RED FORT.... DELHI

10.12.2014

finally, back to sharing another WONDERFUL experience.

i decided i needed a break for a few days.

YES.... 

i can hear you all now...

she's in india.

she's in jaipur 

& 

she NEEDS a break.

I DID.

so decided a few days in DELHI would just be what i needed. 

i also, had a shopping list, of basic things, that i found hard to find here in jaipur, but knew exactly where to go in delhi.

i got the VOLVO bus from the  bus stop, very close to home.

trip took 6 hours, included lunch break.

it was a good trip, easy destination into delhi.

stayed 

7 - 11th december 

@ COTTAGE YES PLEASE,

 in phar ghung.

stayed there many times, so know the area well.

it is a very well known hang out for hippies, and their dress code and their smoking habits.

i eat at only 2 places. straight across the street from accommodation.

first day...

CONNOUGHT PLACE. 

'PEOPLE TREE'

'THE SHOP'

'KHADI SHOP'

(ghandi shop)

statue of ghandi in the foyer.

'CAFE TONIO'

Italian restaurant.

2nd day.

KHAN MARKET.

'L'OPERA'

told you it was good!

isn't this a BEAUTIFUL bowl ,

outside a shop.

a worn poster, that took my eye.

richly embroidered pants.

imported flowers, to remind the expat of home.

imported food, for the expats.

i bought figs.

these sunglasses reminded me of a blow flies.

I WANT ONE OF THESE PHONES.

swiss voice ( i think)

aren't they cool.

it is hallow,(orange section)

lunch place.

'THE BIG CHILL'

movie posters on the walls.

been here before, when karen and i had our farewell lunch.

it is still great,  karen !

my lunch.

ricotta & spinach ravoli, with Parmesan cheese sauce.

just melted in the mouth.

my new TOY.

my son in law, knows i love gadgets.

this is very typical embellishment for the bottom of dresses.

so i may as well join the women.

some new books, of course.

been chasing books by,

CHITRA BANERJEE DIAKARUNI 

some silk roses. 

herbal shampoo.

books by,

ANITA NAIR

thermals from MARKS & SPENCER.

yes, the english shop.

a pair of velour trousers, soaps & talcs.

walking into the entrance.

the DRY MOAT.

caught my eye.

LAHORE GATE.

the forts main gate is named because it faces lahore, now in pakistan.

after entering LAHORE GATE, you find yourself immediately in the vaulted arcade known as the 

CHATTA CHOWK,

(covered bazaar)

ground floor and above.

the tourist trap arcade once sold rather more exclusive items to the royal household - silks, jewellery & gold. 

NAUBAT - KHANA 

stands at the entrance of the palace area.

it was used for playing drums 5 times per day at propitious hours and also formed the formal entry to the forecourt of DIWAN -I- AM.

DIWAN - I - AM.

or the hall of public audience is one of the most striking buildings in the RED FORT.

built of red sandstone.

sitting atop a plinth, 1.2 m high, the hall itself measures 24.4 m long and 12.2 m wide.

it raises to about 9 m high from the top of the plinth to the roof. 

MUNTAZ - MAHAL.

 inside the apartments of MUNTAZ MAHAL.

see what i mean about the beautiful arches and the white paint.

looking straight up to the vaulted arches.

persian tiles

armoury.

DIWAN -I- KHAS.

the lower part of the piers in the hall exhibit stunning PIETRA DURA WORK, inlaid with mosaics (mostly floral) of carnelian, corals, lapis - lazuli and precious stones, while the upper portions were gilded to the ceiling.

close up of PIETRA WORK.

repairing a water way.

pretty coffee, across the street from COTTAGE YES PLEASE (accom)

got my FIRST HENNA.

it was starting to drop off, in this photo.

and here ends my GET AWAY TO DELHI.

and also my FAVOURITE CHAI WALLAH is handy.

in the morning i would go and get the daily paper, sit at chai wallah and enjoy tea, then my breakfast of white oats (finer than rolled oats) and honey.

my first day 

shopping at CONNOUGHT PLACE. 

these names will be familiar to some of you.

THE SHOP.

PEOPLE TREE.

KHADI SHOP .(GHANDI SHOP)

spent the whole day, wandering 

next day...

KHAN  MARKET.

been here many times, but like yesterday i had the whole day.

this is a market, that expats enjoy.

i was able to buy CHIA SEEDS, CAN OPENER, POWER PACK FOR PHONE, ETC, ETC, 

also  i had been told about a FRENCH PATISSERIE 

L'OPERA.

www.loperaindia.com

oh my goodness!

do you want to know what i had?

 hot chocolate drink & a vanilla slice.

then in the late afternoon, i went back & enjoyed a mini mushroom quiche for dinner.

oh my goodness!

YUM. YUM. YUM.

wednesday i decided i would spend the whole day @ 

THE RED FORT.

bit of history for you..

this massive fort is a sandstone shadow of its former self, but it is the best place in delhi to imagine the mughal city's sometime splendour.

it dates from the peak of the dynasty's power, a time of unparallelled pomp: of eunuchs, ceremonial elephants, and buildings lined with precious stones.

the walls of the fort extend for 2 km and vary in height from 18m on the river side to 33m on the city side.

SHAH JHAN constructed the fort between 1638 and 1648, but never completely moved his capital from AGRA to his new city of SHAHJAHANABAD, because he was deposed and imprisoned in AGRA FORT by his son AURANGZEB.

following the 1857 FIRST WAR OF INDEPENDENCE, the BRITISH cleared all but the most important buildings to make way for ugly barracks and army offices.

the 10m deep moat, which has been dry since 1857, was originally crossed on  creeky wooden drawbridges, that were replaced with stone bridges in 1811.

since INDEPENDENCE of INDIA, many landmark political speeches have taken place at the fort, and every year on INDEPENDENCE DAY ( 15TH AUGUST) it hosts the prime ministers address to the nation. 

for those of you, who have been reading any of the books i recommended by 

INDU SUNDARESAN

you will know how much i enjoyed being in the palace & grounds of

EMPEROR SHAH JAHAN.

i had been to the RED FORT , once before, only for 30mns.

this time i was looking, wandering, sitting for 5 hours.

i will share 2 experiences...

sitting in front of the building DIWAN-I-KHAS

was the emperors private audience hall, where he received his selected ministers and noblemen of the highest rank.

built entirely of polished white marble.

he would sit on the famed PEACOCK THRONE ,

cooled by riverside breezes wafting through the windows, soft light reflecting off the gilded ceilings and walls, and fine silk rugs strewn on the marble floor. 

this is also the area, where they would enjoy ELEPHANT FIGHTS.

remember, this was a different time in history.

then next building that i really enjoyed was 

MUMTAZ - MAHAL.

not for its grandeur, just  because of history, and that MUNTAZ MAHAL used this as her private apartments.

today, it houses the ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM , consisting largely of pieces from the mughal period, salvaged from the royal palace.

the lower portion of the walls and piers are made of marble, while the floor and roof are sandstone. it consists of 6 apartments, divided by arched piers, and was originally painted on the interior.

i enjoyed these apartments, because of MUNTAZ MAHAL .

REMEMBER... SHAH JHAN BUILT THE TAJ MAHAL FOR THIS BELOVED WIFE.

but,, what nearly bought me to tears, was, when i looked up to the arch piers, i could see old original hand paintings on them. 

beautiful vines, flowers.

then some one in their enthusiasm to clean up the arches, have painted over many parts with white paint. 

HOW CAN THAT HAPPEN ?...

another thing i wonder 'how can that happen ?'

is how the photos decided to place themselves in the middle of the blog.

when i put them at the end.

i hope you understood my 3 very full days in delhi.