Allahabad - Triveni Sangam

Allahabad is an overnight train ride away from Agra. It is where Ganga meets Yamuna and Saraswati. The confluence of three rivers is called Triveni Sangam.

Haridwar/Rishikesh is where the pilgrim first begins his or her journey with the Ganges, Allahabad is what represents the life of the pilgrime and the liminality associated with it and Varanasi/Kashi and thereafter Gaya is where one bathes in the Ganges for the last time.

Other than the extremely aggressive, fast-selling, intimidating and almost scary boatmen trying to make you shell more cash for our ride - a dip in the Triveni Sangam was an exhilerating experience for me - spiritually or otherwise. The sights and sounds associated with the place are extremely beautiful and cannot be missed.
From the backseat of an Autorikshaw - on our way to the Triveni Sangam.

Family offering ashes of their dear departed to the river.

Boats lined up.

Man selling Jerry cans for pilgrims to take home some water.

Amma praying after the dip.

Priest blessing a child aboard a boat at the Sangam.

Our boatman.
Same guy without the headgear.

Woman prettying herself after a dip in the Ganges.

Man without his pants, taking a picture of his wife - woman in red. In the background, pilgrims taking a dip.

New Delhi

Delhi is an excellent city. Rickshaws and buses run on Compressed Natural Gas, so no more diesel pollution.

The city has initiated a tonne of beautification projects, poverty rehabilitation and public transit projects. More later.
Park at Connaught Place, Delhi. Right under this park is a huge market called Palika Bazaar, it is airconditioned and cheap. A great place to shop if you're shopping. The only turn off is overly aggressive shop keepers, but that again, is an experience in itself.
View out of a Rikshaw.
We are at one of Delhi's spanking new Metro Rail Stations. They have metal detectors and X-Ray machines and HUGE cars. I guess, its to accommodate the million people that got on with us.
India Gate at night. Once you drive through the gate (hypothetically, civilians are not allowed to drive through), one end of the road through houses the President's Residence and the other end has the National Stadium. The British built this back during the Raj with a statue of King George in the foreground. The statue of King George has been replaced by that of Gandhi.
Qutub Minar. Part of a huge mosque designed back in the 1100s.
Graves - presumably husband and wife, at the Qutub Minar.
Stones for the pillars above have been (allegedly) pulled out of Jain and Hindu temples that were demolished by Muslim invaders. This may or may not be true, i overheard a tour guide talk about it at length to a German couple.
That pillar in the background is made of iron and surprisingly hasn't eroded in the past 1000 years or so. Indian/Persian/Mughal/whatever metallurgy at work.

The T-A-J

East Gate of the Taj Mahal.


I never gave into all the hype about the Taj Mahal..i mean, yeah sure its there with all other things Islamic - a Dome and four minarets. But boy, was I in for a surprise or what !

Stepping into the complex itself, this thing is HUGE. And its off white now, but its Majestic and just terribly fantastic..

Its not gawdy at all, instead the Taj is classy and sombre and supremely cool. I forgot all the misgivings I had about Agra City with its pushy Rickshaw drivers, tour guides and foreign exchange scammers. In side the Taj complex, its a completely different world.

Everybody has to visit it. Tickets are Rs. 20 for Indian Nationals and Rs. 750 for foreign nationals. Being a Transnational like me helps a lot. The Taj opens at 6 am and closes at 7 pm. Be very vary of rickshaw drivers dragging you into Meena Market or a Marble shop, you are better of bargaining by yourself. Don't be ashamed to bargain, the boys selling little Taj Mahals still make a chummy chunk off tourists. Don't be ashamed to bargain, but don't be too inconsiderate. Make it a point to bargain down your price and then pay Rs. 10-20 over as a tip. It just makes them happy.

Amritsar

Deodhari gate - The main entry way to the Golden Temple.
The Harminder Sahib - Golden part of the Golden Temple. This is where the Guru Granth Sahib is kept during the day.
Golden Temple atop the Amrit Sarovar - Holy Lake.
Sewaks (Volunteers) toil to feed pilgrims. Anyone is free to eat or volunteer at the Golden Temple. The premises are open 24/7 and offer meals to everyone that comes in. Of course we ate !
Dishes !! Those steel plates are ones used to serve food. Imagine the dishes these volunteers have to do ..

Haridwar

A punter after the plunge.
Pilgrimes with shaven heads.
A priest offering his respects to the Ganges.
Man selling curios.
More pilgrimes. This pic is more for the fat man.

Amma and a.
Woman selling curios.
Taking the plunge at Haridwar.
Family offering clothes, food to the Ganges.
Pilgrimes. Temples line both sides of the Ganges.

The place is quiet clean inspite of all the people bathing.