INDIA.
Rajasthan & Gujarat.
20/Nov/2018 to 14/Dec/2018.
Rajasthan & Gujarat.
20/Nov/2018 to 14/Dec/2018.
2018 Itinerary (this post) :
Pushkar - Jaipur&Amber - Chittorgarh - Udaipur - Ranakpur Kumbhalgarh - Patan (stepwell) - Modhera (Sun Temple) - Little Kuch (Wild Ass sanctuary) - Gondal - Junagadh (Girnar Hill) - Sasan Gir NP - Somnath - Diu - Palitana (Shatrunjaya mountain) - Bhavnagar (Blackbuck NP) - Mumbai.
CLICK HERE for my 2016 India posts (a new window will be opened)
Pushkar - Jaisalmer - Chittorgarh - Bundi - Ujjain - Mandu - Maheshwar - Omkareshwar - Sanchi - Jabalpur - Amarkantak - Varanasi - Bodhgaya - Madhuban (Parasnath Hill) - Puri/Konark - Kolkata - Sunderbans - New Delhi.
CLICK HERE for my 2015 India posts (a new window will be opened)
Pushkar - Bundi - Ranthambore National Park - Orchha - Khajuraho - Chitrakoot – Allahabad - Varanasi - Tala (Bandhavgarh National Park) - Omkareshwar - Indore - New-Delhi.
CLICK HERE for my 2013 India posts (a new window will be opened)
Mumbai - Goa - Hampi - Fort-Kochi - Backwaters - Munnar - Trivandrum - Kanyakumari - Madurai - Trichy - Puducherry - Tiruvannamalai - Hyderabad - Nagarjunakonda - Ellora&Ajanta - Udaipur - Ranakpur - Jodhpur - Pushkar - Jaipur&Amber - Agra - Delhi - Amritsar - Dharamsala&McLeod-Ganj - Chandigarh - Rishikesh - Auli - Mussoorie - New-Delhi.
India time = European time + 4h30
1 € = 82₹
1 US$ = 72₹
1 ₹ (INR, Indian Rupee) = 0.012€ = 0.014US$
1 € = 82₹
1 US$ = 72₹
1 ₹ (INR, Indian Rupee) = 0.012€ = 0.014US$
Tuesday 20/Nov/2018.
Home to Pushkar journey.
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| At Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport. Traveling this time with Laurence. |
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| Announcement for the Paris to Delhi flight, 'On Time'. |
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| It's snowing at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport when embarking. |
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| Air France lunch. |
- Air France Flight AF7673 from Marseille (MRS) to Paris (CDG), 07:20-8:55, 1h35, A319.
- Transit 1h25.
- Air France Flight AF0226 from Paris (CDG) to Delhi (DEL), 10:20-23:15, B777, 8h25, 445.16€ (for these two and the return flights)
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- Prepayed taxi from Delhi airport to Old Delhi Junction railway station.
|---| Train.
Wednesday 21/Nov/2018.
Delhi to Pushkar journey.
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| Old Delhi Junction station, arrival of the Jummu Aii Express train for Ajmer Junction. |
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| Ajmer Junction station. |
Pushkar.
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| Seventh Heaven guesthouse, the hotel for the next 3 nights. |
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| Room for the next 3 nights. |
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| Maha Aarti at Pushkar Lake. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aarti |
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| Maha Aarti. |
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| Maha Aarti. |
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| Night view from the hotel's rooftop restaurant, with the Old Rangji temple in front, and the Savitri temple behind at the top of the Ratnagiri hill. |
- Jummu Aii Express train, Old-Delhi Junction to Ajmer Junction, 4:25-12:20, 441km, 7h55, first class, 1833₹ (22.50€).
|---| Seventh Heaven Guest House, Pushkar, 3000₹/n ~36€ (1st night).
Thursday 22/Jul/2018.
Pushkar (Cntd).
Ratnagiri hill.
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| Lemon-soda stall, ran by a happy family. |
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| Ratnagiri hill summit. |
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| 'The Magic Pinch' cafe, where a famous brew is made from eleven Ayurvedic herbs. |
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| The herbal expert called me in, as he recognized me from my previous stays. |
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| Seven different looks and tastes. |
Back in town.
Evening panic...
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| Spent a difficult moment when the artist decided to hand me over his micro for a song, and next asked me to dance. |
|---| Seventh Heaven Inn, Pushkar, 3000₹/n ~36€ (2nd night).
Friday 23/Jul/2018.
Pushkar (Cntd).
Vaikunth Nath Swami Temple.
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| Vaikunth Nath Swami Temple. A south indian look with the monumental tower (goparam). |
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| Vaikunth Nath Swami Temple. The goparam. |
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| Vaikunth Nath Swami Temple. |
Vaikunth Nath Swami Temple.
Pushkar lake, Kartik Poornima bathing and Aarti.   |
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| Aarti. |
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Obtained a chilled beer with my dinner
(not easy to get in Pushkar).
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|---| Seventh Heaven Inn, Pushkar, 3000₹/n ~36€ (3rd night).
Saturday 24/Nov/2018.
Pushkar (Cntd).
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| Old Rangji Temple. |
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| Pushkar Lake. |
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| (Picture stolen from the internet as no cameras allowed). |
Aloo Baba visit (Potato Guru).
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| Purchase of potatoes for Aloo Baba, 100Rs for 5kg (~1€20). |
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| Aloo Baba's ashram. |
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| Aloo Baba's ashram. |
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| Aloo Baba's preaching : "Change is life, without change, no life. Everybody welcome here, all country good, all world my people, everybody my people.” |
Ajaypal temple (11th Century).
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/pushkar/drive-to-ajaypal-ji/ps48742750.cms
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| An eagle-painted boulder. |
Along the road.
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| Five adults on a single motorbike. |
Chamunda Mata temple, Shaktipeet 27/51.
Pushkar to Jaipur journey.
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| Highway toll gate. |
- Taxi ride from Pushkar to Jaipur, 2600Rs.
|---| Sunder Palace Guest House, Jaipur, ~21€/2p/n (1st night).
Sunday 25/Nov/2018.
Jaipur.
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| People carrying a tree, a loudspeaker, ... |
City Palace.
Observatory.
Monkey Temple.
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| Beautiful evening light. |
|---| Sunder Palace Guest House, Jaipur, ~21€/2p/n (2nd night).
Monday 26/Nov/2018.
Jaipur (Cntd).
Hawa Mahal - Wind Palace.
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| The Wind Palace. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawa_Mahal |
Amber Palace (Amer).
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Amber fort.
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Jagat Shiromanji temple.
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| Jagat Shiromanji temple. |
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| Jagat Shiromanji temple. |
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| Jagat Shiromanji temple priest. |
Panna Meena Ka stepwell.
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| Panna Meena Ka stepwell. |
Jaigarh Fort.
Jal Mahal (Water Palace).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jal_Mahal
|---| Sunder Palace Guest House, Jaipur, ~21€/2p/n (3rd night).
Tuesday 27/Nov/2018.
Jaipur (Cntd).
Galtaji (Monkey Temple).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galtaji
Sisodiya Rani Ka Bagh garden.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisodiya_Rani_Bagh
A wild tuktuk ride.
Raj Mandir Cinema.
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| Raj Mandir theatre, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raj_Mandir_Cinema,_Jaipur movie playing : Bhaiaji Superhit. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhaiaji_Superhit |
|---| Sunder Palace Guest House, Jaipur, ~21€/2p/n (4rd night).
Wednesday 28/Nov/2018.
Jaipur to Bundi Journey.
Along the National Highway NH12.
Bundi.
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| The hotel for the next two nights. |
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| Garh Palace (Bundi Castle). |
- Taxi ride from Jaipur to Bundi, 5400Rs.
|---| Dev Niwas Heritage Hotel, 1000Rs (~12€/n), Bundi.
Thursday 29/Nov/2018.
Bundi.
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| Jait Sagar lake. |
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| Kipling's house. |
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| Jait Sagar lake. |
|---| Dev Niwas Heritage Hotel, 1000Rs, Bundi.
Friday 30/Nov/2018.
Bundi to Udaipur Journey.
Menal.
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| Dry waterfall. |
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| 180 degrees panorama. |
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| Shiva Temple, 8th and 11th century. |
Chittorgarh.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chittorgarh
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| Kumbha Shyam Temple, 15th Century. |
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| The Tower of Victory (Jaya Stambha), 1440s, 37m, 9 floors. |
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| Footprints of an ancient Guru (spiritual teacher). |
- Taxi ride from Bundi to Udaipur, 8:00-19:30, 6900Rs.
|---| Boheda Palace Hotel, Udaipur, 3390Rs/n (1st night).
Saturday 01/Dec/2018.
Udaipur.
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| The rooftop restaurant of the hotel. |
Streets of Udaipur.
City Palace.
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| City view. |
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| Lake view. |
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| Big moustache. |
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| Lunch restaurant. |
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| Fountain, with a water maze. |
|---| Boheda Palace Hotel, Udaipur, 3390Rs/n (2nd night).
Sunday 02/Dec/2018.
Udaipur escapade : Ranakpur & Kumbhalgarh.
Along the road to Ranakpur.
Ranakpur Jain temple.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranakpur_Jain_temple
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| Lunch. |
Kumbhalgarh.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumbhalgarh
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| Selfish Selfie-minded people. |
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| Where is Michel ? |
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| Sunset. |
|---| Boheda Palace Hotel, Udaipur, 3390Rs/n, (3rd night).
Monday 03/Dec/2018.
Udaipur (continued).
Jagdish temple.
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| Udaipur City Palace, as seen (zoomed) from the hotel rooftop terrace |
|---| Boheda Palace Hotel, Udaipur, 3390Rs/n, (4th night).
Tuesday 04/Dec/2018.
Udaipur to Gujarat journey.
Along the road.
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| Highway tunnel. |
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| Highway traffic. |
Patan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patan,_Gujarat
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| Rani Ki stepwell (11th Century), 27m deep. |
Modhera (Sun Temple).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Temple,_Modhera
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| Sun temple. |
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| The stepwell in front of the Sun temple. |
|---| Desert Courses, Zainabad, Gujarat.
Wednesday 05/Dec/2018.
Wild Ass Sanctuary.
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| The lodge for these two nights. |
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| Flamingos. |
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| Wild Ass. |
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| Safari vehicle. |
Village life.
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| Salt pans. |
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| Sunset. |
|---| Desert Courses, Zainabad, Gujarat.
Thursday 06/Dec/2018.
Zainabad to Junagadh journey.
Along the road.
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| Railroad crossing. |
Gondal
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| Swaminarayan Temple at Gondal. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akshar_Deri |
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| Sangramji High School, Gondal. a very British heritage. |
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| Naulakha palace, Gondal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naulakha_Palace |
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| Naulakha palace, children room. |
|---| Click Hotel, Junagadh, Gujarat.
Friday 07/Dec/2018.
Girnar Hill pilgrimage and Junagadh. 10 000 stone steps pilgrimage.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girnar
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| 05:20 Start of the pilgrimage. |
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| Drinking water stall. |
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| Jain temple cluster. |
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| Near to the 1st summit. |
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| 1st summit. |
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| A glimpse on the 2nd summit. |
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| Temple at the 2nd (last) summit. |
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| On the return, between both summits. |
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| The Jain temple cluster. |
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| Pilgrims. |
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| Pilgrim. |
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| Jain temples. |
Junagadh Uparkot Fort.
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| In the center of this picture Girnar Hill (the pilgrimage mountain). |
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| Jumma Masjid. |
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| Muslim cemetery. |
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| A kind Imam. |
|---| Click Hotel, Junagadh, Gujarat.
Saturday 08/Dec/2018.
Junagadh to Sasan Gir Wildlife Sanctuary.
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| Pisa tower. |
Jeep Safari.
http://www.girnationalpark.in/
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| Mother lion with her two cubs. |
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| Sunset. |
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| Camp fire at the lodge. |
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| Invited by the villagers for the new temple inauguration. |
|---| Gir Lion'Zo, Sasan Gir.
Sunday 09/Dec/2018.
Sasan Gir to Somnath to Diu journey.
Along the road.
Somnath Temple.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somnath_temple
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| Somnath temple, with another Shiva shivling. |
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| The Shivling surrounded by golden walls. (picture taken from the internet). |
Diu.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diu,_India
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| Saint Roch from Montpellier, also famous in India! |
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| The Hollywood-style hotel for tonight. |
|---| Radhika Beach Resort, Diu.
Monday 10/Dec/2018.
Diu to Palitana journey.
Along the road.
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| Pelicans. |
Palitana temples, Shatrunjaya mountain.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palitana_temples
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| 3300 steps lead to the temple cluster. |
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| Entrance gate for the temple city. Strictly no pictures allowed from this point. |
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| The temple city at the top of the Shatrunjaya mountain. (picture taken from the internet, as near dark, and anyhow no pictures allowed) |
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| Leaving the incredible temple city. |
|---| Hotel City Pride, Bhavnagar, Gujarat.
Tuesday 11/Dec/2018.
Bhavnagar to Ahmadabad to Mumbai journey.
Along the road.
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| 'Modest Tire Service'. |
Blackbuck National Park.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackbuck_National_Park,_Velavadar
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| Blackbucks, the Indian Antilopes. Their ringed straigth horns may reach 75cm ! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackbuck |
- GoAir Flight G8368 from Ahmedabad (AMD) to Mumbai (BOM), 19:55-21:20, 1h25, 2872₹ (~35€ one way).
|---| Hotel Residency Fort, Mumbai.
Mumbai.
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| "M" of Mumbai, or "M" of McDonalds ? |
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| Victoria Terminal, Mumbai's railway station. |
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| Victoria Terminal. |
Victoria Terminal.
Elephanta Island Cruise and Caves.
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| Elephanta Island is reachted after about 1h sailing (100Rs return). |
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| Mumbai skyline, as observed from Elephanta Island, 10km distant. |
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| The Three-Headed Shiva statue carved in the island caves. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephanta_Caves |
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| Evening lights on the Taj Mahal hotel and the India Gate. |
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| India Gate. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gateway_of_India |
|---| Hotel Residency Fort, Mumbai.
Thursday 13/Dec/2018.
Mumbai (Cntd).
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| Largest washing machine of the world. |
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| Largest dryer of the world. |
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| Gandhi museum. |
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| Mumbai beach. |
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| Mumbai Museum. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhatrapati_Shivaji_Maharaj_Vastu_Sangrahalaya |
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| Leaving Mumbai. |
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| Mumbai Airport (outside). |
|---| Mumbai.
Friday 14/Dec/2018.
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| Announcement for the Mumbai-Paris flight |
- Jet Airways Flight 9W124 from Mumbai (BOM) to Paris (CDG), 02:45-08:20, 10h05, B777.
- Transit 1h35.
- Air France flight AF7662 from Paris (CDG) to Marseille (MRS), 09:55-11:15, 1h20, A320.
|---| Home
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