MoNuMeNtAl InDiA

I had so many ideas, to write about this post when i initially thought of  it. But to put it to keyboard was very tough job. There is just so much to start with and write about. I will try and showcase what ever i can that makes this the most culturally richest and diverse country "INDIA"

But no matter how much i write, its just too less for people elsewhere to understand what it is to live, know and enjoy this experience. 

So....a while back, a close friend of mine suggested we travel to north India. His plan was to visit the vaishno devi temple. This, in itself was a treacherous trek. Treacherous because i did not trust my body to complete this by itself. Well i took it as a challenge, as the only way to reach the shrine was to walk  up to it, IN THE NIGHT. Now the temperature gets pretty cold here but the warmth that's generated walking is can heat you up pretty well. I do not have any pics from this trek as cameras are not allowed near most shrines in India. But again i had to give a build up about this place as from here on the great indian adventure begins. 

We left from Vaishno devi temple to Amritsar. Now before i could speak anything about this city, i would like to talk about the food. Man, its amazing or what. Everything here is either fried in butter/desi ghee or made out thick curd :-P.

Our stop here were gonna be for3 things.

First up, (no its not the golden temple) was the Jallianwala Bagh:

91yrs ago, 50 British officers, at the command of General Dyer started to fire at a peace gathering in this Bagh. The only exit point to this park was sealed and the officers were ordered to shoot to kill as many people gathered there.

Memorial built at the park

Bullet Marks

we sat there for a while thinking of what could have gone through the people there and moved on.

Next up was the Golden Temple: This place, is all that General Dyer did not find in Jallianwala Bagh. Love, Peace and Brotherhood. Gurudwaras are always built with all that the people donate. This is why, a few complexes are still under construction. Donation does not mean, money alone. You can even carry a few bricks yourself at the site, or cook food for others etc., etc,  Everyday food, simple yet tasty food is served for all, barring caste, creed, gender, religion.

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After a sumptuous lunch here in the temple, i was looking forward to the most exciting part of this trip.

Very close to the city of Amritsar is a place that gets any Indian.....Goose bumps!!!!!

Its called Wagah border.

So Ladies and Gentlemen, below is exhibit A and to the left is a Heaven called India and to the right is...Ummmmmm, we all know what that is, right????

There is very big parade that happens every day, closing of International Gates between 2 countries and man its a pleasure to watch the intensity with which its done by both sides. It looks a little too over done on you tube, but unless you are there, it may not mean a lot to you.

Boy what a day this was!!!!!.


Next up was the Taj.... We all have seen so many travelers go "woooow" "amazing" blah..blah blah....on travel and living channel and i was all prepared to do that when i reached there.
When i did, that wasn't the case...
To really enjoy it, you have to sink in to the place, fight with the guides and then give it a little more time. Only then you start realizing what an amazing piece of monument this is. Building this for a loved one who is already is dead is so dreamlike (but not at the cost of 20K pair of hands that was cut of so another one like this could never be built again)

 

  

 

Carvings on marble

 

Agra Fort

 

ShahJahan spent his last days, looking at taj through this window

 

One of the 4 towers

10days of vacation was almost coming to an end. So we decided to leave to Delhi and go around spending time eating food. Here in Delhi, like Amritsar, you would find food only fried in butter/desi ghee.. i guess its really required considering the cold.