EDWINAAaaaa

Edwina is gone to India =(

Finally she did it!!

But don't worry, the blog is not dead!

She promised me she was going to put some photos of her trip to show us the "real " India =)

I can't waiiiit!!
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DELHI

During our trip throughout the capital, we went quickly through the Delhi India Gate, located near Connaught Place in New Delhi.
This is the prominent landmark in Delhi and a famous War Memorial of martyred soldiers. Its foundation started in 1921 and was completed in the year 1931. This monument of 42 meters tall is a kind of "Arc-de-Triomphe" which seems like a gateway at the heart of a crossroad.

This gate was built to commemorate the Indian soldiers in the British army who died fighting for the Indian Empire during World War One and the Afghan War.

After the independance, India Gate added another memorial, the tomb of the Unknown Soldier known as Amar Jawan Jyoti. This shrine contains an eternal flame which burns day and night in order to pay homage to the soldiers who lost their lives during the India-Pakistan War in December 1971.

We were lucky, we saw the Gate during the nightfall and this is the best time to visit because it's illuminated with colored lights.

Here is the arched memorial of Amar Jawan Jyoti that contains the Flame.

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DELHI

Let's have fun now!!!!!! It's time for SHOPPING, guys!!!!! :-D

We reached the Janpath Market situated opposite the Connaught Place. It's one place in Delhi when you can find a lot of foreign shoppers (maybe more than indian ones).

We wanted to buy some souvenirs for our family. It was very interesting to look at all the amazing stuff we could get there: Decorative items, jewellery, Indian artifacts and carpets , ethnic dresses!!! Hummmmmm.......!!!!! I bought silver jewellery especially bangles, leather footwears, one blue and yellow sari (an indian traditional dress) and of course some Bollywood DVD's!!!!!. Caroline rather bought decorative things such as genie's lamp, Rajasthan color paintings and a beautiful wooden carving jewel box for her Mum!!! She's so sweet!!!!!

One interesting thing about it: In this market (just like lots of markets in India), the "law' is to bargain as much as you can!!!!There's no limit!! That was very funny!! We used many tricks!!! Caroline is gifted for bargaining!!! Thanks to her bright and beautiful smile, we managed to get good things at very low prices!!!! :-)

One little advice if you want to bargain: Don't feel shy and never give up!!! ;-)

These women sell many beautiful clothes in the Janpath Market! We got very fashion dresses there at very good prices!! Anyway as you know, the more you buy the more you can bring the price down!!

DELHI

After spending all our money at Janpath Market, we wanted to get "spiritual relaxation"!! So we went to the Baha'i house better known as The Lotus temple because of its amazing architecture. It's a white marble monument designed like an half-opened lotus and adorned with nine pools and beautiful gardens. Inaugurated in 1986, the temple rises to a height of more than 40 m. It's located on Bahapur Hills in Nehru place .( nearly 12 km from the South East of Connaught Place).

We both consider this temple a model of tolerance. Without concentrating on a particular God or religion, the sacred hall extends his hands to touch every pious souland it leaves behind the bars of caste, creed or beliefs. Indeed, the temple belongs to the Baha'i 's religion, an independant one which attaches great value to tolerance. It also places great importance on prayer and meditation as ways for the progress of human being. Incredible , isn't it?


Silence was prequesite inside the temple. It was this particular silence which creates a kind of "divine atmosphere". We were very moved by the peace floating inside . It soothes our soul.

We also visited many beautiful other temples in the area just like the आक्षरधाम मंदिर "Aakshardhaam Mandir" or the "Birla Mandir".

This is the magnificent and impressive "Akshardhaam Mandir" situated on the banks of the river Yamuna. With its beautiful intricate carvings, it's considered to be a stunning tribute to the tradition of Indian temple architecture.


The Birla Mandir also called Lakhsmi Narayan Mandir is located in the west of Connaught Place. It is dedicated to the Lord Vishnu and the Goddess Lakhsmi. The temple was inaugurated by the Mahatma Gandhi . Inside, there're carvings depicting scenes from Indian mythology. It is visited by many devotees and tourists coming from all over the world.

But we decided to describe the Lotus temple in details because we found it very original and unique.

DELHI

Let's see now the most significant model of Mughal architecture in India :
The Humayun's Tomb ( humayun का मकबरा Humayun ka maqbara)

This impressive monument is situated in the South East of the capital , at Nizamuddin East area। The mausoleum of the second Mughal Emperor Humayun was built by his wife Haji Begum near the year 1562। Since 1993, it has been registered on the World Heritage Site's list by UNESCO।

As you can notice, it's a big complex in which featured a remarkable square garden inside. The garden is divided into small squares by pathways ( चाहर बाघ Chahar Bagh " four gardens"), typical of a Mughal garden.

Here we have a mughal-style basin situated in the garden of the Humayun's tomb.

This impressive mausoleum stands up in the center of the entire complex. If you want to see the the emperor's cenotaph, you'll have to enter in the central octogonal chamber It is kept there with arched lobbies on the sides which contain perforated screens It's very beautiful when the sunrays go through the screen and get into the room. We found it simply magical !!!!

Here, we can see an intricate carved window inside the mausoleum. It shows us a fine example of islamic art in India.

One more interesting thing about this monument: Below the vaults of the mauseoleum house, there're also the graves of a number of Mughal emperors.
We enjoyed the visit inside but our guide was quite boring. He wearied us with his soporific technical explanations about architecture!! :-( So we liked the walks in the gardens better!!

Hey , it's an ideal place for a game of hide-and-seek!!!! ;-)

DELHI

Now we have reached the south of Delhi!!!!

This is the Mehrauli flower market located in the area of Mehrauli in the South-West district of the capital. This area constitutes one of the seven ancient cities that makes up the state of Delhi.
This market is very amazing!! It's bustling with life the whole day!!It starts just before sunrise and closes after sunset but some shops near the main road sell bouquets. Wowwwww!!!!What various fragrances given off in this place!!!!
A lot of people come here in the morning before going to temple in order to buy flowers or garlands of flowers to make offerings to deities at the temple.

Unfortunately, this lovely place experienced a bomb blast the 27th of September 2008 which caused a lot of victims.

DELHI

Our trip throughout the capital lead us now to the famous

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Qutub Minar

or the Victory Tower ( which we like more!)

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This tower of 72,5m is one of the finest stone tower in India and also one of the most landmark in Delhi. It is built in red sandstone
His foundation started in 1192 during Mughal Empire (the period when North of India was dominated by Muslim Empire) by Qutubuddin Aibak.

the interior of the tower is very interesting to visit...
But where there's curiosity there must be courage too...... If you want to see the top, you'll have to go up 379 steps...... hummm!!!!! we did it !!! We're very brave!! The sight is wonderful from the top!! we can see all the gardens around!!

This monument is very popular! There's a lot of legends related to it.
According to me, this tower is famous for the scene of an old Bollywood movie "Tere Ghar ke samne" in which the actor sings a love song inside the tower... This song is still on lips of all Indians! During my chilhood , i wanted to go there just to sing the song with my sister!!! As she's not here with me, i taught the song to Caroline............hummmmm.....:-/

Dil Ka Bhanwar Kare Pukar

DELHI

We finish our trip in the capital by the visit of the

Chattarpur Mandir

a beautiful and very popular temple in Delhi.

It is situated just 4 km from the Tower Qutub Minar in the Mehrauli area. Devotees come from all over Delhi to pay homage to the deities in the temple. Prayers are conducted 24 hours a day!!!!!!!

Inside, all the shrines are built from white marble. It's a large complex in which there're also many temples dedicated to various God and Goddesses like Vishnu, Ganesh,Lakhsmi and Shiva. But the main shrine is dedicated to the Goddess Durga (photo)



On Durga Puja , a religious indian festival, we can see a crowd of people coming and waiting for their turn to ask for the blessings of Durga.

One interesting detail is left to say about it:

According to a popular belief, if you tie a thread in the tree inside the complex, it'll fulfill your dreams!!! .
Let's see if it'll work for you .......... !!!
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