November 25, 2008 • 9:59 am

Beautiful symmetry and ornate carvings grace the ceilings of the Jain Adinatha Temple in Ranakpur, Rajasthan. See this ceiling in greater detail.
Filed under: architecture, india, religion , adinatha, architecture, holy, india, jainism, rajasthan, ranakpur, religion, sacred, temple, worship

Jaisalmer is a desert city located in the Thar Desert of western Rajasthan. Its proximity to the India-Pakistan border means there is a large military presence nearby, but the city itself is famed for its beautiful golden-brown sandstone. Every building in the city seems to be made from it.
Filed under: architecture, india , architecture, brown, city, desert, india, jaisalmer, rajasthan, sandstone, skyline
November 22, 2008 • 12:47 pm

Jodhpur is famed not only for the trousers but also its blue houses, sometimes also called Brahmin houses because they are traditionally inhabited only by members of that caste. The general view is that the blue wash was originally applied to help protect the houses against termites and other insects. Rajasthan, India.
Filed under: architecture, india , architecture, blue, houses, india, jodhpur, rajasthan

A Hindu pilgrim or sadhu (holy man), enjoys an evening game of chess on one of Varanasi’s riverside ghats. Uttar Pradesh, India.
Filed under: india, people , chess, game, hindu, india, man, portrait, sadhu, uttar pradesh, varanasi

An elderly woman begs for alms at the Jagdish Temple in Udaipur. Rajasthan, India.
Filed under: india, people , beggar, elderly, india, jagdish temple, portrait, rajasthan, udaipur, woman

The Golden Temple or Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, India, is the supreme shrine in Sikhism. Kept within the temple is the Sikh Holy Scripture.
In 1984, the temple complex was the site of a bloody battle between Indian soldiers and Sikh militants hiding inside. The desecration of the shrine and the deaths of many civilians caused great anger amongst the Sikh community, leading to the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards. Hundreds of Sikhs lost their lives in revenge killings in the days that followed Gandhi’s death.
Filed under: architecture, history, india, religion, sikhism , amritsar, golden temple, history, holy, india, prayer, punjab, religion, sacred, sikhism, worship
November 12, 2008 • 9:15 pm

One of the many erotic murals that adorn the walls of the Khajuraho temples. Madhya Pradesh, India.
Filed under: architecture, hinduism, india, religion , architecture, erotic, hinduism, india, khajuraho, madhya pradesh, religion, sculpture

Two young boys stare bemusedly at the tourist whilst a game of neighbourhood cricket takes place behind them. Varanasi, India.
Filed under: india, people , boys, cricket, india, portrait, sport, uttar pradesh, varanasi

Bathing, washing and praying at one of Varanasi’s many ghats. Uttar Pradesh, India.
Filed under: india, people , baths, ghats, india, prayers, uttar pradesh, varanasi

It’s a common sight to see men with their hair stained red by henna. Apparently they feel it makes them look younger.
Filed under: india, people , henna, india, man, portrait