DELHI – some hidden gems
Delhi is an amazing city, within its ramparts it carries the history of centuries, and it has amalgamated many cultures and religions within its folds. Ancient monuments exist side by side with modern structures throughout the city. You can play golf among old tombs and mosques and you can walk in parks without realising that you are traversing a path that was laid down centuries ago.
If you are visiting Delhi, do try to go off the beaten path and visit some of its hidden gems. The Nizammuddin Dargah is one of them. It is a place of worship, and as you enter its precincts there is sense of peace and serenity that envelops. For centuries, saints and kings have worshipped here, and every building or tomb here, has a story to tell.
In Chandni Chowk, hidden in one of its myriad lanes, is the very beautiful Jain Swetambra Temple. It is built with a profusion of color and ornate coverings, and has some fabulous rare manuscripts and images within it. The amazing black statue inside seems at variance with the brocade and gold filigree all around, and with the fact that the followers of this sect wear only white clothes and believe in simplicity.
Purana Qila or the old fort traces its lineage to 1000 BC and many dynasties have left their marks here. Beautifully laid out gardens among monuments such as Bara Darwaza and the Qila-i-Kuhna mosque, make this one of the most beautiful parts of Delhi. Spend some time looking at the intricate carvings and the huge gateways which have withstood the ravages of time.