Shiva’s Empire of Contradictions – An Eye on North India
The Indian subcontinent stands for long distances, is home to millions of people and was once the cradle of a unique early civilisation. In particular the dynasty of the Great Moguls and their sophisticated comprehension of Indo-Islamic culture and architecture formed the country. On a more than four thousand kilometres long journey through North India sights are literally lining the streets. Starting in Calcutta, the journey lead to the sacred city of Varanasi and further on to Indian classics such as the Agra-based Taj Mahal or Fatehpur Sikri, the abandoned former capital of Great Mogul Akbar. In the West scenery is getting more and more meagre, though the wealth of cultural treasures is still on a high level, if even not higher. For example Jaipur’s and Jodhpur’s world of palaces and forts gives an idea how highly developed India’s civilisation once was. The ride’s grand finale was a visit to Abhaneri’s superbly symmetric step well, Deshnok’s bizarre rat temple and Amritsar, home of the amazing Golden Temple and heart of Punjabstate that is bordering with Pakistan in more or less peaceful way; the special border closing ceremony being held every evening near Amritsar gives proof of that »»
