Binge sightseeing: Delhi,Agra #MemoryLane

I had two and half free days in Delhi,after my Manali trip(Posted about it) due to my hunt for the cheapest flights to commute between Delhi and Coimbatore.

For someone who binge watches a lot of shows, I thought I will use this time to do binge on Sightseeing.

I decided to go for 1 day Agra-Mathura-Vrindavan trip and then had 1.5 free day in Delhi. But unfortunately that was on Monday when most of the places are closed in Delhi, but I decided to make the most of it.

Majestic construction, beautiful ideology that it represents and the cute gardens will always remain in my memory. We are instructed to keep silence while entering the building so as to not disturb those who meditate or pray. The pin-drop silence and the ambience of the place takes you to another universe.

After there I got some time to move around in the garden where they have planted varieties of flowers that are so pleasing for the eyes.

From here I rushed to the hotel,picked up my bags for my bus to Manali.

After a quick trip to Manali, reached Delhi on Monday.

Agenda: Local food, Sightseeing

Destination 2: Jantar Mantar

As a science enthusiast, this place always made me wonder how a person in those days made something so accurate and useful to measure time.

The building is surrounded by a small garden where I enjoyed aloo tikki sandwich that I packed from a small snack stall.

From here,i strolled down the street which were cleaned and beautified (because of Trump visit to India) to my next destination.

Destination 3: Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

Best place I have visited ever, the ambience, the culture, everything. This was my first visit to any Gurudwara and always wished to visit one as my dad used to share lot of his wonderful experiences in Punjab.

I didn't take pictures until when I felt that I might never visit this place again and just wanted something to remember by. So took two pictures.

Spent almost most of my time here. Sat for a long time within Gurudwara area with the echoes of prayers. Had prashad and langar which was so simple yet touched not just my stomach but also soul. Took a stroll in and around. The place touches your spiritual self, even for a non-spiritual person like me.

Destination 3: Connaught place

I didn't take any pictures of the area due to the rush. Visited many stores and visit Haldiram's there.

Since we get a different version of Aloo bhujia in the south, hoarded some of it for the same. Had raj kachori and chole batura.

Destination 4: Kuremal Mohanlal Kulfiwale

I had eyes on this place due to lot of travelogues i had seen. And I don't regret even a bit taking time and going here. Unique and tasty. Will always remember the flavour. Couldn't take any pictures due to crowded streets and the rickshaw bhaiya recommend that we take care of our belongings in the streets

Destination 5: Qutub Minar

I have always remembered this place from the pictures in my history textbook with the iron stupa and qutub minar photo. Seeing it in real was indeed an experience. Took a stroll around the area and read what each structure was.

Architecture and history lessons revisited.

Random Destinations:

Passed by India gate, parliament,and so many other government offices on the way to my Hotel.

I had to prepare myself for the next day to Agra after this binge-sightseeing. (Delhi,Manali,Kullu)

Destination 7: Government handicrafts store

Here I got see how Taj looks in moonlight and sunrise with the help of lighting and a Taj replica. In addition to that several handicraft items and even tasted the Famous Panchi petta. And again bought some for later.

Destination 8: Agra fort

The extravaganza lifestyles of the kings of those time and their stories are all over this place. Each structure has a story to tell. Even though just visited some of the structures like the vineyard area,court area,secret meeting room, bazar area, forts of generation of kings , I could imagine how wonderful it would have been to live like a royal Mughal at those times.

Main highlight was the place where Shah Jahan was held captive. The story of - how Shah Jahan wanted to be held as captive at a place from where he could see Taj and his son getting him a maginfying diamond to see the place better due to poor eyesight in old age- will always be in my memory. From there I tried to see the Taj and thought of how small the magnificent structure that I was mesmerized with looked from here. Thinking of myself as Shah Jahan looking at Taj brought a smile on my face.

Destination 8: Mathura

The birthplace of Lord Krishna, temple of Mathura was crowded. There was police everywhere. I strolled around the temple area. Visited the jail where Sri Krishna is believed to be born. The best part was a snake structure,inside which there are various models depicting different stories of Krishna.

Destination 9: Prem Mandir,Vrindavan

A larger than life temple, with a many working models of Sri Krishna's stories, lightings, unique garden and the vibe this place has got is very out of the world experience.