Wonders of Delhi

My first time in India. I went to Delhi. A city full of surprises and so rich in culture. I was really pleased to experience the Indian culture and costumes. Delhi is a massive metropole in the north of India. In old Delhi, a neighbourhood dating to the 1600s.

At the centre of New Delhi stands the 42 m high India Gate, an “Arc-de-Triomphe” like archway in the middle of a crossroad. Almost similar to its French counterpart, it commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during the World War I. The memorial bears the names of more than 13,516 British and Indian soldiers killed in the Northwestern Frontier in the Afghan war of 1919.

After walking through the Indian Gate, I passed in front these parliament’s Buildings.

The Indian Gate. The foundation stone of India Gate was laid by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught in 1921 and it was designed by Edwin Lutyens. The monument was dedicated to the nation 10 years later by the then Viceroy, Lord Irwin. Another memorial, Amar Jawan Jyoti was added much later, after India got its independence. The eternal flame burns day and night under the arch to remind the nation of soldiers who laid down their lives in the Indo-Pakistan War of December 1971.

 

 

The Red fort  is a must-see for every traveler. In 1638, when he shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi, Shah Jahan commissioned its construction, using his learnings from building the earlier Shahjahan Fort. This makes the Red Fort’s architecture and planning markedly different from its cousin in Agra.

That’s me in front of the The Red Fort entrance. It was a very hot day and very busy.

Apparently the British people during the colonialism in Delhi destroyed some of the inside of the fort and build those building for their soldiers. The building are quite nice with lovely gardens around.

I saw this pillars, and really like the shapes and designs, which is to me looks very Indian.

Beautiful door with very carefully crafted shapes, leading to secret path.

Some of the amazing architecture that I saw when I was on the way to the fort

Founded by Emperor Shah Jahan and just a few decades older than the Palace of Versailles in France, this fort took 10 years to construct (1638–48). It had the decapitated bodies of prisoners built into the foundations for luck, and is surrounded by an 18m-high wall. It once overlooked the Yamuna River, which has now shrunk to some distance away. A tree-lined waterway, known as nahr-i-bihisht (river of paradise), ran out of the fort and along Chandni Chowk, fed by the Yamuna.

 

Me again standing in front of this amazing red wall.

 

 

I didn’t have much time in Delhi. There are a lot more to see and explore there. I’m glad I had the opportunity to experience this vibrant, and charming city.