A full day of sightseeing in Delhi, but we start off with two of our company missing. Andy had indigestion in the night and so they decided to rest for the day. The traffic is much better today, so first stop was the Jama Masjid mosque, in old Delhi. The mosque was large and mainly outdoors.the ladies had to wear strange hairdresser type gowns, and we had to be bare foot, but didn't need to cover our heads. There were many pigeons and black kites around the mosque and a very beautiful pair of minarets. Sadly the smog was so bad that there was no point climbing to get a view. The smog is such that the government has closed schools for thre days, and stopped construction for five. After our visit Dilip allows a few traders to show us their goods, at a price he has already agreed. I bought an embroidered bag and a peacock feather fan.
We then drive round a bit of Old Delhi, but don't stop again until we reach the Raj Ghat, the place were Gandhi was cremated after his assassination. Normally Hindus are cremated and their ashes thrown in a river, but Gandhi's followers wanted a place to remember him so the memorial was created.
From there we drove to Humayun's Tomb, a forerunner of the Taj Mahal, built by a grieving wife who thought the people were beginning to forget her late husband. Quite wonderful, and huge, with water channels running through the grounds, originally filled from a tank kept topped up by soldiers. It's a world heritage site, and has recently had a lot of restoration work, especially the replacement of the finial on the top of the dome.
Next stop was a Kashmir craft centre where we were provided with refreshments while they tried, and failed, to sell us carpets, jewellery, pashmina scarves and saris. Then throug New Delhi, and past the presidential palace. No body is allowed to stop there so the tourist buses all drive slowly twice round the roundabout. We get held up again, probably by a cavalcade of cars for May, but do mange to drive past India Gate, even though we can't stop.
Our tour was now officially over, but it was only 2.30 so we persuaded our guide to take us to the Qutb Minar complex. This is the site of a tall brick built minaret in a ruined mosque. Beautiful carvings in red sandstone, and a iron column dating from the 9th century with a finial that is on all indian banknotes.
Back to the hotel and a short rest before meeting John and Judith for a quick visit to the mall and a meal.
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