Suraj Garg Photography - A GLIMPSE OF INDIA

I hosted the second edition of my photography exhibition titled ‘A Glimpse of India’ at the Milton Keynes Central Library.

Thanks to the support and patronage of Milton Keynes City Council and Milton Keynes Libraries.

It is a showcase of photos that I captured during my travels across India in the last decade or so. It has been a long time dream to host a photography exhibition and present the diversity of my home country.

Have a look at the pics below I had on display during the exhibition.

A few snippets from the Opening Preview of the exhibition held on 11th April. It was an honour to host the Mayor and Mayoress of Milton Keynes.

A Glimpse of India - Virtual Exhibition

Green Gate: City Palace, Jaipur

The inner courtyard in City Palace of Jaipur has four gates depicting the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter. The Green Gate also called Leheriya (waves) Gate is representative of the spring season and dedicated to Lord Ganesha.

Three Orange Doors: Jagath Fort, Jaipur

Three orange coloured doors with vibrant pink arches located in Jaigarh Fort in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Rumi Darwaza: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Also referred to as Turkish Gate, Rumi Darwaza (lit. Door or Gate) is a symbol of Lucknow and was earlier used as an entrance gate to the Old City. It was built in the 1780s by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula.

Hawa Mahal: Jaipur, Rajasthan

Hawa Mahal (lit. ‘Palace of Winds’) was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. It was built from red and pink sandstone and has 953 small windows called Jharokhas. They offer a private viewing area for the royal women who would observe the street processions without being seen from outside.

Nigiri Mountain Railway: Coonoor, Tamil Nadu

This is one of the three UNESCO World Heritage Sites under the name “Mountain Railways of India”. It is a 46 km (29 mi) long single-line railway connecting the towns of Mettupalayam and Ooty. It winds through some scenic vistas of Nilgiri Hills and is the only rack and pinion railway in India.

My Mum's Box of Spices

Masala Dabba aka Box of Spices is typically found in most Indian households. It provides quick access to various commonly used spices in Indian cooking. Pictured here is my mum’s own spice box! How many spices can you identify?

Jaipur Cityscape at Dusk: Jaipur, Rajasthan

Nahargarh Fort provides one of the best sunset views of Jaipur. It is an interesting contrast between the sparkling lights of the city and the soft hues in the sky as the sun sets.

Lord Avalokitesvara

A statue of Lord Avalokitesvara (meaning “the lord who looks down”) located in the Dalai Lama Temple Complex. He is associated with great compassion and is known for his popular mantra – Om Mani Padme Hum

Varanasi | Bananas | Kashi

Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in the world and is regarded as the spiritual capital of India. It is very popular for its ghats where there is so much going on throughout the day. It truly is a timeless city!

Ganga Aarti: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Ganga Aarti is a magnificent evening ritual in Varanasi worshipping River Ganga. The ceremony is performed by a group of priests on the ghats to show gratitude and respect to the river and seek its blessings.

Devotion: Assi Ghat, Varanasi

A priest gets covered in the incense smoke during the aarti. It’s an incredible experience watching the priests in motion performing one ritual after another which includes water, flowers, lamps, incense, bells and other ritual objects.

Sunrise in Varanasi: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Such a beautiful sunrise over the River Ganga with a striking silhouette of a boat ferrying passengers against the golden light reflecting off the waters of the river.

Kathak: London

Kathak is one of the eight major forms of Indian classical dance. It is characterised by intricate footwork and precise rhythmic patterns that the dancer articulates by controlling about 100 ankle bells. Pictured here is my friend performing on Regent Street in London around the time of the King’s Coronation in 2023.

Charminar: Hyderabad, Telangana

Charminar (lit. ‘Four Minarets’) is a landmark of Hyderabad (my hometown) and was constructed in 1591 AD. It was constructed to commemorate the eradication of plague during that time. This structure has been restored in recent years and this pic is now a unique historic capture.

Panna Meena ka Kund: Jaipur, Rajasthan

A 16th century stepwell and a hidden gem located in Amer near Jaipur. It is Jaipur’s sole fully restored and operational stepwell.

Rama Yantra, Jantar Mantar: New Delhi

Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur built astronomy instruments in 5 cities in Northern India. Pictured here is the inside of one of the instruments which was used to measure the altitude and azimuth of celestial bodies.

Aerial View of Himalayas

I shot this through the window of my flight from New Delhi to Leh (Jammu & Kashmir). The Himalayas are the largest mountain range in the world. The name literally means ‘Abode of snow’.

Pangong Lake: Ladakh, Himalayas

Pangong Tso or Pangong Lake is situated at an altitude of almost 4350 m or 14272 ft. It is the world’s highest salt water lake. Almost 160 km (approx. 100 miles) in length, one-third of the lake lies in India and the other two-thirds in China. The turquoise blue colour of the water stands in stark contrast to the arid mountains surrounding it.

Landscape of Pangong Lake: Ladakh, Himalayas

Another view of Pangong Lake. It is one of the most famous lakes in the Ladakh region and derives its name from the Tibetan word ‘Pangong Tso’, which means ‘high grassland lake’.

Milky Way Over Pangong Lake: Ladakh, Himalayas

Ladakh offers great avenues for clear and dark skies where one can see the Milky Way quite clearly.

Cyber Towers: Hyderabad, Telangana

Cyber Towers was the first structure that laid the foundation of the IT industry in Hyderabad which is home to some big tech companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft to name a few. This pic is a black & white fine art edit of this unique architecture.

A Shoe Shop: Hyderabad, Telangana

A street side shop selling fashionable footwear for women. This place was bustling with people who had come out to shop after breaking their fast (Iftar) during the month of Ramadan. This is a common scene not just in India but all over the world.

The Tourist: City Palace, Jaipur

The man in the centre is a tourist posing for a pic flanked by the royal guards at the City Palace. He seems to be from South India as he is wearing a piece of clothing on his lower body called veshti. It is a traditional white cloth with a golden border and worn on special occasions.

Great Wall of Amer: Jaipur, Rajasthan

Stretching for 7 miles (12 km) this is the third largest wall in the world. It overlooks the Amer Fort and was built to protect the city from any invasions.

Rani ki Van: Patan, Gujarat

Rani ki Vav (lit. “the Queen’s Stepwell”) is located on the banks of Saraswati River and was designed as an inverted temple. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has numerous sculptures across the structure.

Worship: Golconda Fort, Hyderabad

A devotee applies sandalwood and vermillion paste on the steps of the Golconda Fort as part of the Bonalu festival. It is a traditional festival of Telangana to worship Goddess Mahakali.

Patrika Gate: Jaipur, Rajasthan

This is a modern monument showcasing the vibrant colours and patterns of Rajasthan. It opened in 2016 and became one of the most instagrammed spot in Jaipur. It is named after a local news company Patrika.

Buddha Dordenma: Thimphu, Bhutan

India is the birthplace of Buddhism which was founded by Siddhartha Gautama. After 49 consecutive days of meditation, Gautama became Buddha, or “enlightened one”. It is one of the largest religions in the world.

A Walk in the Clouds: Rann of Kutch, Gujarat

Rann of Kutch is one of the largest salt deserts in the world. It is spread across India and Pakistan. It is mostly located in the Indian state of Gujarat in Kutch district. The word Rann means 'desert' in Gujarati, hence Desert of Kutch. Pictured here is part of the slat flats with visitors/tourists in the distance. In the foreground is a patch of coarse salt which gives the illusion of clouds or maybe even snow!

Modhera Sun Temple: Modhera, Gujarat

This is one of the major sun temples in India and was built during 1026-27 CE. The sanctum sanctorum is designed in a way that the first rays of the rising sun lit up the image of Surya during solar equinox days. And on summer solstice day, the sun shines directly above the temple at noon casting no shadow.

Green Rustic Door: Hyderabad, Telangana

Notice the long iron strip which is used to secure these old doors and the two padlocks keeping the strip in place and to lock the doors. Also note the large hinges in the outer four corners. These were very commonly used in very old shops.

Colourful Bangles: Hyderabad, Telangana

Street hawkers and vendors are common across India. They sell several things from fruits, vegetables to household utility items, clothing, footwear and fashion accessories. They sell these on a four-wheeled pushcart walking around in the local areas or just sat on the side of a street usually with other street vendors selling different stuff.

Chand Baori: Abhaneri, Rajasthan

This is a close up of one of the largest stepwells in the world. It has over 3500 steps and is nearly 13 floors deep. It was built by King Chand Raja (hence the name) during the 8th and 9th centuries.

Galtaji Temple Complex: Jaipur, Rajasthan

It is a cluster of temples built in the Aravalli Hills and located around 10 km from Jaipur. It has several sacred tanks (called kunds) which are used by pilgrims for bathing and thereby washing away their sins. It is also called ‘The Monkey Temple’ because of a huge population of monkeys in this complex.

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People of India

India is one of the most diverse countries in the world. Its diversity is reflected in its religions, ethnicities, customs and the languages that its people speak. The culture that they represent are so varied across the country. Here is just a small sample of the diverse people of India.