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India

A 29-day adventure by Anabatra Read more
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  • Trip start
    December 9, 2023
    AnabatraIndiaTraveler

    Let the adventure begin

    December 9, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    I have never been so relaxed before starting a trip. I finished work last night at 9pm and packed the last of my things this morning. A quick goodbye to Hannah, who will be accompanying me a week later, and Anton was kind enough to take me to BER airport. I had actually planned enough time to get there, but unfortunately the highway was closed due to an accident and a big traffic jam really got on my nerves. In the end, we were lucky to reach the airport in time. Now I'm sitting there waiting for boarding to Cairo.Read more

  • AnabatraIndiaTraveler

    Stopover in Cairo

    December 9, 2023 in Germany ⋅ 🌧 3 °C

    What a pleasant accident that I met Dirk from Saxony Anhalt in the airport bus on Cairo. Beside a coffee (and a cigarette while drinking a coffee 😝) we had a very nice conversation so th four hours stopover time flew at least the plane took us there. Afterwards our ways split up. He was heading to Addis not without a lot advise what to do there.Read more

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    Welcome to Delhi

    December 10, 2023 in India ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    With wide open arms this lively city welcomed me and pulled me directly under its spell. I arrived after 6.5 hours flight from Cairo safely in Delhi. Although the flight has been far comfy(operated by Egypt Air and it is definitely not recommended) I had nice and talkative young Indian next to me and we were chatting like
    twittering birds… after the Immagration which went astonishing quick as as well as the luggage handling I exchanged money, bought a SIM card and booked a prepaid taxi. After the check in the hotel, I went on a stroll through the pulsing city. It’s loud, and colorful, full of strange fragrances. You can find hundreds of little food stables from fruit, to fried dough balls, from roasted nuts to huge pots of soup… and smells so delicious…. Store after store is lined up like a string of 1000 different colored pearls, offering products and services for everyday needs. I go for a stroll and get a new haircut. Considering that first impressions count, I look forward to every single day and can hardly wait to see, smell, taste and feel more. Speaking of taste I had a wonderful aloo ghobi with rice, a vegetarian dish with cauliflower and potatoes in a spicy and slightly hot tomato sauce that was a real taste explosion. Definitely looking forward to more Indian food    Read more

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    Jama Masjid Mosque & PG time

    December 11, 2023 in India ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    What a surprising encountering happened this morning while enjoying my Masala Chai! Meeting PG, a Cologne guy with Indians roots and very Delhi experienced started a conversation with me. It turned out we both own not only the same passion for discovering new places by traveling , we share also the same approach to discovering those. So we decided promptly to go on a stroll together. That turned out to a huge advantage for me. I got a first hand deep dive into the Indian culture, got lessons how to move (by Metro… easy!!!), what and where to eat or even not, how to behave in special situations along interesting exchange of business ideas. PG was not getting tired to show me his fav places. Delhi is overwhelming. It's noisy, full of people rushing from one point to another, bicycle or motorcycle rickshaws, cars or carriages pulled by cows or horses are in a daily competition to move forward as fast as possible, framed by loud honking (which is actually meaningless if everyone is doing it) to show how the strongest is.... so crazy! every vehicle tries to cut a path through the chaotic traffic... people don't have time to stop at the pedestrian, they just walk and look straight ahead, don't look left or right... the others wait.... a stubborn strategy to get ahead, but it works. Actually, there would be no point in looking left or right before crossing the road because you can't realize the direction of the traffic flow..... But not only your ears are permanent demanded, your eyes as well. Everything happens on the street. There is barber shaping the beard or cutting the hair. the Smithers hammer there metal, there is a specialist for cleaning the ears, the light traders shops are enlightening the dirt of small lanes, the sellers of cloth shops offer various gorgeous fabrics from cotton to silk, rich of hand made embroidery or decorated of thousands shining pearls and jems , from which the sewers create fairytale Saris or Kurtis…. runners carry huge packages of goods destination oriented through the streets, the street food cooks take of the 30 millions of Delhi who are hungry….

    All the walking and watching made us hungry and thirsty… PG and I shared masala chai on the street and delicious veggie chicken peas & kidney beans curry at a small restaurant. The desert came swum in Sugar and ghee and though I am not a big fan of sweets I must admit that was fantastic!
    So many things to see, so interesting to talk to people, so strange, so intense… Delhi is pure human - turbulent lively and I love it!!!    Read more

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    Wanted: Patience

    December 12, 2023 in India ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Today I am heading to Rishikesh to spend some time with meditation and practicing yoga in a ashram… the first challenge have already started, keep calm and relaxed while train is delayed hour for hour. Observing the people stepping in out the trains, carrying children and lot if stuff, gathered families sitting the ground eating or sleeping, mothers breastfeeding their little babies and so in is just entertaining.

    India has the fourth largest railroad system in the world, behind only the USA, Russia and China.

    The Indian Railways consists of a total track length of 126,366 km on 67,956 km of track along with 7,335 stations. The railroads operates 13,523 passenger trains and 9,146 freight trains daily. The railroad sector in India ships 1418.1 tons of freight and Indian Railways transports over eight billion passengers every year.

    I can only admire this logistical work. Eat, wait & take it easy…

    As I learned today: INDIA GREAT ALWAYS LATE!

    18:00 departed the train and for my fortune it figured out I have a bed in a sleeper…

    Binyani (fried dough Ballspieles with a spicy lentil potato mix) and Chai Masala are also provided… happy me 💞    Read more

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    Rishikesh & Yoga Nikatan Ashram

    December 13, 2023 in India ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Rishikesh on the Ganges is a beautiful place, framed by the mountains of the Himalayas.
    The place is considered as holy as the water of the Ganges, and many Hindus make a pilgrimage here to bathe in the Ganges. It is the capital of yoga and meditation, so much so that the Beatles were in the ashram here in the seventies and the place is very popular with international tourists. My journey was a bit difficult as I only arrived at 2 a.m. due to the enormous delay of the train and was only able to sleep in the hotel for a few hours. It is very cold at night, around 8°. During the day, the thermometer climbs to over 20°C. I arrived at my ashram at midday. It is situated on a hill overlooking the Ganges and far away from the turbulent traffic. It is a place of contemplation and inner peace, of silence, meditation, self-discovery and the pursuit of the triad of body, mind and soul
    At dusk, a fascinating ritual begins in the three holy Indian cities of Rishikesh, Haridwar and Varanasi: the Ganga Aarti. No matter what the weather is like, a ritual fire offering is made every evening on the banks of the Ganges; this ritual is called aarti. Usually, a small light (a candle or a so-called diya, a small clay oil lamp) and some flowers are placed on a small boat and sacrificed to Goddess Ganga by placing the small floating boat with the light on the river and letting it float down the current.    Read more

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    Yoga Nikatan Ashram

    December 14, 2023 in India ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Ashrams as a place of Silence, Spirituality and Self Exploration by doing spiritual and physical exercises are mostly located in refreshing natural surroundings conducive to spiritual instruction and meditation.

    Yoga in various forms will be an essential part of your daily schedule such as the various forms of yoga such as Hatha, Ashtanga or Vinyasa. Pranayama, the technique of breathing to connect your body and souls will be also practiced daily.

    The day is ruled by a schedule from the early morning until nine o’clock in the evening. You practice yoga session twice per day each morning than on hour and the are two times one hour meditation exercises.

    Additionally you attend lectures twice a day about the philosophy and life style of yoga, Vedenta (self exploration)

    As a guest of an Ashram you get provided an simple accommodation. You can choose between a shared double or a single room with airco or without depends what you are willing to pay. Independent from that the rooms rooms are simply equipped . My mattress is quite hard and the shower is cold what I can handle but it won’t probably be not everybody’s cup of tea.

    3 healthy vegetarian delicious meals are provided as well as water and tea.

    Since I am not used to sitting on the floor for such a long time my whole body was getting hurt. That is actually my biggest struggle beside of getting up at 5 a.m., but it is definitely the experience worth. You get slow down, calm and are fulfilled with a silent and peaceful mind. I do not want to miss this .    Read more

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    Riverbanks of Ganges

    December 14, 2023 in India ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    In the afternoon I have found time for a long walk along the Ganges. It was so interesting to observe the people. The Indian are very friendly and curious. Often they ask where I am from or chatting for a while with me. Sometimes they want to take a picture with me. Against all prejudices I haven’t been not only one single time embarrassed by somebody… the Hindu culture and traditions are nowhere better reflected as on the riverbanks… the spiritual bathing, the burials, which I could see today with my own eyes. For western people the ritual of burial with public burning appeals strange, but we have a very distanced relation with the death… the Indians take it as it is - a part of the circle of life.Read more

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    Last walk along the Ganges

    December 15, 2023 in India ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
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    Delhi Shri Laxmi Navagayan Temple

    December 16, 2023 in India ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    I love walking through the streets, observing people, how they live. What habits they have, what work they do, how they dress, how they behave, what drives them, what they believe in, and so on. I like to drift through the streets of Delhi and so today I didn't miss the opportunity to walk to the temple. Unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to take photos inside the temple, so I only have the outside impressions of this beautiful temple. Mahatma Gandhi inaugurated this temple in 1936 and made it accessible to all Indians, regardless of their caste. The temple has a very beautiful garden, which many Indians use to picnic or walk in the shade of the trees. Inside, the temple has very beautiful marble work. Windows and wall elements are artfully crafted by skilled stonemasons. Marble slabs depict the numerous Hindu deities, especially the forms of the trilogy. Brahma, the creator, Vishnu, the protector, and Shiva, the destroyer.
    Every now and then, I fortify myself with street food or visit one of the small restaurants and eat delicious food. In the north of India, there is a lot of wheat bread that is served round and flat, like a flatbread with curry and delicious sauces. It is less spicy than I expected but very tasty and intensely flavored. Of course, the chai masala is not missing. I have at least five every day in small cups. Oh, I am in love with this wild, crazy, colorful city which is the second largest in India with its 30 Million inhabitants.    Read more

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    Hannah”s Arrival & Sikh Festival

    December 17, 2023 in India ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    After 20 hours of traveling, Hannah arrived safely in Delhi. The Airport Express was a quick way to get from the airport to the city, but not without getting clean and freshly repaired shoes at the train station. From the train station we experienced the madness of Delhi's traffic in a TukTuk. After a first lunch on the roof terrace of our hotel, we set off on a shopping tour, freshly fortified. The streets were full of people due to the Sikh festival taking place today. The Siikh are a religious minority in India whose origins date back to the 15th century. They make up 2% of India's total population and of the 25-27 million Sikhs worldwide, 80% live in India. Today was the festival celebrating the ninth of the ten holy gurus. There is a parade and many stores hand out snacks and sweets. Loud music blares from the floats in the procession and there are show fighters on the streets. It was very tiring to move through the crowds and Hannah was able to experience what it means to be in the second most populous country in the worldRead more

  • AnabatraIndiaTraveler

    Hommage to Mahatma

    December 18, 2023 in India ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Today we are going on our 12 days tour through Rajasthan by starting with Delhi sightseeing. As the Red Ford is closed today, Hannah and I started the tour with a visit of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial. This is the place where Gandhi, who was assassinated by a Hindu nationalist in 1948, found his final resting place, where he was cremated and his ashes scattered into the Yamuna river. Mahatma means the great soul in Hindi. He managed to unite the Indian nation completely without violence, regardless of caste, to end the colonial rule of the British and to lead India to independence in August 1947. His thoughts, perspectives and ideas of a peaceful, just world (in Hindi: the great soul) are immortal and still have an impact today. Far away from Delhi's noisy streets, the extensive, well-kept grounds on the banks of the Yamuna are a place of peace and contemplation. The wide paths lined with Ghandi's wise quotes invite you to escape the wild urban jungle and take a stroll.Read more

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    India Gate and click

    December 18, 2023 in India ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    The next stop was India Gate. But first we need an energy kick. Prantha & Dhal and Masala Chai from a small streetfood stall are perfect for that. The huge India gate is modeled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and is a memorial to the more than 80,000 Indian soldiers who died in the First World War and the Third Afghan War.
    Besides all the serious content, we also had a lot of fun. Hannah has proven to be a popular model for various Indians.    Read more

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    Humayun‘s Tomb Delhi

    December 18, 2023 in India ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Humayun's Tomb in Delhi, built in 1570, is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal.

    This Tomb is the first of the grand dynastic mausoleums that were to become synonyms of Mughal architecture with the architectural style reaching its zenith 80 years later at the later Taj Mahal.    Read more

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    Taj Mahal

    December 19, 2023 in India ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
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    Jaipur by night

    December 20, 2023 in India ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
  • AnabatraIndiaTraveler

    Impressions of the pink city

    December 21, 2023 in India ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Jaipur is the capital and largest city of Rajasthan with a population of w.t million. Founded in 1727 by the King of Amber Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, it has been a UNSESCO World Heritage Site since 2019 and, together with Delhi and Agra, forms the Golden Triangle. Jaipur is also known as the left city, as all the houses and buildings in the old town are painted in polka dots. Actually, the color is more like a yellow-orange terracotta tone. A visit by Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) prompted Maharaja Sarai Jai Singh II to paint all the buildings in the city pink to welcome the prince. Many of the avenues have been preserved in pink and give the city this distinctive appearance.

    The old town is surrounded by a city wall, also pink, with 7 gates, which were locked in the evenings until the 1970s.

    One of the main attractions is the Palace of the Winds, which is not actually a palace but just a façade that was of particular importance in earlier times. The Maharaja built the Palace of the Winds with its 365 windows and bay windows to enable his numerous harem girls to take part in the Maharaja's pompous processions and watch them without being seen. This allowed the queen and harem ladies to attend the festivities.    Read more

  • AnabatraIndiaTraveler

    Amber Fort & Palace

    December 21, 2023 in India ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Amer Fort or Amber Fort is a fort located in Amer, Rajasthan, India. Until 1727, when Maharaja Raja Jai Singh shifted the capital to Jaipur, Amer had been the capital of the Rajput Empire.

    Amazed by the art of craftsmanship Amer Palce belongs definitely to one of my personal Highlights so far. Whether wall paintings, frescoes in natural colors, mosaics or carvings in marble and sandstone, whether mosaics, everything testifies to the high level of craftsmanship of the artisans, but also to the wealth of the Maharajas. While Europe was in the throes of religious wars and wars over the distribution of political power, the Maharanis relied on cleverly arranged marriages and were able to increase their wealth by trading in gold, silver and spices and investing in the arts. A cleverly arranged marriage prevents 8 wars

    11 km far from Jaipur (in a little tow named Amer), embedded in a soft hill range on the highest point, Amber or Amer fort it is one of the the principal tourist attractions in Rajasthan.

    Amer Fort is known for its artistic style elements and Amer Palace is great example of Rajput architecture. Some of its buildings and work have influence of Mughal architecture. Constructed of red sandstone and marble, the attractive, opulent palace is laid out on four levels, each with a courtyard.

    It consists of the Diwan-e-Aam, or "Hall of Public Audience", the Diwan-e-Khas, or "Hall of Private Audience", the Sheesh Mahal (mirror palace), or Jai Mandir, and the Sukh Niwas where a cool climate is artificially created by winds that blow over a water cascade within the palace.

    The palace was the residence of the Rajput Maharajas and their families. At the entrance to the palace near the fort's Ganesh Gate, there is a temple dedicated to Shila Devi, a Goddess of the Chaitanya cult, which was given to Raja Man Singh when he defeated the Raja of Jessore, Bengal in 1604. (Jessore is now in Bangladesh).Raja Man Singh had 12 queens so he made 12 rooms, one for each Queen. Each room had a staircase connected to the King’s room but the Queens were not to go upstairs. Raja Jai Singh had only one queen so he built one room equal to three old queen’s rooms.

    Since 2013 Amer Fort, along with five other forts of Rajasthan, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the group Hill Forts of Rajasthan.    Read more

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