Monkeys

Ahmedabad has a lot of animals that just wander thru the city. Monkeys are one of those animals. They are everywhere, they can even come into your apartment.

Baby Monkeys

Can you believe that Grandma Kathi did this. I was too scared.

People in India

Jenni I found a new friend. Do you see the smile on his face. He really liked getting his picture taken with me.

This is an Indian woman.


Bindi
Do you see the red dot between her eyes?
The bindi is arguably the most visually fascinating of all forms of body decoration. Hindus attach great importance to this ornamental mark on the forehead between the two eyebrows -- a spot considered a major nerve point in human body since ancient times.
In southern India, girls choose to wear a bindi, while in other parts of India it is the prerogative of the married woman. A red dot on the forehead is an auspicious sign of marriage and guarantees the social status and sanctity of the institution of marriage. The Indian bride steps over the threshold of her husband's home, bedecked in glittering apparels and ornaments, dazzling the red bindi on her forehead that is believed to usher in prosperity, and grants her a place as the guardian of the family's welfare and progeny.
SARI
These women are going to work. Look at all the colorful sari's.

Most all of the women in India wear the most beautiful colors and patterns of Sari's.
A sari is a strip of unstitched cloth, ranging from four to nine meters in length that is draped over the body in various styles. The most common style is for the sari to be wrapped around the waist, with one end then draped over the shoulder baring the midriff. The history and origin of sari seems to date back to the period of the establishment of civilization.
Grandma Kathi's Sari and Granpa Bob's Kurta. They had them made for a wedding.

January and February is wedding months, because the weather is cooler and all wedding are outdoors.

Market

Grandma Kathi took me on a shopping trip for some food.
First we bought Bananas and they cost us 10 rupees. Jenni do you remember what 10 rupees was in USD? 0.215958 USD

Then we got 4 oranges, 4 apples and 4 Pomegranates and they cost us 140 rupees = 3.02342 USD

These markets are all outside on carts and they all want you to buy from them. It was alot of fun and I meet some really nice people.

This was a cart full of grapes, green and purple and some oranges.

Grandpa Bob is walking past a vegetable cart.

They push these carts of vegetables up and down the street and yell out the vegetables that are on the carts and the cooks in the apartments come out and buy the vegetables just for the day. In old days there were no refrigerators and they could only buy enough to keep for a day. They have fruit carts, vegetable carts and some have kitchen utensils.

Temples, Ashram and Mausoleum

Grandma took me to a temple.
ISKCON is the abbreviation for International Society for Krishna Consciousness. This temple depicts Lord Krishna with his beloved lover Radha, who is regarded as the epitome of true love. Also called as the Hare Krishna Temple, ISKCON temple situates in a vast area with lovely trees, which gives a serene and tranquil environ to the devotees.

Can you see the bull and cows in at the temple?

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I was told that this is a Jain praying place for the people and not a temple but women have to cover their head when they enter, so we didn't go
Jains eat vegetarian food and are not suppose to eat food after sunset. The reason for not eating after sunset is because it carries the risk of accidentally ingesting insects that come out after dark. They also do not eat any root foods, like carrots, onions, potatoes, etc. for the same risk of accidentally ingesting insects.

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Gandhi Ashram

For many years Ahmedabad was the center of Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent struggle for India’s independence. The most important ashram was established at Ahmedabad by him in the year 1925. This ashram is now converted in to the national monument by the government of India and is called Sabarmati Ashram. Many visitors visit this ashram, located on the famous Ashram Road, at the bank of River Sabarmati in Ahmedabad around 4 miles away from the main city of Ahmedabad. The location of this ashram is so peaceful that sitting here quietly at the ashram, gives you lot of internal peace and solace. The ashram is called Hraday kunj now since the year 1988. All the tourists visiting Ahmedabad make sure to see this most vital monument of Indian freedom.

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Taj Mahal
One of the most famous buildings in the world is the Taj Mahal and is located in Agra, India.

The Taj Mahal is the greatest monument to love and the only tomb that the woman is in the center and the emperor to the side.

It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahān (reigned 1628–58) to immortalize his wife Mumtāz Maḥal (“Chosen One of the Palace”). The name Taj Mahal is a derivation of her name. She died in childbirth in 1631, after having been the emperor’s inseparable companion since their marriage in 1612. The plans for the complex have been attributed to various architects of the period, though the chief architect was probably Ustad Aḥmad Lahawrī, an Indian of Persian descent. The five principal elements of the complex—main gateway, garden, mosque, jawab (literally “answer”; a building mirroring the mosque), and mausoleum (including its four minarets)—were conceived and designed as a unified entity according to the tenets of Mughal building practice, which allowed no subsequent addition or alteration. Building commenced about 1632. More than 20,000 workers were employed from India, Persia, the Ottoman Empire, and Europe to complete the mausoleum itself by about 1638–39; the adjunct buildings were finished by 1643, and decoration work continued until at least 1647. In total, construction of the 42-acre (17-hectare) complex spanned 22 years.

Saturday in Ahmedabad

Grandma had to work yesterday, so I got to ready the local news paper "The Times of India"

Grandma showed me the milk that they drink. It comes in a box and they keep it on the shelf. It's not refrigerated. They also have buffalo milk and goat milk here. YUK, I don't think I am going to try those.

Jenni I can't read any of these signs! I am so afraid I'm going to get lost so I stick pretty close to Grandma Kathi.

History of Ahmedabad

Situated on the banks of river Sabarmati, Ahmedabad is located on the western side of India in the state of Gujarat Ahmedabad city has witnessed the rule of different dynasties, right from Sultanate and Mughal rule to Maratha and British rule. The, the history of Ahmedabad, India is very rich. Ahmedabad was the former capital city of Gujarat. During the freedom struggle of India, it served as the home of many prominent nationalist leaders like Sardar Patel and Mahatma Gandhi
Origin of Name
There is an interesting legend associated with the Ahmedabad city. Towards the beginning of the fifteenth century, the state of Gujarat was ruled by the Muslim Muzaffarid dynasty. Once Sultan Ahmed Shah was standing on the banks of river Sabarmati and he noticed a tiny hare chasing a strong ferocious dog. He kept pondering over it. He approached a spiritual leader and asked for explanation. This learned man said that, it is the uniqueness of this land that cultivates such rare qualities in its people. After having heard this, the Sultan got so impressed that he decided to set up the capital of Gujarat over here and he called this land Ahmedabad.
Sultanate Rule
Towards the end of the thirteenth century, Gujarat was captured by the Sultanate of Delhi. In the year 1487, the grandson of Ahmed Shah named Mahmud Begada established the outer city wall, so as to protect Ahmedabad from outside invasion. Muzaffar II was the last Sultan of Ahmedabad.
Mughal Rule
In the year 1573, the city of Ahmed Shah was taken over by the Mughal emperor Akbar. Under the rule of Mughals, Ahmedabad became the leading center of textiles in Gujarat. The son of Akbar named Jehangir visited Ahmedabad in 1617, but found the city to be nothing more than a garbage ground. So, he called it Gardabad, the city of dust. However, Shahjahan spent a major part of his life in the Ahmedabad city. Infact, he also constructed the Moti Shahi Mahal in Shahibaugh.
Maratha Rule
In the year 1753, the rule of Mughals came to an end and the city came under the rule of Maratha generals Raghunath Rao and Damaji Gaekwad. The power struggle between them eventually led to the destruction of the city.
British Rule
The city was taken over by the British East India Company in the year 1818. The year 1824 led to the setting up of a military cantonment. A major development took place in the year 1864, when railway line was laid that connected Ahmedabad with Bombay. These developments brought Ahmedabad in the map of leading centers of trade and manufacturing. In the year 1915, people of Ahmedabad raised their voice for the independence of India.
Post Independence
The post independence period saw the declaration of Ahmedabad as a provincial town on Bombay. On the 1st of May in the year 1960. AHmedabad became the capital city of Gujarat.
WEATHER
CLIMATE: Extreme type
SUMMER TEMPERATURE: Minimum 23 degree C / 73.4 degree F
Maximum 40 degree C / 104 degree F
WINTER TEMPERATUE: Minimum 15 degree C / 59 degree F
Maximum 36 degree C / 95 degree F
ANNUAL RAINFALL: 93.2 cm / 36.7 in
Ahmedabad is dominated by three main seasons, namely summer, monsoon and winter. The climatic conditions of Ahmedabad vary from season to season. Located at an altitude of 55m above the sea level. Ahmedabad city primarily experiences extreme type of climate. There is a lot of difference in the day and night temperatures.
Talking about the climate and weather of Ahmedabad, it is usually hot and moist. Summer season begins during March and ends by the month of June. Monsoons come like a pleasant surprise in the month of July and are prevalent in the city till the month of September. Winters are chilly, but at the same time very enjoyable. This season dominates the city during the period between November and February.
Summer are extremely hot and hard and at times the temperature shoots to as high as 46 degree C. During monsoons, the city experiences good amount of rainfall. The city is dominated by the Southwest monsoons and it is during this time that people of Ahmedabad breathe a sigh of relief from the scorching heat. For traveling to Ahmedabad, the best time is during winters, as the weather is very pleasant and just apt to explore the beautiful Ahmedabad city.

Rupees

Grandma taught me about the Rupees

500 rupees = 10.8429 USD
100 rupees = 2.16858 USD
50 rupees = 1.08429 USD
10 rupees = 0.216858 USD

5 rupees = 0.108429 USD
2 rupees = 0.0431917 USD
1 rupees = 0.0215958 USD
25 paise = 0.00539896 USD