Hi All
We're back in India again but just for a week this time. It may just be wishful thinking but during our flight from Nepal we think we caught a glimpse of Mt. Everest as we flew over the impressive Himalayan Mountain range.
(Oldies don't forget to CLICK THE ARROWS to scroll through each set of photos!)
Our time in Delhi has been truly memorable. We have tried to avoid being cheesy so far on this blog but meeting with friends and enjoying Diwali in India has been an experience of a lifetime.
Delhi, the capital city, is vastly different to anywhere else we have been in India. The city centre itself is exceptionally modern with a metro network that rivals the tube! It is a less metropolitan area compared to Mumbai and houses more government buildings compared to the county’s financial centre.
We spent a hectic few days visiting as many sights as possible:
Qutb Minar, built by the first Muslim sultan, was a phenomenal sight of impressive ruins inscribed with passages from the Quran. The complex included a 25 story tall victory tower that reminded Ross of the Lord of the Rings.
A visit to Lodi Gardens felt like we had stepped into a London park. The green lawns were packed with families enjoying picnics and playing games; the only difference was the towering tombs of Mughal leaders.
The Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque was yet another impressive sandstone structure surrounded by bustling markets.
We had a brilliant time exploring the crowded Chandni Chowk markets where Ross picked up a jazzy shirt (fed up of having only one) and Danielle brought the fabric for a traditional outfit which we took to a tailor to get made in time for Diwali.
The Red Fort stood majestically creating an image of its past grandeur.
Humayun's Tomb was a splendour of Islamic architecture and is thought to have inspired the Taj Mahal which it predates by 60 years.
Our trip to Delhi was completed with a visit to India Gate which shone in the colours of the Indian flag for Diwali.
During our time travelling across India we got to know people in Mumbai, Agra and Jaipur - all who by coincidence live in Delhi. They invited us to spend time with them, took us for dinner, showed us local sights and welcomed us to their homes. We feel truly privileged to have seen some of real India with local friends. We enjoyed an amazing fine dining experience in a Parsis restaurant - the fish in banana leaves and mutton dhansak were particularly delicious! The following night, another friend took us to on a food tour of central Delhi. We visited his father’s favourite restaurant, followed by a delicious sweet shop, then onto an ice-cream parlour and ending in a specialist tea-shop.
Diwali was the most incredible experience we have had while travelling. We were so lucky to be invited to stay with our friends for a couple of nights. While our first day was spent enjoying great food and drinks in quirky bars, our second was spent more traditionally. On the morning of Diwali we began our day with a home cooked Indian breakfast of poha and chai before changing into traditional dress. Together we prepared the house for the ‘Festival of Lights’ by placing fairy lights around the house and oil candles in each room to ensure that no corner of the house remained in darkness. We were welcomed to join in puja prayers to the gods Lakshmi and Ganesh which was a wonderful experience to be a part of. Our friends kindly gifted us with yummy biscuits and a beautiful peacock scarf; while we took Indian sweets and flowers to thank them for having us. We spent the evening enjoying a feast of incredible home cooked food at our friend’s mother’s house. Again we were welcomed into their prayers and given tilaka (the red mark placed on the forehead) before reviving surprise gifts. Our bronze statue of Lakshmi (representing wealth and prosperity) and Ganesh (representing good fortune and new beginnings) will remind us of this special time. We felt sad to leave after such a wonderful time but have made friends we hope will stay in contact for years to come and will visit us when we return home.
Continue to send us emails and messages as we love hearing from you all at home. Check out our new photo album feature in the top right hand corner of the home page, we are collating all our blog photos in one album for each country.
Love R and D xx
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