstone entrance to the 42-acre complex of the Taj Mahal. Its archways and inlaid calligraphy mirror the shapes and decorations of the mausoleum.
The Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is the epitome of Mughal art and one of the most famous buildings in the world. This grand ivory-white marble mausoleum is a monument to Emperor Shah Jahan’s third and favorite wife. Beginning in 1632, it took 20,000 laborers about 20 years to complete. The symmetrical building is topped by an onion dome reaching a height of about 200 feet. The gardens reect the Islamic idea of paradise with the reecting pools, similar to four rivers, dividing the garden into four main quadrants.
OPPOSITE: Just outside of the peaceful garden complex of the Taj Mahal lies the hectic and dilapidated streets of Agra. THIS PAGE: The four of us, our guide, and driver managed to squeeze into a tuk-tuk for a quick ride back to our cab.
DELHI
The elegant Lotus Temple and the colorful spices and vegetables of a night market
Lotus Temple
OPPOSITE & ABOVE: The Bahá’í House of Worship is shaped like a lotus flower, a symbol of purity and spirituality in India. Built in 1986, the 27 petals are constructed of cast-in-place concrete and cladded in white marble. Like all other Bahá’í Houses of Worship, the Lotus Temple is open to all people of all religions to worship God without denominational restrictions. BELOW RIGHT: Either the previous day’s lunch in Agra or the Tandoori chicken in Delhi left us all incapacitated for a day with food poisoning. That’s why we were overly eager to eat at McDonald’s for both lunch and dinner the next day.
Humayun’s Tomb
This 16th century mausoleum built of red sandstone and white marble is a predecessor to the Taj Mahal. The Mughal empire brought to India the Persian-inuenced architecture of symmetry, decoration, gardens, and fountains.
Red Fort
This palace city surrounded by red-sandstone walls was the residence of the Mughal emperor of India for nearly 200 years. Emperor Shah Jahan, the same emperor who built the Taj Mahal, constructed this fort in 1648.
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib This Sikh gurdwara, or Sikh house of worship, is open to people of all faiths as part of the Sikh philosophy which focuses on the equality of all people. Sikhism is based on the spiritual teachings of the ten gurus and is the ďŹ fth-largest religion in the world. All visitors to the gurdwara are requested to cover their hair and not to wear shoes. Like all gurdwaras, there is a langar hall where people can eat free vegetarian food, bringing people together with no distinctions of class.
AMSTERDAM
After enjoying the amenities of the airplane with its clean, western bathrooms, John and Andrew took full advantage of the ďŹ ve-hour layover in Amsterdam. We enjoyed the fresh air and quiet streets and canals of the early morning.
Upon returning to the airport, we met the KLM mascot and enjoyed Heinekens before our ight home to America.
Agra
Jaipur
Delhi
Neemrana