Delhi is the capital city of India, and the second largest by population after Mumbai, around 24 million people.
However that’s not the whole story, since actually, New Delhi is the capital and Delhi is the region. The analogy is London and Greater London I suppose … it gets complicated!
Semantics aside we start at Qutb Minar, site of the first ever Mosque in India, dating back to 1193 in parts. The tower is the tallest minaret built by blocks. Also here is an iron pillar which is much older, yet no-one knows why, where it came from and most significantly why it doesn’t rust, as iron should.
We pass India Gate but can’t get close due to road closures. During the day we pass numerous beautiful roundabouts. Two types of canon contrast the past and the present!
We head to Old Delhi for the Red Fort, a huge Mughal palace dating back to 1673 and designed by Lahori who also designed Taj Mahal. The fort has a long bazaar, originally just for royal retail, but now open to all.
A lot of the décor here is marble with semi-precious stone marquetry. Unfortunately much has been plundered repeatedly by occupying forces. We enjoy walking around this 200+ acre site for a while.
We cross the road, passing some street-food places which Narendra says have appalling hygiene and should be avoided. We meet up with our guide for the next part, a rickshaw tour.
We pass through a market area, then up the Main Street, which incidentally is the extension of the Red Fort’s bazaar.
We park up and walk through a market dedicated to saris, and visit a street which contains a Jain temple. Jainism is new to us, we’ve never come across it and the temple is extremely interesting, and fabulously colourful.
Returning, we peddle (well, are peddled) past some ancient buildings, back around the market and then out into the open road as we go back to the car, quite the harrowing experience!
After lunch at a chicken restaurant we go to the house that Gandhi lived in, and where he was assassinated. If you remember the film, you’ll remember the opening and closing scenes are set here. There’s a lot to digest and we are suitably humbled.
We nip out solo to visit the Sacred Heart Cathedral just round the corner from our hotel, then shower and dress for dinner.
