Old Delhi

February 21, 2020:  To get to Old Delhi we had to take a car through some parts of Delhi to our bicycle rickshaw transfer spot.  Here I include a smattering of photos, in no particular order, from our full day of sightseeing.

The only time on the whole trip that I recall seeing an open road.

Catholic Church in Delhi

The Red Fort

Street dog sleeping amongst the throngs of visitors to the Red Fort

A pair of Rosy-ringed Parakets - we saw these every day.

Boys with special religious symbol at the Red Fort.

Our Old Delhi tour group:  Me, Ansar Khan, Jay and Susan.

Transfer to our bicycle rickshaws

The back of my bicycle rickshaw driver.  My fellow passenger was our guide.

Now we are in Old Delhi

Market stall

Police taking selfie

Trip participants Jay and Susan in their bicycle rickshaw

Shoe market street

Another food market stall.

Check out the electrical grid.

Above and below:  Two more market stalls.

Above and below:  On the street

Yet another market stall.  The fragrance from the spices was lovely.

Street scene taken from the stairs of the Jama Masjid mosque in Old Delhi, one of the largest mosques in India.

Jama Masjid mosque

Boy climbing Jama Masjid mosque stairs with flip flops in his hands.

On the left, our guide Shirook - spelled incorrectly, walking up mosque steps.  He was hilarious, every time he was in a photo he had to put on his reflective lens sunglasses.  Good guide.

Following our visit to the mosque, we left Old Delhi in a car without having the opportunity to say goodbye to our bicycle rickshaw drivers. Upon arrival at the mosque we hopped out of the rickshaws and ran up the mosque steps not knowing our drivers would be paid and dismissed at that point.  This made me sad because I would have liked to thank them personally.  They really looked out for us and did not allow us to get lost in the Old Delhi crush of activity.  Cost of our two hour rickshaw ride - 500 rupees; by my crude calculation about $7. Obviously, I would have liked to tip them more.  It was a great visit, made all the better having experienced it from a bicycle rickshaw.  

Following our departure from Old Delhi we had a lunch at a terrific traditional restaurant of which I, uncharacteristically, neglected to take a photo. No photos of the great food either.  There was so much to see and everywhere I looked something new was happening.  It was hard for me to always be cameral ready.   

Above and below:  Lotus Temple

Asian Pied Starling (Gracupica contra) on the grounds of Lotus Temple

House Crow (Corvus splendens) on the grounds of Lotus Temple

Finally, above and below, India Gate a memorial to Indian soldiers who fought in World War 1.

One of the final photos of the day, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi leading his followers.

This ends post #2.  Next post:  Taj Mahal