Delhi

Delhi, India

Delhi is a bite-sized version of India, a world of contrasts. It’s like a gate. Behind that gate is a hall of faiths, of beliefs. India does have a gate: India Gate. It draws a demarcation line between Old Delhi and New Delhi. If Old Delhi is about India’s history, then New Delhi, India’s future. Old Delhi feels quaint, while New Delhi, sleek. Two different worlds.

Here, religions are etched in the core of people’s being; religions are uncompromising attitudes about life and death. People bask in the radiance of a world of deities and live a peaceful life they believe they are fated to live.

Getting around

• India Gate

  Astride Rajpath, the landmark of New Delhi resembles the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and is a memorial to the Indian soldiers killed during the First World War.

• Red Fort

  The fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan who was credited with constructing The Taj Mahal for his lover had the fort built. The sunset with the fort shimming in the orange glow is an gratifying spectacle.

• Humayun's Tomb

  The chequered life of the second Mughal emperor is indeed the stuff of storybooks. He lost his kingdom soon after ascending the throne. He regained it over a decade later, but soon died an accidental death.

• Lotus Temple

  Dozens of marble-clad “petals” are arranged in clusters, conjuring up the image of a lotus flower in full bloom. Lotus is a mascot in the Hinduism and Buddhism.

• Traditional markets

  A stroll through the traditional markets that have been passed down from generation to generation is an exhilarating experience, with distinctive Indian souvenirs, spices, shawls, blankets, bed sheets, tea, musical instruments and all the other gewgaws all part of the changing scene.

  
  
  
• Ayurveda

  It’s Indians’ unique system of medicine and therapy which boosts physical and mental relaxation. With Shirodhara, for example, medicinal liquids usually mixed with milk are gently poured on forehead to reduce stress and allay anxieties.