What should have been a 36-hour stay in India turned into a whirlwind of a 24-hour stay. I was supposed to reach India on a Friday night which turned into a Saturday afternoon. (More on that here)
India, oh how I’ve dreamt of you. I imagined my first trip to be weeks long. I’d start in Mumbai, and follow up with Goa, before making my way north to Jaipur and Delhi. I ultimately made it but for a shorter time than planned.
I arrived in Delhi just after noon. Tired, sweaty, and on the tail end of what felt like two days' worth of travel. I had pre-done my visa to save time and I made my way to immigration to start the journey. A few minutes later I was stamped into the country.
I made myself outside to a host holding the name of my hotel on a lanyard. I was staying at the Shangri-la New Delhi. The first image I grabbed was a line of cars in the taxi stand just outside of the terminal. A precursor for India’s notorious traffic jams. Within ten minutes I was in the back of my car in awe. How do Indians manage the traffic without so much of a stop sign? It was incredible to see.
As I made my way to my hotel, I noticed the thick air and fog notorious in North India. Forty minutes later I made it to the hotel. My original flight got canceled and I arrived in India a full day late. My 6 am tour was now a 1 pm tour and I had to move quickly. After a shower and a welcome drink, I was out again on my way to Agra.
In Agra, I did the best I could with time. Visiting the Taj Mahal, Baby Taj, and the Agra Fort. I also visited a textile company that specialized in the type of marble that’s on the Taj Mahal made only in Agra. The Taj Mahal was impressive, the structure, the garden, the entrance, and the mosque around it. I only saw the outside of the other structures due to the closing times but that's for another time. On the way back to Delhi, we stopped in the Noida Provence for a quick drink at a roadside establishment. I had dinner that night at the hotel.
The next day I had a 4-hour tour around New Dehli before my flight. I left the hotel at 6:00 am and headed to my first stop, the Parliament of India. The building is impressive. I can describe it but that would be an injustice. The next stop was the Gate of India. The gate has significance dating back to its independence in 1947. I then visited Humayun Tomb and Lodi Gardens.
After touring New Dehli, I wanted to see what Dheli looked like. It's slightly more aged but home to the Red Fort, the Jama Masjid Mosque, and Taj Ghat. Each stop was impressive but the Taj Ghat was serene and peaceful and the final resting place of Mahatma Ghandi.
I went back to the hotel, ate a quick bite, and then went to the airport. India is busy but I like it and I can't wait to see the memories it gives me in the future.
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