Old & New

Continuously inhabited since the 6^th century BCE, Delhi is a city of contrasts. Visit a modern shopping centre such as DLF Emporio with its Jimmy Choo and Louis Vuitton stores, and you could be in any western country. Visit the old laneways in Old Delhi’s Chandni Chowk and you will experience the real Delhi where stall holders hawk exotic spices, incense and colourful fabrics.

My first impression of Delhi? I won’t lie – I thought it was chaos. It seems that everything in Delhi is covered in a fine layer of dirt until June, when the monsoonal rains will wash the city clean (if only temporarily). Piles of rubble litter the roadsides and unfinished construction abounds.

But, if history is your thing, it’s definitely the place to be. The three world heritage sites, the Red Fort, Qutb Minar and Humayun’s Tomb are must sees.

The Red Fort, constructed by Shah Jahan in the 17^th century. The fort served as the Mughal Emperors’ capital until 1857, when they were booted out by the British Indian government.

The tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun, commissioned by his wife Hamida Banu Begum in 1562. 

My favourite, the Qutb Minar, a sandstone and marble tower, is covered with carvings and verses from the Quran. Qutb-ud-din Aibak commenced construction in 1192, and, unfortunately for us, the inside of the tower is now closed to visitors.