• skip's retirement travel

India

October - November 2019 Les mer
  • Varanasi

    22. november 2019, India ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Holy city on the bank of the Ganges. One of the holiest places in most of the south Asian religions. I'm told that the Hindus believe that if you die in Varanasi, you are freed from the cycle of rebirth.
    The 1st picture is of a market street in the old town. The 2nd is a a local hospice where people come to die. It was built early in the last century, and I'm told that 10s of thousands have died there. 3rd is a look at one of the ghats where cremations take place 24 hours a day every day. There were as many as 20 pyres aflame while we watched. 4th is a look at the city from the river at night. The last two are pictures of the evening prayer service held at the river side every night.
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  • Ganga

    23. november 2019, India ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Aka, The River Ganges, holy river of India's many faiths. 1st is a look along the shore past some of the 80 ghats, or places where Hindus come to the river for ritual purposes. Next is a sunrise over the river. 3rd is of people bathing in the river. They believe that washing here removes all bad kharma. The ritual bath involves immersion 3 times, an interesting parallel to a particular Christian sacrament. The other ritual Varanasi is well known for is cremation. That is the 4th picture showing a few of the many pyres burning at the time. 5th is a look at some of the floating candles that are put into the river at night as prayer offerings. Last is a look at some of the art along the river.Les mer

  • Imambara, Lucknow

    24. november 2019, India ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Major Shia shrine that was built to provide jobs for people during a famine in the 18th century. It is a site of mourning over the 7th century martyrdom of Ali.
    1st is the main building of the mosque. 2nd is a look across the courtyard. Then three pictures inside the mosque. The last is the Bouli or well.Les mer

  • Lucknow

    24. november 2019, India ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    A large city in northern India, state capital of Uttar Pradesh state and former capital of the local kingdom. The British had a large presence here living in an area called the Residency, mostly in ruins now. I'm told more than 2,000 Brits were killed here during an uprising in the mid 19th century.
    The first two pictures are of the old main city gate. Next is a view over the city from atop The Imambara (see another post). Next is a relatively new city park.
    Across the street from the park is Sheroes, one of the best things I've seen. This is a restaurant run by and for survivors of acid attacks. A number of the survivors were working. I was saddened to see what had been done to them but also richly blessed to see them not only surviving but flourishing. Their smiles through the damage was in itself a blessing. And it was a darn good lunch. I'm told there is a similar place in Agra. If you visit either place, be sure to support them.
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  • Bagarhat

    28. november 2019, Bangladesh ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    City of mosques, most dating to the 15th century. First is outside and 2nd is inside the so called 60 Dome Mosque, though I'm told there are actually 77 domes. (I didn't count them.) The next 3 are of some of the other mosques here, most of which used the same basic architecture. It is said that at one time there were more than 300 of these mosques here. Quite a number of which are no more. The last picture is of the tomb of Khan Jahan Ali. He was a Sufi saint and ruler in Bagarhat in the 15th century. He is credited with building all or most of the mosques.

    Ronvijoypur mosque
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    Reisens slutt
    26. november 2019