Old & New Delhi
New Delhi, India
January 03, 2015
We had a great sleep, had breakfast and then met Sukh Dev and our guide La Lit at 9:30. We had a full day of site seeing in Delhi planned for today.
We drove across the city to Old Delhi. The traffic was heavy, but not too bad. Drivers follow more rules here and there are functioning traffic lights everywhere. There is also a good public transit system of metro lines and buses, so that helps to alleviate the congestion on the roads.
We drove past the Red Fort from the Shah Jehan Mughal dynasty. The architecture was very similar to the fort in Agra.
Our first stop was at Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India Taking a Break in Old Delhi. It was completed in 1656 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan. We had to remove our shoes and socks because it had rained through the night. The red sandstone floors were quite cool on our feet, but the pigeon poop, well, that was a different story!
The mosque and the courtyard were very minimalistic, but very serene and beautiful. After our exploration we squished our dirty feet back into our socks and shoes and then walked around Old Delhi shops.
The area dates back 350 years. We wound our way around the labyrinth of winding alleyways through various shopping districts - cloth, wedding dresses, embellishments, clothing, shoes, vegetables, fruit, paper, spices, etc. We tried to sidestep as many puddles and "mud" as we could manage, but it was challenging in the tight quarters with numerous shopkeepers, shoppers, rickshaws, motorbikes, men carrying huge packages on their carts, backs and heads Tasty Treats.
We ducked in one alley and popped our heads into a Jain Temple. We also went into a shop where Bill purchased a clock that he liked. Looks like we now have a souvenir for our trip! We headed out of the alley and walked along the street. We opted to walk instead of taking a rickshaw since we will be trapped on a plane for countless hours in the very near future.
I was able to stock up on the spices required to make the dishes that learned how to make last night - mango, mehi leaves, cumin seeds, cinnamon sticks, black cardamom and mace. The prices were not cheap, but they were certainly fresh! After our long walk around the old city we headed to Raj Ghat.
This is where Mahatma Gandhi remains are buried. It is a simple monument to reflect the simple and peaceful life that he chose to live Canada's Column at the Government Buildings.
We were not able to stop and look at India Gate, a memorial to the 90,000 Indians that died serving in WWI, because the security has been increased during the preparation for the upcoming celebration of Republic Day. We were able to stop and get a good look at the government buildings, President's House and Parliament House.
These buildings were completed in 1931 by the British. The massive red sandstone buildings were designed to combine British, Indian and Muslim styles. They are very beautifully maintained and are very impressive.
Our final stop was at Emperor Humayun's tomb, the second Mughal ruler. His wife constructed this monument for her husband from 1565 until 1572. The design and features of this monument was the first of it's kind and was the foundation for the architectural design for the Taj Mahal Gandhi's Tomb. You could still see some of the tiles and paint which gave us a sense of the former grandeur of this sandstone and marble building.
Close to the entrance, there was another monument for Isa Khan that was built in 1548. It was a small monument, but was surrounded by low red sandstone fences that made the area very interesting to explore.
It was getting dark and traffic was a bit hectic, but we made it back safe and sound to the hotel. We had several hours to kill before we departed for the airport at midnight, so we freshened up, had some snacks, watched some TV and caught up on the blog.
Pictures & VideosAction in the MarketJama MasjidLoading up on SpicesBusy Narrow StreetsFood is Coming!!!Tasty LunchYeah Right!President's House with the Huge GatesHumayun's Tomb
