Trip to Delhi – Day 2 (Hamayun’s Tomb & the Streets of Delhi)

Hope you’re not too put off but let me confess that I am a totally spoilt traveller. Don’t like to walk too much and get tired easily, especially when the air quality is bad. Also due to the pollution I got a major migrane for the first time in my life. Even though temperatures are around 14 degrees at 10am, the sun’s glare is pretty unbearable. Thank goodness for Axe Oil which always does wonders for me. I swear by it.

The first attraction we saw was Hamayun’s Tomb. He is the grandfather of Shah Jahan who built one of the seven wonders – The Taj Majal. The Taj Mahal was based on this structure.

photo by bookjunkie

photo by bookjunkie

This is a World Heritage Monument.

photo by bookjunkie

At least this attraction was not a crowded as the Taj. Crowds always ruin it for me, no matter what country I’m in.

photo by bookjunkie

The tomb was commissioned by the ruler’s widow.

photo by bookjunkie

It was much cooler on the inside with the marble.

photo by bookjunkie

It may be hard to go up the steep flight of steps and would be a problem if you’re in a wheelchair.

photo by bookjunkie

The whole structure is pretty massive.

photo by bookjunkie

Eagles gliding above in the cloudless sky.

photo by bookjunkie

Inside the tomb area.

photo by bookjunkie

View of the gardens from above.

photo by bookjunkie

One of the many scuttering squirrels.

photo by bookjunkie

photo by bookjunkie

Bird carrying litter in their beaks. There was piles of rubbish everywhere especially in Agra, the city where the Taj Mahal is and which we drove to the next day.

photo by bookjunkie

But I must say there was so much to see, just looking out the car window. Immediately you could see the great disparity in incomes, with huge houses for the rich and people coming up to your window to beg. Again it was disturbing and just didn’t seem right to me. Guess that’s where capitalism goes wrong although India is a socialist country. I can’t help but link it all back to the very unfair caste system which seems to be still entrenched in the country. I really hope that one day it will be totally eradicted. I felt really guilty and felt that we were too privileged in many ways and just lucky that we ended up in a much more fortunate situation compared to many people here whose existence is clearly a daily struggle. The book and movie, Slum Dog Millionaire was pretty close to reality and it’s sad.

I saw many Toyota Camry cars in Delhi.

photo by bookjunkie

I wonder what the Tuk Tuk drivers make of Delhi’s new MRT system which the people seem to be very proud of. Wonder if their business fell as a result.

photo by bookjunkie

There were rickshaws as well but not as many as the Tuk-Tuks which I’ve seen in Bangkok as well.

photo by bookjunkie

photo by bookjunkie

I thought his poor arms must be aching after a while.

photo by bookjunkie

I found these white vintage looking cars to be quite attractive.

photo by bookjunkie

Massive loads on a little bicycle.

photo by bookjunkie

About bookjunkie

Blogging about life in Singapore & recently cancer too.
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6 Responses to Trip to Delhi – Day 2 (Hamayun’s Tomb & the Streets of Delhi)

  1. Lady J says:

    Hehe I think we may have something in common! When it comes to traveling, I’m a little spoilt as well. I can’t walk for long and worse if my feet hurts because I’m not wearing the right shoes, I can get really grouchy!

  2. whatsaysyou says:

    Cool pictures and wow, you’re so lucky to visit the famous tomb

  3. Crystal says:

    I skipped that tomb in favor of a spa day–now I kind of regret that!

    • bookjunkie says:

      Actually, I was more impressed by the Taj and wouldn’t have minded if we had skipped this (I am such a bad traveller). But I went for a Spa in our Agra hotel too. Forgot to blog about it. Will do it soon because I loved it.

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