DAY 13 : INDIA : Delhi

Weather : hot, hazy, 30+

 

 

Today we had a sightseeing day in Delhi. Delhi has a history dating 

back to the 11th century. It was ruled by the Mughals from the 16th century and passed to British hands in 1803. In 1911 the capital of India was moved from Calcutta to Delhi. When it became the nation's capital Sir Edwin Landseer Luytens, a British architect, redesigned the new part of the city, now known as New Delhi.

 

 

Our first stop this morning with our guide, Sonia, was Humayun's tomb. Humayan was the second Moghul emperor, ruling in the 16th century. When he died his wife, Haji Begum, built a magnificent tomb in manicured gardens, bring Persian tradesmen to complete the task. Throughout the next 300 years Moghul emperors, family members and favoured house staff were buried here.

 

 

Then we drove into the old part of the city. Frozen in time with tiny alleyways and antiquated electricity and water - but still a very viable part of the business sector of the city. Bordered by a crumbling city wall, which separates it from the new part of the city.

 

 

In the 16th century, Shah Jahan, Akbar's son, built the largest mosque on the sub-continent in Delhi.

 

 

The mosque houses some of the relics of the prophet, Mohammed.

 

 

 

From the large forecourt of the mosque you can see the Red Fort.

The Red Fort was completed in 1648 by Shah Jahan. It was demolished by the

British on their capture of Delhi in the early 19th century and subsequently rebuilt.

 

 

 

Our tour today included a rickshaw ride through Chandi Chowk, the ancient alleyways of trade in the old city.

 

 

Ad hoc barber shop.

 

 

Breakfast of puris and sweets at a street stall.

 

 

Students going to school on rickshaws.

 

 

Wedding industry alive and well in Delhi.

 

 

Next stop the Post Office to send an unwrapped parcel home.

The best entertainment of the day. Parcels are wrapped in unbleached cotton material and sewed up by one fellow at the front desk.

 

 

Then we stood in the SENIOR CITIZENS, WOMEN AND HANDICAPPED queue until served.

 

 

We drove by the impressive President's residence and government buildings.

 

 

Gardens throughout the city.

 

 

At the end of the avenue from the President's residence is India Gate.

It is 42 metres high and built in 1931. It was built to commemorate the 90,000 Indian soldiers that were killed in the name of the British Empire.

 

 

The Qutub Minar was a minaret built for a mosque built in 1199 by the Muslim King, Qutab-ud-din Aibak. The mosque was built from Hindu temples demolished on the site.

 

 

Hindu temple columns reconstituted by Muslim invaders to build a mosque.

 

 

Parrots seeking shade in the ruins of the mosque.

 

 

Visit to a local market on the way back to the hotel.

 

 

Our last day with Radhey, our excellent driver.

 

 

M&M

 

mm_smith@bigpond.net.au