Things to do in India Archives -

What Morning Looks Like at Ganges River in Varanasi

March 22, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

The Ganges River in Varanasi is everything to the Hindus who live in the city. They consider it holy but they don’t treat it like one. It’s murky and polluted. For a visitor like me, I see the flowing river crying for help. Strolling along the banks, I saw a

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Sarnath – Where Buddha Preached His First Sermon

March 20, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

In Sarnath, Buddha preached his first sermon to his followers. Right after he attained Nirvana under a Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, he traveled to Sarnath to preach. That sermon he gave became the central belief of Buddhism: The Four Noble Truths and the Eight-fold Path. Today, Sarnath is synonymous

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The Burning of the Dead on the Banks of Ganges River in Varanasi is not for the Faint-Hearted

March 19, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

The burning of the dead on the banks of Ganges River in Varanasi is not for the faint-hearted. There’s nothing like this in the world where cremation is done in public view. Locals and tourists can sit and watch the whole ritual from a distance or closer if you’re brave.

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Sheesh Mahal – The Flickering Palace of Mirrors in Jaipur

March 15, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

Sheesh Mahal is inside Amer Fort in Jaipur. It’s a flickering Palace of Mirrors that would delight your experience in the imposing fort. You can’t miss it. Most tourists spend a long time here, taking a hundred selfies. And that means, good luck finding a spot for your own selfie

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Amer Fort – A Palace Perched on a Hill in Jaipur

March 13, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

Amer Fort or Amber Fort (as the guidebooks name it) literally sits atop a hill in Jaipur. I’d say that Amer Fort looks more marvelous that the Red Forts in Agra and New Delhi. You’ll find every courtyard, palace and room interesting to discover. Though there were some renovations going

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Jantar Mantar in Jaipur – Where You’ll Find the Largest Stone Sundial in the World

March 9, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

At Jantar Mantar in Jaipur, you’ll find the world’s largest sundial stone. This place a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has an ancient collection of 19 astronomical structures built in the open field. Including in these 19 objects are the zodiac signs – better find yours. At first, you might

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Interesting Facts About Agra Fort

March 7, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

Agra Fort is another Mughal fortress that speaks volumes of Indian history. We all know that Agra is synonymous with its timeless Taj Mahal. But, if you go beyond the world-renowned marble architecture, you’ll find yourself busy with other places of interest. There’s Sikandra where the Emperor Akbar the Great

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The Beautiful Jama Masjid in Fatehpur Sikri

March 4, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

The beautiful Jama Masjid in Fatehpur Sikri is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the area. Fatehpur Sikri is an hour drive from Agra and it is one of the most visited places, next to Taj Mahal. The Friday Mosque sits on top of a hill, overlooking a

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Isa Khan Tomb – An Asylum of Paradise

February 23, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

There’s a Persian inscription on a slab inside Isa Khan Tomb which says, “This tomb, which is an asylum of paradise, was built during the reign of Islam Shah ….. by Masnad Ali Isa Khan, son of…” It is said that Isa Khan built his tomb in his entire lifetime.

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Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat – A Hindu Ritual by the Ganges River

February 12, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat is a Hindu ritual by the Ganges River in Varanasi, India. This nightly ceremonies is attended and watched by hundreds of worshipping locals and curious tourists from all over the world. It is free for all to witness but you should arrive earlier than 6

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Jal Mahal is a Dream-like Water Palace in Jaipur

February 11, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

On my way back to downtown Jaipur from Amber Fort (or Amer Fort, as the locals call it), I saw dream-like water palace by the roadside. I had to ask my Uber driver sweetly if he’d be kind to stop for a while so I could see the floating palace

I Wasn't Allowed to Bring my Rainbow Wig Inside the Taj Mahal.

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I Wasn't Allowed to Bring my Rainbow Wig at Taj Mahal

February 10, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

Yes, that’s true. I wasn’t allowed to bring my rainbow wig inside the Taj Mahal. People with backpacks were sent to the scanner line to have their things scanned. Unfortunately, my rainbow wig was detected and the girl in-charged asked what it was for. I told her “it’s a harmless wig

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Taj Mahal – The Monument of Love

February 9, 2017 KeepCalmAndWander 0 Comments

Visiting Taj Mahal – The Monument of Love – is something you should include in your bucket list. What comes to mind when the Taj Mahal is mentioned? Love. Undying love. Yes, Taj Mahal is always synonymous with the undying love of Emperor Shah Jahan to his favorite wife. He