Post 15 of Blog India and Mauritius.

 On March 27th, we arrived at the Port of Cochin (Cochi). Jeff did an excursion and I waited to leave on my 7 day Overland of India trip.  Jeff’s backwater excursion and mine a day later overlapped in sites so I will use my pictures. The backwater trip, Kumbalangi Village, presented life in early India where the coconut, fish, and farming was the primary occupation of the people.  That evening, those on the ship who were not going overland sailed away for Mauritius. The next morning the 160 of us visited the backwater village and stayed overnight to catch a morning flight to New Delhi. 

Kumbalangi Village

Chinese fishing boats

Chinese fishing boats and nets

Shredding coconuts for food use and making coconut milk

Loom for making coconut outer layer fiber to make ropes

Coconut rope

Thatched roof making

Rope making

Demonstration on how to make a coconut paste with onions and salt

Mussels boiled and separated so shells can be crushed for making lime

Tiger fish caught using throw nets

Baskets made using coconut palms

Tobacco grown and cigarettes made using ebony tree leaves as wrappers

Tree orchids

Tree orchids

On March 30th, we boarded buses to Agra, 4 hours away. After lunch we headed to Agra’s Red Fort built at the start of the 16th Century and was used until after WW II. After lunch we visited the Taj Mahal and stayed for a sunset view. I was exhausted but it was so beautiful but very crowded. That night we enjoyed a Kathak dance performance. This was a representation of traditional ceremonial dances respecting the God Shiva. 

Outer walls of Agra Red or Rotes Fort

Delhi gate 

Jahangir Palace

Palace with Muslim Star symbol

Decorated columns

Decorated columns

View of Taj Mahal from Palace (magnified)

Diwali-i-Khas

Diwan-i-Khas

Inlay work on column

Fountain outside Shah Jahan’s bedroom area

Interior of Dewan I Am (hall of public audience)

Dewan I Am Hall area

Hall of Public audience

Tomb of Russell Colvin who was first to die

In the Sepoy Rebellion in 1857

Concubine housing outside of Taj Mahal

Wide view of Taj Mahal

One side of Taj Mahal

Yamuna River at Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal at sunset

Arising at 4 am, we took a bus ride to see the Taj Mahal at sunrise. Not as crowded but so beautiful reflecting the eastern sun rise. After that, we returned to the hotel for breakfast and headed out to see the old city of Fatehpur Sikri. This is a red sandstone city founded in 1569 by Akbar. It was the capital of the Mughal Empire for only 10 years as the city had limited water access. It was abandoned in 1610. We then took the 4 hour ride back to Delhi.

Monkeys waking up and entering the Taj Mahal area

Judi at Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal at sunrise

Main entrance gate to Taj Mahal

Green 3 at Taj Mahal

Outer wall ruins of city’s fortress

Inside garden and viewing site for king’s meetings

Dewan-i-Khas

Singular Column holding up ceiling

Panch Mahal

Akbar’s Haren Complex

King’s bed built high and with stone to deter assassination

Red sandstone carvings

Jody’s Bai’s Palace

Entrance area built so difficult to enter on horse or carry weapons

On April 1st, we began our day by driving past Delhi’s Red Fort, built during the Mughal Dynasty. This fortification was used off and on for centuries. We then visited the burial site of Gandhi. This garden and site was impressive. The walkway to the tomb was surrounded by carved slabs of Gandhi’s saying. There was an eternal flame and many visitors arrive daily.  Fun was our next stop in Old Delhi. We took a bicycle rickshaw ride through the bizarre allies to see what daily life is like in this warehouse district.  We ended our morning outing with a bus tour of the city visiting the government center and the various monuments dotting the city’s parks. 

Eternal flame and Gandhi’s grave memorial

Quote

Quote

Gandhi Statue at Memorial

Old wall of Delhi Red Fort

Friend Pat and I in rickshaw

Shrine

Fabrics 

Sweet treat sales

How to move goods around Old Delhi (no motor vehicles)

Large Mosque in Old Delhi

Old British Colonial office building

Goats in Old Delhi

Old gate to Old Delhi

Government Offices

India Gate with War Memorial

One of many statuaries located in round-about

Presidential Hall and Offices

Government Offices

Indian Parliament

Rising at 2 am the next morning we made our way to the Delhi airport for a 7 hour flight to Mauritius. All I saw was the sugar fields and the remains of ancient pyramids found on the island. We boarded the Neptune and are now heading to South Africa. 

Ancient pyramids

Mauritius mountains 

thanks to Jeff for editing all my pictures