17/6 – we were collected from the hotel around 0830 for our 1st day of touring. There’s 13 of us on tour. Pia (guide -actual name Praveen Paul) chatted as we drove through Delhi.
First stop was Qatab Complex. Shrines, temples and ruins all in city. Started in 13th century many of the ruins are the original buildings. Within this UNESCO complex is the 72mtr Qutb Minar ( Muslim spire) and the never completed Tower of Babel.
Next we moved to Humayun’s Tomb. This is a garden tomb and is a strikingly beautiful predecessor to the Taj Mahal.
Following this we had lunch at a decent restaurant where I had a very nice mushroom risotto. Shane is still not eating after her ‘Delhi belly’ problem. On the drive to the restaurant we sighted the “India Gate”, the Red Fort and several other sights including 3 jets mounted outside of the Indian Air Force HQ. The traffic was horrendous.
We finished lunch & headed to the biggest mosque I have been in. It is Friday (prayer day) & the crowd is milling around because it is also Ramadan. Not surprisingly to us the locals start gathering around us & soon we are hemmed in. Pia disperses the crowd with a burst of local cussing. Took a good pic here of the bulk of our group in their loaned muslim garb.
From here Pia led us down some narrow alleys to see the markets & we returned to the bus by rickshaw. Again the traffic was a shocker (see last two shots below of in front & behind us) but we got some interesting shots from the bus. Notice there’s a butcher there with chicken pieces all over the floor as he chops and the local car mechanics hard at work on the roadside.
Our final port of call was Gandhi’s final resting place before tea at a quirky restaurant. We were back at our hotel by 9pm.
That’s it for tonight. Now I hope I can upload this so you can see it.
Cheers till I next get internet.
Garry