India

It’s disingenuous to call this a gallery of photos from India. In truth, it’s a gallery of Rajasthan plus a small sliver of Uttar Pradesh. In this comparatively small area, the diversity of landscape, culture, and experience suggests that the wider reaches of India would be even more varied.

Densely-packed cities, usually centred around colossal forts, speckle the desert. Within, architectural and historical wonders stand proudly amid turbulent streets choked with traffic of all types. Successfully navigating the chaos rewards anyone daring enough to try and who knows what exquisitely-spiced meal, vibrantly-patterned garment, or strange vista will surprise you at the end of an alleyway clogged with a herd of cows.

The faint of heart can easily escape the urban centres and find peace in landscapes almost as crowded, but here, it’s the wildlife that will greet you at every turn. And when you do find that brief moment of silence, it’s all the more treasured for its contrast with India’s incomparable and somehow endearing pandemonium.

Agra's Taj Mahal at sunset as viewed from the north across the Yamuna River at Mehtab Bagh.

01. Agra’s Taj Mahal at sunset as viewed from the north across the Yamuna River at Mehtab Bagh. (Click for a larger image.)

A woman gazes up at the eastern iwan and pishtaq of the Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.

02. A woman gazes up at the eastern iwan and pishtaq of the Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.

The sun rises behind the Taj Mahal as viewed through one of the arches of the nearby mosque.

03. The sun rises behind the Taj Mahal as viewed through one of the arches of the nearby mosque.

The classic view of the Taj Mahal mirrored in its reflecting pools.

04. The classic view of the Taj Mahal mirrored in its reflecting pools.

The courtyard of the Palace of Jadh Bai at Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh, India.

05. The courtyard of the Palace of Jadh Bai at Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh, India.

The interior of Diwan-i-Khas at Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh, India.

06. The interior of Diwan-i-Khas at Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh, India.

A man prays at the end of a colonnade inside Jama Masjid, near Fatehpur Sikri.

07. A man prays at the end of a colonnade inside Jama Masjid, near Fatehpur Sikri.

Wildlife basks in the sunset glow near a marsh in the bird-watching paradise of Keoladeo Ghana National Park near Bharatpur, Rajasthan.

08. Wildlife basks in the sunset glow near a marsh in the bird-watching paradise of Keoladeo Ghana National Park near Bharatpur, Rajasthan.

The view out from the pavillion in the Chand Baori Stepwell in the village of Abhaneri near Jaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan.

09. The view out from the pavillion in the Chand Baori Stepwell in the village of Abhaneri near Jaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan.

Patterns of stairs in the Chand Baori Stepwell in the village of Abhaneri near Jaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan.

10. Patterns of stairs in the Chand Baori Stepwell in the village of Abhaneri near Jaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan.

Patterns of stairs in the Chand Baori Stepwell in the village of Abhaneri near Jaipur, Rajasthan.

11. Patterns of stairs in the Chand Baori Stepwell in the village of Abhaneri near Jaipur, Rajasthan.

The honey-coloured walls of the Amber Fort near Jaipur as viewed from Jaigarh fort.

12. The honey-coloured walls of the Amber Fort near Jaipur as viewed from Jaigarh fort.

Elephants used to transport visitors up the path to the Amber Fort descend to pick up new passengers.

13. Elephants used to transport visitors up the path to the Amber Fort descend to pick up new passengers.

A woman sweeps beneath archways in the Amber Fort near Jaipur, India.

14. A woman sweeps beneath archways in the Amber Fort near Jaipur, India.

The sun rises over Jal Mahal, the Water Palace at the centre of Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur, India.

15. The sun rises over Jal Mahal, the Water Palace at the centre of Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur, India.

Jaipur traffic speeds past the Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds at dusk.

16. Jaipur traffic speeds past the Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds at dusk.

An astrological devices for tracking constellations at Jantur Mantar, a park devoted to the astronomical pursuits of King Sawai Jai Singh in Jaipur.

17. An astrological devices for tracking constellations at Jantur Mantar, a park devoted to the astronomical pursuits of King Sawai Jai Singh in Jaipur.

Pigeons crowd the steps of Varah Ghat on the edge of Pushkar Lake in the town of Pushkar, near Ajmer.

18. Pigeons crowd the steps of Varah Ghat on the edge of Pushkar Lake in the town of Pushkar, near Ajmer.

A panoramic view of Pushkar lake and its ghats with Ratnagiri Hill and the sunset in the distance.

19. A panoramic view of Pushkar lake and its ghats with Ratnagiri Hill and the sunset in the distance. (Click for a larger image.)

The Durbar Hall inside of Junagarh Fort, in Bikaner in Rajasthan.

20. The Durbar Hall inside of Junagarh Fort, in Bikaner in Rajasthan.

Symmetrical stairways are topped by intricate screens at Junagarh Fort, in Bikaner, Rajasthan.

21. Symmetrical stairways are topped by intricate screens at Junagarh Fort, in Bikaner, Rajasthan.

The Badal Mahal inside of Junagarh Fort, in Bikaner, Rajasthan.

22. The Badal Mahal inside of Junagarh Fort, in Bikaner, Rajasthan.

A demoiselle crane soars over a pond in the desert village of Khichan, Rajasthan.

23. A demoiselle crane soars over a pond in the desert village of Khichan, Rajasthan.

A panoramic view of World Heritage Site Jaisalmer Fort at night, one of the largest in the world and still inhabited today.

24. A panoramic view of World Heritage Site Jaisalmer Fort at night, one of the largest in the world and still inhabited today. (Click for a larger image.)

The towers and walls of Jaisalmer fort before dawn.

25. The towers and walls of Jaisalmer fort before dawn.

Intricate stonework covers the Patwa-ki-Haveli in Jaisalmer, India.

26. Intricate stonework covers the Patwa-ki-Haveli in Jaisalmer, India.

The sun shines through a stone screen in Jaisalmer Palace.

27. The sun shines through a stone screen in Jaisalmer Palace.

A crow perches atop the head of a young camel at the National Research Centre on Camels near Bikaner, India.

28. A crow perches atop the head of a young camel at the National Research Centre on Camels near Bikaner, India.

A royal cenotaph at Bada Bagh, a complex near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India.

29. A royal cenotaph at Bada Bagh, a complex near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India.

Temples and shrines cluster around Gadsisar Lake in Jaisalmer at sunrise.

30. Temples and shrines cluster around Gadsisar Lake in Jaisalmer at sunrise.

Camels rest after carrying tourists through the Sam Sand Dunes in Western Rajasthan.

31. Camels rest after carrying tourists through the Sam Sand Dunes in Western Rajasthan.

A camel stands in front of the sunset at the Sam Sand Dunes in Western Rajasthan.

32. A camel stands in front of the sunset at the Sam Sand Dunes in Western Rajasthan.

A detailed carving decorates one of the columns at the Jain Mahavira Temple in Osian.

33. A detailed carving decorates one of the columns at the Jain Mahavira Temple in Osian.

A panoramic view of Jodhpur's Mehrangarh Fort at sunset with Jaswant Thada in the foreground.

34. A panoramic view of Jodhpur’s Mehrangarh Fort at sunset with Jaswant Thada in the foreground. (Click for a larger image.)

A panoramic view of Jodhpur's Mehrangarh Fort at dusk.

35. A panoramic view of Jodhpur’s Mehrangarh Fort at dusk. (Click for a larger image.)

A panoramic view of Jodhpur's Mehrangarh Fort at dusk.

36. A panoramic view of Jodhpur’s Mehrangarh Fort at dusk. (Click for a larger image.)

The densely-packed, blue-tinted buildings of Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

37. The densely-packed, blue-tinted buildings of Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

A woman walks through a narrow alley in Jodhpur.

38. A woman walks through a narrow alley in Jodhpur.

Traffic of various types mix on the streets of Johdpur, India.

39. Traffic of various types mix on the streets of Johdpur, India.

The streets of Jodhpur India.

40. The streets of Jodhpur India.

The formidable walls of and the hilltop fort at Kumbhalgarh.

41. The formidable walls of and the hilltop fort at Kumbhalgarh (Click for a larger image.).

Sunlight peeks between the ornate columns inside the Jain temple in Ranakpur.

42. Sunlight peeks between the ornate marble columns inside the Jain temple in Ranakpur.

A marble elephant statue stands amid the unique pillars of Ranakpur's Jain temple.

43. A marble elephant statue stands amid the unique pillars of Ranakpur’s Jain temple.

A panoramic image of the sun setting behind Lake Pichola and the Jag Niwas lake palace in Udaipur.

44. A panoramic image of the sun setting behind Lake Pichola and the Jag Niwas lake palace in Udaipur. (Click for a larger image.)

The City Palace of Udaipur at dusk.

45. The City Palace of Udaipur at dusk.

A woman serves tea at the Jagdish Temple in Udaipur.

46. A woman serves tea at the Jagdish Temple in Udaipur.

 Hindus worship at the Jagdish Temple in Udaipur.

47. Hindus worship at the Jagdish Temple in Udaipur.

The Lake Garden Palace, Jag Mandir, on Lake Pichola in Udaipur at night.

48. The Lake Garden Palace, Jag Mandir, on Lake Pichola in Udaipur at night.

A panoramic image of Lake Pichola and its islands as well as the City Palace during the evening in Udaipur.

49. A panoramic image of Lake Pichola and its islands as well as the City Palace during the evening in Udaipur. (Click for a larger image.)

A man dives into the water of Lake Pichola from the Dhobi Washing Ghat in Udaipur.

50. A man dives into the water of Lake Pichola from the Dhobi Washing Ghat in Udaipur.

A panoramic view of the Gaumukh Reservoir, Chittorgarh, and Chittorgarh fort.

51. A panoramic view of the Gaumukh Reservoir, Chittorgarh, and Chittorgarh fort. (Click for a larger image.)

A panorama of Bundi Palace as viewed from across Nawal Sagar lake in Bundi.

52. A panorama of Bundi Palace as viewed from across Nawal Sagar lake in Bundi. (Click for a larger image.)

A panoramic view of Bundi Palace and Taragarh Fort in Bundi.

53. A panoramic view of Bundi Palace and Taragarh Fort in Bundi. (Click for a larger image.)

Inside the Raniji ki Baori, also known as the Queen's Stepwell in Bundi, Rajasthan.

54. Inside the Raniji ki Baori, also known as the Queen’s Stepwell in Bundi, Rajasthan.

A man fluffs cotton to bundle into mattresses on the streets of Bundi.

55. A man fluffs cotton to bundle into mattresses on the streets of Bundi.

A group of men follow a procession towards a Muslim wedding in the streets of Bundi, India.

56. A group of men follow a procession towards a Muslim wedding in the streets of Bundi, India.

Children mug for the camera outside of a Muslim wedding in Bundi.

57. Children mug for the camera outside of a Muslim wedding in Bundi.

A boy runs down one of the narrow alleys of Bundi.

58. A boy runs down one of the narrow alleys of Bundi.

A blue-tinted archway towers over a street in Bundi, Rajasthan.

59. A blue-tinted archway towers over a street in Bundi, Rajasthan.

A panoramic view of Bundi Palace and the blue city of Bundi in the late afternoon.

60. A panoramic view of Bundi Palace and the blue city of Bundi in the late afternoon. (Click for a larger image.)
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