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April 22, 2005
Wandering in the City of Blood
Traffic Jams
Road Building
Out of Guwahati, through slow-moving traffic jams, and along roads being re-surfaced in the Indian way, with lots of people and few machines. The hard-core arrives as bolders, and is broken up by hand and hammer. Sand is added by wheel-barrow, and levelled by spade. A road-roller finishes the job, before barrels of asphalt are heated over open fires fuelled by wood, then mixed with gravel and shovelled on to the surface.
Agnigarh Hill
I arrive at Tezpur, a quiet rural town, despite having a name that translates as 'City of Blood'. This gory title derives an ancient battle in Hindu mythology, fought in the Fort of Fire, or 'Agnigarh', now a pleasant park set on the ancient hill that overlooks the Brahmaputra River; the fort, if it ever existed, is long gone.
Brahmaputra, from Agnigarh
Mushroom sun-shades
A rubbish bin
Indian parks are usually well-maintained, as gardeners are affordable here. Much thought goes into structure and form, and this was no exception - well planned, and a pleasure to visit. These giant mushrooms provide a welcome source of shade, and I liked the design of this rubbish bin, attractive to children, and well-used.
Unloading cement
Bandsmen
The other park in Tezpur, the Chitralekha Udayan, is also well laid out around a large lake, and is a popular place for people to stroll in the evening. There are many trees, often labelled for identification, and some amazing scented flowers and bushes that take the breath away. Statues, ancient carvings, even a swimming pool with water slides are available for the children.
Chitralekha Udayan - 1
Chitralekha Udayan - 2
Posted by travellingtim at April 22, 2005 06:27 PM