Annapurna Sanctuary Trekking

After the noise of India we were so relaxed to arrive in Nepal, such a quiet country! From Pokhara we made a 7 day trek to reach the base camp of the Annapurna, a great experience. It is a famous trekking that takes you from the sub-tropical climate with monkeys and jungle to high altitudes with pristine snows.

We had to share the path with many animals, here two yaks enjoy some fresh grass on the stairs.

At low altitude we walked through rice fields. The main menu for trekkers is the Dal Bhat, local rice with beans and vegs,  refills are free and it is delicious!

These kinds of bridges are typical in the Himalayas, they are more resistant than they look! 

The Annapurna I and its 8091 meters on our way to the base camp.

Finally at the base camp, at 4170 meters we needed warm clothes!

Varanasi

Varanasi is THE holy city of Hinduism. Every Hindu has to go there once in his lifetime to purify his body in the Ganga river. To die there would free yourself from the cycle of reincarnation. This city was the most impressive for us, the ghats (stairs) go down into the river all along the city. Each ghat has its functionality, from cleaning yourself to burning bodies of dead people. Behind the river, the little streets are very crowded, with a lot of traffic. It is a special city different of anything else in India!

The famous ghats and the Ganga.

In the evening many people gather on the gaths for ceremonies and others rents boats to admire the city.

The "burning" ghats have stock piles of wood to cremate about 200 people every day.

Nearby, people are taking a holy bath in the Ganga.

Khajuraho

We took another night train to the state of Madhya Pradesh to visit Khajuraho, it is a small town famous for its temples and its kama sutra carvings.

The temples were built 1000 years ago, when erotism wasn't taboo in Hindu culture. They are full of suggesting carvings.

A nymph with her sari.

Lakshmana temple.

Agra - Fatepur Sikri

We took the train to Agra, home of the famous Taj Mahal! This tomb is as nice as poeple say, all made of white marble and incrusted with colorfull stones. The king built this mausoleum in memory of his wife who died while giving birth. He was then put in in jail by his son and could see the Taj from his cell until his death, not really a happy ending!
We also went to Fatepur Sikri, a ruined city 40km from Agra. We visited there the 2nd biggest Mosque ok India. We went there during a pilgrimage, people walk 90km to a temple nearby and do a lot of noise on the way!

The Jama Masjid (Mosque du Vendredi) in Fatepur

The Taj Mahal

Agra view from a roof, it is a big city with tiny crowded streets.

Delhi

We were in the capital!! Delhi, the second biggest city in India with 13 millions of people!!, we discovered that its a fusion betwen the old and modern, the old area is very well preserved sourrounded of modern buildings.

The red fort is one of the major sights of Delhi.

Old Delhi's streets are very intense, you need to pay attention all the time. The life here is dynamic, nothing is quiet any time of the day!

Humayun's Tomb is an amazing muslim architecture, It is made of white marble and red sandstone.

Jaisalmer

We then went east in the Thar Desert next to Pakistan. Jaisalmer is a city in the sand with also a fort in its centre. We also went for a night safari in the desert where we slept under the stars.

The fort is filled with shops and temples.

On the way to the desert we spotted women taking water in the well.

Pili riding her camel.

Jodhpur

We went from Mumbai to Ahmedabad (capital of Gujarat) by train and then took the night bus to Jodhpur. This was pretty chaotic with people sitting on the roof of the bus during the travel, but everything went well! 

Jodhpur is the "blue" city, with many houses painted in indigo. A gigantic fort in its centre was the palace of the Mahajaras until recently. 

Mehrangarh, the fort of Jodhpur is very well preserved with a beautiful architecture

The blue city as seen from the fort. 

The different building have detailed carving on each façade.

Holy (the color festival) happened while we were in Jodhpur! People buy colour powders and play to "paint" each other, it is very funny and easy to wash!

After only a few minutes in the streets!