
Jaipur, India
Jaipur, a city of around three million people has the hustle and bustle of a modern overcrowded metropolis and the history of a rich royal past
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You never get tired of looking at the Taj Mahal. We breakfasted each morning on the rooftop of our hotel and we had a magnificent view over the tree tops to the complex.
We were even drawn to the our rooftop view in the evenings when we returned after a day of sightseeing. The different shades of the evening light were enthralling.
The usual view is to walk down the red stoned entrance way of the outer courtyard to the arched doorway through which you can see the white magnificence that dominates the inner courtyard.
I’m sure the designer had this in mind when he planned the layout of the comlex. It’s a wonderful contrast. And as you go through the archway and look across the grass and the fountains at the whiteness flanked by two red brick buildings, well, you just fall in love.
The previous day we had spent on the banks of the Yamuna River, which flows directly behind the Taj Mahal complex. It was interesting seeing the Taj Mahal from this viewpoint. We just sat and looked – much like we did when we went to the Pyramids at Giza. The locals minded their goats and collected the wood for their fires, and we just looked at the Taj Mahal.
But you will want to get up close eventually to see the stunning detail of this building. It must have cost a few bucks.

Jaipur, a city of around three million people has the hustle and bustle of a modern overcrowded metropolis and the history of a rich royal past

The northern Indian city of Varanassi is sacred place for many religions. It has had a fascination for visitors and pilgrims for centuries

Built during the second half of the 16th century by the Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri was the capital of the Mughal Empire for only some 10 years. It’s a celebration of red sandstone.

Dougga is one of the best of the ancient Roman town sites we have seen, a good rival to Ephesus in Turkey.

The Stick Shed in Murtoa is a second World War grain storage area so unique that it has pride of place on the Australian Heritage Register. Who would have thought there would be a forest of mountain ash trees in the Wimmera.

Hobart’s renowned open air market was established in 1972 so it’s coming up for its 50th Anniversary.