New Delhi, Day 2
The next day then we woke up early in the morning as there was still a lot to see and a lack of time. I have slept well which is no wonder after spending the whole last day with sightseeing and Karolina didn’t complain about a prospective snoring of my part. Hence, day two could start. After having had breakfast in our hotel again,
we quit for Old Delhi, crossing again this great messy area called Paharganj. Arrived in Old Delhi, we first paid a visit to Jama Masjid, India’s biggest mosque. I was impressed by its size and beauty as well. Build out of red and white sandstone, it can house at about 50.000 believers at the most including the whole courtyard. We were roaming around and have been asked whether it would be allowed to take a snap of us or in particular Karolina.
We refused each time but have been bothered again and again by the same people who either didn’t understand the meaning of the word “no” or were deaf. So what, the choice is yours. As for us, we took a cycle rickshaw to Red Fort. Red Fort has been a resort hundreds of years ago in case of wars. One the way to Red Fort I say another cycle rickshaw loaded with to huge carpets. The driver had to make a lot of efforts to move on – incredible India. Red Fort was build completely out of red sandstone. It actually comprises several buildings including temples, tombs and so on. No wonder, as it had to be used as a town itself in principle. When we saw hundreds
of people standing in line waiting for admission, we expected to wait for hours. But as we had to pay a higher entrance fee than Indians it has been allowed to us to overtake all the others. We hung about at Red Fort for almost two hours before we moved on to Raj Ghat where Mahatma Ghandi was burnt after his death. Unfortunately, the gate was closed, so we couldn’t visit the place. The only this we could do, was to behold the beautiful green garden of Raj Ghat and to cross the street and pay a visit to the Gandhi museum on the opposite side. It was rather interesting; especially the chronicle of his life represented in pictures is recommendable. As we had covered the most important monuments in Delhi, we decided to take a rickshaw to Connaught Place, where we wanted to have lunch. After a lot of bargaining, we finally found a rickshaw driver asking for a reasonable fare. “It was the last time we took a cycle rickshaw”, I promised myself. I don’t know why but when these partly old cycle rickshaw drivers convey me and Karolina, I always had the impression that we will be the last customer; they had to strain themselves and it was a wonder they survived. After all, Karolina and I weigh at about 150 kilos.
I pitied them, these poor guys. But however, it may be better to go by cycle rickshaw, so that they earn at least some bugs. The late afternoon and the evening then we spent with shopping again. Here and there we bought some cheap gifts like jewellery, shirts and blankets and so on. After a late dinner including a bottle of King Fisher bear. This had to be hidden as it is forbidden to drink in New Delhi even though we have been in a restaurant. Hence, the waiter wrapped some sheets of newspaper around the bottles; smart isn’t it? Since we had to wake up early the next morning in order to get our train to Agra, we went to bed early and dreamt of the Taj Mahal which we would see the following day and which as for me, I will behold for hours, I thought.
we quit for Old Delhi, crossing again this great messy area called Paharganj. Arrived in Old Delhi, we first paid a visit to Jama Masjid, India’s biggest mosque. I was impressed by its size and beauty as well. Build out of red and white sandstone, it can house at about 50.000 believers at the most including the whole courtyard. We were roaming around and have been asked whether it would be allowed to take a snap of us or in particular Karolina.
We refused each time but have been bothered again and again by the same people who either didn’t understand the meaning of the word “no” or were deaf. So what, the choice is yours. As for us, we took a cycle rickshaw to Red Fort. Red Fort has been a resort hundreds of years ago in case of wars. One the way to Red Fort I say another cycle rickshaw loaded with to huge carpets. The driver had to make a lot of efforts to move on – incredible India. Red Fort was build completely out of red sandstone. It actually comprises several buildings including temples, tombs and so on. No wonder, as it had to be used as a town itself in principle. When we saw hundreds
of people standing in line waiting for admission, we expected to wait for hours. But as we had to pay a higher entrance fee than Indians it has been allowed to us to overtake all the others. We hung about at Red Fort for almost two hours before we moved on to Raj Ghat where Mahatma Ghandi was burnt after his death. Unfortunately, the gate was closed, so we couldn’t visit the place. The only this we could do, was to behold the beautiful green garden of Raj Ghat and to cross the street and pay a visit to the Gandhi museum on the opposite side. It was rather interesting; especially the chronicle of his life represented in pictures is recommendable. As we had covered the most important monuments in Delhi, we decided to take a rickshaw to Connaught Place, where we wanted to have lunch. After a lot of bargaining, we finally found a rickshaw driver asking for a reasonable fare. “It was the last time we took a cycle rickshaw”, I promised myself. I don’t know why but when these partly old cycle rickshaw drivers convey me and Karolina, I always had the impression that we will be the last customer; they had to strain themselves and it was a wonder they survived. After all, Karolina and I weigh at about 150 kilos.
I pitied them, these poor guys. But however, it may be better to go by cycle rickshaw, so that they earn at least some bugs. The late afternoon and the evening then we spent with shopping again. Here and there we bought some cheap gifts like jewellery, shirts and blankets and so on. After a late dinner including a bottle of King Fisher bear. This had to be hidden as it is forbidden to drink in New Delhi even though we have been in a restaurant. Hence, the waiter wrapped some sheets of newspaper around the bottles; smart isn’t it? Since we had to wake up early the next morning in order to get our train to Agra, we went to bed early and dreamt of the Taj Mahal which we would see the following day and which as for me, I will behold for hours, I thought.
posted by Thorsten at 8:55 AM
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