Blogs from Delhi, National Capital Territory, India, Asia - page 5

Wecker um 5.00.Sonntag 5.00 Wecker Taxi zum Bahnhof. Dort sprach uns sofort ein hilfsbereiter Mensch an und teilte uns mit, dass der Zug nach Dehra Dun nicht fährt - wegen eines Bergrutsches. Wir müssten mit dem Taxi zum Bahnhof in Alt Delhi fahren, dort ginge um 7.00 ein Zug. Ich glaubte ihm nicht und ging Richtung Eingang. Aber dort stand schon wieder ein hilfsbereiter Mensch, der die gleiche Geschichte erzählte. Nur übertrieb er etwas, denn er behauptete außerdem, dass wir mit dem Taxi zum Connaught Platz fahren sollten, dort uns den Fahrpreis rückerstatten lassen sollten und dann weiter zum anderen Bahnhof. Das war jetzt doch etwas zu unwahrscheinlich, warum sollte die Fahrpreiserstattung völlig außerhalb des Bahnhofes sein_ Ich entschloß mich, zum Touristenbüro zu gehen und dort nachzufragen. Aber schon vorher kam ein Mann, der kein Schurke ... read more

Our tour started today around 8am, with a walk to the metro station to make the trip to Old Delhi. The metro was like most large cities, but rather neat and clean compared to the rest of Delhi. We were each giving a metro card to use (and return to the guide afterwards) for our trips today. One thing this is different about the Delhi metro is that all trains have 1 or more “women only” cars, usually in the front of the train. Some women did choose to ride in the other cars, but only women in these. My wife said they were usually just as crowded, standing together tightly packed like sardines. The men’s cars were always like that. You learn quickly that you can’t be polite, just push your way on and off. ... read more

We were up early to beat the crowds to Humayun's Tomb. We arrived there at 845am and there was no-one there but the sweepers busily brushing the leaves off the grass. We walked through the western gate and down an avenue of trees through the gardens, the low sun slanting through the trees and the early morning mist. Five years ago we saw the Tomb in cold slanting rain. This time we could appreciate it in all its glory. A beautiful Persian design sculpted in red sandstone and white and black marble seen under the early morning sun under a clear blue sky. It is positioned in the middle of a classic square charbagh garden complete with water running in channels, all reflecting the Moghul's Islamic representation of Paradise on earth. The tomb complex is still ... read more

Geo: 28.6137, 77.1834 Up at 5.40am, breakfast and on the bus at 8am. First stop after tackling the crazy Delhi traffic to India's largest mosque, Jama Masjid. Shoes off, then walk around the mosque, interesting but not spectacular. One of the largest mosques in India & was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan completed in 1656 AD Pickup our shoes then jump in a bike rickshaw thru the lanes & backstreets of Old Delhi & Chandi Chowk market. Absolute mayhem, riding up little alleyways stop, start then weaving in and out traffic. Stopped at market stall where they make Jimble??, a sugary crisp sweet. Little man working over a hot oil drum cooking the dough, right next door to a fireworks stall! Anything could happen. On the way to Ghandih's memorial, past the President's huge house ... read more

Tomorrow I have to be in the lobby of the hotel at 5 a.m. so this will have to be brief...I'll write about the highlight of the day and just briefly mention other places/impressions. The highlight of the day was a visit to the largest Sikh mosque in India. Prior to our visit, our tour guide gave us a very derailed history of the Sikh religion and various practices and philosophies of the Sikhs. At the mosque, the women and men were both required to wear head coverings and we all had to remove our shoes and social. We had some time to sit and experience the inside of the temple where there is ongoing prayer with music and song before going to the soup kitchen. Part of the Sikh religion is that people must care ... read more