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Another balcony nearby had a distinct Christian touch. Those sharp, pointed windows on top are typical of what you find in a church.The variety of diaspora who once occupied the old quarter of Amritsar was very diverse indeed! Missing however was Islamic architecture,
probably because many of the Moslems fled to Pakistan after partition,and many of the Islamic style buildings were demolished or redeveloped as a consequence to the disturbances post partition.
An early morning fog/ haze, coupled with angular early morning lighting reflecting on the lens resulted in a rather fuzzy image. (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
while I sat in the car waiting for Gemma to buy milk, I took these photos of the local shopping parade
The pedestrianized walking street leading to Amritsar's famous Harmandir Sahib/ Golden Temple had a real foreign feel to it. Light vehicles do run on it during the daytime, but at night, all vehicluar traffic is blocked off and the wide street becomes a pleasant pedestrianized walking street. There was a minor fog and a slight nip in the air, and this, with the total absence of vehicles, made the walk very pleasant indeed. (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
So that then is our able Gurinder Singh Johal, making small talk with us and making a few concluding remarks before we part company. Gurinder runs Amritsar Heritage Walks as well as some other local tours and is pretty well versed with the area. I offered to add him on Facebook, but later upon finding his fb page, found most of it in Punjabi, due to which I could not. So here ends our Amritsar Heritage Walk. On to the Jalianwalla Bagh now. Not a very pleasant place to be, but imperative to visit as it was part of India's freedom struggle. (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
Our guide leads us as we continue on our walking tour through the narrow streets of the old city quarter of Amritsar. Now how narrow the streets are- later in the day, they will become choc a block where pedestrians will have to clamber into the shops to let even to tuk tuks pass each other should they come in opposite directions. We are on the Amritsar Heritage Walk and notes about this appear in previous and in subsequent captions in this album. (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
A riot of colour in the display of these stuffed toys in a shop on the pedestrianized shopping street leading to and from the bus stop to the Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto, Japan. Detailed notes about the Kiyomizu-dera temple and some of it's subsidiary shrines appeared earlier in this album. (see previous pictures). (Kyoto, Japan, Apr/ May 2019)
A small Hindu temple on one of the narrow by-lanes of the historic old city district of Amritsar. The stone idol set a little below floor level, and people were bowing before it. We could get a beautiful view of the idon inside, but focusing sharply on it was another matter altogether! Being morning time, there was a steady stream of visitors, who had to stand and pray one at a time. So when one bowed, another moved in, and when you get a sharp focus on the idol, the chap bowing would get up. Not being religious, I was trying to shoot from the street. And it was neither possible, nor appropriate to make someone wait a couple of moments for to get a sharp picture. So in the end, I hastily took this shot, admittedly sharp, and then had to spring to catch up with my guide and travel companions who had by then walked way ahead. (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
We fortunately did not encounter more electric tuk tuks passing each other. A couple of them did roll past though, but in one direction only, which gave us about three feet clearance between us and the passing tuk tuk. Our walk through this particular uber narrow street is almost coming to an end, and although we walked past a few more, they were not as congested. It's very rare to see lanes more narrow than this! The shiny decorations hanging overhead gave a very Moslem Eid festival like vibe to the place, but this was local commerce at it's thickest, no celebratory mood here! (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
Here is a clearer view of the imposing statue of Ranjit Singh in the rotunda (roundabout) near the Amritsar Town Hall. I've featured pictures of this same statue by night earlier in this album and have also spoken about Ranjit Singh as well earlier in this album (see previous pictures), so I will spare you the commentary here. I took this picture because you can see the face of Ranjit Singh here. A statue of Queen Victoria stood at this spot during the days of the British. (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
So this then was the life saver at that moment- a trishaw pickup stacked sky high with quilts (locally known as 'rajai') or pashminas- we couldn't make out exactly. It was still fairly early in the day and most business had yet to open. Yet this trishaw pickup was being loaded with stuff from a small store/ warehouse, probably meant for an early morning delivery someplace. Thanks to the uber narrow by lane with barely any room for even two trishaws to pass, this parked trishaw pickup turned out to be a life saver, as we took refuge behind it while another trishaw pickup, laden with large white sacks passes.
(see previous picture). (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
Leaving the gorgeously embellished Chitta Akhara religious school (see previous pictures), we are back on the narrow and congested back streets of Amritsar, to continue on our Amritsar heritage walk. This old structure once again appears to have a them out of Rajasthan. The diaspora of Amritsar in the olden days was indeed noteworthy, And here for a change, most of the work is in cement concrete, barring the windows and balcony railings which are of course in wood. Amritsar was renowned for the quality of it's woodwork back in the day, and in fact does turn out very talented carpenters and woodwork craftsmen till this very day. (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
A plaque below the Ranjit Singh statue shows the years of his reign.He is believed to be largely responsible for what Punjab is today. Detailed notes about Ranjit Singh appeared earlier in this album. (see previous captions). (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
This was at our local market today, there is a fish stall and I saw this man really making an effort and taking some pride in his work.
I was really happy to have my 18x zoom too! He was having quite an involved conversation with the elderly lady who was buying the fish and it was great that I didn't interrupt them.
While my travel companions (bro and sis in law) were generally looking at the arch and nearby buildings, I turned around to take in a panoramic view of the place we were in. I then spotted some tell tale signs of the Marwari gentry now occupying the facilities. This is a sign for a Marwari school. (Marwaris are a business community hailing from the town of Rajasthan in NW India. Vidyalaya is a Hindi word which roughly translates as 'place of learning', meaning a school. (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
Another look at the newly restored pedestrianized street leading to the Harmandir Sahib or Golden Temple, a symbol of Sikhism and the very icon of Amritsar city. On our last visit it was impossible to walk on these streets, dusty, chaotic and congested as they were. Of course, this was way back in 1979, the total transformation was completed only a couple of years earlier. (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
A closer view of the full load of quilts (locally know as 'rajai') (or maybe pashiminas- we don't know for sure) on a trishaw pickup on one of the uber narrow by-lanes in the congested old city quarter of Amritsar in northern India. Now that's one mean load for a trishaw pickup- worse still when you think that a single human being is expected to pedal his way through the congested city streets hauling that mean load. Quite inhuman, if you ask me. We are on a heritage walk through the old city quarter in Amritsar. (see previous and next few pictures in this album). (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
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Some kind of repair or restoration work had been going on in the grounds of Quila/ Katra Ahluwalia or the Marwari quarter. And while we may never know what this large hall in the now decrepit fort once served, this large hall with many arches now served as a dumping or storage area for cement, tools and bales of cloth. The ancient fortress was probably modified by the British- however note that only the outer arch has been 'anglicized' with a round arch. If you look closely, the inner arches still follow the old Indian style with a pointed spike-like hole rising in the middle of the arch. (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
New and vintage comics lining the walls ofThe Comic Store in Lancaster, PA.
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Another of the uber narrow by-lanes in the old city quarter of Amritsar.I was amazed at how narrow some of those by-lanes are. The few businesses here were closed, and there is really nothing much to report here, so let us move on, without comment. (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
This place close by was selling Hindu religious doo dads and paraphernalia. Although they did not seem to be actually casting or making anything, this shopkeeper is waiting for customers who will buy his wares. And although we are just at the periphery of the holiest place for the Sikhs, this is reminder that we are in India, a predominantly Hindu country. Some of the Hindu religion related doo dads you see here are several pieces of mace, which is used by the Hindu monkey god Hanuman, and the cobra (snake) with an open hood, generally associated with the Hindu god Vishnu. (or is it Krishna- not sure). (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
The narrow lane running from the bus stop to the Kiyomizu-dera temple starts off as with a hedge on one side of the street and residences, but the houses soon give way to cafes, restaurants and scores of shopes selling a wide variety of traditional Japanese goods. Here is the sign in from of a store selling chopsticks. I was amazed at the number of shops in Japan which specialize in only one type of goods, and mostly low value items, items like Japanese traditional hand fans, or umbrellas, or chopsticks like this one here. I wonder how they sustain themselves selling only one type of low value merchandise. (Kyoto, Japan, Apr/ May 2019)
High Street. CT20 3BD
**update** I took this photograph in 2012. The shop at 21 High Street, Sandgate is now a hairdressers. (2022)
The rather late lunch I'd had of vegetables in curry sauce in a little restaurant in the Naramachi preserved old town district of Nara sort of eased my alcohol induced grogginess somewhat, and so I continued my walk to the Kansai Nara train station for my ride back to Osaka. I soon found myself walking through a covered shopping street- a characteristic- and probably most favoured pattern of shopping- in most Japanese towns- a covered shopping street. This is actually the Higashimuki Shotengai, a covered shopping arcade leading South from Kintetsu Nara station towards Naramachi. I am of course walking in the opposite direction now. Here in Higashkuki Shotengai, you will find lots of cafes, restaurants and shops. More notes about this covered shopping street appear later in this album. (see subsequent pictures later in this album). (Nara, Japan, Apr/ May 2019)
This view of the Ranjit Singh statue against which I had shot those tourists from NE India gives a clearer picture (intended pun!) of the relative darkness around the statue and the less than ambient lighting at the spot, which resulted in a rather soft image of the two ladies. The fact the the lighting was more purple and blue than white made things worse, photography wise. The statue of Queen Victoria once stood at this site, prior to the independence of India in 1947. Detailed notes about the hero Ranjit Singh himself appeared earlier in this album. (see previous pictures). (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
Another reason for my excusing myself from our walking tour guide was to photograph that red building you see up head. Amritsar's first perfumery was housed in that red building, our guide had informed us.
The building now houses a bank and other establishments, anything other than the perfumery which has unfortunately long gone. I did not venture further due to this, and simply zoomed in a bit to take this picture. (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
A narrow cobblestone street lined with old stone buildings features local shops and a visitor at an ATM, creating a vibrant cultural scene during sunset.
The Amritsar 'jutti' or traditional leather sandals store was pretty well stocked! This is the final look inside the store, and indeed of any more of the jutti stores in Amritsar. I must say that the sheer variety is nothing short of mind boggling! Only, the particular style and all those garish embroidery or embellishments on the shoes do not make them suitable for use outside of Amritsar or Punjab. My brother and I decided to pass,
though my sis in law picked up a pair. (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
while I sat in the car waiting for Gemma to buy milk, I took these photos of the local shopping parade
while I sat in the car waiting for Gemma to buy milk, I took these photos of the local shopping parade
As we continue our walk towards Amritsar's icon the Harmandir Sahib/ Golden Temple, we come across two more large stores selling traditional Punjabi jutti or leather sandals. Notes about the Punjabi jutti appeared earlier in this album (see previous pictures). (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
We come to the Ranjit Singh statue yet again! With this, we are done with the Harmandir Sahib/ Golden Temple, the old city quarter and the heritage area for good. This is the end of the large piazza (or beginning, if you are just coming in) which forms a de facto demarkation between the congested old city district and the relatively less congested new town. This is where we get off our tuk tuk (or look for a tuk tuk if leaving). We took a tuk tuk from here back to our hotel from here. Last shot of this statue and of the old city district. Notes about Ranjit Singh appear in previous captions earlier in this album. (Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
Our Amritsar heritage walk is practically over now. As we traverse the last few metres through more narrow lanes of the old city quarter, we notice that food and clothing outlets have now given way to metal polishing and finishing works. Being right at the periphery of the Amritsar icon the Harmandir Sahib/ Golden Temple, many (though not all) of these establishments are temple related. Here a man is hard at work finishing and polishing a metal piece. We couldn't make out what exactly it is, but it appeared to be a cup or tumbler of some sort.
(Amritsar, Punjab, northern India, Nov. 2017)
This is the unique shop I have had the honour to display my work at over the last while. Karen Ferguson is the owner. She is so unique, fun and hosts the most amazing events all the time. Art, music, jewelry, purses, dishware, greeting cards, clothing, scarves. The heart of Port Credit! She is always working on helping all artisans and the community as a whole. Amazing lady.
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