My Trip to India - Colour &

Rhonda SG

Wow... The photos are so interesting! Very Happy It's so steeped in the unique culture of the place.

All said, though I would go on a guided tour to India, I would not go off the beaten track. Razz

And how in the world did you poor guys end up with Vegetarian food the entire trip? Surprised That's so ... deprived! Laughing

Rhonda SG

BTW, what's the story behind this? It seems pretty interesting!

SevenEleven SG

Well it is sort of a pligrimage tour. the tour leader arranged them. anyway I am the "eat to live" sort, so..no difference Laughing

SevenEleven SG

don't know this one but this rat attracted me Laughing

SevenEleven SG

After travelling some 250km from Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh State), we reach the City of Gaya (Bihar State) that is situated along the bank of Falgu River (better known as Niranjana River to the Hindus and Buddhist).

Gaya is a holy city for the Hindus fame for the Hindu epic Ramayana and the district Bodhgaya is the holiest place for the Buddhist where the Lord Buddha gained his enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree

SevenEleven SG

MahaBodhi Temple - This was build next to the Bodhi Tree (this is the sapling(son) from the Bodhi Tree in Sri Lanka (father) whose original tree (grandfather) was located more than 2,500 years ago

It is believed that 250 years after the Enlightenment of the Buddha, Emperor Asoka visited Bodh Gaya. He is considered to be the founder of the original Mahabodhi temple. It consisted of an elongated spire crowned by a miniature stupa and a chhatravali on a platform. A double flight of steps led up to the platform and the upper sanctum. The mouldings on the spire contained Buddha images in niches.

Some historians believe that the temple was constructed or renovated in the 1st century during the Kushan period. With the decline of Buddhism in India, the temple was abandoned and forgotten, buried under layers of soil and sand.

This temple was excavated by Sir Alexander Cunningham in 1883 based on the records by the traveller monk Hsuen Tsang from China.

SevenEleven SG

Notice the exquiste carving on the temple. many of these statue were destroyed when the mongul invaded India. Perhap it was a blessing that these temple was buried under the sand otherwise these too would have been destoryed

SevenEleven SG

This is what most of the pilgrims come for, the Bodhi Tree and the seat under the tree (diamond throne) where the Lord Buddha sat before gaining enlightenment

gigabyte14 SG

7-11!

long time no see!

SevenEleven SG

Our next stop is known Pragbodhi. This is one of the most remote region in the state of Bihar. According to our guide, this place is controlled by the maoist and not safe to travel at night. However, they had laid down a rule the tourists will not be disturbed but rich locals may be robbed.

Road along this place is mud ground and the houses are pretty backward. the round disc stuck on the wall are cow dung mixed with grass and dried in the sun. This will serve as fuel for cooking to the locals there.

Talk about recycling....they have been doing it since history

SevenEleven SG

hello giga. how are you doing. Smile

SevenEleven SG

Pragbodhi has several barren rocky hills and caves. This is where Prince Siddhatta practice austeries and self-motification. We didn't have to climb these rocky path as some donors helped build a road up the hill although most vehicle cannot reach the top.

One member of our group did not make it to the top as she suffered an asthma attack half way up and had to wait for the rest midway.

SevenEleven SG

Some of the roads we travelled are narrow and have lots of pot holes making travelling slow. Here is a 2 way traffic rickety bridge only allowing one vehicle to pass from either directions only

RaaRaa SG

The funny thing is that despite all those corpse and all, the water is still pure. Correct me if I am wrong 7-11.

SevenEleven SG

er...define pure.

LOTUSfairy SG

trying looking at the river behind taj mahal...u will throw up...

the water was soot black, greasy, rubbish...and when i step at the bank, my trekking boots become black and sticky... Neutral

SevenEleven SG

The city of Rajgir (ancient Rajagriha or Rajagaha) was the first capital of the kingdom of Magadha, a state that would eventually evolve into the Mauryan Empire. Its date of origin is unknown, although ceramics dating to about 1000 BC have been found in the city. The epic Mahabharata calls it Girivraja and recounts the story of its king, Jarasandha, and his battle with the Pandava brothers and their allies Krishna

SevenEleven SG

This is the Vishwashanti Stupa located at the top of Ratnagiri hill some 400m high builded by the Japanese. During winter, this place is cold and windy but during summer, the heat becomes unbearer when it hit 47 degree. Beside this stupa is a modern temple cum guesthouse for the Japanese

SevenEleven SG

On the path leading to the Japanese temple stood this piece of rock. As this place is famous for one of the Mahayanese Sutra - Lotus Sutra, the inscriptions on the rock shows.

I like the wordings on the rock as it gives a very Zen feeling

SevenEleven SG

On the window of the Japanese temple are these graceful dragon metal grills with small netting to keep the mosquitoes out. The beat of the Japanese drum become our pace marker as we walked into the temple. This place is clean and peaceful and makes an ideal getaway from city life

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