Exploring Delhi

Our first full day in Delhi started off better. We had a bit of a sleep in, had some breakfast and decided that we were going to explore Delhi by their Metro! (Despite the hotel manager trying to convince us that we really should hire a taxi for the day that he could arrange for us).

We found the metro station, bought a day pass and made our way through security (yes security - xray machines, metal detectors and a pat down to get on the metro - separate lines for men and women of course), and we made our way to the Lotus Temple (two metro line changes later).

The Lotus temple is also known as the Bahai House of Worship and is shaped like a sacred lotus flower. It was designed by an Iranian-Canadian architect in 1986. The Bahai philosophy revolves around universal peace and elimination of prejudice, and members of all faiths are welcome to pray or meditate silently in the temple. 

 

 

There were many school groups going through the temple while we were there! 

We hopped back on the metro and transferred metro lines to get off at the Stadium stop (built for the 2010 commonwealth games). We walked down Lodhi road in search of Humayun's tomb, a beautiful Mughal tomb built in the mid-16th century by Haji Begum, the Persian-born senior wife of the second Mughal emperor Humayun. 

Along the way we encountered hoards of people (most appeared to be Muslim) and what looked to be some sort of parade. Trucks were handing out water to people, drums and music were playing and there were ornamental "floats". We found out later that night that there was a big Muslim festival happening that day called the Mourning of Muharram.

 

 

After making our way through all the people (we were heading the opposite way of course), we crossed the road trying to find the tomb. We found ourselves beside a park filled with make shift tents, and the smell of sewage and incredibly poor looking people walking around the sidewalks. 

We almost gave up on finding the tomb in all the craziness when Dave pointed across the traffic circle to a sign on the fence and asked what it said. Sure enough, there was the entrance to the tomb!

Humayun's Tomb is often referred to as the mini Taj Mahal, and later on would influence the design of the Taj Mahal itself. Other beautiful tombs include the emperor's favourite barber and Haji Begum herself. The peaceful gardens were a welcome change from the craziness on the street outside!

A smaller tomb

 

Humayun's tomb

We made our way back to our hotel, with a quick stop at Connaught Place to check it out and met our Intrepid tour group and leader, Shakti.

Rajiv Chowk Metro Station

We had decided to do a tour in India with Intrepid for a few reasons - one, it sounded a whole lot easier, and two, the tour would bring us into rural villages and give us opportunities to see the real India that we likely would have had a hard time doing on our own. Intrepid is known for small group tours and engaging with local culture with minimal impact. We would be taking local transport where possible (trains, buses, tuk tuks, etc...) and private transport when needed (buses and jeeps). 

Our group consisted of ten people in total, plus Shakti who was originally from a small hill station in Rajasthan. We had a brief info session outlining the next 15 days and then headed off to a great restaurant for dinner! (No Pocket Bar!) 

The next morning, we embarked as a group on the metro to Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi and went on a walk around Old Delhi. Once again, we faced what looked like was a big parade. This time it was a Sikh festival! 

 

We made our way first to Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque which can hold up to 25,000 people, and then we had to make our way through the Sikh celebrations to visit the Sikh temple. (It was quite the effort trying to get through the crowds and into the temple). It was pretty interesting to walk through the temple as people were worshipping and chanting. Unfortunately no cameras were allowed inside.

Inside the mosque

Getting ready to go into the Sikh temple

Sikh Temple

We returned to Connaught Place for a bite to eat and then the rest of the afternoon was free to do what we liked. A group of us decided to go to Ghandi Smriti, a memorial and museum at the place where Mahatma Ghandi spent his last 144 days of his life, and where on 30 January 1948 he was shot dead on his way to lead evening prayer by a Hindu Zealot. Concrete footsteps represent Ghandi's final footsteps and lead from his room to the spot where he died which is marked by a small pavilion. Inside the museum there were photographs, dioramas depicting scenes from his life and other items belonging to Ghandi. It's a beautiful peaceful place, a far cry from Old Delhi. You could really see why he spent so much time there.

 

 

Gandhi Smriti

Dave and I left the group and decided to walk through the big wide streets of New Delhi (sidewalks? What are these?) to India Gate, a 42m-high stone memorial arch that pays tribute around 90,000 Indian army soldiers who died in various wars. We wandered past huge gated mansions belonging to high ranking officials and past the Secretariat buildings that house India's Government. Down a massive boulevard we eventually reached India Gate (with the help of a tuk tuk driver for part of the way!) 

Empty sidewalk of New Delhi - seems like a different planet than Old Delhi

 

Tuk Tuk to India Gate

 

 

On the way home we caught a tuk tuk who, of course, wanted to take us to a "bazaar" where "we would get very good deals because of the Sikh festival today." Despite our objections he begged us to just go in to take a look (as they seem to get a commission of some sort even if we don't buy), so we walked around the shop for two minutes and went back out to go the rest of the way home. 

Heading home (Secretariat buildings in the distance)

For dinner that night our guide brought us to yet another delicious restaurant. We are definitely not losing any weight on this trip!