Days out in Delhi

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Days 2 and 3 spent sightseeing in Delhi. We saw tombs and mosques and wonderful heritage sites but the lasting impression is not just of the great historical places but the whole experience of being in a city of 16 million people, of traffic and rickshaws and cyclists and people filling the roads and pavements, of shanty towns and crumbling streets where everyone is going about their business, cows on the central reservations, sleeping dogs, sleeping people sometimes, of the colour and chaos and noise of it all. Some of the photos reflect this. Then, in another mood of the city, the grand and glorious Lutyens architecutre: the government buildings and the presidential palace and the whole vision for New Delhi of wide and leafy avenues and order and space.

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Photos

Lynne and Vijay the guide
The main day of sightseeing brought to life by us by a great guide, Vijay, who was a young historian and had a great knowledge of the city.

Lynne in the autorickshaw
Great way to get through the traffic - if your nerves can stand it!

Street scene in Chandni Chowk
A good illustration of the hustle and bustle!

Spicy!
Spices in the market

Tombs in the park
Day 3 we visited the Lodi Gardens - landscaped by the British in 1936 but full of ancient domed fifteenth century Moghul tombs

The mini Taj
Humayan's Tomb is the resting place of the 2nd Moghul emperor and said to be the inspiration for the Taj Mahal in Agra. (No doubt we will tell you about that later on our tour!)

Comments

[George]

Wish I was There!
Wow, looks and sounds fantastic, a real assault on the senses. Seems like the kind of city you could spend a lifetime wandering about, but very tiring I'm sure...nothing a curry and a few kingfishers couldn't fix! Can't wait to hear how your adventure unfolds. Everything fine here, look forward to speaking. Ems sends her love. Georgexxx

[John and Sally Hannabus]

interesting and fascinating
Hello Lynne and John.....good to catch up with you and your pics of India. I would think it's a place of great diversity and it's hard to comprehend the population numbers. I think I read somewhere that the largest employer in the world is the Indian Railways. Looking forward to seeing more pics and hearing from you. Lynne...had a special prayer for your father in church this morning by putting a prayer on the prayer net. Hope all is well with you both and you never get to experience the dreaded "Delhi belly".

[Katie Morgan]

Birthday Present
Hello Lynne and John its Katie Me,mummy,Linzy,and Naomi went to see Arabian Nghts at stratford court Yard I spent my thirty Pounds on Me to you Things in Whsmith Love you loads Lynne and John Thank you for the thirty Pound Have a good time in India PS: DONT EAT TO MUCH SPICES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you will get really Hot after a while

[Joy]

It looks BRILL!
It looks fantastic -so very different - a memorable place undoubtedly! Hope you are having a fab time Love Joy and Mikexxx

[DUNCAN BIRCH]

from son
Looks and sounds wonderful. love d xxxx

[Margaret]

Memories!
Dear John and Lynne, your descriptions John (You do write well!!) and the photos quickly transported me back to my visits to India, particularly the noise in the cities, as you comment, the mass of humanity going about their business, the smells, your senses on overload, the anxiety of stepping into something unsavoury!!;fear of loosing the guide in the crush, dodging the animals in the streets, avoiding being pole axed by a passing vehicle; unimaginable until you have experienced it, just unlike any other travelling experience!! it is heady stuff, then when you then add into the mix all the sights.... I loved the Lutyens buildings... enjoy enjoy... I shall be vicariously revisiting it with your travelogue, thank you. A world away from Peru...... Every good wish, Margaret

[Glo]

Wish I was there too!!!
Was John too mean to shell out for a proper taxi for you Lynne? Only joking - I'm not sure I would be brave enough for that autorickshaw! The photos are wonderful and I can't wait to see some more. I can almost smell those spices. That one will have to be framed like the Venice Carnival ones. The colours are amazing. Bryce has just phoned me having come out of a very promising job interview, so fingers crossed. Please keep up the blog with lots of photos - it's great to see them. Loads of love xxxx

[vijay]

city of djinns
Thanks for writing about my city... have a nice time in India. Vijay

[Bryce]

Good News!
Hi you two, hope your tummies are behaving themselves? Further to Glo's earlier comments I can now say that AT LAST I have a new JOB!!!!!!! They confirmed this afternoon. Very similar to my old role with Ian Williams but with a smaller area to cover, so that's all to the good . I was definitely starting to think it would never happen. I start on the 8th Feb, earlier if they can sort out the car. Off for a celebratory tiffin now with the memsahib! See, we haven't even been to India and we can talk the lingo! Chin, chin etc. Totnes might seem a bit tame when you get back! Chat soon, have fun Bryce

[Tracy and India]

Fantastic memories
Dear Nana and Papa....... WOW!! I can just feel the atmosphere from here,remembering such beauty amidst absolute mayhem,it only seems like yesterday I was there.Am sure it will be truly memorable,look forward to more of your journey.Cannot wait to bring India to the library,she will be fascinated.Lots of love xxxx Tracy and India.xx

[Jane]

Envious!
Hope you're having a wonderful time - it all looks fascinating and a world away from cold, wet Lancashire! Enjoy .... x