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My Unforgettable India tour in Video

In August 2014, Toronto Travel Massive, a community I’ve been a part of since May 2013, celebrated its 4th anniversary. It was an India inspired event with Intrepid Travel and India Tourism as co-sponsors. Intrepid Travel gave away a 15-day tour and I was the lucky winner! In February 2015, I went to India for the first time on the Unforgettable India tour. 

The Unforgettable India Intrepid Travel tour route.

We began the tour in Old Delhi touring the markets and temples, experienced Ganga by boat in Varanasi and further down river where we ‘sailed’ and camped overnight, saw the elusive Ganges dolphins, journeyed through rural India to Bandhavgarh National Park, Khajuraho and Chanderi and ended it all by visiting Agra and the iconic Taj Mahal.

All scenes were shot with my iPhone 5s & 6+ except for the final scene which was shot with an Olympus OMD em1.

A rainy day at the Taj Mahal in Agra, India - March 2015.
A rainy day at the Taj Mahal in Agra, India – March 2015.


View: A journey through India in 20 iPhone photos. 

Until next time… Andrea and my wandering iPhone

A Journey Through India in 20 iPhone Photos

In August 2014, Toronto Travel Massive, a community I’ve been a part of since May 2013, celebrated its 4th anniversary. It was an India inspired event with Intrepid Travel and India Tourism as co-sponsors. Intrepid Travel gave away a 15-day tour and I was the lucky winner! I journeyed my way through India with an iPhone in hand and have compiled my 20 favourite iPhone photos.

In February 2015, I went to India for the first time and travelled through Madya Pradesh and Uttah Pradesh on the Unforgettable India tour

Some of my favourite iPhone photos from the trip:

An auto rickshaw a street 'barber shop' in New Delhi, India.
An auto rickshaw and a street ‘barber shop’ in New Delhi, India.
Some of my fellow tour travellers enjoy fresh juice in Old Delhi, India.
Fellow ‘Intrepid’ travellers enjoy fresh vegetable juice in Old Delhi, India.
In the kitchen of a Sikh temple in Old Delhi, India where 10, 000 meals are prepared daily.
In the kitchen of a Sikh temple in Old Delhi, India where 10, 000 meals are prepared daily and offered to anyone that visits, for free.
Street Art on the wall of a ghat in Varanasi, India.
Street Art on the wall of a ghat in Varanasi, India.
Sunrise on Ganga (Ganges River) in Varanasi, India.
Sunrise on Ganga (Ganges River) in Varanasi, India.
A flower and candle ceremony on the Ganges River in Varanasi, India.
A flower and candle ceremony as the sun sets on the Ganges River in Varanasi, India.
Camping overnight by the Ganges River after 'sailing' down it for 4.5 hours.
Camping overnight by the Ganges River after ‘sailing’ for 4.5 hours.
Waiting at a waterhole at Bandhavgarh National Park hoping to catch a glimpse of a Bengal tiger or leopard.
Waiting at a waterhole in Bandhavgarh National Park hoping to catch a glimpse of a Bengal tiger or leopard.
1000 year old temples in Khajuraho, India.
A 19th century temple in Khajuraho, India, though most of the Western temples of Khajuraho are 1000 years old.
1000 year old temples in Khajuraho, India. Some depict carvings from the Kama Sutra.
1000 year old temple in Khajuraho, India. Some depict carvings from the Kama Sutra.
An auto rickshaw driving through the Second Old Gate in Orchha, India
An auto rickshaw drives through the Second Old Gate in Orchha, India. Took this shot through the window of the auto rickshaw that I was in.
The Raj Mahal Palace in Orchha, India
The Raj Mahal Palace in Orchha, India
TARAgram: Tribal women in make recycled paper products in Orchha, India.
TARAgram: Tribal women make recycled paper products in Orchha, India.
A cow wanders through a market in Chanderi, India
A cow wanders through a market in Chanderi, India
This 15th century Badal Mahal Darwaza gate stands in Chanderi. It is said to have been built as a triumphant free standing gate.
This 15th century Badal Mahal Darwaza gate stands in Chanderi. It is said to have been built as a triumphant gate.
A view of the open court of the15th century Jama Masjid mosque in Chanderi, India. It is said the foundation this mosque, still in operation today was laid in 1251.
A view of the open court of the15th century Jama Masjid mosque in Chanderi, India. The foundation for this mosque, still in operation today, was laid in 1251. There are many monuments in Chanderi. We enjoyed a 2 hour walk through the town.
A clothesline in Chanderi, India
A clothesline in Chanderi, India. Enjoyed a 2 hour walk through this off the beaten path town.
A man passes through a doorway at Agra Fort in Agra, India.
A man passes through a doorway at Agra Fort in Agra, India.
First glimpse of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.
First glimpse of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.
A rainy day at the Taj Mahal in Agra, India - March 2015.
An unusually rainy day in March at the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. Photo taken March 2015.

View: My Unforgettable India Tour In Video

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Video: The Elusive Bottlenose Dolphins of the Ganges (Ganga) River

In February 2015 I went on the Unforgettable India tour with Intrepid Travel. I won the tour at the 4th anniversary of Toronto Travel Massive, a travel community I’ve been a part of since May 2013. Part of the tour took us on a 2 hour drive from Varanasi where our group climbed into boats and “set sail” down river for a leisurely and calming 4.5 hours to where we would camp for the night.

When we awoke in the morning we saw the elusive bottlenose dolphins of the Ganges River. I had no idea there were dolphins in the Ganges so it was a wonderful surprise. We climbed into the boats once more and as we rowed to our departure point we saw several more of the dolphins. Here is our closest encounter with them.

Post by Wandering iPhone.
Destinations, India, Travel, Travel With Purpose

TARAgram, Tribal Women in Orchha, India Make Recycled Paper Products

In Orchha, India, waste cotton becomes beautiful recycled paper products. I had the opportunity to travel on the Unforgettable India tour with Intrepid TraveI. We visited Delhi, Varanasi, Bandhavgarh National Park, Orchha, Khajuraho, Chanderi and Agra.

We stopped at TARAgram, one of Intrepid’s responsible tourism projects. TARA is short for Technology & Action for Rural Advancement and is a social enterprise based on a “waste to wealth” model. It employs more than 40 women, including Sahraiya tribal women; who earlier had no source of income. We toured the facility and learned the process of recycled paper making from cotton products such as used clothing.

One ton of TARAgram recycled rag paper saves 3 tons of wood and 100 cubic metres of water. Products such as notebooks, frames, pen holders, gift bags, paper and lanterns are sold on-site, in shops in India and on the web.

Women working with waste cotton to make paper products.
Women working with waste cotton and paper to make recycled paper products.

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Adding colour to the waste cotton and paper

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Loved this — a human press

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Some of the products I purchased in the on-site shop.