New Delhi, India

In 2007, I traveled to New Delhi quite often for business. Having just landed in India three days before, after having been gone for almost 10 years, the culture shock was quite tangible. I was a tourist in my own country and it felt surreal – the thoughts and feelings that were flowing through me were hard to process, but I just soaked it all in. The crowds, the utter lack of personal space, the dust, the heat, the smells, the colors, the food, the transportation, the clash of western and traditional concepts – all of it. Back then, I did not have the nice camera I do now, so some of the pics may not be the best quality. Here are some photographs of my travels in New Delhi and the surrounding areas. I will do my best to explain them but some may just not have any words to describe them 🙂

This is at the entrance to the Qutb-Minar. I love that the couple in this picture is actually holding hands when 10 years ago, this was taboo. It still is to some extent in some parts of India.

A young girl, brightly dressed, working a construction job.

The Qutb-Minar – the highest stone tower in India, was built in A.D 1230. Yep, that’s right! 

Me, at one of the buildings on the grounds of the Qutb-Minar. Notice the intricate carvings on the walls! And also notice that I look like a tourist, in my capris and denim purse AND high heels! What was I thinking?!?!

A park/mini-garden right in the middle of a very crowded street!

The India Gate.

Two local girls who were begging me to get a henna tattoo. So colorful!

A roadside furniture store.

Entrance to the Qutb-Minar. What do you think of this???

An old, mini temple building on the grounds.

Parts of the walls are crumbling. Considering that they are hundreds of years old, that is impressive, that the building is still standing.

A typical roadside in Delhi – don’t you love how colorful everything is???

A Bahai temple. India is really, and quite literally, a melting pot of religions. Notice the crowds around the building and the lines snaking their way all over the place.

Raj Ghat – the burial place of Mahatma Gandhi. 

India’s own Eternal Flame.

Mahatma Gandhi’s grave site.

A poster of Gandhi at a small, local bookstore in Raj Ghat.

I hope you enjoyed your little trip through some parts of Delhi!!!