Desert Traveler: DELHI

After a short two hour flight from Mumbai I landed in Delhi [and New Delhi], the capital of India. Delhi was more spread out, and less congested than Mumbai, without the overwhelming feeling of poverty that was exhibited in Mumbai. I stayed in the Connaught Circle part of the city, which was the former government and mercantile area of the British during the colonial period. Because Delhi has a subway system that connects to most of the tourist sights, I set out alone without a guide or driver to see the sights. My first stop was the Red Fort. Constructed during the Mughal Empire period between 1638 and 1648 it served to protect the capital city. After the British conquered India it was transformed into a barracks, and many of the interior buildings were destroyed. The fort is surrounded by 18 foot high sandstone walls. I arrived at the fort early in the morning, so there were few tourists there. These photos are of various views of the outside of the fort.

The main entrance to the fort is through the Lahore Gate, which looks in the direction of Lahore, Pakistan, which was the second most important city of the Mughal Empire. It was here, at the Lahore Gate, that the Indian flag, of the newly independent country of India, was first raised in 1947.

Many of the interior buildings of the fort were removed by the British when they turned the fort into a military garrison during the colonial period. These are a few photos of some of the remaining buildings located inside the fort's walls.

After leaving the Fort, I walked the mile or so back to the subway station and returned to my hotel for lunch. This is a view of the street leading to and from the Red Fort and the subway station. And, no, I did not stop at the McDonalds for for a quick Big Mac!

In the afternoon I took the subway, and then walked about one mile, to Humayun's Tomb. Built in the mid-16th century by Haji Begum, the Persian born senior wife of the Mughal emperor, Humayun, the tomb brings together Persian and Mughal elements, creating a template which strongly influenced the building of the Taj Mahal. The central tomb is surrounded by gardens and the tombs of wives and family friends of the Emperor. It was very peaceful and beautiful inside the grounds.