DELHI, the indian capital
The first stop of our Diwali holidays (21.10 - 31.10) was Delhi, the capital of India. It was actually the first and last stop, because in total we stayed two days, one at the beginning (before headingt o Himalayas) and on in teh end, right fater coming back from there and fliying to Mumbai.
It was not the first time that I was in Delhi (I was there last year as well for also one day or so prior IC 2005, an AIESEC conference) but I must really say that that time I was certainly too stressed to really enjoy sightseeing as much as I did this time. That time I remember we took a cab with Candice (the AIESEC Alumni chair of the conference), Gabi, and couple of people more. This time the process was the same, we also took a cab that for 500 Indian Rupees drives you all over the place for 8 hours or it's equivalent to 80 KMs. It's a good deal (for those who will visit India and might doubt about doing it).
It was a lot what I heard about Delhi, specially after living in Mumbai. It seems that there is kind of a "Mumbai - Delhi" rivality where inhabitants of each city tend to always joke about which city is best to live. I must really say that Delhi impressed me totally and from my point of view these are the top highlights of the whole "Mumbai - Delhi" issue:
Impression 1: Delhi is cleaner than Mumbai, nothing to do, it is. Dehli is a greener city.Dehli is less smelly.
Impression 2: Delhi is less crowded than Mumbai, heaps less. For someone that comes first time to India Delhi can seem overpopulated, but please go first to Mumbai and then compare. For moments we asked ourselves ... where is the people? And believe me, we were at a variety of zones and in different dates.Less ottos (instead cycle rikcshaws), less traffic, less polution.
Impression 3: Delhi's weather IN OCTOBER rocks. Ok, I know as well that Dehli in summer is hell, extremely hot, but this month it had the perfect weather, and in general I guess even in summer, the city is less humid than Mumbai.
Impression 4: The Metro in Delhi is impressive, way better, clener, more modern that many metros I have seen in Europe. It is not culturally sensitive to do the following comment (sorry, but I mean it in a positive way!), but while being in metro stations in Dehli, you basically do not feel in India. The Mumbai train is way too unorganized, packed, and unattended in comaprison to this ... but well, Mumbai it's clear that the Mumbai train is way older and Mumbai as such is much more populated.
Impression 5: People in Delhi give the impression to be less "aggresive" than the Mumbaikers, bit more attent. I've been told that Delhi has started since some times an urban organization process, people do respect more! It was so cool to see how a police man was stopping people that tried to cross the street while the traffic lights were in red. Traffic lights are more abundant than in Mumbai, as well. We remembered a lot the process that Bogota (colombian capital) is living sine almost 10 years ... Bogota was an extremely chaotic city and given unconventional citicen education strategies, is now a more livable place to live.
Impression 6: Finally, even if it is a city Delhi has much concrete and awesome sightseeing points than Mumbai. Below are some pictures of it.
Finally, thanks for Krishna for hosting us for a night in her house, for those who know her, people you must really experience the hospitality of this family, so stay tuned when she is back in Dehli, so that you make sure you visity her ;-)
DISCLAIMER: Ok ... for all Mumbaikers and other Mumbai fans: MUMBAI is MUMBAI, yes. I know that and I missed Mumbai believe it or not! It sounds like a "standard" comment, but yes, Mumbai has personality.
It was not the first time that I was in Delhi (I was there last year as well for also one day or so prior IC 2005, an AIESEC conference) but I must really say that that time I was certainly too stressed to really enjoy sightseeing as much as I did this time. That time I remember we took a cab with Candice (the AIESEC Alumni chair of the conference), Gabi, and couple of people more. This time the process was the same, we also took a cab that for 500 Indian Rupees drives you all over the place for 8 hours or it's equivalent to 80 KMs. It's a good deal (for those who will visit India and might doubt about doing it).
It was a lot what I heard about Delhi, specially after living in Mumbai. It seems that there is kind of a "Mumbai - Delhi" rivality where inhabitants of each city tend to always joke about which city is best to live. I must really say that Delhi impressed me totally and from my point of view these are the top highlights of the whole "Mumbai - Delhi" issue:
Impression 1: Delhi is cleaner than Mumbai, nothing to do, it is. Dehli is a greener city.Dehli is less smelly.
Impression 2: Delhi is less crowded than Mumbai, heaps less. For someone that comes first time to India Delhi can seem overpopulated, but please go first to Mumbai and then compare. For moments we asked ourselves ... where is the people? And believe me, we were at a variety of zones and in different dates.Less ottos (instead cycle rikcshaws), less traffic, less polution.
Impression 3: Delhi's weather IN OCTOBER rocks. Ok, I know as well that Dehli in summer is hell, extremely hot, but this month it had the perfect weather, and in general I guess even in summer, the city is less humid than Mumbai.
Impression 4: The Metro in Delhi is impressive, way better, clener, more modern that many metros I have seen in Europe. It is not culturally sensitive to do the following comment (sorry, but I mean it in a positive way!), but while being in metro stations in Dehli, you basically do not feel in India. The Mumbai train is way too unorganized, packed, and unattended in comaprison to this ... but well, Mumbai it's clear that the Mumbai train is way older and Mumbai as such is much more populated.
Impression 5: People in Delhi give the impression to be less "aggresive" than the Mumbaikers, bit more attent. I've been told that Delhi has started since some times an urban organization process, people do respect more! It was so cool to see how a police man was stopping people that tried to cross the street while the traffic lights were in red. Traffic lights are more abundant than in Mumbai, as well. We remembered a lot the process that Bogota (colombian capital) is living sine almost 10 years ... Bogota was an extremely chaotic city and given unconventional citicen education strategies, is now a more livable place to live.
Impression 6: Finally, even if it is a city Delhi has much concrete and awesome sightseeing points than Mumbai. Below are some pictures of it.
Finally, thanks for Krishna for hosting us for a night in her house, for those who know her, people you must really experience the hospitality of this family, so stay tuned when she is back in Dehli, so that you make sure you visity her ;-)
DISCLAIMER: Ok ... for all Mumbaikers and other Mumbai fans: MUMBAI is MUMBAI, yes. I know that and I missed Mumbai believe it or not! It sounds like a "standard" comment, but yes, Mumbai has personality.
Now some pictures:
1. Q u t a b M i n a r
1. Q u t a b M i n a r
The Qutb complex is an array of monuments and buildings at Mehrauli in Delhi, India, the most famous of which is the Qutub Minar. This complex was first constructed by Qutb-ud-din Aybak, the first ruler of the Slave Dynasty, and his successor Iltutmish (aka Altmash) in his new city called the Qila-Rai-Pithora near Prithivraj Chauhan's older city. The complex was added to by many subsequent rulers, including Iltutmish and Ala ud din Khilji as well as the British.
The word 'Qutab Minar' means 'axis minaret'.
2. R e d F o r t
The Red Fort was the palace for Muslim Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan's new capital, Shahjahanabad, the seventh Muslim city in the Delhi site. He moved his capital from Agra in a move designed to bring prestige to his reign, and to provide ample opportunity to apply his ambitious building schemes and interests. The Red Fort gets its name from the massive wall of red sandstone that defines its eight sides. The fort lies along the Yamuna River, which fed the moats that surround most of the wall.
3. I n d i a g a t e a n d P r e s i d e n t ' s H o u s e
India Gate
India Gate, a majestic structure, 42 metres high, is set at the end of Rajpath, perhaps the most beautiful area of New Delhi with plush green lawns in the backdrop. it was originally called All India War Memorial in memory of the 90,000 Indian soldiers who died in the campaigns of World War I, the North-West Frontier operations of the same time and the 1919 Afghan Fiasco.On the walls of the structure are inscribed the names of all the soldiers.
Presidents House
4. Lotus Temple
Lotus Temple is the place of worship for the followers of Bhai Faith in India. This is an beautifull piece of architecture constructed in Delhi.
5. I s k o n T e m p l e
It is one of the 40 temples in India that belongs to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, dedicated to Lord Krishna. From a restaurant to a museum in the making, a library and a special animatronics show, sound and light presentations accompanied by huge relief and life-like figures are bound to make an impact on an audience, far more than just an exhibition.
6. C y c l e R i c k s h a w s i n D e h l i
A cycle rickshaw, also known as a pedicab, velotaxi, or trishaw, is a human-powered vehicle for hire, usually with one or two seats for carrying passengers in addition to the driver. Cycle rickshaws are widely used for transportation in many parts of Asia where they have largely replaced less-efficient rickshaws that are pulled by a person on foot. In Mumbai there are not many, but in Dehli there are on the opposite a lot!
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