Travel Destination: India - Bombay,Delhi,Agra
There are some magnificent buildings in Bombay, Victoria Terminus Railway Station, Prince of Wales Museum and many more, however again these buildings are in dire need of repair, most were built during the British occupation. We visited the largest garden in Bombay and also the Towers of Silence a Parsis (Zoroastrian) burial ground. The cemetary is in fact some open bushland with a tower in the middle where dead bodies are placed, males on the outer ring females in the mid ring and children within the inner ring. The bodies are then eaten by vultures. The Parsis beleive that to bury someone defiles the earth, to burn them defiles fire, to put them in the river poisons the water. There are only a few of these grounds left and the pollution in Bombay has killed most of the vultures. We saw a few vultures hanging around however did not see much else.
We didnt stay in Bombay for long, travelling overnight to Delhi by train 18 hours. Lucky we had our trusty Lonely Planet guide book to warn us of the scams and touts in Delhi who will try to rip you off every which was possible as soon as you arrive. Sure enough when we got there several men tried to get us to go to there booking office where they would receive a commision, we managed to get to the right place and make our booking to Agra. Then off to find the hotel. Again we were told to go to the wrong place, finally we got to the hotel.
The area we stayed was called Main Bazaar in Parharganj, Narrow streets, total confusion everywhere, millions of people, cattle roaming the streets and all manner of shops and street stalls selling the cheapest goods available. We visited India Gate the parliament area and Connaught Place the central area of Delhi. Definitely not for the faint hearted. We saw many polio victims and some lepers, in fact we were chased by a beggar with no legs or maybe half of one leg. We were cursed by a hindu priest, ripped off by an ear cleaner and taxi drivers. All taxi trips are open to barter in fact everything is to be bartered and until you know the approximate prices you will be ripped off each time. We also visited Indira Gandhi’s house and where she was assasinated. The Bahai Temple, the Red Fort and Old Delhi which was amazing.
The power supply in Delhi is downright dangerous, one night during dinner it failed completely, they brought out candles and all down the streets diesel powered generators fired up to run the shops and businesses. Power lines in the streets glowed red hot and sparks showered from several power line junctions right near to us, very scary.
Glowing Power Lines in Delhi
In the morning (saturday) we caught the train to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal and Red Fort. Absolutely amazing the Taj and surrounds is definitely one of the modern wonders of the world, totally beautiful. The Red Fort is also interesting. Agra itself is nothing spectacular.
Baby Taj Mahal - Agra
The beautiful and incomparable Taj Mahal
Back to Delhi for some more sight seeing and shopping, then train back to Bombay. On our last day we finally succumbed to Delhi Belly. Both Paul and I got some bug giving us acute diarrhea and stomach problems, which we are still suffering from. We didnt drink any tap water and believe we picked it up from the Tea House within the Red Fort in Delhi where the original Peacock Throne was located and now resides in Iran. It would have to be the worst diarrhea we have both experienced ever.
Written by Axxiom
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