everyday life in a rural indian village - khoaja phool - खोअजा फूल - 41 photos

Those are photos that I took in a small rural village called Khoaja Phool (खोअजा फूल) in Uttar Pradesh (India)

While riding my motorcycle on the main highway, I saw an old crumbling fortified wall and wondered what could be behind it. So I stopped, parked my bike and walked into the fortified enclosure.

The place is an old walled town, perfectly square in shape. There are defensive towers at each corner, and the length of each side wall is exactly 280 m (309 yd). There were two original city gates, located in the middle of two of the fortification walls, and connected by a street that runs through the center of the town and cuts it into two halves. The fortification walls are well preserved and it can be seen clearly on the satellite imagery. The village has now outgrown the square fortified wall on the East and South sides, and some streets now go through new openings made in the walls.

This place used to be a rather rich settlement a few centuries ago, as can be seen from the architecture of the old houses and monuments still standing, and the size of some of the old water wells.

Now it is just a very poor village where farmers live with their animals and brick and mud houses.

So I walked into the village, and kids started congregating around me, as obviously very few tourist or stranger ever visit their village. Maybe I was the first European person they ever saw!

Adults were also quite surprised and amused to see a European guy venturing in their village. They are all very nice people, and a growing group of kids showed me the way into the village. People are all living with their animals, water buffaloes and goats, and It seems that a good part of their daily life is about getting water and feeding their animals. Like in most India villages, there is no running water and people get their water from hand pumps and water wells.

Some of the houses and monuments are very old, from the period when this was a "rich" town, as can be seen from their architecture. The houses are built in brick or mud. Many of the houses are painted turquoise blue or light green, and villagers have a lot of ground structures made of dry mud or clay, which they keep very nice and clean by continuously refreshing them with new clay.

At some point, the kids stopped and told me "No go! Dangerous! Dangerous!". Hmmm.... I decided to go further anyway, and the kids looked very scared about following me. Nothing looked very different in the other half of the village, but i soon realized that this other half of the village is Muslim, while the part I visited first was the Hindu area.

So, Hindu kids are told by their parents that the Muslim neighborhood is "dangerous" and that they should not go, and Muslim kids are probably told the same about the Hindu neighborhood of the village. This keeps everyone neatly segregated.

Naturally, a bunch of (Muslim) kids started following me in the Muslim part of the village, which is not much different from the Hindu part, except that girls and women in the streets seemed more shy in the Muslim area, which is no surprise. I found an old Muslim cemetery in one corner of the village.

Those are the photos that I took in this village, hoping to capture the interesting atmosphere of the place. The villagers there live very simple life, and they keep their place beautiful. I just wonder how different this place looked like when it was at its highest, probably at the time of the Maharajas.

young water buffalo with hay on nose (india), cow, dirty nose, hay, head, manger, snout, trough, water buffalo
Young Water Buffalo with Hay on Nose (India)
young water buffalo with hay on nose (india), cow, dirty nose, hay, head, manger, snout, trough, water buffalo
Young Water Buffalo with Hay on Nose (India)
water buffalo snout with hay (india), cow nose, cow snout, dirty nose, hay, head, water buffalo
Water Buffalo Snout with Hay (India)
water buffalo snout with hay (india), cow nose, cow snout, dirty nose, hay, head, water buffalo
Water Buffalo Snout with Hay (India)
water buffalo nose and teeth (india), cow, head, incisors, nose, snout, teeth, water buffalo
Water Buffalo Nose and Teeth (India)
water buffalo nose and teeth (india), cow, head, incisors, nose, snout, teeth, water buffalo
Water Buffalo Nose and Teeth (India)
water buffalo snout and teeth (india), cow, head, incisors, nose, snout, teeth, water buffalo
Water Buffalo Snout and Teeth (India)
water buffalo snout and teeth (india), cow, head, incisors, nose, snout, teeth, water buffalo
Water Buffalo Snout and Teeth (India)
green house with earthen floor (india), adobe floor, earthen floor, goats, green house, khoaja phool, ladder, village, खोअजा फूल
Green House with Earthen Floor (India)
green house with earthen floor (india), adobe floor, earthen floor, goats, green house, khoaja phool, ladder, village, खोअजा फूल
Green House with Earthen Floor (India)
green house with earthen floor patio in indian village, adobe floor, earthen floor, goats, green house, khoaja phool, ladder, village, खोअजा फूल
Green House with Earthen Floor Patio in Indian Village
green house with earthen floor patio in indian village, adobe floor, earthen floor, goats, green house, khoaja phool, ladder, village, खोअजा फूल
Green House with Earthen Floor Patio in Indian Village
old indian house with earthen floor, adobe floor, children, earthen floor, green house, khoaja phool, kids, ladder, village, खोअजा फूल
Old Indian House with Earthen Floor
old indian house with earthen floor, adobe floor, children, earthen floor, green house, khoaja phool, kids, ladder, village, खोअजा फूल
Old Indian House with Earthen Floor
little girl pulling water buffalo (india), adobe floor, baby animal, baby cow, brick wall, broken door, calf, chain, child, earthen floor, khoaja phool, kid, leach, little girl, manger, pulling, village, water buffalo, wooden door, खोअजा फूल
Little Girl Pulling Water Buffalo (India)
little girl pulling water buffalo (india), adobe floor, baby animal, baby cow, brick wall, broken door, calf, chain, child, earthen floor, khoaja phool, kid, leach, little girl, manger, pulling, village, water buffalo, wooden door, खोअजा फूल
Little Girl Pulling Water Buffalo (India)
little indian girl with her water buffalo calf, adobe floor, baby animal, baby cow, brick wall, broken door, calf, chain, child, earthen floor, khoaja phool, kid, leach, little girl, manger, pulling, rope, village, walking, water buffalo, wooden door, खोअजा फूल
Little Indian Girl with Her Water Buffalo Calf
little indian girl with her water buffalo calf, adobe floor, baby animal, baby cow, brick wall, broken door, calf, chain, child, earthen floor, khoaja phool, kid, leach, little girl, manger, pulling, rope, village, walking, water buffalo, wooden door, खोअजा फूल
Little Indian Girl with Her Water Buffalo Calf
green house with goat (india), goats, green house, khoaja phool, village, खोअजा फूल
Green House with Goat (India)
green house with goat (india), goats, green house, khoaja phool, village, खोअजा फूल
Green House with Goat (India)
blue house with goat (india), blue house, goat, khoaja phool, village, खोअजा फूल
Blue House with Goat (India)
blue house with goat (india), blue house, goat, khoaja phool, village, खोअजा फूल
Blue House with Goat (India)
pink shiva lingam in indian village, hand pump, hinduism, khoaja phool, men, shiva linga, shiva lingam, shivling, shrine, village, water pump, खोअजा फूल
Pink Shiva Lingam in Indian Village
pink shiva lingam in indian village, hand pump, hinduism, khoaja phool, men, shiva linga, shiva lingam, shivling, shrine, village, water pump, खोअजा फूल
Pink Shiva Lingam in Indian Village
old hindu shrine in indian village, hinduism, khoaja phool, monument, shrine, temple, village, खोअजा फूल
Old Hindu Shrine in Indian Village
old hindu shrine in indian village, hinduism, khoaja phool, monument, shrine, temple, village, खोअजा फूल
Old Hindu Shrine in Indian Village
woman sitting in outdoor kitchen in indian village, adobe floor, bicycle, earthen floor, house, khoaja phool, kitchen, men, monument, shrine, sitting, temple, village, woman, खोअजा फूल
Woman Sitting in Outdoor Kitchen in Indian Village
woman sitting in outdoor kitchen in indian village, adobe floor, bicycle, earthen floor, house, khoaja phool, kitchen, men, monument, shrine, sitting, temple, village, woman, खोअजा फूल
Woman Sitting in Outdoor Kitchen in Indian Village
hindu woman sitting near mud stove, adobe floor, cross-legged, earthen floor, fireplace, indian woman, khoaja phool, kitchen, man, sari, sitting, village, wood stove, खोअजा फूल
Hindu Woman Sitting near Mud Stove
hindu woman sitting near mud stove, adobe floor, cross-legged, earthen floor, fireplace, indian woman, khoaja phool, kitchen, man, sari, sitting, village, wood stove, खोअजा फूल
Hindu Woman Sitting near Mud Stove
gobar - cow dung drying in indian village, cow manure, cow pats, cow pies, dried cow dung, dry cow dung, drying, gobar, house, khande, khoaja phool, village, खोअजा फूल
Gobar - Cow Dung Drying in Indian Village
gobar - cow dung drying in indian village, cow manure, cow pats, cow pies, dried cow dung, dry cow dung, drying, gobar, house, khande, khoaja phool, village, खोअजा फूल
Gobar - Cow Dung Drying in Indian Village
old monument in indian village, dogs, garbage, khoaja phool, monument, plastic trash, shrine, temple, village, खोअजा फूल
Old Monument in Indian Village
old monument in indian village, dogs, garbage, khoaja phool, monument, plastic trash, shrine, temple, village, खोअजा फूल
Old Monument in Indian Village
man on bicycle near old monument in indian village, bicycle, garbage, khoaja phool, man, monument, plastic trash, shrine, temple, village, खोअजा फूल
Man on Bicycle near Old Monument in Indian Village
man on bicycle near old monument in indian village, bicycle, garbage, khoaja phool, man, monument, plastic trash, shrine, temple, village, खोअजा फूल
Man on Bicycle near Old Monument in Indian Village
indian woman and calf in village street, baby animal, baby cow, calf, house, khoaja phool, village, water buffalo, woman, खोअजा फूल
Indian Woman and Calf in Village Street
indian woman and calf in village street, baby animal, baby cow, calf, house, khoaja phool, village, water buffalo, woman, खोअजा फूल
Indian Woman and Calf in Village Street
blue house in indian village, blue house, brick, khoaja phool, village, खोअजा फूल
Blue House in Indian Village
blue house in indian village, blue house, brick, khoaja phool, village, खोअजा फूल
Blue House in Indian Village
group of kids and men in indian village, blicks, blue house, children, crowd, khoaja phool, kids, men, village, खोअजा फूल
Group of Kids and Men in Indian Village
group of kids and men in indian village, blicks, blue house, children, crowd, khoaja phool, kids, men, village, खोअजा फूल
Group of Kids and Men in Indian Village
mangers made of dry mud in indian village, adobe floor, brick wall, cows, earthen floor, goats, khoaja phool, manger, sari, village, water buffaloes, woman, खोअजा फूल
Mangers Made of Dry Mud in Indian Village
mangers made of dry mud in indian village, adobe floor, brick wall, cows, earthen floor, goats, khoaja phool, manger, sari, village, water buffaloes, woman, खोअजा फूल
Mangers Made of Dry Mud in Indian Village
group of indian boys on village plaza, blue house, boys, children, crowd, khoaja phool, kids, village, खोअजा फूल
Group of Indian Boys on Village Plaza
group of indian boys on village plaza, blue house, boys, children, crowd, khoaja phool, kids, village, खोअजा फूल
Group of Indian Boys on Village Plaza
man and boys (and water buffaloes) in indian village, boys, children, cows, crowd, khoaja phool, kids, man, manger, village, water buffaloes, खोअजा फूल
Man and Boys (and Water Buffaloes) in Indian Village
man and boys (and water buffaloes) in indian village, boys, children, cows, crowd, khoaja phool, kids, man, manger, village, water buffaloes, खोअजा फूल
Man and Boys (and Water Buffaloes) in Indian Village
group of indian boys on village plaza, blue house, children, crowd, khoaja phool, kids, village, खोअजा फूल
Group of Indian Boys on Village Plaza
group of indian boys on village plaza, blue house, children, crowd, khoaja phool, kids, village, खोअजा फूल
Group of Indian Boys on Village Plaza
plastic water containers near hand pump (india), boy, child, hand pump, khoaja phool, kid, plastic jugs, village, water jugs, water pump, woman, खोअजा फूल
Plastic Water Containers near Hand Pump (India)
plastic water containers near hand pump (india), boy, child, hand pump, khoaja phool, kid, plastic jugs, village, water jugs, water pump, woman, खोअजा फूल
Plastic Water Containers near Hand Pump (India)
filling up plastic water containers at village hand pump (india), blue house, children, crowd, hand pump, khoaja phool, kids, plastic jugs, pumping, village, water jugs, water pump, खोअजा फूल
Filling up Plastic Water Containers at Village Hand Pump (India)
filling up plastic water containers at village hand pump (india), blue house, children, crowd, hand pump, khoaja phool, kids, plastic jugs, pumping, village, water jugs, water pump, खोअजा फूल
Filling up Plastic Water Containers at Village Hand Pump (India)
indian woman making earthen floor in house, adobe floor, clay, construction, earthen floor, house, indian woman, khoaja phool, metal bucket, mud, spreading, village, working, खोअजा फूल
Indian Woman Making Earthen Floor in House
indian woman making earthen floor in house, adobe floor, clay, construction, earthen floor, house, indian woman, khoaja phool, metal bucket, mud, spreading, village, working, खोअजा फूल
Indian Woman Making Earthen Floor in House
group of indian boys (and a water buffalo) on village street, adobe floor, children, cow, crowd, earthen floor, khoaja phool, kids, village, water buffalo, खोअजा फूल
Group of Indian Boys (and a Water Buffalo) on Village Street
group of indian boys (and a water buffalo) on village street, adobe floor, children, cow, crowd, earthen floor, khoaja phool, kids, village, water buffalo, खोअजा फूल
Group of Indian Boys (and a Water Buffalo) on Village Street
indian girl preparing fodder for her goats, fodder, girl, goats, green house, indian woman, khoaja phool, preparing, squatting, village, खोअजा फूल
Indian Girl Preparing Fodder for Her Goats
indian girl preparing fodder for her goats, fodder, girl, goats, green house, indian woman, khoaja phool, preparing, squatting, village, खोअजा फूल
Indian Girl Preparing Fodder for Her Goats
earthen floor and steps in indian village, adobe floor, cow, earthen floor, house, khoaja phool, monument, shrine, temple, village, water buffalo, woman, खोअजा फूल
Earthen Floor and Steps in Indian Village
earthen floor and steps in indian village, adobe floor, cow, earthen floor, house, khoaja phool, monument, shrine, temple, village, water buffalo, woman, खोअजा फूल
Earthen Floor and Steps in Indian Village
old water well in indian village, blue house, khoaja phool, village, water well, खोअजा फूल
Old Water Well in Indian Village
old water well in indian village, blue house, khoaja phool, village, water well, खोअजा फूल
Old Water Well in Indian Village
man feeding his water buffalo in indian village, brick pavement, bucket, cow, hand pump, khoaja phool, tree, village, water buffalo, water pump, woman, खोअजा फूल
Man Feeding His Water Buffalo in Indian Village
man feeding his water buffalo in indian village, brick pavement, bucket, cow, hand pump, khoaja phool, tree, village, water buffalo, water pump, woman, खोअजा फूल
Man Feeding His Water Buffalo in Indian Village
small muslim cemetery in indian village, cemetery, child, hand pump, islam, khoaja phool, kid, muslim, village, water pump, woman, खोअजा फूल
Small Muslim Cemetery in Indian Village
small muslim cemetery in indian village, cemetery, child, hand pump, islam, khoaja phool, kid, muslim, village, water pump, woman, खोअजा फूल
Small Muslim Cemetery in Indian Village
small structure of brick and adobe (india), adobe floor, earthen floor, house, khoaja phool, village, खोअजा फूल
Small Structure of Brick and Adobe (India)
small structure of brick and adobe (india), adobe floor, earthen floor, house, khoaja phool, village, खोअजा फूल
Small Structure of Brick and Adobe (India)
tristan savatier - selfie with baby goat and kids (india), baby animal, baby goats, boys, children, khoaja phool, kids, man, self-portrait, selfie, village, खोअजा फूल
Tristan Savatier - Selfie with Baby Goat and Kids (India)
tristan savatier - selfie with baby goat and kids (india), baby animal, baby goats, boys, children, khoaja phool, kids, man, self-portrait, selfie, village, खोअजा फूल
Tristan Savatier - Selfie with Baby Goat and Kids (India)
tristan savatier - selfie with two baby goats (india), baby animal, baby goats, khoaja phool, kids, man, self-portrait, selfie, village, खोअजा फूल
Tristan Savatier - Selfie with Two Baby Goats (India)
tristan savatier - selfie with two baby goats (india), baby animal, baby goats, khoaja phool, kids, man, self-portrait, selfie, village, खोअजा फूल
Tristan Savatier - Selfie with Two Baby Goats (India)
communal oil press machine in indian village, khoaja phool, machine, oil press, village, खोअजा फूल
Communal Oil Press Machine in Indian Village
communal oil press machine in indian village, khoaja phool, machine, oil press, village, खोअजा फूल
Communal Oil Press Machine in Indian Village
communal oil press machine in indian village, crowd, khoaja phool, machine, oil press, village, खोअजा फूल
Communal Oil Press Machine in Indian Village
communal oil press machine in indian village, crowd, khoaja phool, machine, oil press, village, खोअजा फूल
Communal Oil Press Machine in Indian Village
indian people around my royal enfield bullet motorbike (india), boys, bullet, chil, children, crowd, full face helmet, khoaja phool, kids, men, motorcycle helmet, motorcycle touring, royal enfield, thunderbird, village, खोअजा फूल
Indian People around My Royal Enfield Bullet Motorbike (India)
indian people around my royal enfield bullet motorbike (india), boys, bullet, chil, children, crowd, full face helmet, khoaja phool, kids, men, motorcycle helmet, motorcycle touring, royal enfield, thunderbird, village, खोअजा फूल
Indian People around My Royal Enfield Bullet Motorbike (India)
government sign in hindi (india), khoaja phool, village, खोअजा फूल
Government Sign in Hindi (India)
government sign in hindi (india), khoaja phool, village, खोअजा फूल
Government Sign in Hindi (India)