Worcester U3A (From Worcester News)

Worcester U3A

11:06am Tuesday 13th December 2011 in Community

ON November 23, almost 100 members of Worcester U3A enjoyed a lively talk entitled Rail Around India.

Nicolas Clark gave an illustrated and informative talk rich with anecdotes from his experience.

Backpacking by railway, he travelled from the teeming streets of Delhi to Agra, and the white marble splendour of the Taj Mahal, built in the 17th century by Emporer Shah Jahan, a tomb for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

Via the Indian railway system, second largest in the world, and its steam locomotives, he continued through the foothills of the Himalayas, to Varanasi (or Banares), a place of pilgrimage on the Ganges, to Nagpur, famous for its oranges and Kirh Mandir, where Mahatma Gandhi grew up.

Then, on to Hyderabad, the Mysore Palace and the hill station of Udhagamandalam (or Ooty) popular with the East India Company in the 18th century.

Along the way were paddy fields, tea and rubber plantations and buildings displaying a mixture of architectural styles, Hindu, Muslim and European.

Chairman Jane Flynn gave the vote of thanks and refreshments followed – Indian tea.
VAL HIBBITT