i am back in chittagong, after spending spring break in india. i was traveling with several other teachers from AUW. on the first day of our trip, we flew from chittagong to calcutta, and then to delhi. we spent several days in delhi, with a day trip to agra. we then took an overnight train to varanasi (also known as benaras) and stayed there a few days, before taking another overnight train to calcutta. after a few days in calcutta, we flew back to chittagong.
it was a full trip, but not overwhelming. my traveling companions were good natured and flexible. after traveling alone in nepal and thailand last fall, it was nice to have people to share experiences with, as well as sharing the logistical responsibilities of traveling.
below are photos in and around jama masjid in (old) delhi. built in the 1650s, jama masjid was commissioned by the same mughal emperor who commissioned the taj majal - shah jahan. it is the largest, and perhaps the best known, mosque in india. in addition to being an attraction for visitors, it is still very much in use by the faithful.
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| view from minaret, with the red fort in the distance |
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| women at prayer |
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| view of the old delhi neighborhoods from minaret |
Gorgeous photos, man. I'm very, very envious. Did you get to Akbar's Fatehpur Sikri in Agra by chance? At the Buland Darwaza, a gate adjacent to the Jama Masjid (which just means congregational/Friday mosque) there, there's a wonderful inscription across the top dating to the 1570s that features a well-known saying Jesus from the Islamic tradition: الدنيا قنطرة فاعبرها لا تعمرها (Eng. This world is bridge, so cross it, don't build on it). I've always wanted to seat that since I first studied the Mughal Empire. I've always thought of that inscription as an amazing testimony to the intertwined history of Islamic and Christian faiths.
ReplyDeletethanks, Sean. that's very interesting about the inscription.
ReplyDeleteInteresting indeed, Sean! And Micah, more wonderful pictures. I think the three women at prayer is my favorite from this set. Though I keep going back to the views from the minaret too.
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