Kolkata (Calcutta), West Bengal, India
The centre of India’s 3rd most populous urban area, a likeable city teeming with people & boasting some of India’s best British-era colonial architecture.
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India (2012)
When I decided to return this year to India, I did so with the city of Varanasi in mind. Yes, it’s as manic and overbearing as any Indian city, an unbridled mess that is one, if not the dirtiest city in India (and it has some pretty steep competition). All that said,...
Taj Mahal, Agra, India (2012)
It´s still 750 rupees (€10) to visit the Taj Mahal, just like it was when I was here in 2008 & in 2002 (incidentally that is 37.5 times the 20 rupees Indians have to pay, but who’s calculating). That’s a lot of money in India but given the number of foreigners...
Amritsar, Punjab, India
I’m on the 8-hour train back to Delhi having spent the last two nights in the north-western Indian city of Amritsar, the capital of the Indian state of Punjab. The reason most travellers who venture up here, me included, is to lay eyes on the city’s...
India-Pakistan Border Closing Ceremony
India-Pakistan Border Closing Ceremony Border Bravado. The Monty Python-esque Border Closing Ceremony Between Two Nuclear Armed Neighbours Wagah India-Pakistan border crossing, October 9, 2012 ; The Wagah border crossing between India & Pakistan, the only road...
Delhi, India (2012)
Delhi, also known as the National Capital Territory (NCT) of India, is the metropolitan region that includes the national capital city, New Delhi. With a population of 22 million in 2011, it is one of the world’s most populous metropolitan areas & the...
Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Jodhpur, a.k.a. The Blue City, is the last stop on my 3-stop itinerary of the Indian state of Rajasthan, the dusty, crumbling, ancient Land of Kings, home of the Rajputs, strong Hindu warrior caste clans with a passionate belief in the dictates of chivalry who...
Pushkar, Rajasthan, India
Pushkar is the second stop on my 3-stop itinerary of the Indian state of Rajasthan, the dusty, crumbling, ancient Land of Kings & home of the Rajputs, strong Hindu warrior caste clans with a passionate belief in the dictates of chivalry who controlled this part...
Bundi, Rajasthan, India
One wouldn’t need to spend the three weeks I’ve just spent in southern India in order to fully appreciate the differences between it and the northwestern state of Rajasthan, where I arrived yesterday. A few days would suffice. Rajasthan, the Land of Kings,...