So altogether I have been able to spend 5 days in Delhi. Jumping from old to new via tuk tuks, walking and their useful metro system.

Obviously living in London beforehand meant that I HAD to try theirs and compare the differences. I went assuming that nothing could compare to the English underground system though I was actually wrong. There is plenty more space on the underground in India. Another great aspect of it is that they have ‘women only’ carriages which I think is fantastic. Especially with the way men tend to look at you in this country, I found this very reassuring.

The line which shows the stops is also very easy to use. The red lights are the stations which have already been passed, amber is the one to which you will be arriving and of course, green is for the one which you are currently at. Simples! And so very much cheaper than London prices. The most you will have to pay for a journey is R$21. Which is about 26p.

I then was able to see such amazing sights, forts, mosques and parks.

Red Fort was simply stunning to see from the outside,  however I was pre-warned from others that if you are to be seeing Agra Fort that I shouldn’t waste my money on this one. Being one to trust fellow travellers and their opinions, I did indeed end up giving this a miss to save some pocket money.

Jama  Masjid – This was a beautiful mosque which can actually hold 25,000 people. To enter you have to remove and footwear and unfortunately pay a camera charge (whether or not you intend to use it!). But to enter such a magnificent place, it was worth it. So get onto my hands and knees and pray I did.

Humayun’s Tomb is a must see to anyone who is/going to Delhi. Words cannot describe the beauty of this place. The designs are fantastic and the park which surrounds it is kept perfectly cut. To be able to just sit on the grass with a bottle of water observing the tomb was magical.

Lodi Garden was another beautiful park filled with tombs, Taking time out of a busy travelling day to sit and listen to the beautiful birds sing seemed too perfect for words. The park is also filled with squirrels and butterflies. I couldn’t imagine a better place to sit for lunch!

Shopping has always been a massive pain in my mind. You waste money on bits of fabric, you spend ages trying clothes on, you have to queue for everything and it wastes a day which you could have spent doing something useful. But of course I had to go to Connaught Place to see the small markets full of clothes, spices and fruit. The busy busy streets are unbelievable and haggling means that everything comes at a cheap price. It is here that I bought my first Aladdin pants – which are STUNNING by the way!

Unfortunately when it came to see the Lotus Temple, it was closed (as were most things on a Monday) which was an absolute shame given that the outside was a masterpiece on it’s own. If I am to return to Delhi, then this would be my first stop.

Gurdwara Bangla Sahib. Now this is a MUST SEE. I actually happened to stubble across it on a walk from Connaught Place. It’s a Sikh Temple with golden onion domes. I was guided by a Sikh who took me downstairs (where the rest of the foreigners go) to remove my shoes and ensure that my head and shoulders were covered. He then took me to the front where I (along with everyone else) had to wash their hands and feet before entering. Maybe it’s just me who will find this place beautiful, meaningful and breathtaking but I completely got in the ‘religious/spiritual zone’. I touched each step to the main entrance and did my classic touching of the head, heart followed by a kiss of the hand. I then entered and sat on the floor with both feet touching. How long I was there for, I have no idea. But I closed my eyes and just let myself go. There was praying and chanting in the background and at that very moment I didn’t want to be anywhere else! It was truly perfect and I really felt something in my heart (as strange as that sounds). Obviously I’m not going to try and become a Sikh myself but I felt honoured and so lucky to be able to be there with them and understand a small aspect of their lives and beliefs. Perfect!

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