Second stop: Delhi
Our second stop was Delhi. We flew from Bangalore to Delhi to start our "Golden Triangle" tour. This is a classic northern India route that covers Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Delhi being the capital and largest city in India, it naturally becomes the starting point for likely all people.
We paid a quick visit to the Red Fort, but this was a smoggy and polluted day (as is typical in Delhi) and everything looked gray.
We also paid an even quicker visit to Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosque in India.
From Jama Masjid, we looked out to the city. This is a typical Delhi scene, I think -- you can see the Red Fort in the background and the boys playing crickets in the foreground, and in the middle distance, a man is urinating (the guy in the orange shirt).
After coming back from Agra and Jaipur, we had a little more time to explore Delhi. This time weather was better, and we spent more time at Qutub Minar (Qutub Minar). The Qutub Minar is a 73-metre (239.5 feet) tall tapering tower commemorating the Muslim rule in India in the 12th century (but its significance is controversial). Regardless, it is an imposing tower that dominates the Delhi sky.
The Qutub Minar complex is also the earliest surviving mosque complex in India. Other prominent architecture include the Alai Darwaza (domed gateway) and Imam Zamin's tomb.
Another shot of a window/doorway in the complex with Alai Darwaza through it.
Finally, the Alai Minar, the abandoned base of another, even taller and larger tower to be built in the 14th century.
There are some wildlife at the complex, including the Indian Palm Squirrel, the ubiquitous Rose-ringed Parakeets and Common Myna.
(Click on each image to see the high-resolution version)
First, we paid a visit to Raj Ghat, where a black marble memorial with eternal flame commemorates Mahatma Gandhi's assassination and sacrifice for India.
Eternal Flame at Raj Ghat
Red Fort
Red Fort
Jama Masjid
Delhi
Qutub Minar
Qutub Minar
Qutub Minar
Qutub Minar
Qutub Minar
Alai Darwaza
Alai Darwaza
Alai Darwaza
Imam Zamin's tomb
Imam Zamin's tomb
Window
Alai Minar
Indian Palm Squirrel
Rose-ringed Parakeets
Common Myna
