Home » India » India - let's go World Heritage sight-seeing

How can you describe a country that spans from the Tibetan, Nepalese and Bhutanese Himalaya in the north, nearly 3000km to the Gulf of Mannar near troubled Sri Lanka in the south, from the borders of Pakistan in the west, 2500km to the border of 'East Pakistan' (Bangladesh) in the..well, east, and with a magnamonious (yes, I made that word up) population of over 1 Billion people? Answer: you can't.

India - let's go World Heritage sight-seeing

Simon Wadsworth
2006-09-04 13:35:05

Displayed times (last time: )

a little on the careful side). That aside, the temples are a World Heritage Site and the sculptural art of figurines, battle scenes, daily life as well as eroticism, are amongst the best in the world. The temples are pretty impressive too. It's been a joy to wander around the place at sunrise, admiring the architecture. Yes, sunrise again - but going any later, it's so hot I feel like a roast potato. Besides, the heat makes it too unbearable to sleep this month anyway.

A local teenager who seemed to be fluent in about 5 languages attached himself to me the day before, and showed me around his local village of Khajuraho (rather than the tourist-village of Khajuraho), where India's 4-caste social hierachy is still evident in the village layout. Indie (my nickname for him as my Indiana Jones-style hat suited him, and his name is Pharat, Hindi for India), then took me to his house for chai, meeting his family where, as luck would have it, his Uncle was a wood carver and around to show me some pieces for sale. To be fair, they were good but sadly either too heavy or expensive for me.

From one expensive World Heritage Site to another, this time at a pleasant little town called Sanchi. The main attraction this time is a collection of 23-century-old Buddhist stupas, temples and monasteries. Briefly, these Buddhist structures are some of the most impressive around, and the ornately picturesque gateways (see photos) are amongst the best stone structures I've seen, especially when you consider how old they are, and so I spent many hours exploring the place intricately, with guide book, making the most of the hefty entrance fee while drinking my 5th litre of water of the day so far.

However, the other main attraction for me on this day cost me no rupee and took a mere few minutes: walking around Sunchi's small market where I've never seen anywhere so noisy and alive - all kinds of vegetables, vendors with scales, and all with time to smile at me, the only white boy in town. Indeed, it's been such friendliness these last few days that reminds me how great travelling can be, which is often clouded by the stress of getting from A to B.

Now I've headed into Rajastan (sooner than expected due to the booked trains), via Bhopal, famous for the tragic US-based 1984 disaster. I stopped briefly to spend a few hours visiting a very impressive museum and reinactment of Indian tribal villages built by the actual tribes. Strange I was one of the only visitors...

It's been a lot of "I did this, then I did that" this week, but that's the way this month is going to be; hopping about like a demented bunny. Just keeping those interested updated. Lots already to talk about in the next blog, including sleeping on train platforms and becoming a Wedding Dancer, but you've had enough excitement for one blog.

Good luck to everyone taking exams about now!! Just one final push! Byebye for another few days, if I survive the heat that is. Urgh..

x