DAILY PHOTO: A Corner House in Shimla

Taken in July of 2015 in Shimla

Taken in July of 2015 in Shimla

DAILY PHOTO: Elephants on the March

Taken on October 22, 2015 at Khajuraho

Taken on October 22, 2015 at Khajuraho

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DAILY PHOTO: Jain Ghat

Taken October 24, 2015 in Varanasi

Taken October 24, 2015 in Varanasi

DAILY PHOTO: Tank on Courtesans’ Walk in Hampi

Taken in November of 2013 at Hampi

Taken in November of 2013 at Hampi

DAILY PHOTO: The Giant Buddha of Wat Thai, Sarnath

Taken on October 25, 2015 at Wat Thai in Sarnath

Taken on October 25, 2015 at Wat Thai in Sarnath

 

Being one of the four most major pilgrimage sites of Buddhism, Sarnath has a number of temples built by members of countries with large Buddhist populations. Among these countries is Thailand. (FYI: There is also a Chinese Temple, a Japanese Temple, and a Tibetan Temple.) While the guidebook advice is that these modern temples are skippable, an exception might be made for Wat Thai, which is both nearby to the [unskippable] Archaeology Museum and has a giant Buddha statue.

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Here is the sign for the giant Buddha.

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DAILY PHOTO: Jagadambi Leogryph

Taken October 22, 2015 at Khajuraho.

Taken October 22, 2015 at Khajuraho

 

This mythical beast adorns the plinth at Jagadambi Temple in the Western Group of Temples at Khajuraho. I hope its breath was not foul.

DAILY PHOTO: Darbhanga Palace of Varanasi

Taken on October 24, 2015 at Varanasi

Taken on October 24, 2015 at Varanasi

 

Back in the day, it was common for Hindu royalty from all over India to maintain a palace in Varanasi so that they could make their Ganges pilgrimage in style. Some of these palaces have deteriorated in abandonment, others have been sold or donated, and a few are still owned by a trusts connected with the original owners.

One of the most grandiose is the one that once belonged to the Raj Darbhanga–a royal family from the Bihar area. The Darbhanga Palace was purchased by Clarks Hotel Group with the intention of putting in a luxury hotel.

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DAILY PHOTO: Nepali Mandir

Taken October 24, 2015 in Varanasi

Taken October 24, 2015 in Varanasi

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The Nepali Temple (Nepali Mandir) is located near the Lalita Ghat, between the main ghat (Dashaswamedh Ghat) and the big burning ghat (Manikarnika Ghat.) It’s construction is red brick with black wood, and the wood carvings are ornate. This 19th century temple is dedicated to Shiva, and–like the sandstone temples at Khajuraho–feature eroticism as one of its subjects.

DAILY PHOTO: Ganga Aarti

Taken October 23, 2015 at Varanasi

Taken October 23, 2015 at Varanasi

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DAILY PHOTO: Dhamekh Stupa and the Sarnath Ruins

Taken October 25, 2015 at Sarnath

Taken October 25, 2015 at Sarnath

Sarnath is the location of the Buddha’s first sermon, and is one of the four major pilgrimage sites for Buddhist.