India Photo index

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Here's a very interesting site on Indian History - from my friend Ashwini.

Jaipur - The pink city

Welcome to Jaipur! (53k)

Cow's it going?! (70k)

It's a bit dusty... (26k)

...things are not always quite right - I like this picture - for some inexplicable reason it makes me think of India! (53k)

But the people are great! (A young moped rider) (42k)

...and the sights can be stunning! (28k)

and the food was good! (66k)

..and there were plenty of interesting characters... (42k)

..Siblings under the watchful eye of an older sister (52k)

Happy! (48k)

This photo is one of my favourite from the whole of India - it sums up a major lesson from this country. (I wonder what the Hindi means?) (51k)

Building a new drain (67k)

DIY market - Jaipur (81k)

Traditional Rajasthani dolls for sale.. (81k)

Shoes! (76k)

Gate to the pink City Palace (48k)

Sewing machine dealers - Jaipur (58k)

High street (46k)

Road works - Jaipur (62k)

Boys play on the roof-top verandahs of shops

..the streets are pretty busy.. and the traffic congested..But they have... (57k)

..they have Kareoke police to keep things under control. (34k)

Jaipur (59k)

Water woman (46k)

...but this cow prefers `Thumbs up' - India's very own `Coca Cola' (54k)

Children, on the way to the Monkey temples - Jaipur (55k)

Digging drains - hard work but OK pay (58k)

Brothers on their bike (58k)

Market produce - better than Sainsburys' any day! (58k)

On the way to the Monkey Temples (58k)

On the way to a Rajasthani wedding! (42k)

The groom arrives... (59k)

Palace of the winds (Hawa Mahal)... (58k)

Jaipur's many palaces.. and many tourists! (69k)

Reading the morning paper - Jaipur (46k)

Touring the dodgy back streets at night - Jaipur (32k)

Road sweepers near the City palace (40k)

Cycle rickshaw - early morning (66k)

Jaipur road works (75k)

Kite flying is big in Jaipur - but these kids have a problem! (59k)

Jaipur - downtown (59k)

Outskirts of Jaipur, late afternoon (52k)

Pigs and monkeys! ..and a... (35k)

..Cow on the way to the Monkey Temples.. (36k)

I like monkeys... (37k)

...and more monkeys... (48k)

I met some school children up at the Monkey Temples - `fishing for monkeys' (46k)

...and then you taunt monkeys to jump for the carrots. (39k)

Late afternoon across Jaipur - it's a bit hazy! (35k)

Maharajah High (72k)

Lessons - Maharajah High (66k)

I'm a distraction... (44k)

This high school was originally built by the Maharajah as a gift to his people (45k)

Rush hour near the main city gate (58k)

Sunrise - looking towards the Monkey temples (19k)

Roof-top sunrise - Jaipur (18k)

Sunset above Jaipur (23k)

I had to climb this... (34k)

View from the top... (57k)

Palace of the winds, view to the tower (59k)

Windows, detail (57k)

Front facade, Hawa Mahal - Palace of the winds (63k)

Hawa Mahal (68k)

Women and shopping (53k)

Sculptures in the City Palace (62k)

Pillars in the City Palace (58k)

The City Palace (48k)

Inside the City Palace museum (70k)

Silver urns used to carry water from the Ghanjis to England, so the Maharajah could bathe. (61k)

Doors of the Palace (65k)

Wading bird near the Lake Palace - Jaipur (28k)

The beautiful Lake Palace - Jaipur (22k)

Even the locals are impressed! (50k)

Causeway, late afternoon (23k)

Birds skim the lake (20k)

The stunning Lake Palace (27k)

Oblique view of the Lake Palace (45k)

Lone kite (47k)

The Maharajah's Palace and Hill fort in the distance (58k)

Jantar Mantar - The world's largest sun dial! (41k)

Detail of the marble(?) panels which measurements are made on (28k)

Smaller, but no less intriguing sundials and star gazing bowls (36k)

A mosque in Jaipur - you can certainly hear the prayer calls in the early morning! (73k)

Jaipur from the hill fort (67k)

Artificial lake built by the Maharajah (24k)

The Lake Palace (46k)

Lone figure on the battlements of the hill fort (48k)

View over the city from the hill fort (62k)

Sunset - Jaipur (19k)

The sun dips below the horizon - Jaipur (26k)

The lights of the city at night - I returned on foot through the city.. (53k)

Udaipur! A small lakeside town - don't be put off by your arrival at the train station - head for the lake! (76k)

Yes, it is a bit of a tourist town - but still very friendly and relaxed. (93k)

The views from even a cheap hotel like mine are stunning - not bad for 100 Rupees per night! (36k)

Looking from the Hotel roof garden towards the temple and the City Palace (50k)

Room with a view (34k)

Tourist-carrying elephants are a regular sight in Udaipur's narrow streets (81k)

Women wash and bath at the city ghat - how do they get those saris so bright! (67k)

The beautiful white jigsaw puzzle that is Udaipur's charm.. (101k)

A typical roof-top garden (129k)

Making quilts in the roof-top sun (88k)

The Lake Palace of `Octopusy' fame (48k)

Stone elephants guard the Summer Palace (71k)

Washing - a daily event in Udaipur (75k)

Looking across to the Monsoon Palace (81k)

Constructing roads to hill villages - hard work and low pay... (93k)

Roof top jigsaws - visually fascinating... (88k)

City Palace reflections (73k)

More views from my guest house window! (86k)

Follow that taxi! ..elephant rides (55k)

City palace walls (54k)

Lakeside boats (54k)

View from the guest house to the roof-tops below (90k)

Cycle wallah - very useful! (78k)

Door with a view (27k)

After some haggling - only to 50% - I went for the compulsory elephant ride through the streets... Elephants are cool! (60k)

Neighbours are always nearby in Udaipur (68k)

Oranges! (47k)

Looking from the Ghats (57k)

Cricket - note the restaurant featuring a `natural attic' in the bill board behind (38k)

`Which country you from?' `...New Zealand..' `India has better cricket team!' (60k)

A nosy dog... (43k)

Repairing the City palace (85k)

Paving (38k)

Kids playing near the Ghats (61k)

My rickshaw driver - sunset at the Monsoon Palace. He was saving money for his sister's dowry. I made the mistake of asking where he learnt to drive an auto-rickshaw... (40k)

Hindu temple near the centre of town (50k)

Vegetable growers on the island in the centre of lake Pichhola - an idyllic spot (68k)

Not quite a six! (59k)

Kids (48k)

School trip to the City Palace (65k)

Construction site in Udaipur... I'm a little concerned at the reinforcing... (54k)

Holy man - Udaipur (44k)

Clearing weed from the lake (56k)

Mummy knows best... (61k)

Contemplating a donation... (61k)

Watching the world go by - these roof top gardens provide endless views of the street life below... (72k)

Washing at the City Ghat (70k)

Not everyone has a home - but at least it's warm - early morning (65k)

Udaipur is pretty lively at night too (73k)

Taken from the clock tower, Udaipur (74k)

The Lake Palace at night (41k)

A boat setting off to resupply the Lake Palace hot (52k)

The Monsoon Palace looks out over the city (59k)

Detail of the City Palace (52k)

Residents off to the Lake Palace - made famous by James Bond in Octopusy (68k)

Udaipur from the lake (28k)

Lake view (51k)

A second, larger island in the lake also contains a fine summer palace (70k)

Lake shore ghats (58k)

A bird skims across the Lake - the undeveloped far-side of Udaipur (50k)

Washing time.. (44k)

The water is almost tempting.. (73k)

Out to dry (53k)

Kids love looking through my camera.. (45k)

Kids on the city Ghat (52k)

Just looking (35k)

Women returning from bathing in the lake... I wasn't so keen after seeing a dead dog in the water.., (82k)

Returning from the ghats (55k)

Persil automatic? (65k)

Early morning on the lake front (82k)

Clothes washing (65k)

Clothes washing (87k)

Clothes washing (86k)

Children helping out.. (82k)

Looking towards the City Palace (73k)

Looking towards the Lake Palace (71k)

Sunset on the way up to the Monsoon Palace (56k)

The walls of the Monsoon Palace (56k)

Tourists watch the sunset from the balcony of the Monsoon Palace (59k)

The Bolted doors of the Palace - we had to pay a rather unofficial looking man a few Rupees to get in... (68k)

Overlooking the lake and Udaipur from the Monsoon Palace (60k)

Villagers make a road to Udaipur across the hills (89k)

Water pump (64k)

City Palace elephants (64k)

Camel - at the historic place where a 3 legged horse died after rescuing a Maharajah from battle... a bizarre tourist spot. (79k)

Souvenir and silver shops line the road sacred temple (84k)

Your name on a rice (84k)

The lemonade drink made from ice and sugar cane is really refreshing... and very sweet! (51k)

Holy man in Nathdwara (hope I've got the name/place right!) (49k)

Silversmith (46k)

Purple child in a knitted jump suit! (58k)

Men in discussion during the heat of the day - Haldi Ghati (80k)

Silver/Jewellery shop - they were everywhere near the temple! (95k)

Streets of Nathdwara - moving mellons (69k)

Welcome to Jodhpur! (41k)

Jodhpur's fort dominates the town.. (62k)

Jodhpur - The Blue city (65k)

Roof tops - Jodhpur (97k)

The fort dominates Jodhpur - detail of a gallery (74k)

The ominous entrance to the fort (39k)

Company car.. if you were a Maharajah! (46k)

The Blue City - view from the fort of Jodhpur (61k)

The impressive palace on the out-skirts of town - actually designed by a British architect (98k)

Inside the impressive fort... (87k)

Temple on the fort battlements (51k)

Detail of the carved panels of the palace (95k)

View from the fort (98k)

Looking down on the blue city (86k)

Houses... with satellite dishes! - Jodhpur (85k)

Maharajah's mausoleum? - near the fort (86k)

..children carve sandstone panels nearby to restore the fort and temple - they were pretty skilled! (61k)

Rubble - beneath the fort - hurrying to catch the train to Jaisalmer (77k)

Jaisalmer (42k)

Jaisalmer locals.. and a typical Hindi truck (90k)

Looking out from the battlements of Jaisalmer's sandstone fort (87k)

Dogs catch some early morning sun (75k)

Kids playing on a roof (72k)

Woman in doorway (83k)

Drying out chapattis (?) in the sun (77k)

My hosts in Jaisalmer - accommodation right on the battlements overlooking the Sam desert! (99k)

These little squirrel things were scampering about everywhere.. (43k)

Everyone dropped in to watch the cricket.. India vs Pakistan in the Independence cup! (49k)

Donkeys at the main entrance to the fort (72k)

Women at the lower gate of the fort (59k)

Lone donkey (34k)

Early morning sun - everyone seemed to just sit around and admire the view (42k)

..a good place to put your feet up! (50k)

A palace courtyard inside the fort (81k)

Amazing carved sand stone facades are a feature of the palace (103k)

Looking out from the palace - the Maharajah's chair is protected by a cage (119k)

Detail of the carved windows of the palace (119k)

Another courtyard within the palace (58k)

Holy cows - the narrow streets of the fort seemed to be plagued with cows and donkeys (58k)

Boy and a small calf (49k)

Kids in the fort - I had to buy a lot of Kit Kats! (47k)

Small child (45k)

Girls writing their address for me in the temple - something like `house near the shop in the fort in Jaisalmer' - they assured me the post would get there - everyone knows everyone in Jaisalmer - or at least that's how it used to be said my hosts (57k)

Polishing shoes (70k)

This man was not a happy retailer - Jaisalmer fort - main gate (85k)

Three friends (54k)

A busy street below the fort (83k)

Fresh fruit & veges - excellent quality (88k)

These cows weren't making themselves popular in the market (55k)

Mr Desert. India's (or at least Rajasthan's) very own Mr Marlborough. His office is next to the main gate of the fort and he runs a good camel safari! (He used to be a truck driver but won fame in a camel riding `Mr Desert' competition) (35k)

Burial ground for the ashes of the Maharajahs (73k)

Detail of a carving (51k)

Looking across the tombs to the Sam desert (67k)

We began our camel trek near sunset - this is Babu (I think) (43k)

The thousand year-old sandstone gate to the Jain temple - the former capitol was abandoned and moved to Jaisalmer some time ago (53k)

Inside the Jain temple (74k)

Hundreds of little feet carved in sandstone in the Jain temple (57k)

Detail of the restored temple.. (75k)

The main shrine (64k)

Wells in the desert (77k)

Collecting water (59k)

Late afternoon sun at the well (61k)

Woman carrying water across the dunes (60k)

Drying out cow dung (72k)

Mr Desert in a villager's home (60k)

Cows looking for water (55k)

Collecting water (56k)

Children on the outskirts of Jaisalmer (69k)

Beneath the sandstone battlements of Jaisalmer fort (51k)

Camel with a flower on its nose (63k)

Girl with child - outskirts of Jaisalmer (75k)

Drain layers inside the fort (45k)

Donkeys and embroided fabrics in the narrow streets of the fort - yes they accept VISA! (79k)

Finishing some new steps.. (76k)

Yes! The kids play cricket here as well! (63k)

Gateway into the fort (36k)

Sunrise from my 1 pound per night room! (37k)

The rising sun casts shadows on the palace walls (77k)

Looking along the city walls to the desert (71k)

The crumbling Maharajah's palace (69k)

Sunrise across the lake - the main washing place and site of funeral pyres (35k)

Stone houses in the fort (63k)

What a view! - The Maharajah's window (71k)

Detail of carved window (53k)

Wheeling a bike through the narrow main gate (51k)

The beautiful narrow streets of Jaisalmer fort - no auto rickshaws here! (66k)

Jain temples in Jaisalmer fort (58k)

Inside the palace museum (45k)

View from the roof of my guest house (81k)

Home-made skipping rope (67k)

Jaisalmer streets (79k)

Women, cows and children - Jaisalmer (68k)

Washing on the line (62k)

Haveli window (64k)

The western walls of the fort - my room was perched on one of the battlements above (63k)

A mixture of crumbling ruins and family homes (86k)

Embroidery for sale - Jaisalmer (78k)

Yes, there are tourist shops here! (47k)

Women chatting (61k)

Family Haveli next to the Jain temple (67k)

Embroidery and quilts on display (77k)

Dusk over the city (51k)

Man with a big sword - this might be Jaipur (68k)

Sunrise - near the Gate of India, Mumbai (Bombay) (45k)

Looking towards Elephanta Island, dawn (29k)

Coconuts, Gate of India (59k)

Churchgate station! A rather sudden introduction tlife in Bombay. (59k)

Churchgate station - finding where your next train leaves and confirming reservations was slightly non-trivial (62k)

Crossing the street from the station... (70k)

London? ..Bobmbay has a fleet of red double-deckers (67k)

A good deal - sellers outside Victoria station - a very impressive gothic station (58k)

Retreating to the central park.. for a bit of cricket (36k)

An oasis in downtown Bombay! (43k)

Watching cricket in the park (52k)

The score... (60k)

Sweepers in the park (52k)

Bombay public library - not a big collection for 9 million people... (67k)

The postgraduate school located in central Bombay (63k)

The department of modesty - 3 PhDs! (49k)

The solid state physics laboratory (52k)

Dining across from the Taj hotel - ICCV98 conference banquet... (57k)

..but everyone can share the view. (40k)

Bombay Central - on my way to Jaipur... (83k)