We started the day off with a big American style breakfast- toast and omelets- and headed out to the India Gate in New Delhi. We were going to take the metro but we decided to try a rickshaw- the driver said he would take us to India Gate for the same price as the metro. Ok- two minutes into the drive he pulls over and offers us his service for the day. Not interested, we said. He insisted. We refused and in the end we just got out, didn’t pay anything, and hopped on the safe, clean and segregated metro.
We then headed out to Humayun’s tomb. But along the way we went into a mosque in ruins where a man that looked 600 years old proceeded to tell us that the mosque was 600 years old- and he was there when they put down the first stone! We then walked to a big fort ruin called Purana Qila and afterwards we continued on to grab some lunch!
Martijn had typical South Indian food while Ana had thali (bread with different dipping sauces). A little more walking and we reached Humayun’s tomb, which kind of resembles the Taj Mahal. Here we met a lovely French American couple that were staying at our hotel. They may be regretting they ever met us because we asked if they wanted to join for a walk into PURE FRENZY! The Lonely Planet suggested a visit on Thursday around sunset to a local Muslim shrine filled with devotees and so we entered a maze of alleys, asking directions here and there until we finally reached the holy site, where we were kindly asked to make a donation and were able to witness an unimaginable buzz including song performances. This all without shoes, since the complete maze of streets was considered holy and part of the mosque. Martijn was wearing socks but Ana used about 10 Clorox wipes on her feet back at the hotel.
After all the excitement we headed off by foot and metro to dinner and took a Rickshaw ride back to the hotel. Lesson of the day: take the metro and wear a pedometer because we must have walked over 15miles- no joke, ok maybe just 10!
We then headed out to Humayun’s tomb. But along the way we went into a mosque in ruins where a man that looked 600 years old proceeded to tell us that the mosque was 600 years old- and he was there when they put down the first stone! We then walked to a big fort ruin called Purana Qila and afterwards we continued on to grab some lunch!
Martijn had typical South Indian food while Ana had thali (bread with different dipping sauces). A little more walking and we reached Humayun’s tomb, which kind of resembles the Taj Mahal. Here we met a lovely French American couple that were staying at our hotel. They may be regretting they ever met us because we asked if they wanted to join for a walk into PURE FRENZY! The Lonely Planet suggested a visit on Thursday around sunset to a local Muslim shrine filled with devotees and so we entered a maze of alleys, asking directions here and there until we finally reached the holy site, where we were kindly asked to make a donation and were able to witness an unimaginable buzz including song performances. This all without shoes, since the complete maze of streets was considered holy and part of the mosque. Martijn was wearing socks but Ana used about 10 Clorox wipes on her feet back at the hotel.
After all the excitement we headed off by foot and metro to dinner and took a Rickshaw ride back to the hotel. Lesson of the day: take the metro and wear a pedometer because we must have walked over 15miles- no joke, ok maybe just 10!
