The trashiest Google search result that I have ever seen in my life is - 'things to see in Moradabad'. Well, I was visiting my native town Moradabad and wanted to explore the city (or other nearby places). The options I had were Haridwar, Lansdowne, Rishikesh and Delhi. However, Delhi......
seemed the most lucrative option for the simple reason that my expenditure would be next to nothing here as GRay (Gourab Ray) resides in Delhi (read Noida. I didn't know that equating Noida with Delhi is like saying you are a Townie when you are actually from Goregaon). Since he is always looking for a reason to drive his car around, he agreed to show me the city. So DELHI WAS ONNNNN!!!!
I left Moradabad and reached some place in Noida by an air-conditioned UPSRTC bus which left Moradabad and reached Noida on time. Let me repeat, AC BUS, UPSRTC, ON TIME. And this whole ticketing system was online wherein a confirmatory message was sent to my phone (and an email too). I cried a few tears of happiness once this happened (mera desh badal raha hai). As I got down in the middle of nowhere (probably Noida), my actual destination was Sector 53 (ewwww! Those people have numbers for their areas instead of names. Numbers suck the soul out of a place, dont you think?). I encountered 2 issues here - a) My internet was not working (Dear cute Airtel girl with a pixie cut, you continue to dissapoint me) because of which I couldn't OLA/UBER and, b) The autowalla was charging Rs. 400 for a couple of kms (ch#$#$^!@*$). Luckily, a policeman was standing nearby who suggested that I take a local bus (OMG! is he talking about the Blue Line monster?) and so I did board one dilapidated and rickety piece of metal and prayed that I reach Sector 53 in one piece. What I found really amusing about the bus was the seat reservation system. Being from Mumbai, I have seen seats reserved for women, senior citizen, differently abled people, etc. but for the Press? No, never!
seemed the most lucrative option for the simple reason that my expenditure would be next to nothing here as GRay (Gourab Ray) resides in Delhi (read Noida. I didn't know that equating Noida with Delhi is like saying you are a Townie when you are actually from Goregaon). Since he is always looking for a reason to drive his car around, he agreed to show me the city. So DELHI WAS ONNNNN!!!!
I left Moradabad and reached some place in Noida by an air-conditioned UPSRTC bus which left Moradabad and reached Noida on time. Let me repeat, AC BUS, UPSRTC, ON TIME. And this whole ticketing system was online wherein a confirmatory message was sent to my phone (and an email too). I cried a few tears of happiness once this happened (mera desh badal raha hai). As I got down in the middle of nowhere (probably Noida), my actual destination was Sector 53 (ewwww! Those people have numbers for their areas instead of names. Numbers suck the soul out of a place, dont you think?). I encountered 2 issues here - a) My internet was not working (Dear cute Airtel girl with a pixie cut, you continue to dissapoint me) because of which I couldn't OLA/UBER and, b) The autowalla was charging Rs. 400 for a couple of kms (ch#$#$^!@*$). Luckily, a policeman was standing nearby who suggested that I take a local bus (OMG! is he talking about the Blue Line monster?) and so I did board one dilapidated and rickety piece of metal and prayed that I reach Sector 53 in one piece. What I found really amusing about the bus was the seat reservation system. Being from Mumbai, I have seen seats reserved for women, senior citizen, differently abled people, etc. but for the Press? No, never!
Not just for any journalist but a well reputed one!
I was dropped at some sector of Noida and eventually made it to GRay's place by an e-rickshaw. After a brief lunch and some rest, I began my 1.5 day trip to Delhi:
1. Akshardham Temple:
The 1st stop of the journey was Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple which has one insane security surveillance mechanism. The time I spent inside the main complex was much lesser than the time it took me to get in (you have to deposit your mobile phones and get frisked twice). The deity of this temple is one Mr. Swaminarayan who according to Wikipedia was born Ghanshyam Pande in Chhapaiya, Uttar Pradesh, India in 1781. In 1792, he began a seven-year pilgrimage across India at the age of 11 years. During this journey, he did welfare activities and after 9 years and 11 months of this journey, he settled in the state of Gujarat around 1799. The entire complex is just too massive and ornately carved with flora, fauna, dancers, musicians and deities. The numbers speak for themselves. Read here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akshardham_(Delhi)
Since mobile phones are not allowed inside the complex, this is all I could manage from the flyover
2. Lotus Temple:
This temple in Delhi is a Bahá'í House of Worship and has a flower like shape, somewhat resembling the Opera House of Sydney. Bahá'í Faith is basically a monotheistic religion that focuses on spiritual unity of all people (something like Sufism). Wikipedia says that According to Bahá'í teachings, God is known by spiritual virtues such as truthfulness, kindness, unity, love, and justice, and the purpose of religion is to advance these virtues in humankind. Anyway, this place was really cool to be honest. You have to maintain absolute silence in the main hall (try mediating for a few minutes here). Read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Temple
As the day was coming to an end, we headed to DLF mall for some burgers and then went back to Sector 53 (seriously, numbers are weird. Change the naming mechanism, please?)
After having a quick breakfast at Haldirams (kachauri and puri sabji _/\_ ) the next day, we headed to Red Fort. GRay was oblivious of the fact that Red Fort is closed on Mondays (bummer!!) so we proceeded to other places that were on my list:
3. Jama Masjid:
This mosque is also called as Masjid-i Jahān-Numā (world-reflecting mosque) and is one of the oldest in India. To reach the mosque, you have to make your way through narrow and congested streets but the sight that awaits at the end is jaw dropping. According to Wikipedia, Jama Masjid was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1656 at a cost of 1 million rupees. The mosque was completed in 1656 AD with three great gates, four towers and two 40 m high minarets constructed of strips of red sandstone and white marble. The courtyard can accommodate more than 25,000 persons. There are three domes on the terrace which are surrounded by the two minarets. On the floor, a total of 899 black borders are marked for worshippers. Read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jama_Masjid,_Delhi
4. Humayun's Tomb:
This is the tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun and was commissioned by Humayun's first wife Bega Begum. The tomb was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. This is one massive building I tell you. Read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humayun%27s_Tomb
5. Isa Khan's Tomb:
The Isa Khan tomb complex is a walled area adjacent to Humayun’s Tomb and is the resting place of Isa Khan Niyazi, a noble of influence at the court of Sher Shan Suri. A mosque and an octagonal tomb built in the Sur style are enclosed in Isa Khan’s walled complex. The complex is the first historic structure encountered by visitors on entering the World Heritage Site complex of Humayun’s Tomb. To be honest, although this tomb is not massive as Humayun's Tomb, I found it a little bit more beautiful than Humayun's Tomb because of the bluish tinge in the domes. Read more at https://www.wmf.org/project/isa-khan%E2%80%99s-complex-humayun%E2%80%99s-tomb
6. Agrasen ki Baoli:
Agrasen ki Baoli is designated as a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India. It is a 60-meter long and 15-meter wide historical step well. As you reach the very bottom of the well and look straight up, you will find thousands of bats clinging to the ceiling. Quite an eerie sight!! Read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrasen_ki_Baoli
7. Wallart at K.G. Marg:
Bang opposite to the entrance of Agrasen ki Baoli, one can find some really amazing graffiti.
8. Mazar-e-Mirza Ghalib:
If you are a poet or have even a little bit of interest in poetry, you must absolutely visit the tomb of one of the greatest poets the world has ever seen - Mirza Asadullah Beg Khan (aka Ghalib). He was the last great poet of the Mughal Era, and is considered to be one of the most popular and influential poets of the Urdu language. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a good glimpse of the tomb as some makeover was happening at the site. Read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghalib
9. Dargah of Nizamuddin:
Hazrat Nizamuddin is the dargah (mausoleum) of one of the world's most famous Sufi saints, Hazrat Khwaja Syed Nizamuddin Auliya. Please be cautious of the route you to enter and exit this place because it is complicated and you might lose your way here. Read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nizamuddin_Dargah
10. Jantar Mantar:
It consists of 13 architectural astronomy instruments. The site is one of five built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur, from 1723 onwards, as he was given by Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah the task of revising the calendar and astronomical tables. The primary purpose of the observatory was to compile astronomical tables, and to predict the times and movements of the sun, moon and planets. I am told that a lot of demonstrations and protests are carried out here. Read more at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jantar_Mantar,_New_Delhi
11. Wallart in Lodhi Colony:
THIS PLACE IS A VISUAL TREAT FOR ART LOVERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
12. Qutub Complex:
The Qutub complex is an array of monuments and buildings. The best-known structure in the complex is the Qutb Minar, built to honor the Sufi saint Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki. Its foundation was laid by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, who later became the first Sultan of Delhi of the Mamluk dynasty. It is an amazing place to click great photos. Read more at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qutb_complex
Well, the trip was almost coming to an end. So GRay took me to have authentic street food at Brahmaputra Shopping Complex which happens to be a non vegetarian's paradise. Next we headed to Nirula's for the sweet tooth hath its own will.
Wandering Wheelz of the Trip:
Eshan Kapoor
Gourab Ray (aka GRay)
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