We set aside a day in Delhi before flying back home, completing India's "Golden Triangle" (Jaipur, Agra, and Delhi). Our short stay involved visiting the Bah'ai Lotus Temple, running across a festival and indulging in some street food, and taking moments of contemplation and appreciation where the dear Mohandas Gandhi took his last steps. We wrapped up our time with good food and some shopping, and happened upon a snake charmer who, without hesitation, thrust a cobra into my arms.
Agra
Agra - the city housing the Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world, built all for the love of a woman. We stopped here for a day before heading back to Delhi to complete the "golden triangle" (Jaipur, Agra, and Delhi) and we visited the Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal during our short stay.
We had one of the best possible views of the Taj from the rooftop of our hotel room where we had breakfast and dinner, overlooking this astounding dedication of love.
Photo by Eric
Photo by Eric
Photo by Eric
Jaipur
We had only one day to spare in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, also known as "the Pink City." Past rulers built fantastic forts, palaces, and even huge astrological instruments, giving the city some beautiful and distinct features.
We spent Christmas Day roaming these old and stunning pieces of Mughul architecture. It didn't feel so Christmas-y, but it did provide for some great images.
Photo by Eric
Photo by Eric
Photo by Eric
Photo by Eric
In transit: Haridwar and the train onwards
We came to Haridwar for a quick stop in transit to our next destination. It is another city on the Ganges River with lots of Hindus coming to bathe in the holy waters and offer lighted leaf and flower baskets into the currents.
During our short stay in Haridwar, we were warmly welcomed at the Haveli Hari Ganga hotel, a beautiful place to relax on the river, watch children fly kites, and grab dinner.
As the sun set, we made our way to the Har-ki-Pairi ghat, a place very sacred to the Hindus where Vishnu is said to have dropped some heavenly nectar and left a footprint. We joined hundreds of worshipers to witness the Ganga aarti, or river worship ceremony.
It was a short stay in Haridwar, but we made the most of it before hopping on an overnight train to Delhi and onwards.
Rishikesh, India
A short drive from Dehradun lies the town of Rishikesh, sitting at the foothills of the Himalayas and near the source of the Ganges River, the holy river of the Hindus.
Rishikesh is the self-proclaimed yoga capital of the world and there was certainly no shortage of ashrams and institutes offering yoga, meditation, Ayurvedic treatments, and spiritual guidance.
Eric was excited to be in Rishikesh and see the place that inspired the Beatles' writing of their White Album, much of which they wrote at an ashram that is now abandoned.
We spent the evening of the Winter solstice with hundreds of pilgrims, watching an aarti ceremony of light on the river, in dedication to the river goddess, Ganga, led by Chidananda Saraswati, one of Rishikesh's most famous gurus.
After much walking around town and attempting to capture its uniqueness with the many wandering sacred cows, sadhus seeking spiritual enlightenment, and pilgrims bathing in the Ganges, I gladly made time for an Ayurvedic massage and a morning yoga session - exactly what this weary, traveling pregnant woman needed.
