My Unforgettable Trip to Delhi (July 2014)

Wow, if I think back to a single trip, it's this unforgettable trip to Delhi. It's incredible how big everything is here and how many people live together in such a small space. But back to the beginning 😉

I've decided, quite spontaneously, to fly to Delhi for a few days. Why? Just because, and... because Air India has the new Boeing 787, the Dreamliner, in its fleet. So, I immediately booked myself a window seat. They have those cool electric window dimming things, or "Alteos" windows. A nice toy that I'll be busy with extensively for the next few hours.

So I'll fly from Zurich to Delhi in just 7.5 hours. I actually thought India was further away. Perfect! That makes the trip to Delhi short and pleasant.

First stop on my trip to Delhi. Delhi! And upon arriving in Delhi, I set out to find a taxi. The airport is huge, so it took some time before I found the exit. However, I quickly found a taxi driver. It was difficult to distinguish official from unofficial taxi drivers. They don't stand next to their taxis 😉 So I had to turn down one or two drivers. And off I went to the hotel, the

RADISSON BLU MARINA HOTEL CONNAUGHT PLACE, Address: G-59 Connaught Circus 110001 New Delhi India

What the hell? It's because of a roundabout, according to Google Maps. Right in the city. 

I should have zoomed in further; then the place wouldn't have been such a huge surprise on my trip to Delhi.

But still tip-top. I am right in the city. And below the roundabout, somewhere underground, the metro runs. But first, I'm going into town... oh yes, I'm already here. I flag down a rickshaw, which is called a Tuk Tuk in Thailand, and you probably know these great green and yellow vehicles better by that name.

The driver is asking me where I want to go. Ha, I definitely wasn't prepared for that. I had already been downtown. Oops. I said, „Shopping Mall.“ He then asked if I wanted an American one or an Indian one. Huh? Indian, of course! So, off we go...

The ride in something like that is quite an adventure. Where all the cars are stopped and waiting, we whiz past them at breakneck speed, weaving in and out. Thankfully, you can't hear the screaming engine noises over all the honking. Having arrived at my Indian shopping mall, I find myself in the middle of a shirt store. Two people with measuring tapes are standing around me. Besides shirts and suits, there's somehow... NOTHING else here! Even on the upper floor and even the floor above that... just fabrics for shirts, LOL.

I'm leaving the store, my taxi is waiting outside, of course, and I'm asking for a ride to an American shopping mall. Of course, it doesn't surprise me that I'm measured from head to toe as soon as I enter this shopping mall. Fail! And bye.

All in all, I'm paying the driver just under 1 CHF for the half-hour ride through the city, and I'm glad I'm still in Delhi and at least got a bargain on the ride.

Tired from the flight, I'm heading to the hotel and having yummy food brought to my room. The service in India is great overall.

Visit to a textile factory in Noida

Today is a visit to a textile factory. I've always wanted to know how it works. After all, a large part of our clothing comes from India, or at least the cotton. So I'll be picked up at the hotel by a driver from the company Kripa Garments, and he'll take me to Noida. That stands for  New Okhla Industrial Development Authority, but that's completely unimportant for further progress *g*

Warmly welcomed by the managing director, we first head into an air-conditioned meeting room. Phew... made it, it's bearable in here. Outside it's about 38 degrees Celsius. Still quite tolerable in a suit, though.

I'm being shown the company, from management to production. It's incredible how they precisely tailor shirts, skirts, pants, and so on using stencils. Fortunately, I'm not being measured here and I'm not supposed to buy anything either. Haha!

All in all, a super interesting day! I got many valuable tips for my continued stay. The best tip was probably that restaurants are either clean in the kitchen or in the dining area itself. Therefore, I continued to opt for the rather small and dingy places that served excellent food! You just have to know that.

Things to see in Delhi

What would a trip to Delhi be without sightseeing? My first metro trip in India. Uhhhh... so many people! Bravely, I join the orderly line and wait for the train. The moment it pulled in, the line was unfortunately nowhere to be seen. Quite squashed, I try to escape, and somehow manage to. Hmm... second attempt. I position myself at the very front next to the line. LOL, no way :) I miss the second train too. So, I'll wait for the next 2-3 trains and get lucky that the situation relaxes a bit. Rush hour seems to be over after 20 minutes. Thank God.

I picked a stop somewhere in the city. The ride takes about 20 minutes. From there, people will take you to the temples by bike. Great. Then pedal away, good person.

Meanwhile, I'm being eaten alive by mosquitoes and arrive at the Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site, half-nibbled. This red stone fortress is very impressive. There was a huge line of people at the entrance. I consider turning back several times because it's brutally hot and I don't feel like standing in the sun. The entrance fee here is about 20 cents (15 Euro cents). But wait! There's another line next door. One person is standing there. It costs 2 Euros to enter and above it hangs a sign: Foreigners. That must be me *lol* Within 2 minutes I'm inside.

Of course, you have to leave your shoes outside. Since I'm not a local, they take my shoes and put them in a locker. The other 2500 pairs are just lying around randomly 🙂 So much for the service.

I'm looking at the grounds and meet a couple from Spain along the way. That's cool. They've rented a taxi for the whole day. We split the 30 EUR and I join them.

This way I'll get the chance to visit Gandhi's tomb and the Lotus Temple. In the evening, we'll spend time watching the sunset at India Gate. A great day, with tons of impressions!

Taj Mahal

A visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra is a must on a trip to Delhi.

In the morning, I'm picked up early from the hotel, and a taxi takes me to Agra. It's about a 3.5-hour drive south. But luckily, it's air-conditioned.

I have seen many buildings, but the Taj Mahal is the absolute most beautiful structure of all. It's not as extremely crowded, so I have enough time to take many pictures. A guide joins me, tells me the history, and shows me one or two good perspectives for taking a photo. Since the Taj Mahal is built entirely of marble, it shimmers in different colors depending on the daylight and sunlight. I was told I should come back during a full moon. 😉 We'll see. Unfortunately, that's not today. 🙂

I spend a good 3-4 hours on the grounds and can't stop being amazed. I actually want to stay longer, but I still have the drive back. So I say goodbye to this truly magical place. I weave my way between the camels to my taxi and have myself driven back to Delhi.

The next day, it's time for the flight home.

Conclusion - Trip to Delhi

Overall, I was here for 5 days. Short but intense. India is a super beautiful country, outside of the city of Delhi. The city itself is relatively dirty, there's a lot of smog, and there are simply too many people in a small space. With Noida, I got to see the „rich side“ of the city. The contrast is quite stark. Experiencing contrasts like these is what makes a trip to Delhi truly valuable.

When I landed in Zurich, I wanted to eat directly from the ground. The differences from Switzerland they are so huge, I haven't seen anything like it in any other city before.

However, Delhi is definitely worth seeing. The temple complexes are impressive, and the people are super nice and accommodating. You also learn the meaning of gratitude on every corner.

Anyone who enjoys a bit of action should take a city trip like this sometime. You won't be disappointed. 🙂

Here are a few impressions from my trip to Delhi.