Home again!

And trying to recover from jet lag!

 

Some of the 300+ pictures we took are here:   http://travel.webshots.com/album/579814969DblLbc

…and that about wraps it up!

I’m sure everybody is more or less familiar with the famous Taj Mahal and that part of India, at least through pictures and film.  The rest of India is sadly unknown to us!

Assam was wonderful!  Think, perhaps, of Costa Rica or Cuba…  Tropical and largely ‘unspoiled’.  We had excellent riding, there are several extremely significant nature preserves in the area, there are many tours available, by boat and land…  I would absolutely recommend it to anybody who wants to go somewhere completely different!

Check out www.assamteatourism.com   or you can email   purvidiscovery@gmail.com 

 

and I think that about wraps it up!

Last Day!

Got up early to greet the sunrise at the Taj Mahal!

Because of the heavy rain a few days earlier, humidity was high and the air seemed hazy.Whole books have been written about the Taj Mahal, so it is difficult to know where to begin.  In addition to being, really, incredibly beautiful it is also an engineering marvel.  Built 400 years ago, it displays an accuracy of construction that is partly responsible for its beauty.  It is almost perfectly symmetrical; on entering through the gate, each step you take reveals more of it in perfect stages—the first step shows only the mausoleum through the gate arch, the next step adds the rear columns, the next step adds the front columns, and so forth.  One step to either side removes 1/4 of the structure, another step removes 1/2, a third step removes 3/4s.  The arches of the mausoleum are bordered with script from the Koran.  Each letter (made of black stone imbedded in the marble) is progressively larger, so that the writing at the top of the arch (two stories high) appears exactly the same size as that at the bottom.(Oh, there are monkeys)  There are floral patterns of inlaid stone throughout (see smaller arch above), there is lattice work carved into the marble…  It is really quite amazingly beautiful.

Yes…we were really there!

All the places we saw in Agra—the Taj, the Fort, and Sikandra—were populated by brilliant green parakeets

there was a nest in that tree trunk…  also the maniacal ground squirrels…they look more like our chipmunks, but we were told ‘squirrels’:The sun was up by the time I took this picture…and it STILL looks like a mirage, or a vision from a fantasy….

Left, reluctantly, as we had to, to begin the trip home.  Another few hours on the road back to Delhi—reverse of the previous day…arriving in the city just as the full moon was rising.  Took this shot of India Gate: More shopping, then a dinner at a local restaurant (part of the package tour) then off to the airport, arriving about 10 pm, where we were met by the IndoAsia Tours rep who got our stuff squared away.  Check in counter opened at about 11 pm, then through the security stuff….which was INTERMINABLE!  Took something like an hour and half of standing in line to get the exit visa stamp...and that was BEFORE the ‘xray’ etc…that was just to get a date stamp applied to the passports!  Finally boarded the plane about 2:40 am for take-off at 3:20—on the 18th.  At this point we had been awake since about 6 am, so say 21 hours at this time.  Then a 5 1/2 hour flight to Shanghai (slept a little).  Oddly, Shanghai to Delhi took 7 1/2 hours…dunno why the difference.  Time is very strange over there!  I’ll never figure this out….  Anyway, hour or so layover and then the flight back to Vancouver (10 hours 20 mins—going the other way took 12 hours 5 minutes.  Prevailing winds?)  By now we had been up about 38 hours, other than sleeping on the planes….  Nice to get home, obvious new snow on the mountains…a lot colder than Delhi.  And that’s our story!

Road to Agra—Terre’s Report

Shortly before arriving Agra—perhaps an hour—we were met by our new guide at Sikandra.  Sikandra is the mausoleum of the Mogul emperor Akbar--construction was begun during his lifetime (1550-1605) and completed a few years after his death.  This isn’t Sikandra:--this is the gate to get INTO Sikandra.  The mausoleum itself is much, much bigger!  Between the gate and the tomb is a large park filled with some kind of “deer”—we think ibex (spelling?) of some variety.

There were also green parrots, and quite a few rather maniacal ground squirrels.  This is some of Sikandra itself:      

Look at the ‘lattice work’—this is carved out of single blocks of sandstone:       There is similar lattice work at the Taj Mahal—but there it is carved out of marble.

Leaving Sikandra, we completed the trip to Agra and visited the Agra Fort, also build by Akbar.  This was actually a fascinating place, as far as engineering goes.  You entered by crossing a drawbridge (a real drawbridge) that led you into a curved corridor—attacking soldiers that had passed through the curve could not retreat nor the following soldiers see what was happening; it was a trap.  A narrow, high walled ‘channel’ rising at a fairly steep angle that could be fired upon by archers from several directions—if that wasn’t enough there were channels for pouring boiling oil down that –if that didn’t kill them—would cause them to slip and fall trying to make the grade.  Beyond that and through another gate you entered a open area before another gate—this part was heavily populated with monkeys!then through another gate into the fort itself.  There was a LOT to see and visit in this fort—we were there for hours—and like the Red Fort in Delhi, only 25% of it is open to the public!  The rest is occupied by the Army.  For example, this is a huge bathtub, originally in one of the halls but pulled out by the archaeological society:

  Shah Jehan, builder of the Taj Mahal, spent the last years of his life imprisoned in this fort:  from his “cell” (above) he could see the tomb of his beloved wife.Two moats—an out, water-filled one and an inner ‘dry’ moat that we were told was similar to quicksand, back in the day…  altogether a fascinating place!

 

Leaving Agra Fort, we were driven to our Agra Hotel, the Clarke Shiraz, and got checked in and more or less put away.  Quick snack and we went back into Agra to see a live show called Kalakriti, which depicted the life and love story of Shah Jahan and his beloved Mumtaj Mahal, her death and the construction of the Taj.  Dancers, actors, film and lasers and a huge model of the Taj.  (Headphones for narration in any of a dozen languages).  Then—back to the hotel and a needed sleep.  Up early tomorrow to see the sunrise at the Taj Mahal.

Road to Agra - Barbara’s take

 

So?  Where were we?

We were in Delhi and now we’re going to Agra to see the Taj!!

After another late night, hurried dinner and sleep till 4 or 5, Terre and I packed and repacked trying to get all the things we had purchased into our bags and checked our room for any left-behinds.  Our driver, Mr Jagmohan was waiting for us at the door and we loaded with not a little sadness at leaving Delhi – a complete opposite to Debrugarh but just as wonderful!  We are really going to see the Taj Mahal!!

It took about 1 and a half hours to get completely out of the city and into the farming district.  They grow wheat, sugar cane, peas and mustard (for the oil) there as well as various kinds of nuts and beans. 

The poorer people collect cow patties and dry them for fuel much like the buffalo chips in our ‘Old West’.  Of course there are many cows wandering around – some buffalo and perhaps Oxen.

It was hard to distinguish the difference between cows used for labour, milk or the sacred ones that are owned by all and wander freely everywhere!  Many, many cows, goats, dogs, cows, sheep, cows, small horses, elephants, camels, and did I mention cows?  (we only have pictures of everything else – not cows):

Horse and cart;

Camels with and without loads;

 

Elephant – not a worker though – maybe a ceremonial one.  It had facial decorations and patterns on the ends of his ears!.

We noticed these peculiar round huts in the fields of wheat and also closer to the road.  Interestingly the roofs were a continuation of the grass/bamboo/reed walls which went in a twist to the top!  The ones in the photos below are very well kept up – a lot of them are old and half falling down.  We think they are for storage but they could also be lived in by the field workers.

We also asked the driver (Mr. Jagmohan – more on him later) we were told the history of these “mileage markers”.  About 500 years ago when the Moghul King Akbar moved his palace from Agra to Delhi, he built these markers every 20 kilometres to make a way station so the riders could rest and, we presume the horses or camels or whatever.  Unlike the Pony Express, both horses and riders were changed at the markers; then changed back to carry the reply.  As you can see they are in remarkable good condition even now.  We saw many, some in the fields and others close to the road thus marking the changes in the main route over the years!

The traffic was horrific!  If there were 3 lanes painted on the road then there were 5 lanes of traffic.  If there were 2 lanes then there were 3 to 4 lanes of traffic.  By ‘traffic’ I mean little 3 wheels cars called Tuk Tuks because the the noise they make (there are two in the photo of the camel pulling the load of wheat) They are legally only holding 6 people but we saw as many as 12 packed in with kids hanging on the outside, ordinary cars, motor cycles and scooters (at least 3 people to a machine with an infant crammed in the front or being held by its mother), bicycles and rickshaws and the ubiquitous cows, dogs, horses and camels!  What a circus!  Everyone is blowing their horns constantly – I think there is a horn language but hadn’t got it really nailed down by the time we left!

We stopped along the way at a place where Mr. Jagmohan had to pay a tax.  He said to stay in the car.  Do not roll down the windows.  So we did and didn’t.  The car was swarmed by little kids trying to sell us tacky souvenirs and men with trained monkeys who lept up onto the car.  Terre took a photo of one who jumped onto the window beside her to she snapped a photo.  The man kept yelling at us to pay.  We tried to ignore him but he got considerably angrier till Mr. Jagmohan came back and asked if we took a photo!  We said well, you didn’t tell us not to!  So we paid the man 10 rupees (25 cents) and he went away happy.  I guess you have to pay to take a photo even if you had nothing to do with the fact there was a monkey hanging onto the window of the car!

Other tipping were the toilet attendants, the door holders, the baggage handlers, don’t give money to kids, their parents just take it for drugs.  At every traffic light the “tourist” cars were surrounded by beggars – one of our guides call it the “Traffic Light Industry”.  I gave a couple of girls a granola bar through the window once – not the wisest thing I ever did!  We were swarmed again but not by cell phones taking pictures!  Our driver had to use (I assume) very strong language to get them away!

That’s it for now – I’ll let Terre talk about Sikandra – The tomb of King Akbar, the Agra Fort designed and built by Akbar, and the Taj Mahal.

Delhi

Arrived at about 8:30 pm and were met by the IndoAsia representative; collected our bags and headed off to the hotel in light rain.  The Radisson Marina was a loooong way from the airport—or at least it seemed so in Delhi traffic, which ranges from horrific to terrifying.  Hotels in India (and perhaps in most of the world for all I know) have a different aspect than we are used to.  You pass through a metal detector at the entrance, and your bags and x-rayed, just like at the airport.  The Indo Asia rep got us all checked in, reviewed the itinerary and paperwork with me, and we dropped our stuff in the room.  Nice and comfortable, although it had the most bewildering electrical system I’ve ever seen.  India has the same voltage of electrical current that we do, but the plug configuration is different, so you can’t just plug in.  In Assam, Vineeta had given me an adaptor, but I left the part I needed in the wall-socket in Dibrugarh. When I looked through the hotel Service Book, I saw where it said “adaptor available from housekeeping on request’, so I for one and they brought it.  The adaptor fit into the wall,..but my plug didn’t fit into the adaptor—because it had a different configuration.  That’s why I needed the adaptor, ok?  However, a piece of Vineeta’s multi-part adaptor fit between the hotel’s adaptor and my laptop, so I could plug in and recharge.  The next day, however, when I went to  plug the hotel’s kettle into the wall socket in the ‘kitchen’…it didn’t fit.  It DID fit into the piece of Vineeta’s adaptor that fit my laptop—but when I plugged it in it cooked the adapter.  It seemed to fit into the hotel’s adapter WITHOUT Vineeta’s adaptor—but it didn’t work.  However, next to the bed I found an outlet that both the laptop and the' kettle fit without any adaptor, and they both worked…so I stopped at that point.  Huh.

Anyway, long before the kettle debacle, back to the preceding evening…we arrived to late to feel like ‘dinner’—it was about 10 when we got to the room.  So we just went to the bar (which was conveniently close—had a beer each and split the appetizer of the day—which was delicious and all we wanted.  Then, finally to bed…and sorely in need of it.

Up the next morning for a breakfast buffet before being picked up by our guide and driver.  Very tasty and plenty of it, although I have no clue what most of it was.  Well, there were some things we recognized,..the rest of it I had to taste first and tell Barb whether it was “hot” or not.  (Actually, as a sidebar, neither of us ever had any trouble at all with the food.  We ate ‘whatever’, enjoyed it, and suffered no ill effects.).  Picked up at 10 for the beginning of the tour.

Pouring rain.  Almost all day, with the occasional break.

Started with Jama Masjid—Friday mosque.  It lies directly opposite the Red Fort.  I’m going to have to upload a lot of pictures later!  This place was HUGE—it can accommodate 20,000 worshipers at one time, and does on some Muslim Holy Days.  Then India Gate (in the pouring rain), a monument to Indian military losses in WWI and  the 1919 Afghan War.  Barb and I weren’t too bad—we were wearing jackets—but our guide Prashant got soaked..for the first but not last time.  Then a photostop at the official residence of the President of India.

Next was a memorial and museum dedicated to Mahatma Ghandi, at the site where he was assassinated.  Very interesting! even in the rain…

Then the Lotus Temple, an enormous Bhai temple that looks somewhat like the Sidney Opera House, but more like a …wait for it…lotus.  Then to the Qutub Minar, a huge tower celebrating Akbar’s military victories.   Then to a craft ‘fair’ called Delhi Haat where we both spent too much money.  followed by a tour of a Hindu temple, with an explanation of all the different ‘gods’ and their significance and relationships.  Then back to the hotel to change clothes and dry out and grab a quick dinner—we opted for another beer and appetizer in the bar; a good choice because we had Tandoori Prawns while Prashant and our driver went to MacDonalds'.  By now the rain had stopped enough for the Sound and Light show at the red Fort to be staged, so off to the Red Fort for that…home again around 10ish.  The Sound and Light show is very interesting…it’s essentially the History of the Red Fort played out with sound effects and lights played on the different parts of the Fort.  Very effective.

Then to bed…being picked up early in the morning (8:30, after breakfast and checkout) to head to Agra.  You may have noticed this post is a few days late…I was kinda busy!

 

(Oh, by the way—in the middle of the horrendous Delhi traffic we saw an elephant packing a huge load of tree branches of some kind marching sedately down the road.  Saw a couple of monkeys, as well)

Last day in Assam

Had a wonderful ride around the tea plantation early in the morning—nothing but birdsong—so serene.  Finished up with a tour of the tea ‘factory’ and an explanation of how the tea leaves are processed.  Then back to pack up, lunch, a good-bye to Vineeta and off to the airport to return to Delhi.  We are sad to be leaving this place—it really is very special.

Four and a half hours later, met at the Delhi Airport by the Indo Asia representative who took us to our hotel, got us all checked in and squared away for the next few days of tourism.

Off to bed; more later!

Assam Day 3

Today we went for a wonderful two hour ride around the area, partly on the course used for the Endurance Rides put on here. From the field where we mounted up, it was just a short ride up the lanes to come out on the banks of the Brahmaputra River, one of the major rivers of Asia.  We were told it is 8 miles across when ‘full’.  We rode on the beach in deep sand, passing some boats being built, then went up on a dyke that led back towards the tea plantations.  We wound around through fields and past villages and schools, finally re-entering the tea gardens, where we were met by a car with the grooms to hold our horses while we took a breather and had a drink.  I could get used to this!  Koszaar seldom gives me a break like this, I’m lucky if I can snatch a sip.  Then around and about the tea plantation; you can go for miles just winding around the various plantings.  We were told that for the Endurance rides, they get permission to ride through all the adjoining tea gardens, so they can string out a very long trail with excellent footing throughout.  I’m getting quite fond of Ginger, now that I’ve started to understand him.  He gets a little frustrated when he isn’t allowed to go fast—that’s a situation I’m used to!  I wore Chris Thomson’s helmet cam throughout, but it was very bouncy—viewing the video is likely to make people seasick!  I’ll have to edit and see if I can salvage anything…

After returning home and having lunch, we were taken in the afternoon to visit a “weaving centre”.  Assam is famous for its silk, including a variety (That I don’t know how to spell!) that is unique to this province.  We were told about th weaving process, and the silkworm cultivation, and the traditional uses of the various patterns..fabulous!

 

Not much time left here—we fly out tomorrow at 2:20 pm.  SO much to see in this fascinating place!  I wish we could stay here longer…  I may get another short ride in tomorrow, then it will be off to Delhi…

Barb hopes somebody is passing the news onto Grant.

Assam--Day 2

Wow, what a day!

Last night, we had a wonderful dinner with our hosts and several of their friends.  Fabulous food—too much of it, again!—and fascinating conversation on a wide range of subjects from local history, current events, and culture through to the beginnings of FEI competition in India.  During the evening, it was decided that the entire group would meet for an excursion today.

Got up nice and early, and actually went for a little run (I’m trying to flog my aging and overweight body through one more SunRun, so I want to keep up the training program).  followed by breakfast.  Then we all loaded into several vehicles and headed off to the Jeypore Rainforest Festival, several long miles away.  Enroute, we were treated to a detailed running commentary on all the sites we passed—through tea plantations and villages, past schools, temples, and army facilities.  Probably the less said about the driving conditions the better!  Many vehicles of all sizes and description, motorized and not, whizzing along at as high as possible a rate of speed through the pedestrians, obstacles, dogs, and cows…

The Jeypore Rainforest Festival is held in a dry (at this time of year) riverbed—no rain and no forest!  There was, however, a festival!  Lots of music, and many ‘stalls’ full of products for sale by the local people; textiles, wooden and rattan and bamboo articles, food, etc.  There were a number of booths dedicated to the conservation and preservation of a number of threatened areas, especially the Jeypore Rainforest.(www.jeyporerainforest.com )  This area, and a number of other parks and places of interest in Assam is home to an astonishing variety of wild animals and birds; some of them found nowhere else on earth.  As is the case in so many similar places, the habitat is under serious continuous threat; a lot of hard work is being done to preserve and protect the Rainforest, and several other Assam parks.  There were also booths set up demonstrating sustainable agriculture, recycling, dry-land fish farming, and other ecological initiatives.

And…there were elephants!

Actually, it seems that for many people the highlight of the festival was…us!  Apparently, they don’t see a lot of Canadians in Assam.  People were taking pictures of us like mad, we were in huge demand for people to get their picture taken with us, we were interviewed by news people (twice!)…We felt like real celebrities!

After leaving the festival and a stop for lunch we drove to a village called (I think) Namphakey—at least that was name of the Buddhist Monastery located there.

  This was a very interesting village—very old—of Buddhists who had moved into Assam from Thailand and maintained their traditional way of life as well as their religion.  Visited the beautiful Buddhist temple and walked through the village (saw a monkey!)—it was very much like being in a National Geographic shoot!

Then back to home, with a brief delay enroute while the blocked drivers pulled a rolled car out of the ditch (hey, it was bound to happen); arrived shortly after dark.  A shower, another delicious dinner (I think this food would be very healthful…if I could stop eating so much of it), a liitle blogging time, and we’ll be off to sleep.

Tomorrow we’re going riding.

Assam

Flew to Dibrugarh without incident and were met by Vinetta’s driver—holding a sign up for us; made us feel like celebrities!  Drove to their place through the local town surrounding the airport—definitely not in Kansas any more!  it’s in the mid-20s, and quite humid.  There are palm trees, and bamboo, and all kinds of distinctly non-Canadian sights—goats, cows, strange plants and birds…and the tea plantations.

Greeted on arrival by Manoj, our host, settled into our room and fed a sumptuous and far too large lunch!  Then in the afternoon we went for a short, getting-to-meet the horses rides through the plantation.  The horses—Ginger for me and Time Machine for Barb—are definitely not sluggish—we’re hoping the odd little buck they threw in is just to say ‘hello’!

The horses live in stables next to us, but we ride out of a little equestrian ‘field’ a short way awary.  This was the basecamp for the First Ever FEI Endurance Ride in Inida!  then, off through the plantation….

Then home to a REALLY badly needed shower (we’ve been something like 36 hours on airplanes or in airports), a walk around the neighbourhood, including visiting the spectacular temple built by Manoj’s grandfather…we will dine with our hosts tonight and get a REALLY good night sleep—I can guarantee it!

alarums and excursions!

 

So, while sitting in the airport in Shanghai, I logged onto my email and found a message from Vinetta Jahal.  The driver they had sent to pick us up at the airport had come home without us.  Indigo Air said we were a ‘no show.  THAT would be because I somehow missed a day, and booked the flight from New Delhi to Dibrugarh a day early!  These multiple time Zones are VERY confusing!

SO—emailing Vinetta from Shanghai Airport while waiting to board the flight to New Delhi.  She3 checked with the airlines and found flights still available for the next day.  Tried numerous times to PHONE Vinetta but even with a human operator could not get through.  MORE  emails; never sure whether she got them..

Went back online from the netbook and booked another flight (for the correct day,, this time!)  But of course I couldn’t print the eticket.  Forwarded the NEW itinerary to Vinetta; don’t know if she got it….

Flew to New Delhi, another 7 + hour flight.  Arrived at around 2:40 am New Delhi time.  Went through the “border’, found our luggage, had to kind of go out of the airport to come in again through Departures…  Now about 4 am, way to early to check in for out 9:45 am flight to Dibrugarh.  Nevertheless, lacking a printed eticket we thought we better sort that out, so we went through the check in counter where I showed them the pdf the airline had emailed.  They gave us our boarding passes, but we have to bring  the luggage back later—way to early to check it.  Now it’s 6:30 am, in another half hour we’ll try to get rid of the luggage and go to the departure area—I can’t get an internet connection here.  May have to try to phone Vineeta when the hour is more civilized; hopefully from inside India the number will work!

Roberta, Barb kissed an elephant like you told her:

 

 

More later—we are finally on track (I hope!)

Shanghai!

After a loooong but fairly pleasant flight, here we are!

Couple of hours to kill before the next leg of the journey.  It’s 7pm here, Barb and I think it’s 3am!

Anybody in the OK who reads this can phone Grant and tell him…so far, so good!

At the Airport!

Jamie Thompson very kindly drove us to the airport; got here at about 10 am  for a 12:30 departure.  Checked in and checked our bags uneventfully.  Cleared security with no more than the usual stuff—turning on the laptop, showing them our liquids…Barb got wanded,but I didn’t!  Here we are:

So, now we’re sitting here drinking one last Tim Hortons and waiting to board!  Whooosh!

More later!

In Pictures

For those who like to ‘see’ it all laid out, here is where we are going!

Arriving at "A"--New Delhi, then off to "B"--Dibrugarh, Assam, then back to A, then down to "C"--Taj Mahal and stops along the way, then back to A and home!

Final Countdown

Picked up the passports—with visas!—today from the very pleasant and helpful folks at the India Consultate!  Almost nothing left to do now but pack!

Woo woo!

Preparations!

Today, Barb and I hied ourselves down to the Indian Consulate in Surrey to apply for our visas!  After a longish wait (you are 862.  Currently serving 839…) we finally got to submit our applications.  Barb’s was fine; in my case the photo I was given by London Drugs was the wrong size,  Nevertheless, they agreed to accept the app provided I could bring in another picture before closing time (or that particular agent going offshift).  So, back to London Drugs for another photo—this time I showed them the size and specifications in writing—back to the Consulate.  (By now Barb was headed back to Westbank)….STILL the wrong size (although closer!).  The  very nice guy at the Consulate told me to run across the street to Superstore and do it there; I was back in about 10 mins with the correct size photo, gave it to my agent…and we are ‘in process’!  Should take a week to ten days and then I can pick up both visas.  The staff at the Indian Consulate was very helpful and pleasant, in spite of facing an apparently endless line of applicants all asking the same questions and making the same mistakes!

This was our last “task” to accomplish!  Now it’s pretty much just a matter of packing and we’re off!  Woo hoo!

Plans, plans, plans!

OK, so after much discussion, and advice and help from Mrs Vineeta Jalan, we have finally arrived at a PLAN!
As per our original itinerary, we arrive in New Delhi at 2:05 am on the 10th of February.  at 9:40 am we will fly via IndiGo Air to Dibrugarh, Assam, arriving 1:50 pm.

We will then spend the next four days at the home of Manoj and Vineeta Jalan in Assam, during which time we will hopefully get in some riding, and see some sights, including a park, where I understand we can ride elephants!  (Maybe I should pack the BIG helmet!)

We will try to not be too obnoxious, and will hopefully avoiding putting too big a strain on Indo-Canadian relations!

On the 14th of February, we fly back to New Delhi (again via IndiGo Air—I love that name!), arriving at 6:55 pm.  At this point, IndoAsia Tours takes over our care and management.  We spend the nights of the 14th and 15th  in New Delhi, probably at the Radisson Marina Hotel (not confirmed yet).  On the 16th, we leave for Agra, probably spending the night of the 16th at the Clark Shiraz.  Back to New Delhi on the 17th, flying home 3:20 am on the 18th…  Here’s the ‘tour’

15 Feb:             Delhi
After breakfast enjoy a full day city tour of Old & New Delhi. Visit the Red Fort  ‑ the 17th century imposing fortress built in red sandstone is surrounded by a huge 33m high boundary wall. Inside are exquisite palaces and beautiful gardens.
Opposite the Red Fort lies Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) made of red sandstone and white marble, completed in 1656 at a cost of one million Rupees has perfect proportions. India's largest mosque where more than 20.000 people can kneel in prayer. The interior of the prayer hall is divided into aisles by arches. The walls and floors are of marble inlay panels.
Also visit the Raj Ghat on the banks of the river Yamuna is Mahatma Gandhi's Memorial, where he was cremated following his assassination in January 1948. The memorial lies in the midst of landscaped gardens and made of a simple square platform of black marble inscribed with his last words "Hey Ram". An eternal flame burns 24 hours.
Drive through Lutyens Delhi and see India Gate ‑ Built of Bharatpur‑stone, commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died in the 1st world war. 13516 names of British and Indian soldiers killed in the Afghan War of 1919 are engraved on the arch and foundations. Photo stop at Rashtrapati Bhawan once the Viceroy's residence is now the official residence of the President of India. 
Later in the afternoon explore New Delhi. Visit the Humayun's Tomb, built by his wife Haji Begum in the 16th. Century. An early example of Mughal architecture considered the predecessor of the Taj Mahal. The elements in its design ‑ a squat building, lighted by high arched entrances, topped by bulbous dome and surrounded by the char bagh (garden divided into quadrants), water channels and fountains.
Later visit the Qutub Minar ‑ the landmark of Delhi, a huge tower of victory started in 1199 and completed in 1368. The Minar is 72.5m high with a diameter at the base 14.4m and 2.7m at the top. The tower has 379 steps to the top.
In the evening enjoy Light and Show program at Red Fort, New Delhi.
Overnight at the Hotel
 16 Feb:             Delhi – Agra
After breakfast drive to Agra. En-route visit Sikandra. The mausoleum of the great Mughal King Akbar (1556-1605). Akbar began building it during his lifetime and his son, the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, completed it. It has a large arched entrance and green lawns, on which deer can be seen grazing, surround the tomb.
The entrance is decorated with marble inlay work around the arch, and the inner surface of the dome of the tomb is decorated with images of flowers, geometric designs and Islamic calligraphy.
Later continue your drive to Agra.
Agra stands on the right bank of the river Yamuna, was once the seat of the Mughal rulers, the zenith of art and an en‑shrined romance. A town famous for its beautiful medieval monuments. The passion of the Mughals for building endowed it with some of the loveliest buildings in the world.
On arrival at Agra, transfer to the hotel and check in.
Later visit Agra Fort. Designed and built by Akbar in 1565 A.D., the fort is surrounded by a 70 feet high wall. It houses the beautiful Pearl Mosque and numerous palaces. The Agra fort happens to be on the same bank of the river Yamuna as the Taj Mahal, which is visible in all its beauty from one side of the fort. Emperor Shahjahan, a prisoner of his son Aurangzeb in his old age was put in a cell from where he could gaze at the Taj Mahal at a distance from his cell in the Agra Fort. It is an imposing structure with walls of red sandstone almost three kilometers long.
Overnight at the Hotel
17 Feb:             Agra – Delhi
After breakfast visit Taj Mahal- a poem in white marble, built by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in the memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaj Mahal. Today India's most fascinating and beautiful masterpiece, this perfectly symmetrical edifice is set amidst landscaped gardens on the banks of the Yamuna River. Its marble exterior reflects rose and golden tints at sunrise and sunset, while it is dazzling white during the day and glows pearl-like in the moonlight and during the monsoon.
Later drive to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi, enjoy Dinner at the local Restaurant.
After dinner, transfer to the International airport to board the flight to onward journey.
18 Feb:             Fly back to home.
 
How about THAT, eh?

The saga continues…

India has really been hit hard by this glanders outbreak; several extremely significant equestrian events have had to be cancelled.  Basically, moving horses or allowing them to congregate anywhere in India is problematic right now.
There have been a flurry of emails.  To summarize the situation from my own point of view… First of all, although I purchased cancellation insurance, it does not cover this kind of problem!  Long story short—I can’t get my money back for the airline tickets.  Given that starting point, my feeling and Barb’s is that we should go anyway and just be tourists.
The organizing committee and everyone associated with this clearly feel very badly, and have been trying to come up with alternatives.  At first, it was suggested the ride be moved to another location; I will copy you the email from the Indian Federation (since this, I believe the quarantine has become even more restrictive):

Dear Mr Ian Williams,

We ,at the Equestrian Federation of India, have more than 

enthusiastically planned the ride with full awareness that

the event will be precursor for stronger Endurance

discipline in the country. Cancelling it was a hard yet 

inevitable option. The Organizing Committee had made all

the required arrangements. Mr Manoj Jalan and other

EFI officials visited the venue and were satisfied with the

preparations and provisions. Glanders, being a notified disease, 

there was no room for resorting to half-measures-both technically

and administratively. Hence, the hardhearted and inescapable

decision to cancel the ride was taken.

The venue of the ride has only 06 Endurance qualified horses. 

The rest of the horses have to reach the venue through areas 

wherein the movement of horses has been banned. Besides,

the government policy discourages the congregation of equines

in the area. As you may be aware, the discipline of Endurance

is still at an early stage in the country and total number

of qualified horses is not more than 22 and all of these are

in Meerut ,Hempur and Saharanpur-the area having outbreak of

Glanders. In the Dibrugarh ride last year, majority of the horses

were from this belt.

The extant guidelines of the concerned Ministry restrict the

movements for a period of three months from the last case reported.

A fresh case was reported as late as on 07th January. Hence,

the postponement was ruled out. The NF has cancelled other

events, including the prestigious All India Police Equestrian meet.

The available Endurance qualified horses are located in the affected

Zone or in its close vicinity. The option of having a ride at an

alternate location was not viable as moving out the

horses from the Zone is not permitted. We do not have sufficient

number of Endurance horses at any other place to organize a ride.

We sincerely hope that our constraints are put in perspective and acknowledged.

With kind regards,

Col S S Ahlawat ,  VSM
Secretary General

So, as you can see, they are really stuck.  It appears that many of us are in the same boat as myself (unable to get a refund for our airline tickets), so…discussion of what other possibilities exist.  Obviously, we can all just go as tourists…

TODAY—get this!:

Hallo Everyone,

Today the FEI has heard further news from India and sadly, it would appears that despite everyone's

best efforts it will not be possible to organize any kind of equestrian event in and around Delhi

during your arranged visit dates.

However we have today been advised by Mr. Manor Jalan that he would  be happy to host those who will

still make the trip to India for three to four days at his home in Assam.

Here you would have the opportunity to visit the site of the 2010 Endurance Event, visit the tea

plantations and most important of all, enjoy some riding in and around the area which would extend

to riding along the banks of the mighty rivers that originate high in the nearby Himalayan Mountains.

Also available in the region of Assam, is the world famous Kaziranga National Park where it is possible

to ride on elephants whilst spotting the white rhino and other  animals in the reserve.

Everyone is terribly disappointed in what has happened over the unavoidable cancellation of the event.

but it is hoped that those who still travel to India and take up the offer from Mr. and Mrs. Jalan will

still enjoy their visit and experience some memorable riding in the shadow of the Himalya.

Pretty great, eh?  What a wonderful invitation!  I’m discussing with Barb, but whatever we decide I think you’ll agree that our Indian hosts

are doing everything in their power to make the best of this for us.  Stay tuned!

Oh, CRAP!

Dear Sir/Madam,

1.The Equestrian Federation of India regrets to inform you that FEI CEI* Endurance ride at Hempur stands cancelled in response to directions received from the Directorate of Remount Veterinary Services letter number 81370/Q/RV-2(EFI) dated 07 Jan 2011. The cancellation has been necessitated due to an outbreak of GLANDERS in equine population in the adjoining areas.

2. The Organizing Committee had geared itself for the ride and all arrangements were in place to receive, inter alia , officials and riders from abroad. The rare opportunity to host you has frittered due to an unforeseen and unavoidable happening.

3. We sincerely hope that, some time in future, an international ride can be arranged in India .

Expressing our regrets once again,

With regards,

Col S S Ahlawat ,  VSM
Secretary General
Lt Col C S Sohal

Joint Secretary Administration

EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION OF INDIA      www.equestrian-india.org

The Rest of the Invited Riders

Heard today that two invited riders have had to cancel; they are looking for replacements.  In the meantime—this is us:

Terre O'Brennan from Canada

Ludi Scheffer from Botswana

Jenny Commons from Switzerland

James Sheahan from Australia

Jane Edwards from Great Britain

Victor Rios Salas from Chile

Rafael Salvador from Brazil

Nicolas Walhen from France

 

We are gonna have FUN!!