Monday 9th February: Delhi

We have had a very busy day today as we went sightseeing around Delhi with a guide called Mr Singh. We were picked up at 8am and our first stop was Humayun Tomb which was a tomb built in the 16th Century for one of the Mughal Emperors and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Humayun tomb

As we arrived early there were very few people around and the place felt very quiet and serene.

View from the tomb to the main gate

Our next stop was Old Delhi which is the oldest and most chaotic part of the city with its ancient bazaars, dark, narrow alleyways and hand-pulled carts. We went to the Jama Masjid, which is the oldest Mosque in India and can hold up to 25,000 worshippers.

Jama Masjid Mosque

Funnily enough, even though I was suitably dresssed, they made all western women wear a rather attractive gown during the visit (see below). We had to take our shoes off and leave at the entrance and in the back of my mind I was thinking I hope no one nicks our trainers!

I really must get one of these for work

We then went on a rickshaw ride around the bazaars - 2 American ladies we were chatting to at breakfast said it was quite the experience and they were right!

Our rickshaw ride around the bazaars

It was very busy, even though it was only 10 am in the morning, with everyone dodging out of each other's way - along the small alleyways we came across cars, motorbikes, other rickshaws, cows pulling carts and men wheeling along their stalls!

Very busy in old Delhi

Our next stop was the Gurudwara Bangladesh Sahib Sikh temple which is the main Sikh temple in Delhi. The grounds include the golden domed temple, a kitchen, a large (holy) pond and a school. Our guide first explained the Sikh religion to us and then, after removing our shoes and socks and covering our heads we went in to the main part of the temple. We sat down and watched people coming in and worshipping, kneeling and bending down repeatedly at the gold covered canopy in the prayer hall whilst holy hymns were sung - I found it quite moving and it was really fascinating - sitting there I really felt we had arrived in India!

We then moved outside the prayer hall to look around the rest of the temple. We walked around the large pond where the water there is considered holy - we did actually see one man bathing in the water and having a good old wash - I couldn't work out whether he was naked or not!

Outside the temple

We were then shown around the kitchen, where they prepare food for up to 10,000 people a day! As part of the Sikh religion, the concept of langar is practiced, and all people, regardless of race or religion may eat in the kitchen (langar hall) where the food is mainly prepared by volunteers.

Preparing the food

Making the chapatis

Peter and Mr Singh thinking about how big a naan bread you would need for that curry

We then made our way to India Gate, which is a memorial of the soldiers of the British Indian Army that lost their lives in the First World War. It was very busy there, and probably the most hasslely place so far with people trying to sell you old toot.

Us, and millions of others, at India Gate

And our final stop of a very busy day was Qutub Minar, an archaeological area where the main attraction is the 73 metre tower which was built in 1193.

Surprisingly enough the traffic was worse the further you went out from the centre of Delhi. We got stuck in a big traffic jam on the way to Qutub Minar which is in South Delhi, which made us a bit of target for beggars - we had children on the roadside trying to sell us things, as well as one man who knocked on my window and when I looked out he just pointed at his mouth as if to say he was hungry - very sad.

We did a lot today but really enjoyed everything we did, especially the Sikh temple.

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