| India
- From Moghuls and Maharajas |
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Pros: Friendly people, interesting
place, impressive monuments and buildings
Cons:
none
Visit to Delhi and
Agra
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.
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. |
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