Red Fort, New Delhi

The same Mughal Emperor who built the Taj Mahal built the famous Red Fort in 1638 with palaces, mosques and harem quarters. Folks, it's just another fort. What cathedrals are to Europe, forts are to India.

The throne (below) in the Hall of Public Audiences (above) is inlaid with marble and precious stones.

The Indian Army was protecting us from ourselves.

Agra Fort & Palace

The red sandstone Agra Fort and Palace was begun in 1565 and completed by Shah Jahan, the builder of the Taj Mahal. In 1658 he was overthrown by his son and imprisoned here for the last eight years of his life where he could only gaze across the valley to see the Taj.

Khajuraho

The Kama Sutra carvings that swathe Khajuraho's temples are among the finest temple art in the world. Around the outsides of the temples are bands of stonework showing life a millennium ago - gods, goddesses, warriors, musicians and animals. Women and sex repeatedly appear in erotic poses only for the Hindu purpose of creation.

Don't try this at home!

Inside the Jain Temple complex.

Buddha's First Sermon, Sarnath

Buddha came to Sarnath after he achieved enlightenment and gave his famous first sermon here. The 34m Dhamekh Stupa (center) marks the spot. There stands one of Buddha's admirers.

This bodhi tree was transplanted in 1931 from the tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, which in turn is said to be the offspring of the original tree in Bodhgaya under which Buddha attained enlightenment.

Varanasi and Sarnath are home to the roots of Buddhism and Hinduism.

The Ganges River, Varanasi, India

It's the dream of every religious Hindu to see the Ganges river once in their lifetime; to either bathe in it, take water from it or be cremated along its banks in Varanasi. This is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world dating back 7,000 years.

Every morning cremations take place on the burning ghats (steps).

At dawn pilgrims come for a ritual bath while others wash clothes and sell flowers.

At sunset Hindu priests perform an elaborate river worship ceremony.

Driving in India

There are no driving laws in India--just organized chaos. Trucks driving toward you on your side of the road; bulls wandering the streets; people, camels and bulls pulling wooden carts; children playing on the highways; pedal and motorized rickshaws abound; pedestrians climbing over medians, and the list goes on. Oh, and I forgot, the din of the constant honking as they pass every rickshaw, car and truck because they do not use side or rearview mirrors. After 30 days of this we are finally used to it and now we leave for Bangkok!

Yes, those are men pushing a loaded cart on the streets of New Delhi.

Aren't we on a divided highway? Yes, that truck is on the wrong side of the road....

The Village of Patan

Patan is the village that is associated with the monarchy and Patan Mahal. As we arrived in town we came upon a procession of women that were going to a celebration.

A local potter at his wheel.

Check out his walking stick!

Rhonda's shopping for wooden bangles made in the village. When she returned to the car she was surrounded by welcoming children that were happy to have their picture taken. Apparently she is one of the first foreigners that they had seen.