Delhi, India's capital, dates back to around 1600 but it wasn’t until 1911 that the British moved India's capital from Calcutta to Delhi. Edward Lutyens designed Delhi as a monumental and majestic city to house the British administration. After Partition in 1947 the population of Delhi exploded.
Delhi is India’s Washington DC, complete with majestic State buildings and grand boulevards. New Delhi is remarkably “un-like” what many westerners think of India; streets are clean, traffic is relatively orderly, architecture is beautiful.
We began our first full day with our traditional travel activity (no, not a massage); a bit of, well, retail therapy. First we had a delicious breakfast out on the 1911 patio before Vijay picked us up at 10. We drove to the Hauz Khas Village area and headed for two favorite shops: Ogaan for Cathy and me, and a men’s shop around the corner for Cliff. Next, to Santushti Complex to for another Ogaan location, Tulsi, Anokhi etc.
We began our first full day with our traditional travel activity (no, not a massage); a bit of, well, retail therapy. First we had a delicious breakfast out on the 1911 patio before Vijay picked us up at 10. We drove to the Hauz Khas Village area and headed for two favorite shops: Ogaan for Cathy and me, and a men’s shop around the corner for Cliff. Next, to Santushti Complex to for another Ogaan location, Tulsi, Anokhi etc.
When satisfied that we’d seen everything we needed, we left to do a bit of walking in the warm, but not oppressive, afternoon haze in the Lodi Gardens, near our hotel. We expected to see nothing but rambling paths but were delighted to come upon Mughal tombs in the middle of the gardens. We watched green long-tailed parakeets flying around the tombs.
When we returned to the hotel in the very late afternoon we needed a cleanup before dinner. Energy was running low but as luck would have it the hotel had planned a “mini-Diwali” evening starting at 6pm, complete with fireworks. Perfect. I should back up to say that Diwali means ‘Festival of Lights”. The celebration occurs on Hindu New Year’s Eve, which is tomorrow night, October 17.
We found a table with a great view outside under a canopy (which turned out to be useful later on because the fireworks seemed to reign down directly over our heads). Beautiful flower petals were arranged on the ground to celebrate Diwali. Huge assortments of traditional Diwali sweets were laid out for us to sample and enjoy. I thought the sweets were wonderful because they're not at all sweet and they include unusual flavors and spices and even (HOT) peppers. Delicious.
I wonder what will be in store for us tomorrow night when we experience the real evening of Diwali in an Indian home. Stay tuned.
Photo captions: Courtney at Ogaan, Cliff in serious negotiations (ie, sharpening his pencil) over a shirt, Courtney in Lodi Garden, C&C at mini-Diwali dinner (Cathy in a gorgeous new Ogaan ensemble), and pyrotechnics at the Imperial to celebrate Diwali.
When we returned to the hotel in the very late afternoon we needed a cleanup before dinner. Energy was running low but as luck would have it the hotel had planned a “mini-Diwali” evening starting at 6pm, complete with fireworks. Perfect. I should back up to say that Diwali means ‘Festival of Lights”. The celebration occurs on Hindu New Year’s Eve, which is tomorrow night, October 17.
We found a table with a great view outside under a canopy (which turned out to be useful later on because the fireworks seemed to reign down directly over our heads). Beautiful flower petals were arranged on the ground to celebrate Diwali. Huge assortments of traditional Diwali sweets were laid out for us to sample and enjoy. I thought the sweets were wonderful because they're not at all sweet and they include unusual flavors and spices and even (HOT) peppers. Delicious.
I wonder what will be in store for us tomorrow night when we experience the real evening of Diwali in an Indian home. Stay tuned.
Photo captions: Courtney at Ogaan, Cliff in serious negotiations (ie, sharpening his pencil) over a shirt, Courtney in Lodi Garden, C&C at mini-Diwali dinner (Cathy in a gorgeous new Ogaan ensemble), and pyrotechnics at the Imperial to celebrate Diwali.
