[Cameleer]

I’m making plans for going to the Sonepur Mela this year. I show the dates being all November with the full moon on the 2nd.
What I’m thinking of is my first day in Delhi will be on October 17th
Spend 1 day there, go to Agra and spend 1 or 2 days.
The Kihajuraho Temple for 1 or 2 days.
Varanasi for about 4 days.
Then maybe 3 days to Palamau and Bodh Gaya.
This would get me to the Sonepur Mela on the 29th where I would have 6 days before heading back to Delhi for my flight home on the 4th.

I’ve spent a few days in Delhi and about 5 in Agra already, so they could be skipped.
Mostly I want to spend time in Varanasi and at the Sonepur Mela.
I understand Palamau can be a dangers place and mybe a good place to skip.

I will be taking photos for my virtual reality photo website at these places, any ideas on other places along this route that should be seen or that would be better than my current plans.

Thanks,
Roger
http://IndiaVRtours.com

[jyotirmoy]

You may like to check out the little known fort of Chunar.

[Cameleer]

jyotirmoy, on Jul 7 2009, 09:25 PM, said:

You may like to check out the little known fort of Chunar.

The Chunar Fort looks like a good place, do you know if it's open to the public?

Here's what I have come up with so far:
With this schedule I have a few spare days in between where I can move things around a little. Chances are I will be in  Haridwar and Rishikesh on the 18th and in Agra by the 20th.
From Delhi or Agra to Vaishali I will be hiring a driver, rest of the trip will be by bus or train and then flying back to Delhi.
I would like to spend more than 4 days in and around Vaishali, but we will see what happens.

Oct 16  8:00pm arrive in Ampitsar.
Oct 17 Ampitsar Golden Temple.
Oct 18
Oct 19 Haridwar and Rishikesh.
Oct 20
Oct 21 Agra.
Oct 22 Gwalior, Datia, Jhansi, Orcha.
Oct 23 Khajuraho.
Oct 24 to 27  Vaishali.
Oct 28
Oct 29 to Nov 3  Sonepur Mela.
Nov 4  7:00pm flight from Patna to Delhi

[WonderWomanUSA]

That sounds like a wonderful trip!

I really want to hear about the Sonepur mela; I've wanted to go to that one for a long time!

[jorge reverter]

Go to the Mela on the first or second day otherwise is like any otrher mela with a fair and a couple of dozens of elephants but no naga sadhus etc.

Jorge

[jyotirmoy]

I had visited Chunar fort long time back and it was open for public & I can't think of any reason why it should not be. During the Mughal period this fort situated at a strategic bend on the river Ganga had seen a lot of action. If you are around this region it is well worth seeking this fort out.

[Cameleer]

jorge reverter, on Aug 9 2009, 04:22 PM, said:

Go to the Mela on the first or second day otherwise is like any otrher mela with a fair and a couple of dozens of elephants but no naga sadhus etc.
Jorge

Sounds like there where around 70 elephants at the Sonepur Mela last year (2008).
I found this article interesting.
http://tinyurl.com/sonepur
Some other articles stated that if someone can no longer afford to keep their elephant and illegally can not sell it, this can be very bad for the elephant.

With these large animal melas the animals usually arrive early, I like to get there early too so that I can learn my way around and get to know some of the people.
A few days later the people start arriving and it can be much harder getting around, and trying to get in the temple could take hours.

Iyotirmoy,
I was checking out the Chunar fort on Google Earth and it just didn't look like much has been happening there, but it does look like a good place to stop by and see.

Here's some new kitty cat photos I took a few days ago:
http://helpwildlife....igers/pool4.jpg
http://helpwildlife....gers/pool12.jpg
http://helpwildlife....gers/pool13.jpg
http://helpwildlife....gers/pool14.jpg
Just got this new water tub for them and their having loads of fun!

Edited by Cameleer, 10 August 2009 - 10:15 AM.

[jyotirmoy]

Dear Camaleer check out this:

varanasi.nic.in/tourist/tourist8.html

[dzibead]

Wow!  Amazing tiger pics.  I didn't know you had tigers, too.  

Can't wait to see the virtual reality pics of the mela.  If I can't get to India, immersing myself in your VR photos is the next best thing.

[jyotirmoy]

The way things are going you will have to satisfy yourself with the pics only. One by one tiger reserves are becoming devoid of tigers. Although relocation activities have been taken up but I am very sceptical about its over all success. In breeding may soon deal another blow.

[Cameleer]

They are estimating that in 20 years there will be no more tigers in the wild. The tigers that I work with belong to a friend and are used for educational purposes.

The way things are going in a few years there may be no more elephants at the Sonepur Mela. I would have like to been there years ago and taken photos while there where still hundreds of them. India is changing fast, when was the last time someone saw a snake charmer?
OK, no more snake charmers is a good thing. One of the things they did to make the snakes safe for handling was burn out their poison glands with a red hot metal rod, and in 4 to 6 weeks the snake would be dead.

Though the sale and purchase of elephants has been banned in India, they are still sold at the Sonepur Cattle Fair. This is possible because those engaged in the business have devised a unique method to circumvent the law.
"Till some years ago, hundreds of elephants used to come here, but the number is steadily decreasing,” says Surendra Nath Singh.

[jyotirmoy]

Railway lines thru the elephant corridors have also killed a lot of wild elephants.