Day 2: DELHI
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
The alarm has sounded at 6.30, we have to shower and go to the breakfast room of the Godwin Deluxe Hotel where we tried some Indian dishes that we do not know exactly what they are, but that we like and charge us with energy on this first day in India. After half an hour we went down in search of our transport and met "Suku", an employee of Mahendra, Sikh, to whom we tell him the things we want to visit in Delhi: Red Fort, Jama Masjid Mosque, Humayun's Tomb ...
Before we know it, we are on our way to the Old Delhi, where there is less traffic at this time and we will take more time.
We started to really see what we were looking for, that India about which they had spoken so much to us and the one that so many times has appeared in our minds.
Way of the Mosque of Jama Masjid
From the car we see a Delhi Without as much chaos as we expected, not as dirty as they had told us, much brighter than we thought ... maybe it's because we are driving ... but I think not, I think we're going to feel it that way, as we are seeing it now.
Suku leaves the car in the parking lot and we go straight to the Jama Masjid mosque by ourselves, without company and we begin to mix with people.
A good option to begin to know the city and its history is to book a guided tour in Spanish for some of its main attractions or this free tour of Agra Free !.
Jama Masjid Mosque
Upon arrival we live an image that has not been erased from us throughout the day. A child of about 7 or 8 years old falls rolling in front of us down the stairs of the Jama Masjid Mosque. It sounded like a watermelon ... we could not contain the scream, but despite his crying, after a while, we could see that it was fine.
After this and even with a heavy heart, we have climbed the stairs that have taken us to the entrance of the Jama Masjid Mosque, the biggest the India.
There they have seen us as we kept one of the cameras in the backpack and although we have said that we were not going to use it, we have not been free to pay 200 rupees for each camera.
A part they have put a kind of robe on me and a foulard to Roger to cover us, who have told us at all times that they were free ... see you at the exit! 🙂
We do not take off our shoes and we find the first wonder of today ...
Jama Masjid Mosque
More practical information to prepare your trip to India
- 10 essential places to visit in India
- 10 essential places to see in New Delhi
- 10 essential tips for traveling to India
- The best travel insurance for India
- The best free tours in Delhi for free in Spanish
Jama Masjid Mosque
Suddenly we felt observed, as we did last year in Prambanan and we realized that we were taking pictures. And after this, what was inevitable has already happened ... people have come to take pictures with us.
So we have been in a good time, in a hurry without wanting to say that they left us, until we have been able to make a dent and leave to continue visiting what we had left.
Colors in the Jama Masjid Mosque
Stunning images in the Jama Masjid Mosque
The floor of the the Jama Masjid Mosque It starts to burn more and more, so we don't hesitate to put on some socks that we carry in our backpack.
With this we managed to alleviate a little "burns" and return to the task of taking photos.
Jama Masjid Mosque
Jama Masjid Mosque
Reflections in the Jama Masjid Mosque
When we are about to leave the Jama Masjid Mosque We found what we had read so many times, the desire of the children to be photographed. So we take the opportunity to make friends in India…
Farewell to the Jama Masjid Mosque
When leaving in search of Suku to go now to the Red Fort of Delhi, the man with the tickets tells us to give them back. We had already read that this they do a lot to keep the money, so without thinking twice, we tell him with smiles that if he had only charged us a camera, we would have done him the favor of giving it back, but since he didn't want to ... we wore memories !! Long live the picaresque!
We keep walking and increasingly notice the heat. Soon we will have to buy water, because the one we brought has become hot.
Streets around the Jama Masjid Mosque
We are just over 1 kilometer from Red Fort of Delhi and we walk to the entrance.
It's a little after 9 in the morning and at least we are at 35 degrees. We don't even want to think about how we will pass it when noon arrives!
Better not even think about it and keep impressing ourselves with the things we are seeing 🙂
Red Fort
We arrive at the entrance of Red Fort and we asked if the student card serves, we had read that in many monuments it was worth it, but nothing ... it is seen that here it will not serve us.
So we pay 250 rupees per person and with our tickets so happy that we leave.
Here we are not charged for the camera ... so we will take advantage!
We have already decided that with the heat that it does, we will go looking for shadows and resting, otherwise this could become a martyrdom and it is what we least want.
And so we do, we walk the entire enclosure of the Fort quietly, resting on each bench in the shade we find and enjoying the views.
Red Fort
Diwan-I-Am details
The views, wherever you look, are fantastic. And we are lucky that today there is a spectacular sky and light. Although it is hot you have to look at the positive side.
Red Fort
More friends ... now at Red Fort
After almost an hour visiting the Fort, we decided that it is time to leave and get in the direction of the parking lot where Suku awaits us to go to the next destination today ...
Chatta Chowk. Red Fort
We arrive at the parking lot and after buying a couple of waters, we go to Raj Ghat Delhi, where we find a simple platform that indicates the place where Gandhi was cremated. An interesting option to get to know this place and your residence is to book this visit with a guide in Spanish.
There they also make us take off our shoes and although the place requires a little more time, the floor is burning and we cannot stay as long as we would have liked.
Raj Ghat
"My life is my message." Raj Ghat
We have already said that Suku is Sikh, so when we meet again he proposes to go to Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, one of the Sikh temples in Delhi.
It was one of the visits we had planned, so we do not doubt it and more when he tells us that he will come with us and show us some places that are not normally seen.
We leave the car in the parking lot, here totally free, as well as food, accommodation ... etc.
Book the best rated tours and excursions in Delhi from Spanish by travelers:
- Guided tour of Delhi in Spanish
- Bollywood show at the Kingdom of Dreams
- Excursion to the Taj Mahal
- Tour of Lodhi Gardens and Akshardham Temple
- Gandhi tour of Delhi- Many more excursions and tours here
First of all it takes us to the "tourists" site, where they give us a brochure is Castilian explaining Sikkhism.
Then they make us barefoot and cover our heads and so we will visit the temple.
Gurdwara Bangla Sahib
We went inside and we sat for a while sitting on the floor, listening to the chanting prayers that sing 3 Sikhs.
We spend time flying, when Suku tells us that we can go see the kitchen and dining room.
While he explains things to us about this religion, which, explained by him, take on the meaning that written words do not have at some time.
Pool in Gurdwara Bangla Sahib
Gurdwara Bangla Sahib
From here, Suku says that he will take us with the car to the area of the president's house, so that we can see it from outside, just like the Ministries that are adjacent.
So there we go with the car to cool off for a while with the air conditioning !!
President's House
Before eating we go to the last morning visit of our trip to india, which is one of the most eagerly awaited, Humayun's Tomb of Delhi.
We have seen photos and perhaps because of the resemblance to Taj Mahaj, we really want to see her.
First of all we have to get the tickets and here as in the Red Fort, they charge us 250 rupees per person.
The truth is that it does not hurt to pay them, but for the prices that are here, we must recognize that they pass with the entrances to the monuments.
And more when we see on the poster that locals pay 10 rupees ...
Humayun's Tomb
As we move forward, our eyes open more and we forget even the heat we are going through.
Before us is one of the most beautiful monuments we have seen.
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At this point we stop at one of the benches where the shadow is and take the opportunity to just rest and see the "life pass" while we cool off.
Given the views we have, we have only to give up ...
Humayun's Tomb
After a good while, we go into what is Humayun's Tomb itself and discover an architecture that marvels us more and more.
Humayun's Tomb
There are a few minutes to 2 in the afternoon and although the heat has made us lose our appetite a little, more out of necessity than by desire, we set off to go to look for Suku to take us to eat at some Delhi restaurant.
Meditating on Humayun's Tomb
Humayun's Tomb
We ask you to recommend a restaurant and take us to Chimney, at first it does not seem entirely suitable for us to be the first meal we will do ... more than anything for not getting bad on the first day, not scrupulous ... but after eating, we have to say it has been great !! Great food and everything very clean. And spicy !! Not too much, but we have noticed.
Chimney restaurant in Delhi
For 590 rupees we have eaten 2 garlic nan, a chiken tikka, a chiken garlic, some potatoes with cumin and 2 cokes.
We can not ask for more! And that they have charged us a water that we have not asked for ... but we did not feel like discussing and we have passed :))
Our first meal in Delhi
It's a little after 3 and we tell Suku to approach us to the Qutb Minar Complex of Delhi.
It takes us a little less than 20 minutes to arrive and once there he tells us that it is only the tower we are seeing from outside.
It tells us that the entrance is 250 rupees and person and we will not see more than that.
And without knowing if we have done well or badly, we listen to him and after taking the photo of rigor, we leave without entering ...
In this case we have felt "tourists in a hurry" and we have not liked it very much.
Although the truth is that on the other hand, with the heat that is falling, we almost have to thank you for making that comment ... why imagine there without shadows at 3 in the afternoon I don't feel like it too much!
Autorickshaw in the surroundings of Qutb Minar
Qutb Minar
And already at this time of the afternoon and very tired of the first full day in India Y Delhi, mixing the heat, the jetlaj and having slept 5 hours in 2 days, we propose to Suku to take us to the last visit today: The Lotus Temple.
It did not take long to arrive and after passing the entrance, which is free, and passing the detector arches, like most monuments we have been to, we find a giant lotus flower.
Lotus temple
We are moving forward little by little and we find a huge queue of people waiting to enter.
There is not a shadow in the surroundings and they make you take off your shoes almost 500 meters from the entrance.
I'm so sorry, but I don't think I can stand without shoes on a firm foot on that burning ground !!
So we leave the visit for the last day of our trip to india, that after today we have been free of visits to monuments and we will have it to do what we want.
We take the last picture and say goodbye with a half smile for not being able to enter.
Lotus temple
Typical Bali flower that we are at the exit of the Lotus Temple
From here we go to the hotel of Delhi to rest for a while and about 6 o'clock we left, this time with no one to take us, to Main Bazar.
Here we discover a Delhi with more people, more chaotic, more noisy, but not at all overwhelming as we imagined.
We thought that the first day would be adaptation and that it would cost us, but now, after 2 hours walking around the city of Delhi, we can say very loudly that we like it very much !!
Main Bazaar
We will have dinner at the Metropolis, a restaurant recommended in the guide of India and in the forums at the end of Main Bazaar.
There we eat 2 pasta dishes, a cheese naan, a cocacola and a beer (which was at least one liter !!) for 1300 rupees.
A little expensive, but hey, is what you want to eat pasta !! :))
From here we have returned to the Godwin Deluxe Hotel, walking with the night closed and wrapping ourselves again in this chaos that we are so pleased with.
Tomorrow we leave Delhi and continue our trip to india…
Day 3DELHI - MANDAWA
