Delhi Adventures One

The Hotel Signature Grand is an average hotel; 🏨 but, there was a stand-up security at the door. Oddly, no-one actively monitored the metal detector and it was possible to walk around it. The sisters 👧👧🏻 later learned that MANY businesses in India have security mechanism and it is not unusual to have to clear security to enter.

Our first look at India in daylight! 🌞 This is the view from our hotel 🏨 room. Though there is some morning fog we are also seeing smog that hovers in the Delhi air on a regular basis.

We knew cattle lived on the streets, but were not expecting to see a herd living below our hotel room! Every night rubbish is dropped off in the lot next to our hotel and the cows come to feed on it. The sisters 👧👧🏻 looked out to see and enjoy the cows 🐄 each morning from the hotel 🏨 window.

The grounds of the Qutab Minar complex are absolutely beautiful and well manicured. The size of the complex is such that one can get lost, but also the beauty and ease of walking through these grounds will cause one to be lost in deep thought.

Alai Minar was started in 1311 AD but never finished. This tower of victory was started by Delhi Sultan, Alauddin Khilji. Khilji who planned to make the Alai Minar twice the height of the Qutab Minar but died in 1316 AD which caused the project to be abandoned.

A sun clock is located in the lawns of Qutab Minar. According to Sanderson's Sundial - and the 🌞 sun - the sisters 👧👧🏻 visit was around 🕛 noon. The sundial recognizes the work of Gordon Sanderson, an officer with the Archaeological Survey of India.

Smith... in Hindi?!? 🤷‍♀️

Shams ud-Din Iltutmish, Sultan of Delhi, was the first Muslim sovereign to rule from Delhi. The Tomb of Iltutmish is in the Qutab Minar complex.

Shadonna loves 💗 these trees, 🌳 but the sisters 👧👧🏻 never confirmed what kind of tree it is.

The Lotus Temple a Baha’i House of Worship - India is one of many structures around the world. The Baha’i House of Worship - USA is in Chicago.

The gate of the Lotus Temple is in the shape of a peacock. The Lotus 🌷is the national flower of India. The 🦚 peacock is the national bird of India!

The grounds are beautiful and it is incredibly quiet within the gates even though there are SO many people.

No shoes 👞 👡and no speaking 🤫 are allowed inside the Lotus Temple.

Anmol took our shoes into a shoe check, a wooden marker was issued for pickup of our shoes later

The Lotus Temple has thousands of visitors per day. Though there are a lot of people, they move together harmoniously. 🎶

Chandi Chowk is the oldest and one of the busiest markets in Old Delhi

In the middle of the market there was a somewhat open area so we could get a look

Anmol has instructed us to stay very close to him and to protect our bags. He teaches us that pick-pocket danger is here.

Anmol is a GREAT driver. To the USA person India traffic might appear disorganized; but, it is not disorganized, it is a different system. Staci called it “the flow.” These drivers understand and use the exact width/length of their cars as they slip in-between and in-front of each other. Indians use every centimeter of the available space! The flow is best described as moving in and out of many cars in such a way that blends with those nearby.

Sign says “Accident Prone Area” - since this was our first ride in Delhi traffic EVERYWHERE felt accident prone. We didn’t see many accidents, and none that were life-threatening. However, during the sisters two weeks in India they were involved 2 small car bumps.

Delhi traffic jam! One guy in a 🛺 rickshaw caused a traffic jam - or lost "the flow." 3 guys got out of their 🚗cars - the sister thought the 3 guys were planning to help restart the flow BUT quickly learned, their intentions were to scold the rickshaw driver! 😁