The Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum, New Delhi

The Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum is located in Safdarjung Road in the home where she used to live. Indira Gandhi was assassinated on October 31st 1984 by her own 'trusted' bodyguards. This beautiful white bungalow where it happened was later on converted into the museum.

The museum has a good collection of photographs which depict the Indian national Movement and also the lives of the Gandhi family. The Museum has very well conserved the blood stained sari of Indira Gandhi which was a result of her assassination. It also has the collection of Rajeev Gandhi’s personal belongings who was himself assassinated in May 1991. Rajeev Gandhi’s laptop is also on display. The clothes he wore during that time are also displayed.

It is surrounded by a beautiful, tranquil garden. After coming out of the house you reach the garden where Mrs Gandhi was shot dead. The place is covered well and the dried spots of blood though faded are still visible. The enclosed glass gives the effect of a river. It is protected by a guard who Donny took a special liking to...

Donny's lack of colour co-ordination

Donny fails once again to match to the colour of the day!

Jimmy Choo tuc-tuc

Eat your heart out Ginny

Amritsar

The Golden Temple is absolutely superb - almost moving enough to convert me to Sikhism??Jallianwalla Bagh gardens are a solemn memorial to the end of British occupation at a site where General Dyer's troops open fired on an unarmed protest crowb of 20,000 killing 379 and injuring 1200. 120 drowned in a well trying to escape. Churchill took 12 months to declare it an "outrageous action", meanwhile Dyer was knighted. 20years later he was shot dead by an Indian dissident at Caxton Hall, London.

Hotel Update

Dreamland. Don't ever consider staying even one night at Dreamland in Shimla - more like Nightmareland. Thanks Rough Guide for the recommendation. Billo wouldn't even venture into the bathroom and generally he'll pee anywhere!!

Mrs Bandari's Guest House in Amritsar is a superbly maintained family home from 1930s with it's own farm outstanding food.Billo is consorting with the chef and waiter in the kitchens.

Camera oh joy!

Replacement Sony camera with much improved spec after much hard bargaining and quantities of fruit juice. We're back on line and Billo is happy again!!

Shimla

An interesting relic of the Raj with a famous promanade awash with Indian tourists (and honeymooners?). The route to a miserable State Museum was badly understated. The government's poor efforts at basic maintenace of premises and exhibits are sadly evident and regularly diminish the splendours of the experiences.This is the very monkey that stole the cream cake from the lady's bag despite Billos protestations!!