The Ministry of Home Affairs was designed by the prominent British architect Herbert Baker
in Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture.
Also in the photograph is one of the four Dominion Columns which were presented by
Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa
as a gesture of friendship and unity among the Dominions within the British Empire. On top of
each Column is a bronze ship symbolic of the Empire's ocean links and the emblem of each
Dominion is marked on each Column.
The Rashtrapati Bhavan - the Official residence of the President of India.
The column in front of the house is the Jaipur Column. In 1912, Madho Singh II, the Maharaja of Jaipur,
offered to sponsor its construction to commemorate the 1911 Delhi Durbar
and the transfer of the capital of India from Calcutta to Delhi.
Column and cannon on the fence of the residence of the President of India
The India Gate is down a grand mall from the President's house and the ministry buildings.
India gate is a memorial to 82,000 soldiers of the Indian Army who died in the period 1914-21
during the First World War, in France, Flanders, Mesopotamia, Persia, East Africa, Gallipoli and
elsewhere in the Near and the Far East, and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. 13,300 serviceman's
names, including some soldiers and officers from the United Kingdom, are inscribed on the gate
Not too far away is a complex of tombs including Humayun's Tomb
This is a gateway to one of the old tombs
Top of the main gate to Humayun's Tomb
Humayun's tomb
Humayun's tomb is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun. The tomb was commissioned by Humayun's
son Akbar in 1569. In all there are over 100 graves within the entire complex, including many
on the first level terrace, earning it the name "Dormitory of the Mughals", since the graves
are not inscribed their identification remains uncertain.
Virginia Ann and Cal in front of Humayun's tomb
Wedding photos in front of Humayun's tomb
The ceiling inside one of the domes of Humayun's tomb
The tomb is made of red sandstone
The marker for the grave several feet below as the bodies are buried in the ground and this picture
is at least two stories above ground.
Details of geometrical sandstone and marble inlay patterns over the entrance, and the
elevated domes and small minarets that surround the white marble central dome.
The gate to Isa Khan's Tomb
The markers inside Isa Khan's Tomb
Isa Khan's Tomb
Constructed in 1547, it is the tomb complex of Isa Khan Niyazi, an Afghan noble in Sher Shah Suri's
court of the Suri dynasty, who fought against the Mughals. The octagonal tomb is positioned within an
octagonal garden, which was built during his own lifetime. It later served as a burial place
for the entire family of Isa Khan
Another short drive to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib one of the most prominent Sikh temples.
The eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan resided here during his stay in Delhi in 1664. During that
time, there was a smallpox and cholera epidemic, and Guru Har Krishan helped the suffering by giving
aid and fresh water from the well at this house. Soon he too contracted the illness and eventually
died on March 30, 1664. A small tank was later constructed by Raja Jai Singh over the well, its water
is now revered as having healing properties and is taken by Sikhs throughout the world back to their homes.
Inside Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
Inside Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
One of the most famous and popular features of the Gurdwara is the pond inside its complex,
known as the "Sarovar". The water of the pond is considered very holy and is known as "Amrit".
It is believed that the water has miraculous healing powers. Most of the devotees coming to this
holy shrine take a holy dip in the sarovar before entering the main shrine.
The gold domes of the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
On the eastern side of the Gurdwara is the community kitchen hall, known as the "Langar".
Everyday free food is served to all the devotees coming to the Gurdwara.
Mixing lentil soup for the lunch
People being fed in the temple buildings
We then drove to the city center to visit the Jama Masjid
It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1656. The mosque was completed in
1656 with three great gates, four towers and two 130 foot high minarets constructed of strips of
red sandstone and white marble. The courtyard can accommodate more than 25,000 people.
The mosque is high on a hill and has a great view of the Red Fort.
The main gate into the mosque
Cal and Virginia Ann in front of the main gate to the mosque
The mosque minarets are constructed of strips of red sandstone and white marble
Inside the mosque is a giant chandelier over the main chamber
The main chamber of the Jama Mosque
The main gate from inside the mosque
The floor is covered with white and black ornamented marble to look like a Muslim prayer mat.
Beside it, a thin black border measuring 3 feet long and 1.5 feet wide is marked for the
worshippers. There are 899 total such boxes.
From the mosque we walked a block into the old city center.
Streets crammed with stores and people and motorcycles