Page 30 - Explore Magazine Spring 2016

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DELHI DELIGHT

Tracey Lynch of helloworld Nelson samples the food and shopping in Delhi.

As a stopover, Delhi is an opportunity to experience a When we got off at Connaught Place we got our bearings
small taste of what India has to offer. It’s completely exotic and headed off around the horseshoe-shaped area looking
and will give you as much culture, adventure, spiritualism in the shops and stalls. Books, trinkets, jewellery, crafts,
and diversity as you want or can take. clothing – both Western and Indian – and even a mix of
both at the famous Fabindia store. We spent hours doing
Our first day’s touring took us to Qutub Minar, a red the full circle and luckily there were plenty of restaurants,
sandstone minaret dating from the 13th century that words cafés and eateries to give us the sustenance to keep going.
will never do justice to. The detailed and intricate carvings We stopped for lunch in a small eatery and I had the most
on this impossibly tall structure were like jewellery to my delicious aloo ghobi I have ever eaten (the recipe I was
eyes. How, why and when are all questions I asked.
given from the chef is shown here for you to try your hand),
Next stop was Jama Masjid, built by Shah Jahan between followed with an equally delicious masala chai. Indians
1644 and 1656, and one of the largest mosques in India. always smile when you ask for one.
You do have to climb some pretty steep steps at times but Once we’d had our fill of shopping we grabbed a rickshaw
it is totally worth it.
ride to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the most prominent Sikh
We followed this with a rickshaw adventure through the Temple in Delhi. Not only is this a temple with a holy pool
crazy streets of Chandni Chowk market. Small narrow but they also serve food here to thousands of people every
alleys are lined with equally small shops and market stalls. hour of every day, all for free, to whoever walks through
Overhead are bird’s nests of electrical wiring connecting the door. Beggar, businessman, holy man or tourist, no
them to the mains. We had a great driver who told us all matter what colour, religion or caste, everyone gets fed.
the local history and stories and even stopped so we could We walked through the temple, watched the ceremony
very quickly buy some fruit. going on at that time and then made our way to the kitchen
and watched the team of volunteers peeling, cutting,
The Delhi Metro system isn’t to be feared at all, but cooking, stirring, serving and chatting. It was a sight that
the sheer size of the population using it can be a bit warmed our souls. We were told that there was no need
mind-blowing. We took the Metro from our hotel to for beggars in Delhi to be on the streets as they could all
Connaught Place to do some shopping. Like any other be fed there.
major international city, Delhi has its Metro for workers
and visitors to use without having to take to the already Other things you can see on a stopover are: Humayun’s
bursting roads. It runs like all other metro systems: find Tomb (a Mughal Emperor), The Red Fort, a Bollywood show
where you are, find where you’re going and get on the right at the Kingdom of Dreams complex, Delhi Gate, Ghandi’s
platform going in the right direction and get off at the right memorial, and of course a day or overnight trip to Agra to
station. see the mesmerising Taj Mahal.

HELLOWORLD : EXPLORE : SPRING EDITION