India to Bardia Park (Nepal)
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India to Bardia Park (Nepal) |
| Lahore (Pakistan) to Bardia National Park (Nepal) |
| From Lahore (Pakistan) we
drove straight into India through the only border crossing opened to
foreigners (the two countries are technically at war over the disputed
Kashmir border line). As can be seen from the map, we have left the
mountainous areas and are now in the plains. The result is that it is hot
! We are no longer able to sleep in the car as the temperature at night
remains in the 30s C. During day time, the temperature can go in the 40s
which is a little too hot for us. Besides, we have for the first time in
our lives felt so discriminated we have wanted to leave a country. Entry
fees to all old monuments, parks and museums in India are between 10 and
50 times more expensive for foreigners as they are for Indians. Entry fees
for foreigners will range between US$ 5 and US$ 20. Not exorbitant by
Western standards ? These new entry fees were introduced last October.
Travel agents and tour operators who fix prices months in advance got 2
days notice. Embassies have skipped most visits of their usual tours.
Common travelers have sat in front of the entrances of the Taj Mahal in
protest. It is a common belief in India (as in many other countries, to be
fair) that all Westerners are millionaires including students or old age
people. Having come this far, we are disappointed and angry we are not
able to afford the fees to all monuments we want to visit. We will have to
choose. For the one museum we have decided to visit whilst in Delhi (the
National Museum in order to see the treasures brought back from the
Chinese oasis cities of Dunhuang etc.) we were so angry it spoiled our
visit. India is a fascinating country but if your budget is tight, don't
go. China has been stamping out double pricing for the last years
(although it remains in Beijing). Where else in the world does this still
exist ? What a beautiful way to welcome foreigners to your country. Shame
on you.
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| Lahore to Delhi |
| Not much stopping on our way
from Lahore to Delhi. We briefly entered the city of Amritsar to change
money then took the famous GT Road, Grand Trunk Road that links
Afghanistan, Peshawar to Delhi (see map above).
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Border crossing with India (left), GT Road (centre & right)
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In the many areas between cities, the GTR is beautiful nature countryside
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Coconut and vegetable sellers at a train crossing, a huge and scary crowd that would not move as we wanted to drive away.
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We have arrived in the country of sacred cows (left & centre), buffalos (right)
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| Delhi to Nepal |
| We stayed in Delhi for 6 days
to rest and to try to secure some more sponsors before heading off to
cooler and cheaper places : Bardia National Park in Nepal.
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The bridge crossing the river separating India & Nepal (left), our first glimpse of the country
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| Royal Bardia National Park |
| The Royal Bardia National Park is the largest untouched wilderness area in the South of Nepal. |
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| If you need a travel agency
run by a Westerner based in Delhi, contact Isabelle Willemart at :
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We are doing well !
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| KKH to Lahore | Back to Trip page | Heading to Kathmandu |
