| . |
Photo Samples, India
India must be the most photogenic
country in the world! From the highland people of Ladakh to the Hindu temples of Varanasi, India is a
fantastic palet of colours, hard to find elsewhere on the globe, and, to a photographer, The Jewel
of the Empire is just perfect, regardless if your main "target" is the mighty
Taj Mahal, the exotic Khajuraho Temples, the beaches of Goa or the praying pilgrims at the holy
Ganges. India is beyond belief and the samples below only cover a very small part of my archive.
All photos are, of course © Claus Qvist
Jessen, and none of them are to used without my permission. |
|
|
|
| Perhaps with
the exception of Australia and Egypt, no other country is assosiated with ONE building.
The Taj Mahal was built in memory of the wife of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the middle
of the 17th century and, to this day, is widely regarded as the most beautiful building on
earth. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
| Less known
than Taj Mahal, the 100 years older Fatehpur Sikri used to be the ancient capital of
Mughal Emperor Akbar, who is widely recognized as the greates of all Mughal rulers. Sadly,
shortage of water forced the Mughals to abandon the sand-stone city only 40 years after
its founding. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
Fatehpur
Sikri is very much a Muslim town and lots of faithful pilgrims make their way to the grave
of Sheikh Salim Chisti.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
| India is full
of strange temples, and the "Rat Temple" in Deshnok, Rajasthan, is certainly one
of the weirder ones. Here, at the Karni Mata Temple (www.karnimata.com), rats are revered
as gods and fed by the happy pilgrims. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
|
Hello! A young rat looking at the world; Karni Mata Temple (www.karnimata.com),
Rajahstan. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
Jaipur is frequently named the "Pink City" dur to the many photogenic,
pink buildings. Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) is one of them. In
effect, it's nothing but a facade allowing the ladies of the court to
sit and watch life underneath without being seen.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
|
Dressed up like Shiva, this man takes the Pushkar Fair seriously; Rajasthan. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
|
Rajahstani woman during the
November Fair. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
| Nothing is
wasted in India, and even camel shit is collected to be used as fuel for cooking, here at
the famous Pushkar Fair, Rajasthan. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
|
Amber Fort, 10 kms from Jaipur is one of the most beautiful desert
palaces in Rajahstan. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
| The
Golden Temple of Amritsar, the holiest city of the Sikhs. As compared to the Taj Mahal,
The Golden Temple is just as beautiful - and it's alive. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
Close-up of The Golden Temple, a slightly illegal photo as you're not
allowed to use cameras on the artificial island; Amritsar, Punjab.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
The Golden Temple at night. Truly remarkable; Amritsar, Punjab.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
|
Sikh pilgrim outside The Golden Temple; Amritsar, Punjab. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
|
13 on a bike must mean bad luck; Amritsar, Punjab. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
|
Sikh shoe-mender; Amritsar, Punjab. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
|
Potato harvest; Ladakh, Kashmir. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
Proud woman,
hardened by the elements. Leh, Ladakh, Kashmir.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
Building workers, most of them women; Leh, Ladakh, Kashmir.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
|
The entrance to Alchi Gompa; Ladakh, Kashmir. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
|
Monk in fron of the Alchi Gompa; Ladakh, Kashmir. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
|
Late afternoon at the Rizong Gompa, Ladakh. © Claus Qvist
Jessen |
|
|
|
|
| Novice monks
preparing the butter tea, 4 am in the morning at Rizong Gompa, Ladakh. © Claus Qvist
Jessen |
|
|
|
|
|
Another Buddhist novice doing some cooking at Rizong Gompa, Ladakh. © Claus Qvist
Jessen |
|
|
|
|
| Nun roasting
the barley grains. Later they are grinded to make "tsampa", roasted barley flour
and a recognized delicacy among the Tibetans. Very dusty to a Westerner. Ladakh. ©
Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
"Nepalese
design", but this is not Nepal. In upper Uttaranchal, the landscape is exactly the
same as in Nepal a bit to the east. No 8,000 meters, but lots of 7's and 6's, including
this one.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
| Shivling, the
sacred mountain of Lord Shiva, high up in the UP Himalaya, beyond the sources of the
Ganges. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
Sri Lal Baba
doing his morning puja (prayers), just a couple of miles from the sources of the Ganges.
Garwhal Himal, Uttar Pradesh.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
Sri Lal Baba
doing his morning puja (prayers), just a couple of miles from the sources of the Ganges.
Garwhal Himal, Uttar Pradesh.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
| Scene
from a wedding celebration; Vashist, Kulu Valley, Himachal Pradesh.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
|
The main ceremony at the wedding; Vashist, Kulu Valley, Himachal Pradesh.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
|
Ganges River, one hour upstream from Rishikesh.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
|
Picking potatoes; Byasi Ghat, one hour upstream from Rishikesh.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
|
The wife of Mr. Surindar Kumar making chapati; Byasi Ghat, Rishikesh,
Uttar Pradesh.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
Local woman holding my fly rod; Ramganga River, Utarranchal.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
Sahdu praying
at Rishikesh. The holy Ganges is in the background.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
| In Indian,
Begging is almost an artform. Millions of people are living from it and the remaining
billion gets a better karma. Here at Rishikesh, descending to the holy Ganges. ©
Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
|
Rishikesh moneychanger, ready to change 1 rupee into 90 paise or so, so
that you can spread your sonations to more beggars and benefit your
karma. ©
Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
|
Haridwar is one of the seven
holy cities of India. It's holiness is due to a Vishnu footprint at this
site, the colourful Hari-ki-Pairi Ghat (Hari-ki-Pauri). Unlike Rishikesh,
tourists are rare here. Uttar Pradesh. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
| Elderly
beggar from another of Indias holy cities; Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
| Sunrise at
Varanasi, holiest of the Hindu cities and the sacred city of Shiva. Sadly, the whole city
was destroyed by Moghul emperor Aurangzeb in 1703, meaning that, despite it's age,
Varanasi doesn't have any buildings more than 300 years old. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
| A member of
the upper (Brahmin) caste doing his earli morning prayers, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. ©
Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
| "Only
beggars are skinny". Being fat is an Indian symbol of being rich - and this guy
obviously is! Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
| The chaos of
India in one photo: The early morning at the holy Ganges in Varanasi. This must be the
most photogenic spot on Earth, and certainly the place I've ever been which has made the
greatest impression on me. Varanasi is magic. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
|
A whole family receiving the blessings of a Brahmin priest; Varanasi,
Uttar Pradesh. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
Getting the morning shave; Dasashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, UP.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
|
Take a shower; Dasashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, UP. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
| Hinduism
doesn't have any "real educated monks". Instead, it's perfectly legal (men and
women alike) to leave the spouse and 10 kids and walk the roads in search of the religious
truth. these people are the sahdus, here at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. © Claus
Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
Very colourful sahdu at a festival; Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
© Claus
Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
| Getting
cremated is extremely expensive, and quite a few bodyes are dipped into the Ganges without
being cremated, notably sahdus, children and people dying from snake bites. This smelly
"beauty" is from Varanasi, UP. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
| Walking
through any butchers market in India soon turns even the hardiest
meat-eater into
a devout vegetarian. The chicken transport is from Calcutta, West Bengal. © Claus
Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
| Leprous
beggar, Calcutta, West Bengal. Obviously one of the beggars who just can't work, whereas
lots of others chose begging because it's just a much more profitable way of living than
doing a low-paid job. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
| The Hindu and
Jain temples of Khajuraho in the central state of Madhya Pradesh boast some of the most
daring sculptures ever made. Despite being made between 950 and 1050, the
"theme" of the temples is pure sex. This one temple is the Lakshmana Temple.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
|
Quite eventful, isn't it? Detail from the Lakshmana Temple, Khajurahu,
Madhya Pradesh.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
|
In ancient days, it was beleived that sex with an animal could cure you
from Syphilis. Sexy detail from the Lakshmana Temple, Khajurahu, Madhya
Pradesh.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
|
Vishnu and his mistress from one of the Jain temples in the Khajurahu
Complex; Madhya
Pradesh.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
| Buddhist Monk
reading holy scriptures. Bodhgaya (Bihar) is the place where Lord Buddha acquired
enlightenment 2500 years ago and is still revered as the holiest Buddhist sit on Earth. ©
Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
| Bodghaya
in Bihar State
recieves lots of pilgrims from all over the Buddhist world. This Japanese man has decided
to stay up all night in meditation, however, because of the insects, a mosquito net is
essential!
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
Being a holy place, Bodghaya's got it's share of beggars; Bihar.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
Local
village, Garo Hills, Meghalaya. One of the most fascinating and least visited regions of
India. Unlike most other "Eastern Hill States", going to Meghalaya doesn't
require a special permit.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
| Local
girl from the Garo Hills, Meghalaya.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
| The local
sport in Meghalaya is bow hunting, and every Tuesday competitions are held in the capital
Shillong. It is not as easy as it looks! © Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
Floating the
bamboo. Garobadha, western Meghalaya.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
Small boy and an elephant having a kind of conversation in a temple in
Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. Kanchipuram is actually one of the seven holy
cities of India, but hardly ever sees a tourist. Great!
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
 |
|
|
Fixing the electricity wires the Indian way; Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
| Unknown to
most people, the Gypsies actually originate from central India. Quite appropriately, some
might say, this Gypsy girl is behind barbed wire; Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu. © Claus
Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
Tikka
colours, frequently used by all Hindu women and men, either as decoration or for religious
purposes. Mysore, Karnataka.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|
|
Nothing is
wasted. Muslim butcher, Mysore, Karnataka.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
|
|
|