Today we had another early start taking a train down to Agra, giving us another opportunity to see what life is like outside the major cities. On arrival in Agra, we were greeted by our tour guide, Haji, then went to visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal which is […]
Today we began our adventure touring through Delhi at the Jama Masjid Mosque. The mosque had beautiful architecture and it is the second largest in the subcontinent created by Shah Jahan the emperor and famous architect of one of the Seven Wonders of the World which we will be visiting tomorrow. We then went on […]
Last night we dined at The Crystal and all enjoyed a delicious curry together with our guide. rnrnrnrnWe returned to the Golden Temple to see “the putting to bed ceremony”. Everyone really enjoyed and it was a very special experience which impressed everyone. We returned to our hotel and all went straight to bed as […]
The Northern Indian sun shone brightly for us as the smell of pancakes wafted from the breakfast room and we enjoyed our first reasonable start to the trip. We travelled by horse and cart to Jallianwala Bagh to learn about the massacre of thousands of peaceful Indian demonstrators in 1919 by British troops following General […]
Our trusty leader Admiral C. Weldon had bravely survived her ordeal of biting into a vegetable pakora yesterday which was in fact a whole green chilli. No harm done. We were all ready for the off to Amritsar at 5.45 am after an early breakfast – Joe won the omelette eating competition managing 41! New […]
Hi All,rnrnWelcome to our India2011 diary!!! rnrnIt was with great excitement that we landed in Delhi at 10.20am (local time) this morning, 20 minutes ahead of schedule! The flight wasn’t too bad, although we struggled to get much sleep – we’ll put that down to excitement!rnrnWe went straight from the airport to our first hotel, […]
It is with great excitement and anticipation we leave for India today. Most of us have an idea what we are taking though getting it into the suitcase is proving to be a struggle! I don’t think any of us can actually believe that we are off to India to visit Udayan – the place that much effort has gone into raising funds for. It will be great to see the work of the home and how our money has helped the children.rn
Kolkata is where we are going to be spending the majority of our time. Udayan is based here, and most of the children in Udayan are from the slums of Kolkata.rnrnIt may have changed its name, but for many Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) still conjures up images of squalour, poverty and urban disaster. Too few bother […]
Sarnath lies 10 Km from Varanasi. In 528 BC Prince Siddartha, having found enlightenment under a banyan tree in Bodhgaya in the neighbouring state of Bihar, gave his first sermon here to just 5 of his disciples. An enormous stupa now marks this place and is dotted with gold leaf, placed there by pilgrims. Sarnath […]
For over 2000 years, Varanasi, the ‘eternal city’, has been one of the holiest places in India. Built on the banks of the sacred Ganges, it is said to combine the virtues of all other places of pilgrimage and anyone who ends their days here, regardless of creed and however great their misdeeds, is transported […]