Day 0
Long flights. Four hour to Toronto then fifteen hour to Delhi. Delhi airport is modern, large and efficient. Walking outside to parking is a nightmare. Finally got our car and got on the road. Traffic was jammed even at midnight. Driving to the hotel besides tons of cars there were tons of people milling about. When we got to our hotel (Surya) security popped the hood to look at the engine and popped the trunk to look at our bags. To enter the hotel lobby we had to put the bags on the same type of detector they have at an airport and walk through the metal detectors. The room was large and nice.
Day 1
After a nice buffet breakfast our guide met us and we started our tour of Delhi. First we visited Qutub Minar, a 12th century mosque complex build by the Muslims on the site of even older 27 Hindu temples after they defeated the Hindu kingdom. Then, we visited the the Mughal emperor Humayun’s tomb that was commissioned by his wife in 1569, and it served as a model for Taj Mahal. The site is huge and includes many tombs of the royal family and relatives. We also visited a Hindu temple which was run down and not impressive, and the largest Sikh temple in Delhi called Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, which was impressive. They serve meals there for free all day to thousands of people. There was a large room filled with people on the floor eating. After 20 minutes they leave and another group comes in. Outside there were large sacks of foodstuff that had been donated. Of course, the tour included the obligatory stop for sales. We went to a carpet shop and were shown at least 10 different carpets and served the necessary tea. We enjoyed the tea but declined to buy a carpet. We arrived at the train station at 3:55 pm and at 4 the Palace on Wheels train pulled in. There are about 30 people waiting to board but no indication when that may occur. More people are showing up.
The train left at 6:30. Our room is only OK. Limited closet space. Dinner was unusual. The menu had 16 items on it and we assumed we were to select which ones we wanted. No. They served us all 16 items – we passed on some and took very small portions of others. We had very nice dinner companions, an Indian couple – both doctors. Our fellow passengers are from all over – Australia, England, France, Asian countries
Day 1
After a nice buffet breakfast our guide met us and we started our tour of Delhi. First we visited Qutub Minar, a 12th century mosque complex build by the Muslims on the site of even older 27 Hindu temples after they defeated the Hindu kingdom. Then, we visited the the Mughal emperor Humayun’s tomb that was commissioned by his wife in 1569, and it served as a model for Taj Mahal. The site is huge and includes many tombs of the royal family and relatives. We also visited a Hindu temple which was run down and not impressive, and the largest Sikh temple in Delhi called Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, which was impressive. They serve meals there for free all day to thousands of people. There was a large room filled with people on the floor eating. After 20 minutes they leave and another group comes in. Outside there were large sacks of foodstuff that had been donated. Of course, the tour included the obligatory stop for sales. We went to a carpet shop and were shown at least 10 different carpets and served the necessary tea. We enjoyed the tea but declined to buy a carpet. We arrived at the train station at 3:55 pm and at 4 the Palace on Wheels train pulled in. There are about 30 people waiting to board but no indication when that may occur. More people are showing up.
The train left at 6:30. Our room is only OK. Limited closet space. Dinner was unusual. The menu had 16 items on it and we assumed we were to select which ones we wanted. No. They served us all 16 items – we passed on some and took very small portions of others. We had very nice dinner companions, an Indian couple – both doctors. Our fellow passengers are from all over – Australia, England, France, Asian countries
