Taj Mahal

So beautiful, so iconic, the Taj Mahal needs no introduction or words. This was the first official day of the start of our trip and, after our drive from Delhi to Agra to get here, we spent the rest of the day touring the Taj Mahal and the Taj Fort. 

Of the dozens of photos I took, below are just a random smattering and are in no particular order.  The photos do not cover how much there is to see here. 

Must have been drunk when I took this

Rhesus Macaque

Five-striped Palm squirrel

Cattle Egret

Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)

In training for Trump visit

There is a story attached to this.

We visited on Sunday, February 23rd - the day before Donald Trump's visit.  Everywhere the streets were being cleaned, barricades put up and ubiquitous signs like the one above hung from every lamppost, fence and building.  Most of the signs were of  Trump standing alone or juxtaposed with Narendra Modi, India's Prime Minister.  The Indians certainly had Donald Trump's number.  Once inside the Taj Mahal grounds a few of us were sitting on a ledge waiting for our guide to rejoin us.  Out of nowhere, a young woman with a microphone in her hand came up to us and asked where we were from.  Carli proudly announced "California" (six of ten in the group were from California.) The reporter asked if we would mind commenting on Donald Trump's visit for their news story.  When she walked away to get her cameraman we were in a panic.  Oh my god, what are we going to say?  We knew we couldn't say anything uncomplimentary.  We didn't have time to think about it because she was back in seconds and was holding the microphone up to Carli.  "He's going to love the Taj Mahal.  It's so beautiful.  We love it."  Moves to the next of us who repeats the same thing.  Next, the same; next the same.  Finally she gave up.  The reporter must have thought she was interviewing a bunch of dummies.  I hope they didn't show it on their evening news.

One of the signs, however, did show something which I liked very much.  It showed Modi and Trump standing together with the following words written above, "The world's oldest democracy meets the world's largest democracy."  I liked the sound and the feeling of that.

For our very early departure the following morning even more barricades were up and our van had to find a way around these.  It was obvious that men and women had worked through the night to finish the spruce-up and were still at work in the early morning.  It was touching to see how nice everything looked.     

Sleeping bats

Architectural detail

Spotted Owlets from the Taj Fort grounds

Our north India group!

Of course, the Taj Mahal is now closed secondary to coronavirus.  But it will reopen one day.  One cautionary note, I learned from a colleague that the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays.  So, if you go, don't plan your visit for a Friday.

This ends post #3.  Next post:  Tiger

Old Delhi

February 21, 2020:  To get to Old Delhi we had to take a car through some parts of Delhi to our bicycle rickshaw transfer spot.  Here I include a smattering of photos, in no particular order, from our full day of sightseeing.

The only time on the whole trip that I recall seeing an open road.

Catholic Church in Delhi

The Red Fort

Street dog sleeping amongst the throngs of visitors to the Red Fort

A pair of Rosy-ringed Parakets - we saw these every day.

Boys with special religious symbol at the Red Fort.

Our Old Delhi tour group:  Me, Ansar Khan, Jay and Susan.

Transfer to our bicycle rickshaws

The back of my bicycle rickshaw driver.  My fellow passenger was our guide.

Now we are in Old Delhi

Market stall

Police taking selfie

Trip participants Jay and Susan in their bicycle rickshaw

Shoe market street

Another food market stall.

Check out the electrical grid.

Above and below:  Two more market stalls.

Above and below:  On the street

Yet another market stall.  The fragrance from the spices was lovely.

Street scene taken from the stairs of the Jama Masjid mosque in Old Delhi, one of the largest mosques in India.

Jama Masjid mosque

Boy climbing Jama Masjid mosque stairs with flip flops in his hands.

On the left, our guide Shirook - spelled incorrectly, walking up mosque steps.  He was hilarious, every time he was in a photo he had to put on his reflective lens sunglasses.  Good guide.

Following our visit to the mosque, we left Old Delhi in a car without having the opportunity to say goodbye to our bicycle rickshaw drivers. Upon arrival at the mosque we hopped out of the rickshaws and ran up the mosque steps not knowing our drivers would be paid and dismissed at that point.  This made me sad because I would have liked to thank them personally.  They really looked out for us and did not allow us to get lost in the Old Delhi crush of activity.  Cost of our two hour rickshaw ride - 500 rupees; by my crude calculation about $7. Obviously, I would have liked to tip them more.  It was a great visit, made all the better having experienced it from a bicycle rickshaw.  

Following our departure from Old Delhi we had a lunch at a terrific traditional restaurant of which I, uncharacteristically, neglected to take a photo. No photos of the great food either.  There was so much to see and everywhere I looked something new was happening.  It was hard for me to always be cameral ready.   

Above and below:  Lotus Temple

Asian Pied Starling (Gracupica contra) on the grounds of Lotus Temple

House Crow (Corvus splendens) on the grounds of Lotus Temple

Finally, above and below, India Gate a memorial to Indian soldiers who fought in World War 1.

One of the final photos of the day, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi leading his followers.

This ends post #2.  Next post:  Taj Mahal

India

Recent return from India with over 2,000 photos to go through will keep me busy.  In the early stages of looking through them all and trying to be critical.  Plan to delete as many bad photos as possible.

It was a spectacular trip and in the coming days and weeks I'll post the best of my photos.  Please have a look.  I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Map with highlighted places visited

Old Delhi market stall with things like figs

Old Delhi resident

  

Itinerary

Feb 21:  1:00 am arrival at Delhi Airport, transfer to Pride Plaza Hotel, Aerocity, Delhi, sightseeing around a part of Delhi and bicycle rickshaw tour of Old Delhi.

Feb 22:  Free day

Feb 23:  Official start of trip with bus ride to Agra.  Full afternoon at the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.  Overnight at hotel in Agra.

Feb 24:  Depart Agra on 6 hour bus ride to Rajastan / Ranthambhorne Tiger Reserve

Feb 25:  Ranthambhorne Kohti Hotel / Ranthambhorne TR

Feb 26:  Ranthambhorne Kohti Hotel / Ranthambhorne TR

Feb 27:  Ranthambhorne Kohti Hotel / Ranthambhorne TR

Feb 28:  Ranthambhorne Kothi / final safaris at Ranthamborne TR.  7:00 pm train trip from Sawai Madhopur Railway Station to Delhi.  Arrive Delhi around midnight.  Overnight at Red Fox Hotel.

Feb 29:  AM departure from Delhi Red Fox Hotel for flight from Delhi to Rajkot, Gujarat drive to Gir National Forest 

Feb 29:   Gateway Hotel / Gir National Forest

Mar 01:  Gateway Hotel / Gir National Forest

Mar 02:  Gateway Hotel / Gir National Forest

Mar 03:  4:00 am Gateway Hotel departure for drive to Ahmedabad airport for flight to Delhi.  Pride Plaza Hotel.  

Mar 04:  4:00 am hotel departure for flight Delhi to Guwahati, Assam, drive to Infinity Resort / Kaziringa National Park

Mar 05:  Infinity Resort / Kaziranga NP

Mar 06:  Infinity Resort / Kaziranga NP

Mar 07:  Early morning departure from Infinity Resort / Kazaringa NP for flight to Delhi.  Evening at Pride Plaza Hotel in Aerocity, Delhi.

Mar 08:  3:00 AM departure from Delhi Airport -> Amsterdam -> arriving Detroit 16:30

This ends post #1.  Next post:  Old Delhi 

03/28/28 addendum:  This entry was published on 03/10/20, two days after arriving back home and 18 days after I am writing this addendum.  Our trip had been planned for a year prior to departure.  Since returning, it has occurred to me over and over that if our trip has been scheduled to depart just one or two weeks later, it would never have occurred at all.  I'm not one to think of myself as a lucky person, but sometimes we have just plain good luck on our sides.

Meet the Bird Medics of New Delhi

On the eve of an upcoming India trip, from the New York Times today (02/07/20) comes an encouraging and discouraging article.  How can that be?  Read on.

Meet the Bird Medics of New Delhi

In two weeks I am on my way to northern India, so this really captured my attention.

2019 Best of SMLC Wildlife @ Creek Crossing

LaFurge Woods SE MI Land Conservancy - 2019