Delhi, India’s capital, is one of the country’s most cosmopolitan and historical cities. The first day off the train, I did little more than lounge around the hostel and eat a delicious butter chicken at Moti Mahal, a famous restaurant in Delhi. That night, the father of a friend from university in England picked me up and I stayed the rest of my nights in Delhi with him.
The next day, I visited the Red Fort, constructed during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, a prolific builder. Visitors first see the enormous red sandstone walls.
The Lahore Gate is today the main entrance, and still intimidates visitors as it did centuries ago.
Inside the enclosure is the Emperor’s palace complex. These buildings are often built of more expensive marble instead of sandstone and feature intricate detailing.
Near the Red Fort and also built by Shah Jahan is the Jamma Masjid (Mosque). It features a similar combination of red sandstone and white marble.
The next day, my last in Delhi, was shortened by a surprise rainstorm. My photos of New Delhi, designed by the British architect Lutyens, don’t do the buildings justice. In the foreground below is the Jaipur Column, and in the background in Rashtrapati Bhavan, formerly known as the Viceroy’s House. The former commemorates the transfer of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi during the British Raj, and the second is now the residence of the Prime Minister of India.
Later in the day, I visited the Qutb Minar, the tallest brick minaret in the world. It is an impressive sight, near the approach path for Delhi’s main airport.
The next morning, my train to Agra left at 6am. On to see one of the highlights of a visit to India – the Taj Mahal.
