At work

One of the inventions of human being is work. You work for somebody else, you work for yourself, or do not work at all (toughest of all). What ever we are doing as work, each one of us think that we have the toughest job in world. However during my travels, I have seen people working equally hard to earn a livelihood. So do not demean yours or others work.

Here is a collection of images of people at work

Delhi – Past, present and future in one city

Mother – “Why don’t you come back and live in your hometown”?

Son – “I love Delhi and living alone”

This conversation from the movie Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara sums up my reason for living in the city too.

My first impression of the city was of a modern metropolis, latest cars, wide roads, swanky airport and a good sense of traffic rules. However living in the city for three years now, I know this is the city where past, present and future co-exist. Here you will find place of worship for all religion, cow and BMW fighting for space on road, horse cart competing with metro. If you are thinking of 2/3 day tour of the city, you will be in missing a lot of action here.

So if you are in the city, how do you experience past, present and future?

Your tour should start with Mehrauli Archaelogical Park (separate post to follow later) and a visit to nearby Qutub complex, garden of five senses is in vicinity too. Then hop on to ruins of Tughlaqabad fort. For a taste of mughal era, must visit places will be Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Kotla Feroz Shah fort in Old Delhi, Humayun’s Tomb and a stroll through streets of Chandni Chowk. If you are a foodie and love meat, don’t forget to indulge yourself in restaurants near Jama Masjid area and near Jamia Milia University in south Delhi.

If religion is your interest, then places to visit will be Akhshardham Temple, Birla Temple, Jama Masjid, Bahai Temple (popularly known as Lotus Temple) and there is also a Buddhist temple in East of Kailash near Sapna theatre.

Want to hang out in a cool place in evening, Try India Gate.

Ok! You haven’t spent enough money in the city and want to go shopping, Connaught Place, Lajpat Nagar central market and Sarojini Nagar Market should be your destination. If you have confidence on your bargaining skills then definitely try the Chor Market near Delhi gate which happens only on Sundays.

Did somebody said I am missing on the glitzy Delhi, Try out the malls, recommended – Select City Walk in Saket and if you want to stretch a little more, drive down to Gurgaon where landscape has only man made construction with no signs of nature.

You might think that you have known Delhi by reading this post, then you are a genius, because I don’t have the audacity to justify 500 years of history in 500 word post.

So what are you waiting for, get a Metro Railway Card and let me hear your experiences.

                                          Wild Buffalo, Delhi Zoo

                                            Rhinoceros, Delhi Zoo

                                          Isa Khan Tomb

                                           Gate, Humayun's Tomb

                                                        Evening, Humayun's Tomb

                                           Sky, Humayun's Tomb

                                          View from minar, Jama Masjid

                                           Humayun's Tomb

                                          Jama Masjid

                                                        Jama Masjid

                                                         Window, Humayun's Tomb

                                                       Tree, Lotus temple

                                           Evening in delhi

 

                                                        Door, Humayun's Tomb

                                          Methods of restoration, Humayun's Tomb

                                                       Sir jo tera chakraye

                                          Lotus temple

                                          Within Humayun's Tomb

                                          Qutub Complex

                                        Purana Qila

                                                        More of Qutub Complex

                                                       Qutub Minar

                                                        India Gate

Agra- It's only about Taj

Wherever you reside in this world, if you have heard of India, you must have heard about this city. Home to ‘Taj Mahal’, white marble mausoleum built by Shahjahan in memory of his wife Mumtaj.

Agra is one of the cities of famed golden triangle in Indian travel circuit, Jaipur and Delhi being the other two.

It will take around 4-5 hours to reach Agra from Delhi by road. But if you are expecting the beauty of Taj being reflected in the city, you would be in for a shock. Apart from the Taj area, most of the city is dusty and chaotic. But most of us don’t care as we are only visitors.

Apart from Taj Mahal, other things to see would be the Red Fort of Agra (I found it more interesting than Red fort of Delhi). There are wells inside the fort, which is said to be entry/exit to tunnels connecting it with Red Fort in Delhi. Then you have Sikandra, which is Emperor Akbar’s mausoleum and houses a huge green stretch with black bucks.

If you have some more time to spare, you can drive to Fatehpur SIkri, around 1-2 hours of drive from Agra. Also Mathura, birth place of lord Krishna is enroute Delhi-Agra.

In winter you can try your bird watching skills at Bharatpur bird sanctuary.