Delightful Delhi
We had an “incredible” India experience during our visit to New Delhi. The Global Licensing Meeting 2014 of Hallmark Cards gave us the courage (and the excuse) to travel to unfamiliar territory. And true enough, our hospitable, spare-no-expense host, the Indian licensee, headed by Anil Moolchandani, awed us with continuous entertainment — Indian-style — and gave us invitations to explore his culture.
New Delhi is supposed to be cleaner and more modern than other Indian cities, with wide, modern roads and a metro train system. Daring drivers maneuver cars with no regard for lanes, hands planted permanently on the car horn, feet hardly on the brakes.
The 12th largest economy in the world, India expects to be the second largest (next to China) by 2020. Premium hotels and high-rise condominiums are surrounded by large, beautiful gardens. Visitors need a vehicle to visit the sights or go shopping; one can’t just leave the hotel and walk to a mall. And once the tourist steps off a vehicle, he meets a sizeable portion of its 1.3 billion people, a number of cows (sacred), dogs, monkeys and pigs (useful garbage cleaners).
We watched a spectacular show at the Kingdom of Dreams — 150 minutes of easily 50 performers onstage, wearing an array of colorful costumes, singing and dancing to mesmerizing Indian music. A taste of Bollywood!
Qutub Minar, a Unesco World Heritage site, is one of the finest monuments not only in India but in the world. The 73-meter-high tower was built in 1193 by Qutab-ud-din Albak, after the defeat of Delhi’s last Hindu kingdom. The minaret is made of marble and red sandstone. The intricate design on its walls and those of the other buildings on the site is proof of beautiful Indian artistry, past and present.
Delhi Haat is an open-air permanent village market selling traditional Indian handicraft: rosewood and sandalwood carvings, papier-mâché bowls, tons of colorful scarves, blankets, carpets made of silk and wool, gems, beads, brassware.
While there are malls in New Delhi, the Khan Market is a shopping street preferred by wealthy Indians and expats. Boutiques selling jewelry and clothes, restaurants and bars line the streets. But don’t expect a smooth pavement or sleek storefronts; their facades are not as impressive as their interiors, which is surprising because it is said to be one of the most expensive shopping areas in Delhi. Hauz Khas Village, even more scruffy and crowded, is another recommended place where elite Indians shop and eat.
One‘s visit to India is not complete without a visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra, a four-hour trip from Delhi (due to traffic). Completely clad in white marble, this magnificent “Crown of Palaces” was built in 1653 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Despite the 150,000 people who were visiting the site at the same time that day, its misty, ethereal beauty took my breath away.
My Indian experience was mixed: “impressive,” “over-the-top,” “dazzling” are words that co-exist with “noisy,” “dusty,” “poor” — all superlatives. The rich are extremely rich and are eager to show it. Ferraris give way to cows. Autorickshaws (green and yellow tricycles) give way to cows. We were told that the people believe in karma or destiny, accepting their fate in life and not questioning the economic difference between themselves and others. Perhaps that is a good mindset to maintain peace.
Would I go back and visit other places in India? Of course! India is steeped in history and culture. One must see beyond the sea of people, the apparent disparities, and appreciate the delicious, spicy food, including spicy cookies. But having been there, we have concluded that driving through Manila’s streets is far safer.
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Please tell me where to walk the talk. Email: cecilialicauco2@gmail.com.
