India - From Mogules and Maharajas

Accompany me to a fascinating country in asia in which the time has apparently partly stopped. From the over 900 million inhabitants 60 million permanently are on a journey, these are pilgrim- or visit journeys, and we also joined this mass movement.
Delhi, the capital of India, with over 10 millions people greets us with tropical temperatures which to some extent is still tolerable because of the relatively low atmospheric humidity in April.

New Delhi, the new town with its broad avenues, generous parks and buildings in the Colonial style laid out in the twenties by the brits seethes before lives. Via the Connaught Place in the heart of new Delhi we went along the Rajpath from the India Gate to the parliament and to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, early residence of the viceroy, today the president of the republic.

The cows which suspends all traffic regulations as well as water buffalos and camels, the most frequent means of transportation, belongs to the street unavoidable here.

The monument of the Mogulemporer Humayun which is regarded as an example of the Taj Mahal as well as the Qutub Minar, a 72 meters high tower with remarkable sculpture and the oldest iron column of the world from the 4th century which hasn't put on rust to this day, is remarkable. It is said if you can grasp this column with your arms folded on the back your greatest wish will be fulfilled.

We reconnoiter old Delhi with its narrow streets full of corners with rickshaws. We past the red Fort, which was set up by the Mogul emperor Shahjahan with beautiful marble halls and gardens to the Jama Masjid, the largest mosque of India.

Agra - Taj Mahal

Our next destination is Agra, in the 16th and 17th century capital of the mogul century, which becomes famous for the Taj Mahal, the mausoleum set up by the mogul emporer Shahjahan for its favorite wife in 22-year construction time made of white marble. Being astonished and movedly we stand before this miracle of architecture and a symbol of great love of a man for its wife. Been lost in thought we experience a lovely sundown at this building which is counted as one of the Wonders of the World rightly.

The next day leads us to the red Fort with its numerous palaces and to the monument of the Itmad-ud Daulah, a marble making with marvelous inlay work and the precursor of the Taj Mahal started with a little later.

Feels further to Sikri, the capital the Mogulkaisers Akbar deserted for lack of water after only 14 years, with very well received palaces and mosques and to Jaipur, also called "pink city" center because of their pink touch.
In 1728 Rajasthans became capital appointed by Maharaja Jai Singh. It is laid out quite modernly.

The most remarkable building in the town is the Hawa Mahal, the "palace of the winds" behind whose façade the ladies of the court could unseenly pursue the hustle and bustle in the streets of the town. The observatory laid out by Jai Singj, a great mathematician, Jantar Mantar, with whose equipment, certainly today, one can determine the time and the run of the stars quite exactly doesn't lie far away.

A collection of miniatures, weapons and splendor gowns finally expects us in the town palace from the time of the Maharajas.

The visit of the bazaar where we stock up on spices and exquisite side brings us back from Thousand and One Nights into the colored hustle and bustle of the 20th century.

 
The palace and fortress plant Amber isn't far away located. We reach it on the back of elephants. It gives us a lovely look about Jaipur and the distance of the flat country behind.
An adventure of special manner is the return journey over the freeway to Dehli. Certainly never a camel waggon has met you on your journeys on the freeway, don't spare as a ghost-driver on the wrong road at all?
However, our driver mastered this, like also some other obstacles with quiet and calmness.
 

Arrived in Dehli again the visit still lines up the Lakshmi Narayan temple, also called Birla temples.

We find a contrast to the old splendor of the Mogulbuildings and the modern style of the birdsfoot trefoil temple of the Bahai religious sect.
 

Unfortunately, we must say goodbye now. Say goodbye to impressive buildings, to the Indian way of living and to crowds, as far as you can see. However, the fascination and variety of this country will still remain long in memory and possibly let the decision mature for us to pay another visit to this country to also discover the south of this big, mystic country.