Bob Travel

Delhi is an historic city in India, full of cultural heritage and major historic landmarks. Its official name is the National Capital Territory of Delhi and constitutes the second largest metropolitan area in the country. It is located on the River Yumana and has been continuously inhabited since at least the 6th century BC. This is a significant historical aspect, and there are few cities in the world that can claim this. The Delhi hotels are sometimes situated in historic buildings and offer the guests a sense of the ancient traditions, and timeline significance of this major Indian city.

The Red Fort is on of the major historic landmarks of Delhi and is also a popular tourists destination. In 2007 it was recognized by UNESCO as one of the World Heritage Sites. Construction of the fort took approximately 10 years, it began in 1638 and was finished in 1648. Its name can be translated as blessed residence, as its original intention was to house the Emperor and his family. The design of the building incorporates elements of Persian, European and Indian art. It is ornamental and manifests aspects of high art styles.

The River Yumana,  which runs along the border of Delhi, and also the site of the Red Fort, is the largest tributary of India’s Ganges river. It has a total length of the over 1,300 kilometers, and has served a major role in India’s trade and expedition history. The river’s mythological associations connected it with the Indian god Krishna. The goddess of the river Yami is also the basis of its name. Yami was the daughter of the sun god, Surya, and his wife Samjina. She is the twin sister of Yama, who is the god of death. They are from the Vedic tradition, which is one of the major scriptural and belief bases of Hindu tradition.

Nasiruddin Humayun was the second of the Mughal Emperors who ruled parts of India, as well as Afghanistan and Pakistan. He was born in 1508 in Kabul, and succeeded his father in ruler-ship. This caused a bitter rival between Humayun and his half brother Kamran Mirza who would assume the ruler-ship of Lahore and Kabul. He was Emperor for a short period of time, though it was also an extremely significant and transitional era. He lost the kingdom at one point, as did his father, though he would regain it and the new kingdom would be even larger than before, spanning some one million square kilometers. His death left a substantial legacy for hisson Akbar the Great.

Humayun’s sister wrote a biography on the Emperor and characterized him as being extremely benevolent and lenient. He was known for his capacity for forgiveness. He was also portrayed as being extremely superstitious and had a great interest and fascination for the occult and astrology. Once he became Emperor, he reorganized the entire administration according to mystical principles and design. He also had the habit of shooting an arrow into the air. The arrow would have his name on it, or that of the Shah of Persia. Depending on how the arrow landed, he would interpret the results as indicative of whom was to become more powerful. Humayun was also known for his heaving drinking and consumption of opium pellets, after which he would recite poetry.

One of the stories that testified to his forgiving nature involves his youngest brother killing one of Humayun’s most trusted advisors, before leaving with an army headed to Agra. Humayun went his mother’s house and in her company as well as other women he swore that he would not hold a grudge against his brother and simply urged him home. This and other stories present him as a gentle and humane leader, and he was also known for his dislike of war. Humayun died in 1556 and his remains are in the Humayun Tomb in Delhi. This incredible complex of buildings is one of the city’s major landmarks and is visitedby the many guests staying in the Delhi five star hotels.

Delhi is an ancient city located on the banks of the River Yamuna in India. It is the country’s second largest metropolitan area and also ranks as the eight largest in the world. It is believed to have been continually inhabited from the 6th century BC or earlier. It should not be confused with New Delhi, which is the country’s capital and also lies within the National Capital Territory of Delhi. There are many landmarks, cultural traditions and art forms that are based on or representative of the city’s dynamic history. Tourists staying in the Delhi 5 star hotels are often struck by the incredible cultural heritage and ancient status of the city. The Red Fort and Humayun’s Tomb are to landmarks that are extremely attractive to tourists.

The Red Fort became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. This is an incredibly beautiful building complex and showcases India’s high level of ornamental design and art oriented architectural style. The actual artwork contained there is a fusion of Persian, Indian and European styles and inspired the creation of the rich and colorful Shahjahani form. Because it demonstrates the long tradition of art significance, it is one of the most important complexes in India. The walls of the Fort have heavy stringed courses along the higher sections, though they are extremely smooth. The main entrance, the Lahore Gate, leads to the Chatta Chowk, which is a covered bazaar street. The walls on this street are lined with spaces for shops and stalls. Delhi Gate lies at the southern end of the street.

Humayun’s Tomb is a complex of buildings whose construction began in 1562. It was designed by the Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyath and is located in Nizamuddin East. It is situated close to the Dina-panah citadel, which was founded by Humayun in 1533. The Tomb was commissioned by his wife, Hamida Begum. The Tomb contains the graves of numerous Mughal Emperors and was built from rubble masonry. It stands on an 8 meter high vaulted terrace and was the first Indian building to use the Persian double dome on a high neck drum. It is spread over an area of 12,000 square meters.

Arriving to the capital city of Delhi , I found it to be better than Mumbai on many issues. For one it’s has a better standard of living alongside a lower cost of living. Two great combinations. I did find the pollution on certain day to be overwhelming, but I haven’t forgotten that Delhi is the first city around the world to adopt a ‘green’ CNG fuel for it’s public transportation system which I took from the airport to one of the Four Star Hotels in Delhi where I had book a room for the week.

Delhi is definitely more affordable than Mumbai, where I just came from. I’ve heard that I might be able to find a very reasonable price in regard to real estate. So, switching from wanting to live in Mumbai to living in Delhi was an easy choice. I can’t imagine surviving in Mumbai given the shear  astronomical cost of eating out or how much vegetables cost there. I don’t make that much money, and Mumbai would make me almost a pauper .

So, living in Delhi will be like living in luxury. Delhi is a dream city for me because I’m a history addict and an art lover. Delhi has been India’s capital before time and every dynasty left it’s own architectural grandeur for me to explore and appreciate. Moreover, I’ll enjoy watching the changing of the seasons; Delhi has a pleasant winter, where Delhi is a fashion Mecca parade of people dressed to impress in their winter wools. For spring I’ll be able to see all the well-planned tree-lined streets turn from a barren skeleton canopy to a new flowering blossoming wonderland all the while witnessing the morning ragas by the musical stalwarts at Nehru Park. I’ll also have the fun of changing my wardrobe every six months.

I have found my new home in Delhi and I am very excited and happy that there is such a wonderful place here in India. Truly a dream come true for me.

The Dastkar Society in India, is similar to the Podmajersky Inc., in Chicago, USA. Both of these organizations seek to give artists a chance. Not just to show their work, but by providing living quarters and workspace as well. At discounted rates. In the Chicago neighborhood of Pilsen, any artist, be it a writer, painter, sculptor, or musician, has a shot at a loft apartment, in one of the many buildings that the Podmajersky family has owned for last one hundred years. In fact, they only rent to artists, and this has created quite a community in Pilsen, an area previously a bit rough and just bordering the notorious ‘South Side’ of Chicago.

Dastkar in India has one main goal, and that is the improvement in the financial success of their artists. Support is given to the craftspeople in the form of help with marketing and access to those facilities, as well as providing financial assistance and grant money to those who need it. The Society wishes to bridge the gap between the artist and the consumer, and they remain active in traveling to the smaller towns, and finding the artists and bringing their works into the city. They recognize and value what the artist has to provide for society, not just in the work or the goods that they produce, but in the culture they create and sustain. For each city knows when the artists move in, the neighborhood becomes more desirable. Business will boom, a cafe, a restaurant, a city park, a hotel, Delhi India will become an artistic hub, and all those surrounding that hub will thrive.

Dastkar was formed in 1981. What started out as six women volunteering their time to furthering the economic security of their artists, has turned into a a full time marketing and development organization, that attends to not only Delhi, but to all of India. And what started out as a small group of women mainly helping other women gain independence and stability, has become an across the board organization to help all artists of the country. Dastkar is now seen as a movement, helping to further the artistic traditions of an entire country.