An Indian Odyssey - March and April 2014
As a celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Gill's mother in Lucknow, India in 1914 we spent a month visiting places where she spent time during her childhood and life in India from 1914 - 1947.
We arrived in Delhi on 23rd March on a Virgin Atlantic flight from London Heathrow. I will only provide a small amount of the journey in detail but will let the video playlist speak for itself. Enjoy the video journey...
March
23rd
Arrive in Delhi and stay at Saubhag Guest House. Evening visit to Rajendra Nagar street market in the company of our wonderful hostess Meera Dass.
24th
Old and New Delhi visiting Rajpath, India Gate, Raj Ghat the site of Mahatma Gandhi's funeral pyre and now the Gandhi Memorial, Jama Masjid Mosque, Chandi Chowk Bazaar, Qtub Minar.
DELHI
25th
By train on Shatabdi Express to Agra visiting the Taj Mahal, Agra Red Fort, the Tomb of Itimad-ad-Daulah followed by a walk through Kachpura village.
AGRA
26th
A day at leisure in Delhi spent walking around Lodhi Gardens and Kahn Market
27th
By Shatabdi Express to Dehra Dun and then driven by Sonny to Claridges Nabha Residence in Mussoorie
DELHI to MUSSOORIE
28th
Tour of Mussoorie, Landour and the Company Garden
MUSSOORIE
29th
Private visit to Waverley the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Mussoorie which was attended by Caroline Munns nee Goodman and her sisters during the 1920's and by Evelyn her oldest daughter during the 1940's. This was followed by a walk along the Mall Road before returning to the Residence.
WAVERLEY
30th
Transfer through the hills of the lower Himalayas to Shimla, Queen of the Hill Stations staying at Clarkes Hotel at the Eastern end of the Mall Road.
MUSSOORIE to SHIMLA
31st
Tour of Shimla visiting the Deodar Forest, Fagu village to view the snow covered Himalayas and the Jamhu Temple famed for its monkeys.
SHIMLA and VICEREGAL LODGE
April
1st
Travel on the Toy Train from Shimla down the hillside to Kandaghat. On returning to Shimla we visit the Viceregal Lodge and are permitted access to the Library normally denied to tourists as the guide was kind enough to let us see what used to be the ballroom where Gill's father danced with the daughter of Lord Mountbatten.
TOY TRAIN
2nd
Journey by car in the company of our marvelous driver from Shimla to Pragpur arriving mid afternoon at The Judges Court.
SHIMLA to PRAGPUR
3rd
A walking tour of Pragpur Heritage Village, Gurli village and the Kaleshwar Temple on the banks of the Beas River
PRAGPUR
4th
By road again this time from Pragpur to the Sikh Holy City of Amritsar. The evening was spent visiting the Golden Temple for the ceremony of the putting to bed of the Holy Book.
PRAGPUR to AMRITSAR
AMRITSAR
5th
Daylight visit to the Golden Temple and the amazing kitchens which serve free food to thousands of pilgrims every day. Late afternoon and we traveled to the border with Pakistan at Atari/Wagah for the Border Closing Ceremony.
WAGAH BORDER
6th
Return to Delhi by air flying with SpiceJet for one night before our onward journey south to Goa.
7th
By Jet Airways from Delhi to Goa staying at the Leela Hotel, Mobor Beach, Cavellosim, Goa
8th to 16th
Relaxation time on the beach in Southern Goa.
GOA
RIVER SAL and SEA
It is on day 2 of our stay that Tim passed away in respite at home in Cheshire. Unfortunately we were not to find out about this until almost two days later....
17th
Return to Delhi by Jet Airways
18th
New Delhi to Heathrow by Virgin Atlantic
We arrived in Delhi on 23rd March on a Virgin Atlantic flight from London Heathrow. I will only provide a small amount of the journey in detail but will let the video playlist speak for itself. Enjoy the video journey...
March
23rd
Arrive in Delhi and stay at Saubhag Guest House. Evening visit to Rajendra Nagar street market in the company of our wonderful hostess Meera Dass.
24th
Old and New Delhi visiting Rajpath, India Gate, Raj Ghat the site of Mahatma Gandhi's funeral pyre and now the Gandhi Memorial, Jama Masjid Mosque, Chandi Chowk Bazaar, Qtub Minar.
DELHI
25th
By train on Shatabdi Express to Agra visiting the Taj Mahal, Agra Red Fort, the Tomb of Itimad-ad-Daulah followed by a walk through Kachpura village.
AGRA
26th
A day at leisure in Delhi spent walking around Lodhi Gardens and Kahn Market
27th
By Shatabdi Express to Dehra Dun and then driven by Sonny to Claridges Nabha Residence in Mussoorie
DELHI to MUSSOORIE
28th
Tour of Mussoorie, Landour and the Company Garden
MUSSOORIE
29th
Private visit to Waverley the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Mussoorie which was attended by Caroline Munns nee Goodman and her sisters during the 1920's and by Evelyn her oldest daughter during the 1940's. This was followed by a walk along the Mall Road before returning to the Residence.
WAVERLEY
30th
Transfer through the hills of the lower Himalayas to Shimla, Queen of the Hill Stations staying at Clarkes Hotel at the Eastern end of the Mall Road.
MUSSOORIE to SHIMLA
31st
Tour of Shimla visiting the Deodar Forest, Fagu village to view the snow covered Himalayas and the Jamhu Temple famed for its monkeys.
SHIMLA and VICEREGAL LODGE
April
1st
Travel on the Toy Train from Shimla down the hillside to Kandaghat. On returning to Shimla we visit the Viceregal Lodge and are permitted access to the Library normally denied to tourists as the guide was kind enough to let us see what used to be the ballroom where Gill's father danced with the daughter of Lord Mountbatten.
TOY TRAIN
2nd
Journey by car in the company of our marvelous driver from Shimla to Pragpur arriving mid afternoon at The Judges Court.
SHIMLA to PRAGPUR
3rd
A walking tour of Pragpur Heritage Village, Gurli village and the Kaleshwar Temple on the banks of the Beas River
PRAGPUR
4th
By road again this time from Pragpur to the Sikh Holy City of Amritsar. The evening was spent visiting the Golden Temple for the ceremony of the putting to bed of the Holy Book.
PRAGPUR to AMRITSAR
AMRITSAR
5th
Daylight visit to the Golden Temple and the amazing kitchens which serve free food to thousands of pilgrims every day. Late afternoon and we traveled to the border with Pakistan at Atari/Wagah for the Border Closing Ceremony.
WAGAH BORDER
6th
Return to Delhi by air flying with SpiceJet for one night before our onward journey south to Goa.
7th
By Jet Airways from Delhi to Goa staying at the Leela Hotel, Mobor Beach, Cavellosim, Goa
8th to 16th
Relaxation time on the beach in Southern Goa.
GOA
RIVER SAL and SEA
It is on day 2 of our stay that Tim passed away in respite at home in Cheshire. Unfortunately we were not to find out about this until almost two days later....
17th
Return to Delhi by Jet Airways
18th
New Delhi to Heathrow by Virgin Atlantic