Sarah is another travel-nut from the On The Go Tours team, who recently travelled to India. Read about her adventures in her photo blog.
1. Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque.
Fully covered, here’s me posing in front of Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque.
2. Daily rituals at Jama Masjid
This immense mosque was one of the first places we visited in Delhi and was a great people-watching opportunity. People came in their droves to pray and socialise within the grounds and I loved the peaceful atmosphere – a world away from the hustle and bustle of Delhi’s streets!
3. Zodiac instrument in Jantar Mantar
The Taurus (my star sign!) Zodiac instrument in Jantar Mantar on a beautiful day. This fascinating observatory in Jaipur is full of astronomical instruments and demonstrates India’s long history of knowledge. The accuracy of these tools was incredible and our guide told us how each one worked and some interesting facts. For instance, local astronomers still use it to predict the weather for local farmers!
4. Jaipur street scene
A typical street scene of Jaipur against the stunning Palace of the Winds. This picture perfectly displays old and new India – cars and rickshaws motor past the gorgeous Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds, built to enable royal ladies to watch the scenes below without being seen themselves.
5. Heading to the Amber Fort by elephant
Our elephant train heading towards the Amber Fort - I’d never ridden an elephant before and what better way to do it than on a colourfully decorated elephant transporting me to the impressive 16th century Amber Fort! I felt like royalty!
6. The Abhaneri Stepwell
The incredible geometric sight of the Abhaneri Stepwells - On the way from Jaipur to Bharatpur we stopped off at this amazing stepwell near a temple with beautifully intricate carvings. The huge stepwell itself was perfectly preserved and walking up and down the zigzag steps was a real lesson in symmetry!
7. A village school in Peharsar
The class of a village school in Peharsar - After Abhaneri we made a stop at a village school where we handed out school equipment to the friendly children. It was an emotional experience as the kids were so excited by things like pens and felts, things we take for granted. It was a great insight into rural India.
8. Keoladeo Ghana National Park
Wildlife spotting in the UNESCO listed Keoladeo Ghana National Park. No vehicles are allowed in this peaceful bird sanctuary so a rickshaw ride brought us into the grounds where with the help of binoculars we saw a host of colourful and somewhat weird-looking birds! My personal favourite was the lanky painted stalk sitting in the trees.
9. The Taj Mahal
No trip to India is complete without seeing the Taj Mahal, the ultimate display of love. I’d seen it in pictures countless times before but nothing really prepared me for the grandeur and beauty of it in real life – it was awe-inspiring.
10. Sunset in Orchha
The gorgeous town of Orccha sits on the banks of the River Betwa and although it was only a short stop, I really feel for the small community and village-feel of Orccha. Much quieter than the tourist hotspots of Agra and Jaipur, the locals were extremely welcoming and chatty, and the combination of greenery, ancient temples and scenic river made it hard to leave.
