New Delhi: Travel through the Flavours of India

If you think of New Delhi without knowing it, the first word that comes to mind is chaos, and the next ones: crowds and pollution. That is why it may seem strange that what New Delhi inspired me was… harmony. We spent 2 days here, and then another 2. A total of 4 days. In this post I will try to make you feel that harmony and also make the most of everything this impressive city has to offer.

It is one of the most populated cities in the world, with a population of approximately 30 million people, so it is understandable that there is some chaos… But this is part of its charm, and if you know how to look at it with an open mind, it will end up captivating you. And although I know that there are people who want to run away from it. I hope that you are one of those who falls in love with it and enjoys it.

You can organize your visits differently, adapting them to your schedule, but I'll leave you with all the information about each area so you don't miss anything from this crazy and exciting city.

We organize the visits in this way:

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Day 1 - Temples and Culture in New Delhi

We landed in New Delhi in the morning, after a fairly long flight and with just enough energy, but the excitement of getting to know a place like Delhi made us alert to every situation and every stimulus.

We spent the morning doing some paperwork, meeting with the agency that organised our transfers. We made this trip with some good friends with whom we hope to travel more because it was very nice and enriching. I love sharing my passion with people who have the same philosophy and way of seeing life. It is the second place we have visited together and it will certainly not be the last. 

Getting around New Delhi can be tedious and slow. You can use public transport, the metro connects some main areas and you can avoid traffic. But, in our case we had a driver to visit the places we wanted in Delhi, and since it was the middle of the Diwali festivities, there was practically no traffic. 

First we visited Shree Lakshmi Nayaran Mandir. Our driver recommended us to visit this temple, as it was one of the important temples for Diwali. We were not able to take photos inside, but it is worth visiting.

The atmosphere inside the temple is one of peace and devotion, with chanting of mantras and the soft sound of bells ringing in the air. The temple is dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and Narayan, a form of the god Vishnu.

Its architectural design combines elements of traditional Hindu architecture with modern touches. The temple is built mainly in white marble, combined with reddish tones of its domes, giving it a majestic and elegant look.

You must leave your camera and personal belongings in a locker and enter the temple barefoot. If you feel like it, you can take part in an offering.

Diwali is one of the most important and widely celebrated festivals in India and in various parts of the world where there are Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities. This festival is celebrated in autumn every year and lasts for five days in total.

It means row of lamps in Sanskrit. One of the most distinctive features of Diwali is the lighting of oil lamps, candles and lights in homes, temples and public places. The idea behind this lighting is to symbolize the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and truth over ignorance.

In addition to the lights, houses and streets are decorated with rangolis (colourful designs made on the ground), garlands and festive decorations. Different deities are worshipped according to regional traditions, and offerings of sweets, fruits and flowers are made.

Fireworks are an integral part of Diwali celebrations, especially on the evening of the main day (the night we went they spent the whole night setting off firecrackers and fireworks). Fireworks light up the sky and add a splash of color and excitement to the festivities.

Gifts and sweets are also exchanged between family, friends, and neighbors as a gesture of goodwill and affection. Most hotels, shops, and temples will offer you sweets as a symbol of kindness, harmony, and hope.

In addition, it is a holiday that is associated with the New Year in India. Diwali marks the beginning of the new year for many communities. It is a very family-oriented holiday, and for this reason, many families leave New Delhi to celebrate this holiday in the villages with their families.

One of the main advantages of experiencing it as a tourist, apart from celebrating and immersing yourself in the culture, was that New Delhi had only 10% of the traffic it usually has. Transfers and visits are easier, because a lot of the population is out of the city during those days. During this week, people usually have school and work holidays. (I can tell you this in advance, which was very useful for some places and not so much for others, such as Udaipur.) But if you have the opportunity to travel between October and November, check what date Diwali falls on that year and try to experience it first-hand in India.

We continue our route to the next temple, one of my favorites in Delhi. We visit the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Sikh temple. Photography is prohibited in some areas inside, but it is impressive. You will have to enter with your head and legs covered, but they offer scarves and skirts.

This temple is a sanctuary of serenity and devotion that offers you peace in the middle of the bustle of the city. It is built with sparkling white marble, has a traditional Sikh design, with beautiful architectural details and a golden dome that shines in the sun.

In addition, inside there is a beautiful sacred pond, Sarovar Bangla Sahib. It is believed that the water of this sarovar has healing and spiritually purifying properties. Devotees often bathe in the sarovar as part of their spiritual experience.

This place is a beacon of hope and community service, with a large hall where Langar is offered (like all Sikh temples). Langar is a communal meal free to all visitors, regardless of religion, caste or creed. This langar serves food to hundreds or thousands of people daily, depending on the day.

It is an integral part of the Indian practice of seva (service) and promoting equality and inclusion. And with much honour and respect, we participate by sharing food, sitting in the large hall with the rest of the people.

But, in this case, you can also visit the kitchens, which have huge pots where the men cook the vegetables that are served and at the same time, the women knead bread for the meal. There I met Navjot Kaur, a good friend.

This temple offers a simple but nutritious vegetarian meal. The food usually consists of rice, dal (lentils), some vegetables and roti (wheat bread), and you are offered water. And you have to wash your hands before eating. Warning! If you are not a fan of spicy food, do not take food, everything is a bit spicy and it is disrespectful to throw food away.

We then visited the Agrasen Ki Baoli. Baoli are a set of steps that descend towards a river, lake or water source. They are often translated as stepwells. They are important in India for rituals, sacred baths and religious ceremonies. They are also places of social gathering.

Agrasen Ki Baoli is a 14th century stepwell, about 60 metres long and 15 metres wide. It features carved arches and ornate columns that give it a special touch. In addition, it has an aura of mystery and legend. Many people believe that it is a place charged with spiritual and mystical energy.

The calm and serene atmosphere of the place is said to be conducive to meditation and introspection. There are also legends that say that it was used for secret ceremonies and Masonic rituals, which has generated interest among occult enthusiasts. The reality is that it is a magical place that has an ancient and special atmosphere. I advise you to see it with your own eyes.

Taking advantage of the fact that it was on our way, we stopped at India Gate. It is one of the most emblematic monuments in Delhi and an important historical and cultural reference point in India. It is a war memorial, and every year on India's Independence Day (August 15) commemorative ceremonies are held.

It is located in the middle of a large park, on a very wide esplanade that connects to other important monuments. It is very common for locals to use this spot as a meeting place. You can find numerous street food stalls offering a variety of local delicacies. 

I am quite shy, and although I love portrait photography, I often find it awkward to ask strangers for photos (even if we have started a conversation). In this place it was very easy. They were the ones asking me for photos, so I was able to enjoy photography a lot on this trip. 

After spending the whole day on the road we decided to have something to eat and rest a bit at the hotel. Our hotel is located near the New Delhi train station, and has a 24-hour reception and a luggage storage service. Very central and close (in terms of such a large city) to several important points. The only thing is that the street, or rather alley, to access it is too authentic, but the accommodation is very good value for money, one of the best we stayed in.

That night we had dinner at a rooftop café and enjoyed a delicious meal amidst lanterns and hundreds of fireworks. This restaurant is located in the main bazaar of Paharganj and the whole area was decorated with thousands of lights, it was very beautiful. It has several floors, go up to the last one to enjoy its best terrace, which is open.

After dinner, despite being exhausted, we joined the party, wandered around the streets, jumped with people dodging firecrackers, feared for our eardrums and laughed a lot about the crazy situation we were living. We discovered entire families having fun with the music and the noise of the firecrackers, while sharing food and laughing. It was the main night and they spent the whole night celebrating.

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Day 2 - Most Important Monuments of Delhi

This day we visited many of the most important areas of the city, places full of history that impressed us greatly. We started by visiting Qutub Minar. It is the oldest monument of Islamic art in Delhi, built on an ancient Hindu temple. Therefore, we can appreciate in its architecture examples of both cultures. It is a UNESCO heritage site.

It stands out for its reddish hues, due to the fact that it is built of brick. In fact, it is the tallest brick tower in the world and one of the tallest minarets in the world, with a height of approximately 73 meters.

To get in you will have to pay an entrance fee of 550 INR if you pay by card versus 600 INR if you pay in cash. We paid for everything we could with the Revolut card. This place has no dress code restrictions.

I recommend that you get lost in every corner of the place and appreciate the intricate details in the structure, which include Islamic inscriptions on the walls and Hindu motifs on the columns. On these, you will notice that on most of the columns the faces of the Hindu gods are erased.

Our next stop was the famous Humayun's Tomb. Another of Delhi's UNESCO World Heritage sites. It is said that this tomb inspired the Taj Mahal, and the truth is that they have similarities, especially in their symmetry and their gardens.

There are no dress codes required to enter and the entrance fee is 600 INR per person, which we paid by card.

This is an impressive building of Mughal art and architecture, with its imposing domes and beautiful surrounding gardens. The white and red marble details add a touch of beauty and sophistication to this impressive structure.

The gardens surrounding the tomb are a marvel, they are very spacious and even though there are hundreds of people in the tomb, when you walk through the gardens you find yourself in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. Don't just stay with the main building, wander through the gardens and the nearby buildings.

If you walk to the right and in the back (from the entrance) you can see more impressive buildings. Such as the Barber's Tomb, which offers a nice view of the main tomb. This small but elegant structure features a dome and ornate arches. It was the tomb of the barber who served the Mughal court.

We looked for a place to eat, but it was quite expensive, the food was good, but the dining room was full of tourists and a small dining room where locals ate, plus we noticed that they have different prices for locals, so I do not recommend it.

After lunch we visited Lodhi Gardens, a great way to get a feel for the daily life of Delhiites. It is a peaceful and serene place that offers a green refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city. Daily life in Lodhi Gardens is vibrant and diverse, with a mix of recreational activities, exercise, socialising and quiet moments. The highlights were cricket matches, families picnicking and couples hanging out on the various benches that offer privacy in the park.

In the central area are the tombs of the Lodhi dynasty. They are simple but elegant with large domes and details. There is also a pond where you can see plenty of wildlife, from ducks and swans to aggressive monkeys that will try to take your food. Be careful and don't travel without insurance. We always recommend Iati.

To end the day we changed areas and went to Old Delhi, where we visited the Jama Masjid Mosque. It is the largest mosque in India. Featuring large courtyards, a spacious main prayer hall and two tall minarets, the Jama Masjid Mosque stands out as an impressive example of Mughal architecture and is an important place of worship. You can visit the courtyard and one of the minarets, from which you can see impressive views of the city, but there is an additional cost. You can only go into the worship hall to pray.

The entrance to the mosque is free, but you have to pay 300 INR if you bring a camera or mobile phone, so they usually charge all tourists 300 INR. You have to enter fully covered - they offer you a dress, but you don't have to cover your hair - and barefoot. We felt more embarrassed here, as we were constantly asked to show our tickets, and the men at the entrance and in the mosque were more aggressive than in the other places we had visited.

When we left the mosque (there is an entrance for tourists only) there was a whole line of rather aggressive men offering us a rickshaw ride through the spice market. We didn't really like the idea, it seemed like a tourist trap, and we always prefer to walk and stop at markets.

In addition, they offered us quite high prices. In the end, after arguing, we got on a auto rickshaw at a reasonable price to take us away from that area and although it was a bit of a rip-off too. We were able to walk around the spice market calmly.

It is a market that offers a lot of diversity and is very old. We took the opportunity to buy some spices at a good price, but the market near our hotel was cheaper. Since we were walking through this area, we walked towards the Red Fort. We decided not to go in, because we were going to visit the Agra Fort.

We ended up having dinner near the hotel, at what became our favourite restaurant, Darbar. A vegetarian restaurant, full of locals, with varied and delicious food. You have to stop by.

The next day we were on an early flight to our next destination. But before returning home we spent another two days exploring this huge and bustling city. We loved the neighborhood and the hotel so much that we decided to book the same one again and return home.

We found ourselves in a different Delhi after the Diwali experience. This time there was more pollution, breathing in some areas was difficult. We didn't see cows in the streets, like the first time, and the transfers (which we did in a auto rickshaw, negotiating the price) took much longer because the traffic was much heavier.

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Day 3 - Alternative Places in Delhi

We got up early this day to visit the Lotus Temple. It was closed on Monday during our first visit to Delhi. It used to not close on Mondays, but now it does. Be careful when planning your visits so that this doesn't happen to you.

This temple is very unique, it stands out for its lotus flower shape, with 27 white marble petals arranged in groups of three to form nine sides. And it also stands out for being a place that unites religions, seeks world peace and humanity. It is open to all religions. It combines aesthetic beauty with spiritual meaning. Its distinctive shape, modern architecture and serene atmosphere make it a special destination for those seeking peace and reflection.

After visiting this place, we headed towards Hauz Khas, a place that is not very touristy, but that caught our attention because it is a large green space within the city. It has a natural setting, with a lake and ruins surrounding it. We were also able to see deer and peacocks. We liked this part less and do not recommend it, because it was a kind of undercover zoo. We thought that at least the animals would be free in the park and they were caged. The Lodhi Gardens are more worthwhile.

If you continue walking, you will see ruins that belong to the Hauz Khas Complex. These ruins are remnants of an ancient complex of buildings dating back to the 14th century. Among the ruins you can find a mosque, a madrasa and a water tank, and they are an outstanding example of the Indo-Islamic architecture of that period.

Although these structures have suffered the passage of time and are partially in ruins, they still retain their grandeur and architectural beauty, and are a major tourist attraction in the area.

Near this park there are several small temples which we also visited. One of the best things to do is to enter the humble temples and strike up a conversation with the locals inside.

We ate around our neighbourhood, once again at Darbar to enjoy their delicious food for the last time and with our energy replenished, we took a walk to Connaught Place, which took us about 20 minutes to walk from the hotel. This area of the city is very different, it is one of the main commercial and financial centres of Delhi.

You can find various shops, boutiques, restaurants, cafes, bars, cinemas and shopping malls. It is a popular shopping destination for both locals and tourists and offers a variety of international and local brands in fashion, electronics, books and more.

At the heart of Connaught Place is a large structure known as Central Park, which features a public park, an illuminated fountain and a children's play area. We were out for a walk, and at dusk we went to this area and were able to enjoy the water, light and sound show. It is true that it looks poorly maintained, some lights do not work well and it looks damaged, but it has its charm.

We spent the last day buying the last things in the nearby bazaars and we met up with our friend to say goodbye and head to the airport to continue our trip.

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11 Comments
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You captured the spirit of the night !
Gretchen said…
Gorgeous! Such great captures. One day I'd love to visit.
Ninni said…
Such a beautiful view!
Jeevan said…
Fantastic pictures and prose about Delhi! Simply neat on its importance.
Kala said…
Gorgeous photos and wonderful commentary about Delhi.
Rathai said…
Breathtakingly beautiful pictures of Delhi! I enjoyed all of them.
As always an interesting and informative post, thanks.
Hi!
Absolutely stunning night photo.
Greetings from sweden
/Ingemar
tinajo said…
Looks beautiful! :-)
anthony stemke said…
What a beautiful,interesting post here and the photography is stunning. I learned a lot by reading this,Thank You.