The next stop in my travel blog series is New Delhi, India. My work adventures gave me the opportunity to spend seven days here. Looking back it was one of the most amazing weeks of my life. I never dreamed that I would get to visit India, and I cherish the memories made there. After a four hour flight from Thailand to India, I set foot in New Delhi for the first time and had a Wizard of Oz moment. The “you’re not in Kansas anymore” feeling.
My first impression of India was its intense energy. It buzzes with a vitality that reflects the billion plus people that call it home. You’ll know what I mean, almost immediately after leaving the grounds of the airport. While driving to my hotel, I felt almost overwhelmed by the amount of people in the streets. The traffic and congestion was unlike anything I had ever experienced. Cars fought over single lanes alongside motorbikes, tuk tuks, pedestrians, and cows! Drivers zoomed on the roads using the most haphazard methods I’ve experienced in a moving vehicle.
Each time I got in a car I found myself saying little prayers to every God conceived by mankind – Christian, Hindu, Buddhist. I’m not sure which God kept me safe, but someone did! The two words that best describe my Indian driving experience would be “divine chaos.” Chaotic for its intensity, yet divine because somehow everyone manages to get to their destination!
This electric chaos is contrasted by the timeless structures I was able to visit in between work:
- the Qutb Minar,
- Agra’s Red Fort
- the magical Taj Mahal
Amid the hustle and bustle of Indian life, these sites have stood solid and eternal – enjoyed and appreciated by generations before me and, no doubt, by generations yet to come.
To my surprise I learned that these sites were Islamic, built by the Mughal empire invading from the north. I don’t know why I didn’t realize this before because the Islamic influence is very obvious once you take note of the architectural details: the pointed arches, calligraphy, and intricate carvings. They are beautiful.
Qutb Minar
The first visit was the Qutb Minar, the world’s tallest brick minaret. Built in the thirteenth century, the minaret overlooks Delhi.
Red Fort
Next was Agra’s Red Fort. It was built to serve as the main residence for India’s Mughal emperors in the sixteenth century. Its most distinctive features include the red sandstone that gives the fort its name, and the beautiful white marble overlooks.
Taj Mahal
Speaking of white marble, the highlight of Agra was the magical Taj Mahal. It is a seventeenth century mausoleum built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. She died giving birth to the couple’s fourteenth child. Yikes. Before visiting, I had assumed that the site was all marble, but to my delight, after seeing it up close, I saw that the Taj Mahal is inlaid with gorgeous semi precious stones in beautiful floral designs. Apparently, the Taj Mahal glows at night when the moonlight hits the marble and stones – just imagine how beautiful it must look.
When I came home to the United States I missed India’s energy. Did anyone else have the same experience when traveling to India? Shortly after returning, I heard a quote that best summarizes how I felt: “The body travels on wheels, the soul travels on foot….” It takes a while to get used to home after being in India – its energy leaves an impression that you can’t soon forget, and I can’t wait to return someday and explore more of this beautiful country.
Stay tuned for another post featuring the colors of India !
