We had two days in New Delhi before taking the train north. We hit as many of the tourist highlights as possible. We had a driver to facilitate this process, as getting around Delhi proved to be incredibly difficult. (Getting the driver is part of a longer story that we may write once we see how it plays out.)
First we visited Humayun's Tomb, built in the 1500s as a mausoleum for the Mughal Emperor Humayun. The layout of the complex follows the strict rules of Islamic geometry, including the gardens meant to portray heaven. I enjoyed viewing the architecture and shapes, as they are so different from what we have seen in our travels so far.
Nearby was Isa Khan's tomb. Y'all can just cremate me.
The next day (February 19) we got an early start in order to visit the Red Fort, built around 1650. First we walked through the covered bazaar Chatta Chowk (which once sold silks to the nobility) then the Elephant gate Hathi Pol (where one dismounted from one's elephant our of respect), then the public audience hall Diwan-i-Am and private audience hall Diwan-i-Khas, and the Pearl Mosque, Moti Masjid.
Next we visited the Raj Ghat, a memorial to marking the spot where Gandhi was cremated after being assassinated in 1948.
In the afternoon, we spent time at the National Museum, taking in centuries of Indian art while listening to explanations of history and mythology on an audio guide.
Our last stop was the Baha'i House of Worship, built in the late 1980s, and styled after a lotus flower. The information center informed us that this spot is visited by as many people as the Taj Mahal.
There seem to be a lot of other great things to do in Delhi, but we were out of time!
First we visited Humayun's Tomb, built in the 1500s as a mausoleum for the Mughal Emperor Humayun. The layout of the complex follows the strict rules of Islamic geometry, including the gardens meant to portray heaven. I enjoyed viewing the architecture and shapes, as they are so different from what we have seen in our travels so far.
Nearby was Isa Khan's tomb. Y'all can just cremate me.
The next day (February 19) we got an early start in order to visit the Red Fort, built around 1650. First we walked through the covered bazaar Chatta Chowk (which once sold silks to the nobility) then the Elephant gate Hathi Pol (where one dismounted from one's elephant our of respect), then the public audience hall Diwan-i-Am and private audience hall Diwan-i-Khas, and the Pearl Mosque, Moti Masjid.
Next we visited the Raj Ghat, a memorial to marking the spot where Gandhi was cremated after being assassinated in 1948.
In the afternoon, we spent time at the National Museum, taking in centuries of Indian art while listening to explanations of history and mythology on an audio guide.
Our last stop was the Baha'i House of Worship, built in the late 1980s, and styled after a lotus flower. The information center informed us that this spot is visited by as many people as the Taj Mahal.
The next morning we took the train from New Delhi to Amritsar, in the northwest near the border with Pakistan.
There seem to be a lot of other great things to do in Delhi, but we were out of time!
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