After exploring Shimla attractions and Kulu Manali adventurous places we reached Delhi on 10th at () with loads of unforgettable Road Trip memories. The next day at 8.30 pm we booked our return flight to Chennai. Before leaving we planned to explore a few more major attractions such as Qutab Minar, Akshardam temple, Lotus Temple, and Nehru Place. After breakfast, we booked Ola can and proceeded to Qutab Minar, which is the much-known landmark of Delhi. We reached the place at 10 am and paid.
Qutub Minar
Qutub Minar is a historical minaret and is considered as the most prestigious monuments of the Indian heritage located in the Mehrauli. The Qutub Minar is one of the most prestigious monuments of the Indian heritage and also a classic marvel of engineering. You can get a paid guide from the tourist office located on the premises of the historical monument to get to know the rich history of this beautiful historical monument. The structure was started by Qutub-ud-din Aibak in 1119 but was completed by his successor Iltutmish. The tower is 73 meters tall and the diameter at the base is 47 feet, which creates its tapering structure, much like the shape of a cone. There is also a spiral staircase inside with 379 steps leading from the base to the uppermost tip of the tower. The 5 stories of the tower are carved with intricate sculptural work till it reaches the top of the Minar whose diameter is 9 feet. Its mesmerizing mix of historical buildings and the steel pillar that never rusts, even in 2,000 years, is really outstanding.
Take your time to wander around this wonder I am sure you won’t be disappointed. Being weekday the place is not thronged with the visitors. From the entrance, it took almost 10 to 15 mins to reach the tallest building. Besides this, we also visited beautiful Mughal architecture as the Quwwat-Ul-Islam mosque’s courtyard having old non -rusted Iron Pillar. The courtyard is a fusion of Indian, Persian, and Islamic architecture that definitely worth visiting. The other thing that strikes me most was the interesting background story of its construction and re-construction. If you visit by evening, the sun has set and the path is lit with LED lights pleasuring your eyes. I have always enjoyed my visit to Qutub Minar. It was truly an unforgettable experience that, besides being intellectually satisfying, gave us a glimpse of our country’s proud history. By noon, we had completed the tour of Qutub Minar and booked a cab to Lotus Temple.
Lotus Temple (Bahá’í House of Worship)
Everyone is welcome to visit the Lotus Temple with free entry. Lotus Temple belongs to the Baha’í faith and is one of the most visited establishments in the world. The Temple is the beautiful magnificent building unfolds in the form of a Greek white marble in the shape of a Lotus flower. The building is composed of 27 free-standing marble-made “petals” organized in bunches of three to form nine sides. The nine doors of the Lotus Temple open onto a central hall that has the capacity of holding up to 2,500 people.
When you enter the temple complex, you will find a beautiful gateway, exquisite flower gardens, and eye-catching fountains and pools. The way to the temple from entrance is dotted with lush green shrubs and amid the bubbling crowd; a feeling of tranquility adorns the atmosphere. Once you enter the temple, you will definitely amaze by its hall with enchanting architecture wherein all the visitors can sit and can feel the silence and the peace. Lotus Temple is considered as the must-visit tourist spot not only for its beautiful architecture but also because of the modern way of meditating in a completely different, blissful ambiance. Photography is not allowed inside the temple. A visit should remove their shoes before entering the inner prayer hall.
After experiencing Lotus Temple we had our lunch (South Indian Meal) at nearby restaurant and started to Akshardham Temple by metro train.
Akshardham Temple
Akshardham Temple is one of Delhi’s biggest, newest, and most grandiose attractions that must not be missed in your bucket list especially if you are architecture buffs. Akshardham is the world’s largest comprehensive Hindu temple officially opened in 2005, which composes 100 acres of land including parking areas situated on the banks of the Yamuna River in the eastern face of the city. It was built by thousands of craftsmen who carved its breathtaking exteriors and interiors by using traditional methods. Swaminarayan Akshardham is a beautiful temple complex that is composed of vast grounds for worship, but also an animatronics experience, an IMAX-style theater showing a film about the temple’s namesake, food court serving vegetarian food, a gift shop selling books and religious paraphernalia and a theme park-style boat ride.
The sprawling complex featuring a 108-foot-tall main temple made from 6,614 tons of pink sandstone and full of beautiful carvings. Admire the temple’s complex style of architecture which consists of 234 ornately carved pillars, 9 domes, and more than 20,000 statues of various Hindu sages, saints, and acharyas. Once you are done with exploring make sure that you aren’t late for the Water Show, which starts after sunset. Evening tour of Akashardham Temple will take you to a fascination Journey of large-format films through a multimedia water show and colored musical fountains of water. After experiencing different exhibitions and spending a lot of time in the temple we felt hungry. There are some small stalls that serve snacks next to the water show selling find tasty and cheap food. We enjoyed Ice Cream and snacks. We relished the exotic flavors of Indian masala tea and chat. Next to the canteen, you may want to take a look at the souvenir shop where you can buy interesting books, paintings, herbal medicines, and souvenirs.
Remember to take off your shoes before you enter the temple. You must place the cameras, mobile, watch, umbrellas, and other luggage in the free cloakroom. Since cameras and mobile phones are not allowed inside the complex, so we clicked some professional pictures which were taken inside the temple complex. It cost 250 INR depending on your photo size. You can collect their pictures taken inside the temple at the souvenir shop. You also cannot bring food and drink inside the temple. Tourists and visitors from all over the world can explore the values of Culture, Tradition, and art in India. I remember clearly that the temple had already taken my breath away as I walked up its stairs, and the feeling doubled as I crossed the doorway. Overall the experience was truly amazing to enjoy the beautiful piece of architect and the light show that happens inside it was just too good along with the exhibition.
We spent our time till 5 pm and started at Nehru Place for quick shopping. That place was full of laptops and electronic stuff. The market was indeed crowed and filled with fun and excitement. We purchased hard disk, mobile accessories, and few other electronics for the best deal.
We booked Ola and reached our place Munirka at 6.30 pm. After refreshment, we packed our things and started to the airport. We reached the airport at 8.15 pm to depart our flight at 9.30 pm.
To conclude, I enjoyed and experienced many things from this honeymoon trip and I hope I will cherish those memories every moment of my life. Last but not the least; I would like to extend my thanks to our Friends Suganya and Senapathi for making our trip to Delhi possible. I would also like to thank Surjeeth Singh(Driver) for accompanying and taking us safely to enjoy and experience the Shimla attractions and Kulu Manali Road Trip. Without them, I would have never traveled to Delhi, Shimla and Kulu-Manali tourist spots and had such an enriching experience. Thank You…
To all of you who are thinking about taking a chance, just go for the best road trip or honeymoon destinations and explore this beautiful planet. Pack your bags, get a ride to the beautiful places, and just….go!
