Bandra and Juhu

We spent the last week with Rachel going to some local places such as Bandra and Juhu Beach.  We went to Joggers Park and had a walk around at sunset - then we went for some yummy pancakes at Crepes Suzette.

We also went to the Novotel at Juhu and had some drinks by the sea - unfortunately because of the elections it was a dry day - so no happy hour for us!

How did Rachel spend her days in Mumbai?  Mostly studying for her upcoming university exams and painting.

Rachel at Elephanta

On Rachel's second weekend in Mumbai we went to Elephanta Island.  Once again we took a taxi downtown and then took a ferry across to the island.  The caves are dedicated to Lord Shiva and there are many carvings of him and Parvati, and the three headed Shiva showing various incarnations, for example Shiva the dancer and Shiva the destroyer.

It was a long hot day.  The following day Rachel and I went to the pool at the Hyatt to relax.

Rachel in Mumbai in April

Rachel came to Mumbai for just over 3 weeks in April - what a treat for me.  Although we didn't go away, we did try to do things every weekend in and around Mumbai.  On our first weekend Rachel and I went downtown.  We visited the Museum of Modern Art and also several other galleries - the paintings were pretty weird!

The following day we set off for Marve - we'd heard that you could get a day ticket to the Manoribel where you could walk on the beach and lounge in hammocks.  We took a taxi to Marve and then the ferry across towards Gorai.

This was the beach at Marve.  It was sandy, fairly clean and fairly empty.  I spent most of the day lounging in hammocks under the trees.  It was definitely nice to spend time in somewhere green.

Very Old Delhi

Another day we took the metro down to the Qutb Minar.  This is in the site of the first of the seven cities of Delhi, established in 1060.  The Qutb Minar itself is a red sandstone tower of Qutb Minar 72.5 m high, with alternating angular and rounded flutings.  It was built around 1200. The iron pillar in the mosque compound was brought from elsewhere in India. It bears a Sanskrit inscription from the 4th century AD describing the exploits of a ruler named Chandra, believed to be the Gupta King Chandragupta II (375-413). 

The Iron Pillar is built up of many hundreds of small wrought-iron blooms welded together and is the largest known composite iron object from so early a period. The remarkable lack of corrosion is attributable to the combination of several factors, among them the high corrosion-resistance of wrought iron, the climatic conditions in Delhi, and the likelihood that it was frequently anointed with ghee (melted butter). The deep cavity at the top suggests that it may at one time have been crowned by a Garuda image. 

We took the metro back to Chandni Chowk - one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi.  The name actually means "moonlight square" and it was named after the fact that a canal used to run the length of it that reflected the moonlight.  A very chaotic place now!

We walked to the Lahore Gate, the entry into the Red Fort.  The Red Fort Complex was built as the palace fort of Shahjahanabad – the new capital of the fifth Mughal Emperor of India, Shah Jahan.  Its name refers to the massive enclosing walls of red sandstone.  

The private apartments consist of a row of pavilions connected by a continuous water channel, known as the Nahr-i-Behisht (Stream of Paradise). The Red Fort is considered to represent the zenith of Mughal creativity which, under the Shah Jahan, was brought to a new level of refinement.  The garden design strongly influenced later buildings and gardens in Rajasthan, Delhi and Agra.

New Delhi

We spent a couple of days in Delhi - one day we went down to the Lotus Temple - otherwise known as the Baha'i House of Worship - a multi-denominational temple.

We took a walk through the Lodi Gardens and then down to the Parliament building. The photo below shows the Sansad Bhavan - Parliament House.

Vijay Chowk - Secretariat Buildings and the Prime Minister's Office

Looking down Rajpath towards India Gate

India Gate and the Statue Canopy

Humayan's Tomb in Delhi

This tomb, built in 1570, is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal.

The tomb of Humayun, second Mughal Emperor of India, was built by his widow, Biga Begum in 1569-70, 14 years after his death, at a cost of 1.5 million rupees. The tomb is in the centre of a large garden, laid out in char baah (four-fold) style, with pools joined by channels. 

The tomb and its surrounding structures are substantially in their original state, and there have been high quality restorations over the past few years funded by the Aga Khan.

The importance of Humayun's Tomb in the evolution of Mughal architecture is great. It is the first of a long series of dynastic tombs and innovative in a number of ways, notably by virtue of the fact that it introduced the garden tomb to the subcontinent. Humayun had travelled widely in the Islamic world, notably in Persia and central Asia, and brought back with him ideas that were applied by the architect of his tomb, under the direction of his widow, in this tomb.

Agra

After visiting the Taj Mahal, we spent the rest of our day in Agra visiting other local sites.  Since we'd gone to the Taj very early in the morning, we had breakfast and then set off for the Agra Fort.  

Near the gardens of the Taj Mahal stands the important 16th-century Mughal monument known as the Red Fort of Agra. This powerful fortress of red sandstone comprises many fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the Diwan-i-Khas; and two very beautiful mosques.  Emperor Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal, was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb in Agra Fort, from which he had a view of the building erected for his deceased wife.

After Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son in Agra Fort, this was his view of the Taj Mahal.

We took a rickshaw across the river.  Here is Itimad-ud-Daulah's Tomb - built several years before the Taj Mahal.

View of the Taj Mahal from the opposite bank of the river.