When I decided to go to India I knew actually nothing about this country. What I knew where only some historical facts from my History lessons at school. I imagined it as a poor country, but with rich cultural heritage. I don’t know why I had such impressions. Maybe they were the results of human talks. But I’m a very curious man and I wanted to see everything with my own eyes and to find any proves of those talks and sayings that form our imagination about this or that thing, though I was rather afraid of that thing that India is a country with great danger for my health. I knew that in India there are lots of illness’s such as cholera, hepatitis, malaria and others. Nevertheless interest and curiosity exceeded my fears.
India is a country that has a very reach cultural heritage and every city in this country has lots of architectural and cultural sights.
Came to India we went to the capital of this country, Delhi. So, my first impressions of this city were awful. The city has amazed me with the energy and vanity of noisy markets. It was the first thing that was evident. Rumble and dirt surrounded us. People ran somewhere and pushed. So, in one word, it was awful! I wanted to reach my silent, quiet and clean room in the hotel as soon as it was possible. Well, after a little rest I started to study the city.
Delhi consists of three municipal corporations (parts of the city): New Delhi, Old Delhi and the military settlement. We began our trip from the Old Delhi where the largest mosque of India is situated. It is Jama Masjid. The building made of white marble and red sandstone simply amazed me. But my attention was caught by the great monument Qutub Minar. The corrosion-proof seven meters tall column stands there. It is the tallest brick minaret in the world, and an important example of Indo-Islamic Architecture. There is a shopping center not far from that place. That centre was with awful narrow small streets that were filled by dealers who offered different goods of precious metals and silk.
Then we went to New Delhi. I was really amazed when I saw such a huge contrast between New and Old parts of the city. Smart hotels, beautiful and rich houses, large and huge shops are situated here. What a great contradiction! Moreover you can go to the central trading square. If you like exotic animals like snakes, you can find them there. You can also watch the people who swallow the fire or swords there. You can meet different exorcists and magicians there too. But it would interest only those people who like such performances. As for me I don’t like such shows at all. Another example of contrast between New and Old parts is that there are lots of different administrative centers, educational and research institutions in New Delhi. But in the old part of the city we saw only poor houses of poor people with exception of the great monuments, of course. However, New Delhi didn’t impress me much.
So, during our trip we wanted to visit the great symbol of tourism in India. We wanted to visit the great monument, the most popular tourist destination. It was, certainly, Taj Mahal. We knew, of course, the sad history of that great monument. So, we tried to come into the mausoleum to have a look at the monument that was decorated with semiprecious stones inserted into a marble. But these were vain attempts, because the entrance for people that aren’t Moslems is forbidden. We were very sorry. Well, during our trip I noticed that bribery is widely spread in India. It may happen so that you have to pay not for good service but for service itself.
The certain amount of money can open some closed doors for you, find the lost documents or keys or other petty things. By the way, a trip to India is not very expensive. Moreover I can tell you that it’s rather cheap. If you live in a cheap hotel and eat only rice daily you have to spend approximately 10$ a day. However if you want to have a certain comfort during your trip or you used to have rooms with some modern conveniences in hotels and if you want to eat the tasty and healthy food you have to spend no more then 30$ a day. I think it’s rather cheap.
Well, leaving India I found that I was full of contradictions. On the one hand I saw magnificent and wonderful architecture, monuments where the century traditions do not fall under the impact of the civilization. I watched the interesting thing when the sacred cows are adjoining to magnificent palaces and skyscrapers. But on the other hand I met with a great disaster. Delhi impressed me much with its dirty and unhygienic state. The great country with great contrasts!
By: Iuri Tarabanov
Posts Tagged ‘Old Delhi’
Delhi Tour – Capital City of India
November 24th, 2009
Second largest metropolis in India, Delhi is embellished with River Yamuna at its periphery and the Aravalli Hills across its west. Being the national capital of the country, Delhi upholds immense political and legislative relevance. The capital city is rich with colourful culture, architecture and human diversity and thus casts a spell over its visitors who enjoy a carefree Delhitour. With a deep rooted history of various Kings and their dynasties the city is embellished with invaluable monuments, numerous landmarks of love, religion and illustrious empires making one’s Delhi tour, India a cherished memory.
Be it the ancient Meena Baazaar at Old Delhi, or the largest mosque of India- Jama Masjid, or even the Victorian style buildings at New Delhi the city is always full of life and colour. The vibrant New Delhi is also known as Lutyen’s Delhi, named after British architect Edwin Lutyens who had designed the famous legislative buildings in Delhi including India’s Parliament House. Situated at the heart of the city it owns an impressive structure of Parliament House, Rajpath and is connected to India Gate hence is a series of elegant Victorian style architecture making one’s New Delhi tour an enlightening experience.
This cosmopolitan city of India is also the head of Indian Government therefore is an important business and tourism destination. Making one’s Delhi tour most comfortable, the city owns a variety of high standard hotels. These Delhi hotels in India are efficiently decked with numerous amenities, overwhelming Indian hospitality and meets the International standards therefore provide most satisfactory stay to the guests.
These hotels also provide its guests with the options of impeccable services for the city tours as well making their city tour most enjoyable. These Delhi hotels, India are categorized into Delhi luxury hotels, business hotels, budget hotels, eco friendly hotels and economy hotels so that the guests could select the one befitting their budgets and preferences.
This tour of the national capital of India is surely one to be remembered for life time the city exhibits a variety of shades of culture and hence showcase a mini India altogether. The tour of the city provides a view of the picturesque tree lined avenues, splendid old architecture, and ancient monuments along with numerous sky high advanced buildings.
Delhi owns almost all the famous, big names of hotel chains under its territory and therefore promises a comfortable and enjoyable experience of one’s Delhi tour. Guests should book any hotel in Delhi and can expect the perfect hospitality from the hotel. These hotels are perfect venue to enjoy the tour of the city providing a peep into the effervescent lifestyles and lively spirit of the life at Delhi.
By: Gajendra Verma
Jama Masjid – Delhi, India
November 17th, 2009
Jama Masjid or Masjid-i-Jahan Numa as in Urdu is one of the largest and oldest mosques in India. This mosque was specially built in 1656 AD on the order of Shah Jahan, the Mughal Emperor who has the famous Taj Mahal to his fame.
A grand and remarkable example of the Mughal architecture, the Jama Masjid has a huge spacious courtyard which can house about twenty five thousand individuals at a time. The mosque outlooks the Red Fort at the east and is situated at the beginning of the busy streets of Chandni Chowk or Old Delhi.
The Masjid-i-Jahan Numa refers to the mosque that commands a view of the entire world. It took a period of six years and about 5000 odd workers to complete this magnificent structure, which includes three gateways, two minarets, and four towers. A wonderful piece of architecture, this mosque is built on a 10-m platform from the ground level and extends along 1200 sq m in area. Open arched arcades cover the west-facing mosque on three sides. Three domes alternately striped in white and black marble form the roof of the 80-m long and 27-m wide mosque. The domes are lined on either side by two huge 41-m tall minarets containing 130 steps. Red sandstone and white marble stripes are present on these minarets. Four similar minarets also adorn the backside of the mosque.
A flight of 39 stairs on the northern side, and 33 stairs on the southern end lead their way into the courtyard. The main gate or the royal entrance lies on the eastern front has a staircase of 35 steps. These stairs are made up of red sandstone, the primary material used in the ancient times. The royal entrance on the east usually remains closed during most of the week. As the name suggests, this entrance was mainly used by the emperors and members of the royal families. Ancient relics of Prophet Muhammad are entrenched in a marble slab and displayed on a high pulpit at the northern gate of the mosque, so as to enable a splendid view for all around. These include the famous Khuran inscribed on deerskin, the prophet’s sandals, his red beard-hair, his sandals, and footprints. Shops and food stalls used to line these steps once upon a time. A poultry bazaar also used to spring up during the evenings. The eastern gate used to therefore buzz with activities.
By: Abhishek Arora
