2019
PAGE UNDERGOING REPAIRS
My Indian escape this year was later than usual, from June 20 to July 31, so that I could be in my favourite country on my birthday, on July 22.
Finally arrived after several delays Perpignan to Paris , 31 minutes late, Paris to Roissy, Charles de Gaulle, 2 hours compared with usual 50 minutes, Air India Paris to New Delhi, over 3 hours late......
Arrived in Udaipur from Delhi on time on the night train......
Back in my usual room on Gangaur Ghat
The water level is very low in Lake Pichola
The Ghat is very "Shanti Shanti" (peaceful)
Trees give much needed shade
The water is low and more dirty than usual, but people still need to wash themselves and their clothes.
Beside Tiger Lake
Breakfast is looking good...
नाश्ता अच्छा लग रहा है
Freshly painted Ganesh Temple
Soon to disappear, all cables are being put underground
Let the monsoon begin
After a couple of rainy days the hot and humid weather is back, though the really hot weather is in Europe this end of June !
The no longer used Sas Bahu Temple near the famous Eklinji Temple (where photography is not allowed), has plenty of shade for sitting and contemplating.
Before entering Eklinji Temple, a visit to the grounds
Distant hilltop temple with dried up lake and slowly-dying lilies
Local speciality deep fried masala chilli peppers.... or are they deep-fries battered rats.....?
Next, a 21 hour train ride from Udaipur to Haridwar, then Rishikesh by bus..
Laxman Jhula and Rishikesh nestle in the Ganges Valley in Uttarakhand, Northern India. The towns area magnet for spiritual tourists.
Temples and ashram abound
Shiva, the god of destruction, in a garden of tranquility
Meanwhile, back in town the streets get busy with commerce
Policemen's point of view
The Rajasthani Restaurant in Rishikesh has a reputation for its copious portions of high quality food. If you like Indian sweets, you can't go wrong there either...
Ganga Aarti Puja - water, fire, prayer....
...... And chanting too
Sunday is market day.
The large market selling fruit & veg, clothes and household items is a few kms outside Rishikesh
Tomatoes-R-us
Jackfruit
Smaller market in town
And finally, a Maruti Suzuki Convertible (from car to shop)
The ever changing view of the river Ganges, from the Little Buddha Café
Morning mist
Rain with a little hail
Laxman Jhula Bridge by night
Ganga Aarti Puja. Every evening around 7pm beneath Terah Manzil Mandir (13 floor temple)

Rishikesh by night, from Laxman Jhula
One of the many Yoga Ashrams in Rishikesh and Lakshman Jhula
Jai Shri Ram
Hello life
This luxury hotel was already under construction when I was here in 2005
Mata Ganga. Mother Ganges
Lord Shiva
An Obligatory visit in Chandigarh : The Nek Chand Rock Garden
The commercial centre of Chandigarh has lost all aesthetic appeal. Designed by Le Corbusier, late 1950's
The Law Courts and Legislative Assembly are currently being fully restored to their original design.
Lawyer waiting for his client outside the law courts
"The Hand of Peace", or the "Bird of Peace" ?
Cinema by Le Corbusier


Heading back to Rishikesh and Laxman Jhula.
Still my favourite car...!!!

Between Chennai and Mahabalipuram, a great visit to Crocodile Bank.
The colourful fishing village of Mahabalipuram.
Temples, carvings and great seafood

Pondicherry or Puducherry
Coffee and Croissant on the East Coast of India..... or am I dreaming
Elephant Blessing
Pathé Cinema
One of many French Colonial Buildings still in use - Lycée Français
Another is the Institut Français de Pondicherry..... on a quiet Sunday morning
French Institute Garden
On the streets of Puducherry
French Engllish Translation
Surprised to see a vintage Italian Fiat Pal, and no vintage French cars
The Paper Factory in Puducherry on a Sunday morning....
Food available for those flying from Chennai Airport
On the subject of clever animals, it's a dog's life in the Diplomatic Enclave in New Delhi
Back in Delhi on the way to France, visit to the Gurudwara Sikh Temple
An unusual museum..... part of the International University of Sanitation
A real throne !
Self-service toilets
The National Rail Museum, New Delhi
...and a final museum, The National Museum of Modern Art, New Delhi. This painting is supposed to represent Udaipur.
To be continued.........Next year ( Had to cancel the 2020 trip due to Covid-19, and 2021 is not looking good either....!)
My Indian escape this year was later than usual, from June 20 to July 31, so that I could be in my favourite country on my birthday, on July 22.
Finally arrived after several delays Perpignan to Paris , 31 minutes late, Paris to Roissy, Charles de Gaulle, 2 hours compared with usual 50 minutes, Air India Paris to New Delhi, over 3 hours late......
Arrived in Udaipur from Delhi on time on the night train......
Back in my usual room on Gangaur Ghat
The water level is very low in Lake Pichola
The Ghat is very "Shanti Shanti" (peaceful)
Trees give much needed shade
The water is low and more dirty than usual, but people still need to wash themselves and their clothes.
Beside Tiger Lake
Breakfast is looking good...
नाश्ता अच्छा लग रहा है
Freshly painted Ganesh Temple
Soon to disappear, all cables are being put underground
Let the monsoon begin
After a couple of rainy days the hot and humid weather is back, though the really hot weather is in Europe this end of June !
The no longer used Sas Bahu Temple near the famous Eklinji Temple (where photography is not allowed), has plenty of shade for sitting and contemplating.
Before entering Eklinji Temple, a visit to the grounds
Distant hilltop temple with dried up lake and slowly-dying lilies
Local speciality deep fried masala chilli peppers.... or are they deep-fries battered rats.....?
Next, a 21 hour train ride from Udaipur to Haridwar, then Rishikesh by bus..
Laxman Jhula and Rishikesh nestle in the Ganges Valley in Uttarakhand, Northern India. The towns area magnet for spiritual tourists.
Temples and ashram abound
Shiva, the god of destruction, in a garden of tranquility
Meanwhile, back in town the streets get busy with commerce
Policemen's point of view
The Rajasthani Restaurant in Rishikesh has a reputation for its copious portions of high quality food. If you like Indian sweets, you can't go wrong there either...
Ganga Aarti Puja - water, fire, prayer....
...... And chanting too
Sunday is market day.
The large market selling fruit & veg, clothes and household items is a few kms outside Rishikesh
Tomatoes-R-us
Jackfruit
Smaller market in town
And finally, a Maruti Suzuki Convertible (from car to shop)
The ever changing view of the river Ganges, from the Little Buddha Café
Morning mist
Rain with a little hail
Laxman Jhula Bridge by night
Ganga Aarti Puja. Every evening around 7pm beneath Terah Manzil Mandir (13 floor temple)

Rishikesh by night, from Laxman Jhula
One of the many Yoga Ashrams in Rishikesh and Lakshman Jhula
Jai Shri Ram
Hello life
This luxury hotel was already under construction when I was here in 2005
Mata Ganga. Mother Ganges
Lord Shiva
An Obligatory visit in Chandigarh : The Nek Chand Rock Garden
The commercial centre of Chandigarh has lost all aesthetic appeal. Designed by Le Corbusier, late 1950's
The Law Courts and Legislative Assembly are currently being fully restored to their original design.
Lawyer waiting for his client outside the law courts
"The Hand of Peace", or the "Bird of Peace" ?
Cinema by Le Corbusier


Heading back to Rishikesh and Laxman Jhula.
Still my favourite car...!!!

Between Chennai and Mahabalipuram, a great visit to Crocodile Bank.
The colourful fishing village of Mahabalipuram.
Temples, carvings and great seafood

Pondicherry or Puducherry
Coffee and Croissant on the East Coast of India..... or am I dreaming
Elephant Blessing
Pathé Cinema
One of many French Colonial Buildings still in use - Lycée Français
Another is the Institut Français de Pondicherry..... on a quiet Sunday morning
French Institute Garden
On the streets of Puducherry
French Engllish Translation
Surprised to see a vintage Italian Fiat Pal, and no vintage French cars
The Paper Factory in Puducherry on a Sunday morning....
Food available for those flying from Chennai Airport
On the subject of clever animals, it's a dog's life in the Diplomatic Enclave in New Delhi
Back in Delhi on the way to France, visit to the Gurudwara Sikh Temple
An unusual museum..... part of the International University of Sanitation
A real throne !
Self-service toilets
The National Rail Museum, New Delhi
...and a final museum, The National Museum of Modern Art, New Delhi. This painting is supposed to represent Udaipur.
To be continued.........Next year ( Had to cancel the 2020 trip due to Covid-19, and 2021 is not looking good either....!)
