Rickshaw Ride in Old Delhi

Old Town

We visited the largest and grandest mosque in India, Jama Masjid, also known as Friday Mosque. It is an outdoor mosque that can accommodate 20,000 people and is surrounded by buildings. Carpet used to cover the outdoor floor. Today the floor is tile. Although the building structures are still magnificent, guide Shivani assures us that it was once a masterpiece of beauty. Shivani quoted Mir Taqi Mir, “There was once a city, the fairest of all, the first in fame. Today its ruined and lies desolate. Delhi is its name, and to that city I belong.”

Rickshaw ride

I had the most unique city tour I have ever experienced. We rode rickshaw through Old Town Delhi. Bouncing along, taking two u-turns because of stopped traffic and colliding with a motor bike, my partner and I were wide-eyed as our biker navigated his way through streets that gave us first hand experience of bustling life in Delhi. The petite male biker doesn’t need to go to the gym for a workout!

 Indians have a great sense of space as the roads are narrow and they squeeze through tight spots. Trash lines the streets. I saw one person throw his paper napkin onto the street to add to the mess. One market street sold all paper products, another fabric, and another - jewelry. My pictures reflect the smog – even smoke – that fills the air. We did not get off the rickshaw and shop. The streets and shops were crowded with people. Bikes, rickshaws, motor bikes and occasional cars clog the streets. Wires hang precariously everywhere. Merchants typically hot wire into the electric to avoid an electricity bill. The officials discover this misuse and cut the wires. Merchants rewire and the round continues. 

 This monkey is perched on a wall looking down at us.

Raj Ghat: Gandi's Memorial

We visited the Samadhi (memorial) to Mohatma Ghandi, the father of the nation and a staunch believer of non-violence. One day earlier Barack Obama visited the memorial. Notice the strings of flowers and the memorial stone is covered with beautiful flowers with a white flower wreath and red and blue ribbon adorning the top. The memorial is normally simple without adornment in honor of what Gandhi represented. This was a special presentation and generous Indian hosting for Obama that we were able to appreciate the next day.