Pretty Simply Normal: My India

Namaste! Recently I went to India with two friends RMN & DFH, and it was a very memorable eleven days there for us. We stayed with a friend DNA in New Delhi, and from here also visited Agra and Jaipur. As first time visitors to 'incredible !ndia', the 'golden triangle' of these three cities is a must.

We were most fortunate that DNA had both the services of a driver and a housekeeper. So our stay in Delhi was most comfortable. We had the opportunity to explore Delhi, both Old and New. Unfortunately, the fourth day into our trip, my camera failed to function properly, overexposing any photos taken. So from then on I had to rely on my handphone camera and my friends' generosity to share their photos!

Day One: Monday 31 October 2011

We touchdown early at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the afternoon, our kind host DNA waiting for us there. The airport is new, built in time for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Delhi, site of more than a dozen cities since ancient times, is now home to over 22 million people. But as DNA assured us, and I rephrase, 'Delhi is chaos, but it works'.

The Indira Gandhi International Airport (CNB 2011)

Our first glimpse of the ubiquitous yellow-green auto-rickshaw
of Delhi (CNB 2011)

When we reached DNA's place, she had lunch delivered to us in a very pretty carrier/container. And the lamb biryani inside was just heavenly. For dessert, we had an Indian sweet, soan papdi. Our first taste of India? Incredible!

Biryani delivery in a pretty carrier (CNB 2011)

Delicious lamb biryani (CNB 2011)

Soan papdi, compliments of Babu (CNB 2011)

On our first evening in Delhi, DNA took us to India Gate, a 42 metre/138 ft high archway built in 1931 by the British to honour Indian soldiers who died during World War I. An eternal flame also burns here for the unknown soldier. The area around India Gate along Rajpath is very much alive at sunset because the locals with their families gather here to enjoy the wide open spaces.

The India Gate (CNB 2011)

Instant photo of us in a different light literally,
L-R: DFH, DNA, me & RMN (Delhi-wallah photographer 2011)

Day Two: Tuesday 1 November 2011

India has 16 cultural sites, 5 natural sites, and 1 industrial site inscribed on the World Heritage list (Archeological Survey of India). The first we visited in Delhi, was the Qutb Minar and its adjoining monuments. The Qutb complex consists of the Qutb Minar, Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, Iron Pillar, Screen, Alai Darwaza, Imam Zamin's Tomb, Alauddin's Tomb & Madrasa, Iltutmish's Tomb and Alai Minar. Qutbuddin Aibak, the first Muslim Sultan of Delhi, built the mosque and tower in 1199, to celebrate the victory of Islam in India. Qutb Minar is at 72.5 metres, the highest stone tower in India. (Note: Shamsuddin Iltutmish was the third Sultan in 1210, and Alauddin Khalji the 13th in 1296).

The Qutb complex garden & imposing Qutb Minar
(RMN 2011)

The Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque (CNB 2011)

The cloisters of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque,
the pillars made of materials from ransacked temples (CNB 2011)

At the Qutb Minar base (DFH 2011)

The Qutb Minar soaring at 72.5 metres. Suicidal jumps
off the tower have caused it to be closed since the 1980s
(CNB 2011)

Detail of the Screen of Qutbuddin Aibak (CNB 2011)

The Iron Pillar in front of the Screen. The IP has not rusted in
1600 years (CNB 2011)

At the Tomb of Iltutmish (DFH 2011)

Local Bollywood wannabes posing at the Madrasa
of Alauddin Khalji (CNB 2011)

With local tourists at the Qutb complex. Locals pay only 10 rupees while foreigners
pay 250/300 rupees for entrance into the Indian World Heritage sites, excluding the
Taj Mahal where the cost is 750 rupees for foreigners (RMN 2011)

The garden seen through the Alai Darwaza/South
Gateway (CNB 2011)

Detail including jali screen on the Alai Darwaza
(CNB 2011)

Goofing around in front of the incompleted/abandoned Alai Minar -
Alauddin Khalji's ambitious project to build a tower bigger
and taller than the Qutb Minar (DFH 2011)

For lunch we went to the swanky mall in Saket, the Select Citywalk for a look-see. But we chose to eat at the famous Karim's, at its outlet in the DFL Place Food Chowk.

The Select Citywalk mall, just like any other mall! (CNB 2011)

Okay, a bit different. They have more shops selling saris &
shalwar kameez (CNB 2011)

Karim's Lamb biryani at the Food Chowk, DFL Place (CNB 2011)

In the evening, we went to the Khan Market, where I bought a shalwar kameez (of Ajrakh traditional block printing) from FabIndia, and a novel Dahanu Road by Anosh Irani from the bookstore of Bahri Sons, a bookplace I just had to visit. Then DNA's dinner treat for us and a friend DAW, was at the Chicken Inn, Pandara Road. The menu of tandoori chicken, mutton kashmiri, shahi kurma with nan and rice was very good. Dessert was kulfi/ice cream and my favourite, gulab jamun, delish!