Day 2!

We started the day with a briefing with our guide, Vish, where he went through everything we would need to know for the next 6 days. This 30 minute catch up was invaluable and made sure we knew everything we needed to about the culture, the currency, how to tip, how to deal with local vendors who can be pushy and so much more! 

Vish has been guiding groups with Wendy Wu Tours for 18 years and has even been featured in the latest brochure! We are so lucky to have such an experienced local guide and no matter how many times a day he hears “hey Vish” from one of us, he is more than happy to answer all of our questions!

After our briefing we headed off on our coach to Jama Masjid in Old Delhi which is the largest mosque in India. Built between 1644 and 1658, its courtyard is capable of holding 25,000 devotees who come together to worship and it was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, who also built the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort!

Upon entering we were provided with a gown which all visitors have to wear, then we walked through to the incredible courtyard where everything has been built from a combination of red sandstone and white marble. The sheer size is enough to take your breath away! We then learnt about the significance of this mosque and had a chance to take some photos before we headed off to our next destination.

We took a short walk through the streets of Old Delhi which we thought were busy, but apparently it was very quiet because it was a Sunday. We were told that if it was a week day we physically would not have been able to get through! 

After a little more walking we reached the Khari Baoli Spice Market, which is when I learnt what busy really looks like! So many people were out on their Sunday stocking up on household essentials and preparing for the upcoming Diwali celebrations. There were very brave tightrope walkers dotted every hundred meters or so along the main road and every kind of spice, nut and grain you can image for sale as well as kitchen wear, desserts and so much street food!

Vish organised some rickshaws for us and we were off again, which was a welcome break from walking! The rickshaw riders were absolute machines, carrying us in 36 degree heat with heavy humidity while wearing jeans and long sleeve shirts, and yet they made it look so easy! This ride was somehow much more smooth than the tuk tuk ride from the day before, which is saying something because at some points we were almost taken out by the traffic because the roads were so packed at times!

Back on the bus and stopped off for lunch at a local restaurant before taking a driving tour of some of the sights of New Delhi. Our driver was fantastic at making some not entirely legal stops so we had the opportunity to see India Gate (a monument to the Indian servicemen who died in World War 1) and Rashtrapati Bhavan (the official residence of the president).

By this point we were all exhausted and half the group took a nap on the bus, but we soon arrived at UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Qutab Minar complex which was truely one of the most jaw dropping places I have ever been. There were so many beautiful monuments in the complex, (and so many cute squirrels!) but the centrepiece is the Qutab Minar itself which stands as a historical monument marking the beginning of Muslim rule in India. It stands at 72.5m and is the tallest brick minaret in the world!

It is made up of 5 different stories, each with its own distinct style and the whole towers is covered in intricate carvings and inscriptions in Arabic and Nagari, which detail its history and include verses from the Quran. 

On the way out we came across some puppies and I stopped one of them from eating plastic, so it’s good to know that some things don’t change around the world!

Our final stop before dinner was Laxminarayan Temple, the first large Hindu temple built in Delhi. It was built by the Birla Family in 1938 in dedication to Laxmi (the goddess of prosperity) and Narayana (The preserver). The temple was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi which he would only agree to on the condition that people of all castes will be allowed to enter the temple.

Finally we had a delicious traditional Indian dinner at Lazeez Affaire where the food was so good, half our group had a mini photo shoot just to get a photo to do it justice. 

I’m excited to see what day 3 brings!

Laura xx