A trip to India will give you unforgetable memories for lifetime and leaves nobody untouched.
The difference between poor and rich is tremendous, so also the difference in naturetypes. Here you can find ”endless” beaches, big plains and the Himalayas within the borders. Meeting the different religions makes deep impression.
In June/July 1996 I visited the states of Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.
The state of Uttar Pradesh has the highest population of India, and should it be an independant country it would have been among the 10 biggest in the world. The population density is almost 500 persons/sqkm!
Uttar Pradesh is one of Indias most important historical and religious centers. Here you find the most sacred hindu river, Ganges, and along it many important religious places.
Himachal Pradesh, the youngest state, and one of the smallest in India. The population is not more than 6 million inhabitants. The state is located in the northwestern part of the country, close to the borders of Kashmir and China. The name means ”Land of Himalaya”. Here you can find big forests of pine and cedars as well as more than 140 peaks higher than 5000 mas.
This trip gave me a possibility to study some of the interesting buildings from the Great Mogul-period, (1526-1857), in Delhi and Agra.
In Varanasi, ”The most ancient living City in the world” I followed the life of the pilgrims, an experience of life and dead.
My journey continued from Shimla to the Kullu-valley, ”Valley of Goods”. Here I visited some of the old capitals, with their beautiful temples, and in the Miyar Nala, ”Valley of Flowers”, in Lahaul, close to the Kashmir border, I made an almost two week long trekk and meet the fantastic people living there. The Miyar Nala is visited by very few tourists.
In the city of Dharamsala, on the foothills of the Dhauladar-range, I was lucky to participate in the peoples birthday celebration to his holiness Dalai Lama and was lucky to see him twice.
The indian part of Shimla
Himachali girl. Shimla
Women in Old Manali
Women from Zanskar
Trekking in Miyar Valley. Lahaul
Trekking in Miyar Valley. Lahaul
Sunset at the Rothang pass
Morning prayer. Dharamsala
Dalai Lamas birthday.
Dharamsala
Tibetan pilgrim.
Dharamsala
Taj Mahal. Agra
The river Ganges at Varanasi
Pilgrims bathing in Ganges. Varansasi
The Dhamek stupa. Sarnath
