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| Delhi
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Our trip began and ended in Delhi, the capitol of India. For the first three weeks Heidi and I traveled alone, backpacking through the country. The final week was spent traveling with my entire family through Rajasthan. Delhi was crowded, polluted and congested. It's fairly chilly in Delhi during the winter, and the smell of smoke hung in the air from all the fires built for warmth. It's often foggy in the morning and night and usually the sun never quite makes it through the smoke and haze. Huge monuments and temples lay scattered throughout the city. Delhi is actually made up of two parts: old Delhi and New Delhi. Most of New Delhi was built when the British ruled India, it has wide boulevards and many monuments. My parents, along with most the the diplomats, live in New Delhi. In old Delhi the streets are narrower and more crowded. Most of the city's population lives in this part of the city. The Red Fort, spice market, and chili market are just some of the attractions here. There is also a lot of good shopping in both parts of Delhi. Connaught Place is a center of commerce in New Delhi. Stores, banks, businesses, and hotels are packed into this large area of concentric traffic circles. About 10 kilometers south of Delhi is Qatab Minar. The complex was built during the Mughal Dynasty and contains a huge tower started by the first Muslim emporer in 1193. The complex is interesting because of the mixture of Hindu and Muslim architecture. Usually the Muslim's would completely destroy any Hindi buildings before beginning construction. In the courtyard is a 2000-year old iron pillar about 22 feet high. The iron in it is reported to be so pure that it has never rusted. Legend has it that if you stand with your back to the pillar and can encircle your arms around it, your wish will come true. Back to the top |
