My Excellent Trip to India by Arjun Bahl

Preliminaries Length of our trip –24 days (Dec. 29, 2001 – Jan. 21, 2002) Cities visited –New Delhi, Jaipur and Agra Money spent –Approximately $5000, not counting shopping Pictures taken –84, all digital (presentation contains subset of these)

New Delhi, India Capital of India Home base for us (grandparents house) Multiethnic city, population: 10 million people / Km Common languages: Hindi, Punjabi, English Religions: Hinduism, Muslim, Sikhism, Christianity

Sights from Delhi Red FortJantar Mantar Lotus Temple Himayun Tomb India Gate Hindu Temple New DelhiJaipur

Jaipur, Rajastan Conceived by Sawai Jai Singh in 1727 First planned city in northern India Capital of Rajastan Known as the “Pink City” Population: Climate Summers are hot! Max: 104 o F; Min:79 o F Winters are nice Max: 72 o F; Min: 47 o F Barely any rainfall 64 cms. Average per year Languages English, Hindi & Rajastani Hava Mahal (Wind Palace) Jaipur is known for its forts, palaces, architectural marvels and tales of valor.

Jaipur Traditional Rajastani Costumes Chess is played by royalty in India Our Palace - Jaimahal Hotel Harry Potter…move over

Jaipur Rajasthani puppet show Entrance to City Palace Jal Mahal - abandoned (Water Palace) Biggest single piece of silver (to carry waters from the Ganges)

Jaipur Sights Elephant ride Cows share the road with BMWs Monkeys are everywhere Scooters in the Pink City

Science in Jaipur Jantar Mantar: center of astronomical studies. Built by founder of Jaipur – Sawai Jai Singh in 1727 Largest of the 6 observatories built. Sun Dial: Triangle with hypotenuse at 27 o = latitude of Jaipur. Measures the declination of celestial bodies Small Sun Dial: resolution 20 seconds Someone help me down… Large Sun Dial: resolution 2 seconds

Science in Jaipur Testing for purity in a silk carpet Zodiac Signs Group of 12 instruments which represent 12 Rashis or Zodiac signs. The instruments are used for observing latitudes and longitudes of the sun and the planets. Jaipur is a big exporter of silk carpets. Here the owner is demonstrating how carpets are tested for purity. Silk will not burn but wool will Jaipur New DelhiAgra

Agra: The home of the Taj Getting there was half the fun Way cool!! Cost of ride was Rs. 10 (or 25 cents)

Entrance to the Taj Each mini tower represents a year – took 22 years to build

The Taj Mahal A symbol of undying love for a wife

The Taj Mahal, Agra Sitting with my uncle inside the Taj What’s so special about it? my sister just didn’t get it  Originally 2 were planned, one white, one black, but only one was completed. It took 20,000 workers 22 years to build this marble wonder It is the tomb of Emperor Shahjahan and his wife Mumtaz Agra New Delhi

The Qutab Minar, New Delhi Built: 1199 A.D. by Qutub-Ud-Din Albak Afghan architecture Height: 230 feet Fun facts: –20 years to complete –Highest stone tower in India –Surrounded by Tombs –Major tourist attraction –Built to mark Muslim dominance in Delhi My Mom thinks I am taking her picture

The Qutab Minar My dad is 6’ 2” A place of worship in the complex

We did some fun things Showing my dad how to shoot Look ma, I am taller than this man!

India: A country for everyone MooNet (Internet access for cows!)

…but I am glad to be back Thanks!