New Delhi Day 3 - Old and New Delhi, Jama Masjid Mosque, Gandhi Smriti, SikhTemple

We were on the bus at 8 o'clock heading to Old Delhi to visit the Jama Masjid, India's largest Muslim mosque built between 1644 and 1656 by order of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan who also is responsible for the construction of the Red Fort in Delhi and the Taj Mahal.  Red sandstone and white marble are hallmarks of this massive mosque.  The tallest minarets are 135 feet tall.  The courtyard can hold 25,000 worshipers.

Jama Masjid

We next took a rickshaw ride through the narrow streets of Old Dehli.  It was a labyrinth of passageways in which one would easily become lost much like the medinas of Morocco.  Traffic was light as most of the shops were closed on Saturday.  Still there was plenty of activity in the streets.

Making Her Living

No Shop Means No Rent To Pay

Electric and Telephone Wires

Monkeys and Dogs Run Wild in the Streets

Our next stop was the Gandhi Smriti where Gandhi spent his last days and location of his assassination.  The house is now on exhibit and serves as a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.

Mahatma Gandhi's Bedroom

Site of Gandhi's Assassination

We had a wonderful lunch at an interesting restaurant known for its tasty food and eclectic decor.  It was filled with mostly old and odd items such as a juke box, an automobile from the late 40s or early 50s, antique clocks and paintings.  The hanging lights were all different in style and lumens.  Manu, our tour guide ate with us at our table.  He divided his time between conversing with us and making sure everyone was being well served.  The meal was of varied dishes and delicious.

After lunch, we went to Humayun's Tomb which was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Hunayun's wife and constructed between 1569 - 1570 CE.  The tomb was designed by a Persian architect and was the first garden-tomb in India.  Over the years, other tombs and gardens were later constructed around Hunayun's.   The tomb with its Persian architectural influence and gardens was a precursor to the Taj Mahal.  Like the Jama Masjid, red sandstone and marble make this an imposing structure.

Mughal Emperor Humayun's Tomb

Our final stop for the day was the Sikh house of worship, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib.  Construction on this gurudwara began in 1783.  Additions and modifications have been made over the years to accommodate the needs of the worshipers.  To enter the gurudwara, we had to remove our shoes and socks, don a head covering and wash our feet.  We then stepped onto marble flooring which covered the entire complex which was immense.  Religious rites were on-going as we entered the prayer hall.  Musicians were playing and worshipers were singing as we quietly walked through observing the beauty of the interior which we could not photo.  Cameras were prohibited inside. 

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

Cleansing Pool

One fascinating fact is that thousands of meals are prepared and provided free of charge to those seeking sustenance.  The food is provided by donors and cooked by volunteers in a massive kitchen.

Feeding Room

Kitchen Cauldrons

 

Making Bread

We ended the day with a social hour at the hotel.  Many in the group were repeat Gate 1 Tour travelers.  We sat across an American Japanese couple from California who travel extensively and shared some of our experiences and plans for future travel.  They will continue on after this tour of India and proceed to Nepal for a week's tour there.

Other sights of the day:

Flowers for Religious Offerings

Doing the Laundry

Brick Homes and Shops

With Electricity Comes Air-Conditioning