1. My journey started with my cousin Bobby's wedding in New Delhi. Indian weddings are an extravaganza of colours, spices and rich food lasting four days, so it’s well to start the diet a few months in hand.
2. The Hare Krishna’s remind modern day India of its answer to life ‘The Bhagavad Gita’, Connaught Place, New Delhi.
3. Nek Chands Fantasy Rock Garden, is like falling down a rabbit hole into the labyrinthine interior of one man’s mind, created by Nek Chand using recycled junk and organic materials, the garden is a maze of twisting walkways and staircases suddenly emerging into valleys with crashing waterfalls or amphitheatres overrun by figures made of china shards. No material is wasted, from electrical sockets to colourful wine and glass, in the legions of men, animals, archways and walls with faces around every corner.
4. Mathura the land of eternal love and name given to the region where the popular god Krishna is believed to have been born and spent his early years. Mathura was once a Buddhist centre with 20 Monasteries that housed 3000 monks, but during the eighth century Buddhism began to give way to Hinduism. In 1017 most of the Buddhist temples and Hindu shrines were levelled by the Afghan warlord Mahmud of Ghazni. Nowadays the area is a religious centre full of Hindu temples that attract floods of pilgrims.
5. Bharatphur National Park - once the hunting estate of the Maharajas of Bharatphur, with daily shoots recorded of up to 4000 birds, the 29 Sq KM piece of marshland, with over 360 species, is one of the finest bird sanctuaries in the world. It has been designated as a world heritage site. The late Maharaja Brajendra Singh converted his hunting estate into a bird sanctuary in 1956 and devoted many of his retired years to establishing it. He had inherited both his title and an interest in wildlife from his deposed father, Kishan Singh, who grossly overspent his budget - 30 Rolls Royce’s, a private Jazz band and extremely costly wild animals including dozens of Lions, Elephants, Leopards and Tigers for Bharatphur’s jungles.
6. Fetephur Sikri - The Magnificent Fortified Ghost City, 40Km West of Agra, was the short lived capital of the Mughal Empire between 1571 and 1585, during the reign of Emperor Akbar. The well preserved palace buildings and the still used mosque are a superb reminder of the Mochas at their architectural peak.
7. I was waiting for my train to Kota with a local family. They have so little and are yet so happy, I gave the little girl below my red nail varnish, no doubt she will have plenty of fun once home.
8. Bundhi - with narrow Brahmin-blue lanes, assorted Temples, classic Havelis, and a picturesque lake, Bundhi is the kind of effortlessly charming Indian town where Kipling moved to write. Bundhi was the capital of a major princely state during the rajputs heyday. Although its importance dwindled with the rise of Kola during Mughal times, it remained independent until incorporation into Rajasthan in 1947. This is Nawal Sagar.
9. Udaiphur - An enchanting image of white marble palaces, placid blue lakes, attractive gardens and green hills that keep the wilderness at bay. High above the lake towers the massive palace of the Maharanas. From its rooftop gardens and balconies, you can overlook Lake Pichola, at the summer palace, adrift like a snowflake in its centre. This was the famous setting for the James bond film ‘Octopussy’.
10. Local musicians earn a crust at the side of Udaipur’s Ghats.
11. Rajsthani Moghul Art - A tradition passed down from family to family. My art lesson copying the famous painting called Radha.
12. My Yoga guru and teacher.
13. Local women gather in a huddle ready for the local Muslim festival.
14. The Muslim festival carries a Deity down to the Ghats.
16. Om Shanty Bhavan - spiritual niversity of the Brahma Kumaris. These white clad people teach that all religions lead to god and are equally valid, and that the principles of each should be studied. The university’s aim is the establishment of universal peace through ‘Impartation of spiritual knowledge and training of easy Raja Yoga meditation’. For many the teachings are intensely powerful, there are over 4500 branches in 70 countries. For others it gives off a spooky new age feel.
17. Amnervad - does size matter, local elephant transports trees along the high street; notice how tiny the car seems next to the Elephant.
18. Aina meal palace at Bhuj - The setting for the Indian film ‘Lagaan’. The remains of the 2001 Earthquake.
19. The arid grasslands to the North, South and West of Bhuj are home to a number of pastoral tribes – The Bharwood shepherds and goat herds, the Rabari camel and cattle herders, Maldhars who keep Buffaloes, Samra and Sandhi Muslim cameleers and others.
21. Local Ironmongers sit all day in flat turnout.
22. An old lady spins cotton.
23. The cotton is then woven into Shawls.
24. The Grandmas go to market.
25. A man awaits his turn at the Cobblers.
26. Mandavi - A fishing port dominated by the sea trade taking cotton, spices, rice etc. This ship will be going to Dubai.
27. Local Mandavi school children pack into a taxi.
28. The Portuguese influence in Diu is strongly shown on the local buildings.
29. Woman prepare fish for drying at Vanakbara fishing village.
30. Pot washing.
31. The original paintings in a local church.
32. Amnervad – Gandhi Ashram head was the headquarters during the long struggle for Indian independence. He founded the Ashram in 1915. On March 12th 1930 Gandhi set out on his salt march to the Gulf of Cambay in a symbolic protest. His poignant Spartan living quarters are preserved and there’s an excellent pictorial record to his life.
33. The local paper factory.
34. The extremes of India, this slum is the view from the five star Royal Meridian hotels in Ahmedabad.
35. Ahmedabad international kite festival.
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