Travel Bug -Delhi

Did a day trip to Delhi to catch up with Vasu and Abhinay. The three of us had done a Rajasthan trip last year at almost the same time and this seemed like an anniversary. Abhinay has since changed his job and got admission in a fancy college in Switzerland and Vasu has been terribly busy with his work. So when I cribbed about Vasu always promising to show me Delhi but never doing it he suggested a date and it was convenient. The icing on the cake was that Abhinay also decided to fly down and join us for the day which fit in perfectly.

At India Gate

I took the evening train from Jaipur to Delhi - Ajmer Delhi Shatabdi I think. Met a young PhD in mental illness, Prakriti, who was attending a seminar in Jaipur and returning to Delhi. She worked in AIIMS. Happy go lucky. From Lucknow. Loves non-veg. Kababs. Lucknow. Her work. Laughter. She spoke nineteen to a dozen and generally educated me on her field, her plans etc. Made the journey easier. She also escorted me out of the station to Ajmer gate and left me to my devices. It took a while to get myself a Uber but I did and finally ended up at Nilgiri Apartments which was Vasu's office-guest house. I suddenly realised that the last time I visited this place, a year or so ago, there were two people who were no longer there with us - Ranjan and Vicky (Vasu'sdriver in Delhi)

Abhinay was already in so we caught up. Vasu joined shortly. By the time we ate and hit the sack it was one AM. Vasu suggested we head to India Gate at 6 so we put an alarm for 515 which was unnecessary because it was dark till 7. Coffee etc and then we walked to India Gate with a small detour to Ugrasen ki Bowli which was shut. It a lovely stepwell apparently.

Humayun's tomb - Magnificent

India Gate and the walk was good fun. We took some pics etc and walked back. Breakfast. I napped a bit and then caught up with the guys. We left at 10 am perhaps in Vasu's car, driven by Jagdish. Headed off to Humayun's Tomb which was a beautiful piece of work. I loved everything abut it and realised one could stay there all day if you wanted. Beautiful. Huge.

Vasu and Abhinay

From there we headed off to Qutub Minar where we hired a guide - a self-important jingoistic chap called Raj Kumar who was upset with me being distracted. I would go off to take pics. Anyway, loved the place which was full of tourists anyway. 

Qutub Minar

Off then to Jama Masjid which was another fabulous structure. We walked past thousands of people, selling stuff, buying stuff, kites with manja, climbed up and went into the courtyard. There is a tower that you can climb up and enjoy a panoramic view of Delhi for a fee but we were in no mood for any further climbing.

Jama Masjid

From Jama Masjid we went to Karim's which everyone visits and so did we but we just tasted some mutton kebabs and some lovely tandoori rotis. Walked back to our vehicle and it was time to head back to Jaipur for me. I caught the 430 bus to Jaipur at ISBT, walked passed a bus heading to Haridwar and Rishikesh and for a moment thought I could just head off there. But then, duty calls and I found my place and settled down.

From Jama Masjid - looking at Red Fort

The bus took almost two hours to clear Gurgaon and by the time I reached Jaipur it was 1045. I met this young man who worked in the IT sector, he was originally from Ganga Nagar, moved to Jaipur, office in Noida, family here, parents at Ganga Nagar - and I felt just how heroic his life was too. The stuff he was doing for his family, his parents, where he came from, where he is going. We chatted for a bit and he talked a lot of cricket. 

I got off right in front of Taj Amer which will remain the best hotel experience I ever had. Just in time for a spot of dinner. Pavan was around so we chatted for a bit before I headed off to sleep.

Thanks Vasu for making the trip so worthwhile despite your obvious tiredness. I could see Vasu catching a quick shut eye in the car. And thanks Abhinay for making the effort to come to Delhi. Surely it was worth your while for all the excitement (more reasons than one)