Aladdin's adventure in New Delhi

Meruka India Tourism Service
India Wildlife and Medieval Tour for Mr. Aladdin
Mumbai – Rajkot - Sasan Gir – Alang - Ahmedabad – Delhi – Corbett – Delhi - Neemrana – Jaipur - Ranthambhore – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra – Delhi - Bandhavgarh – Kanha – Pench – Nagpur – Mumbai

34 Nights – 35 Days
Cut short to 30 days due to VISA issues


Day 19: Delhi:
After breakfast, take sightseeing to explore the best tourist attractions of New Delhi including President House (Rashtrapati Bhawan), the regal residence of British rulers; a palace built for British Viceroys.

India gate; built to honour and pay a tribute to the Indian soldiers who sacrificed themselves during the Afghan war, then visit Birla Mandir (Laxmi Narayan Temple) built by the Birla family.

Humayun’s Tomb, lotus shaped Bhai’s Temple, Qutub Minar; built by Qutub-ud-din Aibek of the Slave Dynasty. In the evening witness the Light and Sound show at Red fort. The show projects splendid history of 5000 years old city, a truly memorable experience. Later return to the hotel for overnight stay.


Saturday 23rd of January 2016 and I was dead tired when my alarm went off at 6 thirty. I could really use some sleep now and I made a mental note to go to bed early tonight. I called room Aladdin's adventure in New Delhiservice and I asked for a pot of tea.

Time was kind of quick and it was soon 9 o'clock and time to go meet the Driver. I told the driver that I wanted the speed tour again and he was not surprised.

He told me that we were going to see the Qutub Minar and I checked the itinerary from Meruka India Tourism Service and there was the Qutub Minar. I had no idea what it was but my driver mustered all his English and he told me it was a high building.

I told him that we would only pass by and then drive to the Lotus Temple because this was something I wanted to see.

And WE HAVE TO GO TO the Connaught Place and the Main Bazar Road. Not on Meruka India Tourism Service's itinerary. But this is the two places I want to see together with the Lotus temple.

1) President House (Rashtrapati Bhawan)
2) India gate
4) Birla Mandir
5) Humayun’s Tomb
6) Lotus shaped Bhai’s Temple
7) Qutub Minar
8) Light and Sound show at Red fort
9) Connaught Place*
10) Main Bazar Road*

* 9 and 10 added by me because I want to see these places as I spent time here back in the 80's and 90's


I just want to see if I recognise anything from back when I stayed at the Main Bazar Road 25 years ago last time. And the other places, seriously, do you see more of a building because you spend hours at the place? Of course you do. But for me it is enough to see the place, no need to study each brick.

There are of course sites that require longer time. Anyway, my driver pointed to the left and he told me that we passed the Qutub Minar and I asked him to slow down.

Qutub Minar
Qutub Minar

at 120 meters, is the tallest brick minaret in the world, and the second tallest minar in India after Fateh Burj at Mohali. Qutub Minar, along with the ancient and medieval monuments surrounding it, form the Qutb Complex, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The tower is located in the Mehrauli area of Delhi, India.

Made of red sandstone and marble, Qutub Minar is a 73-meter tall tapering tower with a diameter measuring 14.32 meters at the base and 2.75 meters at the peak. Inside the tower, a circular staircase with 379 steps leads to the top.

In 1200 CE, Qutub-ud-Din Aibak, the founder of the Delhi Sultanate started construction of the Qutub Minar. In 1220, Aibak's successor and son-in-law Iltutmish added three storeys to the tower. In 1369, lightning struck the top storey, destroying it completely and Firoz Shah Tughlaq carried out restoration work replacing the damaged storey with two new storeys every year, made of red sandstone and white marble.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Qutub Minar

Qutub Minar
Pictures by Aladdin

I saw the tower and I was happy. No need to get out of the car and we can finish the itinerary list without having to spend the whole day. Next stop the Lotus shaped Bhai’s Temple

1) President House (Rashtrapati Bhawan) I cancel this one
2) India gate
4) Birla Mandir Not interested
5) Humayun’s Tomb
6) Lotus shaped Bhai’s Temple
7) Qutub Minar Completed
8) Light and Sound show at Red fort I don't want to go back to Old Delhi
9) Connaught Place*
10) Main Bazar Road*

* 9 and 10 added by me because I want to see these places as I spent time here back in the 80's and 90's


Yeah, why bother coming to India if you don't want to spend time at the sites. I'm here for safari and of course, I would like to get off to walk around the sites. Easy to spend hours at Aladdin's adventure in New Delhievery place.

But the noise and hassle makes me stay in the car. India has become much better, but there are still some annoyance. But the noise have not become any better.

Salesmen and beggars (it has become much much better) and this is something you want to do when you are young. Not when you are hundreds of years old. And I want to do this as quickly as possible as the traffic is horrendous. So I do the sightseeing from the comfort in the car.

The traffic had been light up until now but we were soon running in to heavy traffic on the way to the Lotus shaped Bhai’s Temple and that's even though no animal driven vehicles are allowed on the road. I Aladdin's adventure in New Delhiwas looking ahead and the road was jammed for as long as I could see.

The traffic was slow, very slow and this isn't something we have time for as I had planned to get out of the car to go see the Lotus shaped Bhai’s Temple.

I had never see the Lotus Temple before. I had seen some of the other places before. And even if I had not seen them I had seen plenty red stone and marble buildings in India before. Anyway, we arrived to the Lotus Temple and I got out of the car. I told the driver that I would be back in 30 minutes or so.

Lotus shaped Bhai’s Temple
The Lotus Temple,

located in New Delhi, India, is a Bahá'í House of Worship completed in 1986. Notable for its flowerlike shape, it serves as the Mother Temple of the Indian subcontinent and has become a prominent attraction in the city. The Lotus Temple has won numerous architectural awards and been featured in hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles.

Like all other Bahá'í Houses of Worship, the Lotus Temple is open to all, regardless of religion, or any other distinction, as emphasized in Bahá'í texts. The Bahá'í laws emphasize that the spirit of the House of Worship be that it is a gathering place where people of all religions may worship God without denominational restrictions.

The Bahá'í laws also stipulate that not only the holy scriptures of the Bahá'í Faith but also those of other religions can be read and/or chanted inside the House of Worship regardless of language; while readings and prayers can be set to music by choirs, no musical instruments can be played inside. Furthermore, no sermons can be delivered, and there can be no ritualistic ceremonies practised.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Lotus shaped Bhai’s Temple
Many tourists at the Lotus shaped Bhai’s Temple

Lotus shaped Bhai’s Temple
Lotus shaped Bhai’s Temple

Lotus shaped Bhai’s Temple
Lotus shaped Bhai’s Temple

Black Kite, Milvus migrans
Black Kite

Black Kite, Milvus migrans
Black Kite

Black Kite, Milvus migrans
Black Kite

Black Kite, Milvus migrans
Black Kite

Black Kite, Milvus migrans
Black Kite

Black Kite, Milvus migrans
Black Kite

Black Kite, Milvus migrans
Black Kite

Black Kite, Milvus migrans
Black Kite

Black Kite, Milvus migrans
Black Kite

Black Kite, Milvus migrans
Black Kite

Black Kite, Milvus migrans
Black Kite

Black Kite, Milvus migrans
Black Kite

Black Kite, Milvus migrans
Black Kite

Black Kite, Milvus migrans
Black Kite

Lotus shaped Bhai’s Temple
Lotus shaped Bhai’s Temple
Pictures by Aladdin

The Lotus Temple was an interesting building, at least from a distance. I was halfway to the building when I got hold up by all the Black Kites in the huge garden on the way to the Lotus Temple. And I was not interested in going inside the Lotus Temple, the exterior was the interesting thing to see.

And it was fun to watch the Black Kites and I forgot the time and I had to dash back to the car. I could easily have spent another hour watching the birds in the park, but no time and we had to leave. And as I had promised my driver that he could go home to Jaipur I wanted to avoid being late so he could get back home in a good time.

1) President House (Rashtrapati Bhawan) I cancel this one
2) India gate
4) Birla Mandir Not interested
5) Humayun’s Tomb
6) Lotus shaped Bhai’s Temple Completed
7) Qutub Minar Completed
8) Light and Sound show at Red fort I don't want to go back to Old Delhi
9) Connaught Place*
10) Main Bazar Road*

* 9 and 10 added by me because I want to see these places as I spent time here back in the 80's and 90's


We left the Lotus shaped Bhai’s Temple with smokin' and screamin' tyres and next stop was the Humayun's tomb or as my driver called it: Taj Mahal two. I got out of the car and I went to pay Humayun’s Tombthe 250 Rupee foreign entrance fee at the gate. Of course, there was a guy at the turnstile and he looked like he was working there.

He took my ticket and we went to some guys scanning the ticket.

I said thank you and I went to check out the Humayun's tomb. The guy from the turnstile followed me this was for sure not my plan. All these people around India doing nothing but hang around trying to get a freebee. Same when you come with a ship to town, suddenly the deck is full of people stand-by to give any help. Carry a bag or give directions etc. for a cup of Humayun’s Tombcoffee, a cigarette, a soda or money

And as all these people don't have any salary even though they want to give the expression that they work for the port authorities.

But the authorities allow them to come in to the area. Same as the tourist attractions, if the authorities wanted them gone it would be easy to kick them out.

I guess it is a way for the Indian Government to keep down the unemployment figures and at the same time keeping down the numbers of tourist visiting.

They hang around the tourist attractions cling to you hoping that you will realise too late that he is expecting money for having talked to you about a rock or whatever. Anyway, I told him that I will walk alone. Now he gave me the “it is so hard to walk alone and blah-blah”
- I'm sure I will manage, thank you and good bye!

Humayun’s Tomb
Humayun's tomb

(Persian: آرامگاه همایون‎‎ Maqbara e Humayun Turkish: Hümayun Kabri) is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun in Delhi, India. The tomb was commissioned by Humayun's son Akbar) in 1569-70, and designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, a Persian architect chosen by Bega Begum.

It was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent, and is located in Nizamuddin East, Delhi, India, close to the Dina-panah citadel also known as Purana Qila (Old Fort), that Humayun founded in 1533. It was also the first structure to use red sandstone at such a scale.

The tomb was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, and since then has undergone extensive restoration work, which is complete. Besides the main tomb enclosure of Humayun, several smaller monuments dot the pathway leading up to it, from the main entrance in the West, including one that even pre-dates the main tomb itself, by twenty years; it is the tomb complex of Isa Khan Niyazi, an Afghan noble in Sher Shah Suri's court of the Suri dynasty, who fought against the Mughals, constructed in 1547 CE.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Humayun’s Tomb
The gate before the tomb

Humayun’s Tomb
Humayun’s Tomb is a very beautiful building

Humayun’s Tomb
I leave through the gate again

Humayun’s Tomb

Humayun’s Tomb

Humayun’s Tomb
Ruin gate to another building in the area

Humayun’s Tomb
Behind the ruin gate

Humayun’s Tomb
Black Kite

Black Kite, Milvus migrans
Black Kite
Pictures by Aladdin

Yet another attraction we can put behind us. And yet another attraction where I could have spent more time. I had enough of the Humayun’s Tomb. But the birds was fun to watch. But as I had my driver waiting I was in kind of a hurry.

1) President House (Rashtrapati Bhawan) I cancel this one
2) India gate
4) Birla Mandir Not interested
5) Humayun’s Tomb Completed
6) Lotus shaped Bhai’s Temple Completed
7) Qutub Minar Completed
8) Light and Sound show at Red fort I don't want to go back to Old Delhi
9) Connaught Place*
10) Main Bazar Road*

* 9 and 10 added by me because I want to see these places as I spent time here back in the 80's and 90's


Next attraction, Connaught Place or the Main Bazar Road, whichever comes first never mind for me. I told the Driver when we left this morning that these places and the Lotus shaped Bhai’s Temple are the places we MUST see. And what do you know, on our way to Connaught Place and Main Bazar Road we got a “bonus” glimpse of the India Gate

India Gate
India Gate,

(originally called the All India War Memorial), is a war memorial located astride the Rajpath, on the eastern edge of the ‘ceremonial axis’ of New Delhi, formerly called Kingsway. India gate is a memorial to 82,000 soldiers of the undivided Indian Army who died in the period 1914–21 in the First World War, in France, Flanders, Mesopotamia, Persia, East Africa, Gallipoli and elsewhere in the Near and the Far East, and the Third Anglo-Afghan War.

13,300 servicemen's names, including some soldiers and officers from the United Kingdom, are inscribed on the gate.

The India Gate, even though a war memorial, evokes the architectural style of the triumphal arch like the Arch of Constantine, outside the Colosseum in Rome, and is often compared to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and the Gateway of India in Mumbai. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

India Gate
There it is!

India Gate

India Gate

India Gate
Plenty military

India Gate
Plenty military

India Gate
There it is again!

India Gate
We have completed yet another attraction
Pictures by Aladdin

We drove around the India Gate and it was the same as in Old Delhi, Police and military everywhere and I think it is something with terrorists and the festival on the 26th of January. Anyway, we were kicking arse with the itinerary for DAY #2 in Delhi.

1) President House (Rashtrapati Bhawan) I cancel this one
2) India gate Completed
4) Birla Mandir Not interested
5) Humayun’s Tomb Completed
6) Lotus shaped Bhai’s Temple Completed
7) Qutub Minar Completed
8) Light and Sound show at Red fort I don't want to go back to Old Delhi
9) Connaught Place*
10) Main Bazar Road*

* 9 and 10 added by me because I want to see these places as I spent time here back in the 80's and 90's


We I had seen the India Gate and now we started to move towards the Connaught Place or the Main Bazar Road. Saturday and I had expected it to be less traffic. But it was up and down, at Buses in New Delhitimes it was like a gridlock just to change to empty roads a minute or two later.

I'm sure there are many nice places to see in Delhi. And I would very much like to go see all the birds of prey flying around some of the places in Delhi. Millions of them.

But the time spent in the traffic and all the hassle at the attractions is really a downer. And you walk in shit and it smells like shit. And in my age a holiday should be comfortable outside the parks. So the times between the safaris is spent mostly in a nice hotel room at a hotel with a nice restaurant.

I had told my Driver that I didn't wanted any Guide, but I had told him that we could take a Guide to show him the way. My Driver is from Jaipur so some “local” expertise can come in handy for Buses in New Delhidirections. I could Tourist guidesee that he was a wee bit uncomfortable when I told him that I didn't wanted any Guide on the tour.

But he looked happy when I told him that we could have one for the directions. BUT HE WILL STAY IN THE CAR WITH YOU!! I WILL WALK AROUND ALONE!

Suddenly we were at the Connaught Place and it looked pretty much as I remembered it from 30 years ago, except for some Western brand names on the buildings. 30 years back India was like the Soviet Union. I told the Driver to continue to the New Delhi Railway station and the Main Bazar Road.

I knew that the Main Bazar and train station was pretty close to the Connaught Place as I had walked between the places several times in my youth.

My Driver dropped me outside the train station. Looked like the Railway station had got a facelift since I was here the last time, but it was as dirty and nasty as I remembered it. I crossed the road and I walked up the Main Bazar Road until I came to the small open place.

I remember this small square or whatever, people washing their clothes and themselves. And it was just a wee bit up passing the place I used to stay at. And if I remember it right it was the Metropolis Guesthouse. I stayed din a dorm on the second floor and we had fun.

Main Bazar Road

Main Bazar Road

Paharganj (Hindi: पहाड़गंज, Urdu: پہاڑ گنج, Punjabi: ਪਹਾੜਗਂਜ, literally 'hilly neighbourhood') is a neighbourhood of Central Delhi, located just west of the New Delhi Railway Station. Known as Shahganj or King's ganj or market place during Mughal era, it is one of the three administrative subdivisions, of the Central Delhi district, of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, with the other two being, Darya Ganj and Karol Bagh.

Known for its concentration of affordable hotels, lodges, restaurants, dhabas and a wide variety of shops catering to both domestic travellers and foreign tourists, especially backpackers and low-budget travellers, it has become particularly popular as a haunt for international cuisine.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 in Delhi, India

Main Bazar Road in Delhi, India
The train station have received a face lift
I remember Delhi train station as a worn down but beautiful old train station

Delhi train station
The train station have received a face lift
I remember Delhi train station as a worn down but beautiful old train station

Delhi train station
The train station have received a face lift
I remember Delhi train station as a worn down but beautiful old train station

Hotel Station View, Main Bazar Road
Hotel station view with no windows

Main Bazar Road in Delhi, India
Main Bazar Road

Main Bazar Road in Delhi, India
Road between the train station and the Main Bazar Road in Delhi, India

Main Bazar Road in Delhi, India
Main Bazar Road

Main Bazar Road in Delhi, India
Main Bazar Road

Main Bazar Road in Delhi, India
Main Bazar Road

Main Bazar Road in Delhi, India
Main Bazar Road

Main Bazar Road in Delhi, India
I reach the small square on the Main Bazar Road
I turn around and walk back to the train station

Main Bazar Road in Delhi, India
A group of tourists walking up the Main Bazar Road

Main Bazar Road in Delhi, India
Walking down the Main Bazar Road towards the railway station

Main Bazar Road in Delhi, India
Walking down the Main Bazar Road towards the railway station

Main Bazar Road in Delhi, India
I think this is the place I stayed at back in the 80's and the 90's

Main Bazar Road in Delhi, India
I think this is the place I stayed at back in the 80's and the 90's

Main Bazar Road in Delhi, India
Walking down the Main Bazar Road towards the railway station

Main Bazar Road in Delhi, India
Walking down the Main Bazar Road towards the railway station

Main Bazar Road in Delhi, India

Main Bazar Road in Delhi, India

Main Bazar Road in Delhi, India
Porters at the railway station
Pictures by Aladdin

I was back at the railway station and I passed through a group of porters stand-by if someone needed help to carry luggage. I found my driver and we were soon on our way back to the hotel. I Lemon Tree Premier in Delhitold the driver to stop at a clinic so I can have a Doctor to look at my leg.

I still have the wound on my left leg and I had decided to go see a Doctor, we passed a hospital this morning but I didn't wanted to waste any time and we kept our eyes out for a clinic instead.

No clinic and I asked them to call a Doctor when I was back at my hotel. I had my lunch and I asked for a pot of tea for my room. I called the reception and they connected me to the Doctor. When the reception had called him I had been having my lunch. The Doctor told me that he would be at the hotel in an hour, around 5 Lemon Tree Premier in Delhio'clock. He had been 10 minutes away when I had had my lunch.

Never mind, he will be here in an hour and the Doctor arrived to my room just after 5 o'clock.

I was instantly disliking him. He went on and on about this and that. I should do a blood test for diabetes.
- No, I won’t
- You should lose some weight
- Yeah yeah, blah blah, coming from a guy at 500 kg.

He didn't like me cream or antiseptic cleaner. This was no good and the Chemist at the drug store didn't knew anything. Of course, he had the real stuff with him. My Lemon Tree Premier in Delhidressings where not good and I told him that it was the same dressings he had brought.
- No this is the real stuff, you have the local shit

I didn't said anything, I was just thinking *W*T! But I told him that I liked his bag. He told me that the bag was very expensive and he asked if I knew how much he had paid for the bag.
- A million?
- No, 120 US Dollars
- Ahh!
- Very expensive

He explained for me that he liked the good stuff in life so he bought an expensive bag.
- What? Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st Did you say something?

I could not help but think about a Swedish TV documentary. They interviewed a guy and he had 2 (TWO) interests in life, girls and cars. And he had nothing of it. Anyway, I went for my dinner but there was too much people and I was about to go back to my room. The girl suggested the restaurant next door. Noodles something and they had SE Asian food.

She followed me and she instructed the staff about me tea and, well, 30 minutes ++ later and the food came. I had to send it back as it was a bowl of duck skin in curry sauce. The Waiter agreed with me, it was shit and I never had to pay for it. I returned to my room and my alarm will go off at 6 thirty tomorrow and we leave for the airport at 9

It had been a nice day and I liked the Lotus Temple best. And it was kind of interesting to see the Main Bazar Road again. But how the duck could I have lived there. Of course, when you are 20 everything is OK. I remember some places and I didn’t dare to look under the bed. If I dropped some money I was for sure not going to bend down to look under the bed. Only God knows what’s living there.

Now, the place was filthy and the hotels looked like, well, just a fraction of the price of what I pay at the Lime Tree Premier. But no way I would move in to any of these places. Or eat anything they had on offer here. And all the people trying to make money out of you
- NicetattooWhatyoulookfor?Havealookinmyshop!
- Wheredoyoucomefrom?Whatyoulookfor?Havealookinmyshop!

So yes, I was kind of in a hurry to get back to the car and duck off out of there. Yes, this was a terrible place and I have no wishes of ever coming back again.

Time to leave Delhi and it will be nice to get back on board the safari jeep again. Any tigers? I have no idea, but click HERE and you will soon be in a middle of the trip to Bandhavgarh and the Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge where I will stay for 4 nights and 3 days of safari.

Sverigedemokraterna



       
                  
OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.
Jiffy (also jiff)

noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.

ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.
So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!

Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas

Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!

Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!

Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra

Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!

คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้

Вы говорите по-русски? NJET PROBLEMA! Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!

E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.

Flag of Skåne / Skånska flaggan Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.


                                       

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