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skip's retirement travel

Joined February 2017Living in: Nashua, United States
  • skip's retirement travelIndia
    Day13

    Amber Fort/Palace near Jaipur

     Yesterday in India ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Former palace and capital before moving to Jaipur due primarily to overcrowding of the surrounding town. The palace was begun in the 16th century.
    The 1st pic looks at the fort from a distance. Next is the 1st courtyard for military drill and parades.. 3rd is the palace garden in the harem. 4th is a pavilion at the side of the harem where the women could look over and watch what was going on the in the audience chamber below. 5th is the audience chamber. The ceiling is filled with reflective surfaces that look like stars shining. Last is an example of how Hindu and Islamic art and architecture are combined in the building.Read more

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  • skip's retirement travelIndia
    Day13

    Jaipur

     Yesterday in India ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Regional capital in India. Former royal site (see another post). Often called the Pink City due to the extensive use of pink sandstone for construction.
    The 1st picture is of the facade of the former royal palace built when the capital was moved here. 2nd is the former summer palace, aka Water Palace, located in the middle of a lake. The water level is high with a couple stories flooded. So the building is currently unused. 4th is an example of the pink sandstone buildings on one of the main commercial streets. 5th is a look at a local market. Last are some traditional Rajasthani dancers at dinnerRead more

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  • skip's retirement travelIndia
    Day13

    Jaipur, Hotel Bassau

     Yesterday in India ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Former palace and still home to the a branch of the local royal family. This is now a hotel where we stayed.
    The first pic looks across the front garden to the palace. The 2nd looks from the port-au-cochere into the open atrium lobby. 3rd looks across part of the dining room towards the pool out back.Read more

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  • skip's retirement travelIndia
    Day12

    Taj Mahal

     October 14 in India ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Tomb of the wife of Shah Jahan. Built in the 17th century for his favorite wife, Mumtez-Mahal. First a look from the East gate. Then gradually closer looks at the building, entry arch to the mausoleum where Shah Jahan and Mumtez-Mahal are interred, and a look at the details of the wall. None of this is painted. It is all precious and semiprecious stones inlaid In the marble. The last two look at the gardens. Everything, buildings, landscaping, etc. Is symetrical. One more place where pictures don't live up to seeing it in personRead more

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  • skip's retirement travelIndia
    Day11

    Tomb of I'tmad-u-daulah

     October 13 in India ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Aka, Baby Taj. This is the tomb of the grandfather of Mumtez-Mahal of Taj Mahal fame. (See another post.). The first pic looks at the tomb through the gate at the river. The second is a closer look. Third is a glance inside. The last 2 look at the garden. This is a typical garden for the time. It is walled, is very rectilinear, has channels for water to flow, pools and plants, though this is now rather overgrown. The design reflects references in the Koran to the gardens of paradise.Read more

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  • skip's retirement travelIndia
    Day11

    Agra Fort

     October 13 in India ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Agra was the capital of the Moghul empire in India during the middle of the second millenium, and Agra Fort was the seat of government here and the residence of the royal family. Building began in the 15th Century with additions by successive rulers. The first pic looks at the fort from outside. Second is a palace built for the son of the first shah. Third is the courtyard of dance where the ruling family and guests were entertained. Fourth is in the pleasure hall of the harem. Fifth is the harem garden, and last is the audience hall.Read more

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  • skip's retirement travelIndia
    Day9

    Toy train

     October 11 in India ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    No, the Kalka and Shimla Railroad is not model trains. This is a narrow gauge railway built by the British during the Raj for transport from a station on the main railway up to the summer capital in Shimla (see another post). This is said to have the highest elevation change of any railway anywhere.
    The first pic was taken out of the window of the train car looking toward the engine. The second is inside the car taken while some kids were singing down at the far end. The rest look at typical views along the way (5 1/2 hours, 84 km). The last looks down through the trees over the edge of the cliff along which the tracks run.    Read more

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  • skip's retirement travelIndia
    Day7

    Shimla

     October 9 in India ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Mountainside city (literally) and capital of the state of Himachal Pradesh. This was also the summer capital of the British during the Raj.
    First is a picture of the city from up on the side of the upper mountain. The second is from the "Ridge" area looking back up to where the 1st pic was taken. No surprise to see an obviously Anglican Church. Notice the Hindu statue peeking over the trees at the top. Third is on the Mall, the other main gathering area in town. Third is the Viceregal Lodge, where the viceroy stayed in the summer, making this the center of government of India during the time he was in residence. Next is part of the garden at the Viceregal Lodge. Last is a view over the countryside from the city.Read more

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  • skip's retirement travelIndia
    Day6

    Rewalsar Lake

     October 8 in India ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    A sacred place for Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs alike. The lake is surrounded by temples of all three faiths.
    The first pic looks across the lake. If you look closely, you will see a statue on the hill. That is the second picture. The third is of the inside of the temple in the lotus flower base of the statue. The fourth looks out over the lake from the balcony around the statue. Fifth and sixth are two of the temples by the lakeRead more

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  • skip's retirement travelIndia
    Day5

    Dalai Lama Temple

     October 7 in India ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Here is where the Dalai Lama calls home since leaving Tibet after the Chinese takeover. Unfortunately, His Holiness was not around at the time I was there.
    The first two are in the main temple. Then some of the prayer wheels. 4th looks on the door where picture taking is not allowed inside. The yellow you can see in the center is the Dalai Lama's throne/ teaching seat. The last picture is of some of the young monks debating Buddhist teachings, history, writings, etc.Read more

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