Of Rajputs and Camels....A Portrait of INDIA (part 4): The North (1)

Xander202 · #1 Posted **Oct 17, 2011, 12:12 PM**

OK, here is part 4 of my recent India trip. Part 1 being here, part 2 here, and part 3 here.

Welcome to Rajasthan!　Welcome to Jaipur, the Pink City!

Despite having been to India numerous times, I have never before been to the north. Having spent a little over a week in Mumbai and Karnataka, I flew from Hubli to Jaipur in the northern state of Rajasthan. Rajasthan is a magical, vibrant and fascinating state, and I have wanted to go there for a long time. Anybody that knows anything about India would say that just visiting Jaipur, the largest and capital city of the state, does not do justice to the wonders of Rajasthan. However time constraints didn’t allow for more, so next time I will make the effort to visit more of Rajasthan.

But Jaipur is great. It is know as the Pink City due to the pink colour of many of the buildings. It is very different from the south, the people are different, the food is different etc. That said, it is still the same old India! Except you see camels walking up and down the street!

The reason I was in Jaipur was that I was with my dad who was tracking down a man named Hussein Kagzi in the suburb is Sanganer, the last remaining Arab descendent Muslim papermaker of a specific tradition. We succeded in finding and meeting him, so I have included a few photo’s of that.

R@ptor · #2 Posted **Oct 17, 2011, 2:09 PM**

Great photos which really manage to capture the fascinating vibe of India!

ColDayMan · #3 Posted **Oct 17, 2011, 2:18 PM**

Another outer-wordly trip.

Expat · #4 Posted **Oct 17, 2011, 2:51 PM**

I need a moment for my mind to catch up with these remarkable images.

Okayyou · #5 Posted **Oct 17, 2011, 3:32 PM**

This several part tour is great. Nice to see the differences in all the places. I think this has been my favorite so far. So much style. Excellent photos as always.

Xander202 · #6 Posted **Oct 19, 2011, 10:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Okayyou

This several part tour is great. Nice to see the differences in all the places. I think this has been my favorite so far. So much style. Excellent photos as always.

Thanks! Jaipur is an amazing place, and I hope my photo's show that....but I still have a soft spot for the south of India, so I'm not sure this is my personal favourite.

Boroda · #7 Posted **Oct 19, 2011, 2:59 PM**

Amazing thread!
Xander202, can I ask you about sending me some of your shots in bigger (original) size? Wanna see some of them clearly.

Xander202 · #8 Posted **Oct 26, 2011, 7:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boroda

Amazing thread!
Xander202, can I ask you about sending me some of your shots in bigger (original) size? Wanna see some of them clearly.

Sorry I don't really give away the originals!

Lipani · #9 Posted **Oct 17, 2011, 9:41 PM**

Damn! Looks like you covered just about all one could in one thread. I love the people shots that you took.

shivtim · #10 Posted **Oct 26, 2011, 12:59 PM**

One of the best and most unique threads I've seen in a while... thanks!

Leo the Dog · #11 Posted **Oct 26, 2011, 5:39 PM**

National Geographic quality! It's fascinating how other peoples and civilizations go about daily life.

Nicely done!

stepper77 · #12 Posted **Oct 31, 2011, 9:07 PM**

Such a different and fascinating world from my own. Incredible photos, thanks!

montréaliste · #13 Posted **Oct 31, 2011, 9:34 PM**

Great series Xander, your shots are outstanding, love this thread.

ShadowMaster · #14 Posted **Nov 2, 2011, 4:36 AM**

Jeez! Just Luv this! And I agree, National Geographic is what comes to mind!

the urban politician · #15 Posted **Nov 2, 2011, 5:00 PM**

Thanks, great photos.

I'm surprised you haven't spent more time in north India. North India is where the rulers of India traditionally set up residence, and it is also where Punjab is located, historically the most powerful and wealthy province in India (although today it has been carved up into 3 states, not including a big portion that went to Pakistan).

Seeing these photos, though, confirms my thoughts. So many people tell me how much India has "changed", but for the average person in India, it looks like the same old place to me..

Xander202 · #16 Posted **Nov 3, 2011, 10:17 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the urban politician

Thanks, great photos.

I'm surprised you haven't spent more time in north India. North India is where the rulers of India traditionally set up residence, and it is also where Punjab is located, historically the most powerful and wealthy province in India (although today it has been carved up into 3 states, not including a big portion that went to Pakistan).

Seeing these photos, though, confirms my thoughts. So many people tell me how much India has "changed", but for the average person in India, it looks like the same old place to me..

I haven't spent much time in the north because I have ties with the south, so whenever I go to India I end up in Karnataka. I do want to, and intend to see more of the north. I am well aware to the situation up there, and I would love to see more of Rajasthan and I would love to visit amaritsar. I also need to go northeast to orrissa and Kolkata.

Having been going to India regularly all my life, there are certain aspects which certainly have changed. I was surprised by Delhi airport and metro. You see very few ambassador cars on the street, the handpainted Bollywood signs are gone..... But really it is no doubt still the same old India.