Two Days in Delhi

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Monday, 19 November 2018 - After just three hours of sleep, explored Delhi in 102°F heat and high humidity. Visited a neighborhood laundry area to watch men beat cloths in cement tubs, then saw the Agrasen ki Baoli stepwell with its multiple levels and arches. Drove to Purana Qila (Old Fort) to see Sher Mandal, Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque, and the fort walls, walked part of the Old Fort wall, and ended the day at the scenic Lodi Gardens, admiring Shisha Gumbad and Bada Gumbad structures before lunch and calling it quits due to exhaustion from the heat.

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After 3 hours of sleep we headed out into the 102 degree 70% humidity day. Boy was it hot.


First stop was a neighborhood where the people do laundry. Using cement tubs of water the men beat the cloths against the cement after washing in the water.
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An old washing machine being used for storage
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Stacks of laundry
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A short walk led us to the stepwell Agrasen ki Baoli in the middle of the city
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The Agrasen ki Baoli is a popular place for locals as several Bollywood movies have been shot there.
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Beautiful arches along the levels - and there are several levels. We did not see any water at the bottom.
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Baoli Mosque at the top of the stepwell
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The walls on the street outside the stepwell were decorated with colorful graffiti
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Then a drive to Purana Qila or the Old Fort - and it is old - one of the oldest in Delhi. Excavations of the area show habitation back to 1200 BC. The fort was active in 1533. There are the walls and two buildings still standing today.


This is Sher Mandal is a double-storey octagonal tower of red sandstone with steep stairs leading up to the roof. Its original builder was Babur who ordered the construction and was used as a personal observatory and library for his son Humayun.
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The second floor of the observatory is closed for visitors - and is where Humayun (second Mugal emperor) fell from the second floor to his death
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Beautiful plaster work on the ceilings
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Just outside the astrology building was a standalone structure which was a bath house. This is the waterfall into the bathing/steam room.
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The only other building on the Old Fort grounds is a very large mosque - the Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque.
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The single-domed Qila-i-Kuna Mosque, built by Sher Shah in 1541 is an excellent example of a pre-Mughal design, and an early example of the extensive use of the pointed arch in the region as seen in its five doorways with the 'true' horseshoe-shaped arches. It was designed as a Jami Mosque, or Friday mosque for the Sultan and his courtiers.
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The detail in the mosque is very pretty
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Little niche with a detailed arch
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White marble sculpted panels
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The mosque ceiling over the main room
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Sandstone carving - the wall is showing some wear.
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Arches in the mosque
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We then walked part of the Old Fort wall
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The southern gate in the Old Fort wall
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Then to the very pretty Lodi Gardens where among walking paths and a small lake are two very old buildings.


This is Shisha Gumbad ("Glass dome") which is an octagonal tomb built during the Lodi Period (1451-1526), which contains the remains of an unknown family, this was built during the reign of Sikander Lodi.
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Across from the tomb is the Bada Gumbad Mosque dated to 1494. This is detail of the decorations.
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Detail fo the blue tile used during the Lodi period as decoration
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Standing on the Bada Gumbad Mosque courtyard looking at the Shisha Gumbad Tomb
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Standing in the Bada Gumbad Mosque courtyard looking at the Shisha Gumbad Tomb
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Detail of the decoration in the Shisha Gumbad Tomb
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The Shisha Gumbad Tomb was so picturesque in the garden setting


After the gardens we headed to lunch and were exhausted so after lunch we called it quits. We were both so hot.
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