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.

Palace Ruins

Early in the morning we hiked across the valley up to the ruins of the family's 800-year-old palace.

En route we encountered a family of wild pigs.

A close-up of the ceiling in the mirror room.

A young boy in the village bathing.

Taj Mahal, Agra

Sunrise at the Taj Mahal.

The ubiquitious photograph.

Peering out from within the Taj Mahal through a cut marble screen.

A Royal Indian Experience

Patan Mahal, a restored 200-year-old royal family palace.

We were very fortunate to stay at Maduban, a heritage home, in Jaipur for several days and meeting our hosts Mr. & Mrs. Dicky Singh. Our friendship grew to the point where they invited us to stay as their first guests at the family's royal palace that has been restored into a first-class hotel in Patan, which is a small town three hours south of New Delhi. The Singh family are royal descendants of both Nepalese and Indian aristocracy that once ruled Nepal and their kingdom in India.

The pictures speak for themselves as to our wonderful unique experience.

Our gracious hosts, Dicky & Kavita Singh.

Our living quarters were once used by his grandmother as her receiving room.

Joining us during our stay was Lindsay Brown (left), the Lonely Planet author that covers the state of Rajasthan. He was at the start of a five-week trip to update the guide.

Across the valley are the ruins of the family's 800-year-old palace (middle) and fort (top).

Early the next morning we hiked to the palace.

Royal Cenotaphs & Amber Fort & Palace

We were the only tourists at one of the most remarkable homages to the dead Maharanis, their cenotaphs which are extraordinary in design and constructed in marble.

The Amber Fort & Palace used to be the ancient capital of Jaipur. In the foreground are elephants that you can ride to the palace.

Inside the palace at the mirror hall.