We are back from the trip-of-a-lifetime; and what a trip it has been! Delhi, Bhutan, Kolkata, and Baroda! Oh, those places were cold! It was a true winter for someone who has only experienced Bombay ‘winters’ (if I can even call them that).
Our trip began in Delhi. We had no itinerary as such. All we had were the destination cities with our travel and stay booked. We had no idea of what we would do once we got there. So we landed in Delhi, and I was looking forward to enjoying my stay there.
Our experience at the airport sucked! I can’t find a nicer term for it. But that was as bad as it got. After getting a tour of the international terminal of Delhi Airport, we finally set off for our hotel.
After a lot of deliberation, we settled on visiting India Gate that evening. Not offbeat, eh? Maybe not, but it depends on what you’re looking at. If you’ve only got eyes for that gigantic arch, then it’ll be just another tourist attraction. Try turning around; away from the arch. And gaze into that sea of people surrounding the monument, taking pictures; children crying for some cotton candy; families posing for the perfect picture; and friends gathering for a selfie. The monument is beautiful, no doubt, but the concourse of visitors surrounding it helped me find beauty in the mundane.
After a spot of people-watching, and gorging on some Jhalmuri and Golgappas we decided to catch some dinner at the Warehouse Cafe. The rooftop cafe served a Pani Puri-inspired drink which was quite delicious. Other than that, it was painfully reminiscent of the multitude of pubs operating in Mumbai. As we walked back to the hotel, we shortlisted a couple of spots for us to visit the next day.
Lal Qila and Jantar Mantar made our list! Delhi is rich in Mughal history and the Mughals have fascinated me since I learned about them in school (or what I could learn in the few moments I managed to seize control of my senses; you know how history lessons are). After a delicious Chole Bhature breakfast at Sitaram Diwan Chand, we headed to the Lal Qila (Red Fort).
Built under the rule of Shah Jahan, the Red Fort served as the Mughal capital until their rule ended in 1857 CE. Audio tours are available at the ticket counter near the entrance to the fort. We enjoyed our walk through the former centre of the Mughal rule. We picked up a few souvenirs at the Mina Bazaar inside the fort, marvelled at the Diwan-e-Aam, lounged around the pavilions where the last Mughal ruler composed some kick-ass poetry and gazed at the living quarters of Shah Jahan. The fort and the architecture of the buildings inside it were truly marvellous!
It took us almost 4 hours to finish the complete tour of the Lal Qila after which were oh-so-hungry. Arjun had made it clear that he would not leave Delhi without eating parathas at the Paranthewali Gali at Chandni Chowk, so that’s where we went! We stuffed our face with deep-fried parathas. I even dared to try the amazingly delicious Rabdi Paratha while Arjun made a few faces. (He loved it once I made him tried it and I didn’t get any after that).
With full tummies and content hearts, we boarded the Delhi metro for our next stop – Jantar Mantar. This awe-inspiring monument is grossly underrated! Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur, carefully and accurately, constructed these structures in order to study the skies in 1710 CE.
On our way back, we picked up a few souvenirs at the Janpath Market. I had noticed the Tibetan Market, located in close proximity to the Janpath Market, which sells some interesting items. But seeing as we were headed for Bhutan the next day, we decided against shopping here. After a light dinner at Bunta Bar, we marched back to the hotel and packed up in lieu of our departure the next morning.
In Pursuit of Happiness – Part I We are back from the trip-of-a-lifetime; and what a trip it has been! Delhi, Bhutan, Kolkata, and Baroda!
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