Arrival in India sept 2011

Delhi 

 

 

This trip we have invited along some guests to enjoy the Indian experience. Our trip this time has included the northern part of India. Kicking off in Delhi with our accommodation being in the taj hotel group - which I can highly recommend. Our plan was to travel from Delhi to dharamsala in himichal pradesh, from dharamsala to amritsar in punjabi, Amritsar to Delhi and out Jaipur in rhajastan, Jaipur to Agra in ? and finally back to Delhi.

 

 We started our tour off in Delhi  with a visit to the red fort with it's high redstone walls towering above us and surrounding the entire complex.  Delhi has some must see sights on it's list but there is an endless selection of wonderful monuments to see outside of the main listed ones - of course It is all time dependent. 

 

We took a tour to the memorial of ghandi set amongst picturesque gardens added to by the beauty of many local sari clad ladies floating along like flowers themselves.  As we strolled back to the  comfort of our small touring bus we were greeted by passing elephants, snake trainers and hawkers touting their wares.

 

A drive took us past the parliament building and offices where we spotted gardens designed and shaped to remind you that you are in India - an elephant carved hedge or tree. 

 

A visit to the huge Jamid Masjid Mosque which caters for up to 25000 people saw us don our silk robes to cover our bare arms and legs.  The view from the tower is worthwhile if you are up to the climb in the sweltering heat which we decided to pass on.  We were offered the secret entrance into the not so well known museum!!! We are still not sure if anyone really knows about it except for little man who we slipped a quick 100 rupees to. As we entered I decided to decline at the last moment as he split the group into two either side of an iron gate.  With much laughter we farewelled the others as they were taken into a small room to be shown the single hair of ? and a book.  Show over they returned.  

 

Our next journey took us down the back streets of old Delhi where millions of people reside and go about their daily business in some 30 to 40 thousand small snoops tucked in, above or combined in back alleys that are so narrow but still people, bikes and even motorcyclists manage to mingle.  Out of the alleys and into the main old Delhi streets we board our rickshaws greeted with the usual "namaste" greeting from our cyclist.  As we wind and weave our way amongst the wave of bodies we witness shop after shop of everything imaginable. Old Delhi has every site and smell that confronts even the most well travelled and it was once said that every tourist is green in old Delhi no matter who you are.  The urinals you pass are a wall placed along the street where you frequently see men and boys urinating and the smell is upon you before the visual is. 

Old Delhi for me is something to witness but not something I would recommend to those wishing to venture into for a leisurely shopping experience and as advice I would recommend  to take a guide and enjoy some of the real people in this city.

 

Humayun's Tomb is an example of early Mughal architecture and offers a lovely wander at dusk through well manicure gardens. The typical red sandstone and white marble blend is local but the persian tomb added the combining of two cultures.  High arches are seen which allowed plenty of light to enter with some of these features being developed later and used at the taj mahal