Juwal Bose Says

Getting down at Delhi was really something which were were looking forward to. but what awaited us was from one of our worse nightmares. We were attacked by hoards of taxi people and tour people. We had the plan to take up another retiring room here also. We walked all around enquiring about the retiring rooms and the station was really huge. When we at last found the stairs to the retiring room one jovial person stepped forward to offer help. The retiring rooms are all full and we wont be getting accommodation easily in Delhi, says he. He also told us that there as a Govt approved Yathri Nivas (Never stay here) which was rs 1000 for 2 days stay. This sounded reasonable and he took us to a place near by which looked like some kind of a small office. There were all kind of lobby people around who wanted to canvas us and take us to a new place.

When we were ready to make the payment they asked for rs 100 more and we started arguing. They promptly stopped demand and said we only need to go to the place. They took all the payment and gave us slip for accomodation. We were accomodated on a Mancycle which was my first experience of its kind. We were driven through inner galis surrounded by big buildings with people walking all across and two wheelers flying across. We reached a big enough hotel accomodation facility with a Fat reception guy who was hostile. We had to wait for a long time tll we got the room, which was without any charging points but hot water was there. The reception people wanted us to take all tour packages through them. It was the Dada international hotel and we decided to make our own way around and travel through Metro. This decision was path breaking as it was the most easy, fast and accessible method.

After roaming all around the place asking different people we found the metro station. We didnt even know what to look for and hence when we saw the underground subway to the metro after the 12th platform of main railway station we were full of curiosity. At every entry to metro we can take tokens which needs to be deposited back once we exit the metro at any other station. Once the token is taken we can roam around any where the metro goes. But we cannot exit the metro tunnels without depositing the token back. The automatic exit doors only open when each person deposits his token. On entry all are checked by police personal and bas are thoroughly searched. Safety measures seemed really heavy. The experience of metro travel is unique. It is like we have suddenly gone to some foreign country. The culture and the atmosphere changes t that of a posh place else where, completely distinct from the local crowd above.

There are helpdesks at all stations and we got the map and directional indicators from these people. We marked out our plan for the day and places to visit and path to follow. First stop was Redfort. it was walkable distance from chandni chowk station. we had to take tickets and stand in a long queue before being admitted in. Red sandstones or something like that is used to build the whole structure. Photo session resumed and we had a nice rest in the park benches which made us feel like sitting in some foreign country. After Taj this didnt feel much, but the feeling was unearthly nonetheless. We could feel the heritage and revel in pride. Next stop was Qutab Minar so we went back to exit metro at prgathi maidan station and took a bus to Qutab minar. We could see the structure and although we didnt know the stop we jumped off the slowing bus. While on the bus anish suddenly realised that he had lost his polaroid glasses in redfort. But then it was still with him hanging on his neck.

Qutab minar is one awesome structure. I am still unable to figure out how many people and how much time was spent to make all those carvings so huge. The steructure is not what we see in pictures, its way too big and when we actually see it we are dumbstruck. There were other minars also nearby which got demolished. Lot of sculptures and stone structures are scattered here and there and there is an open ground to the back where people can roam around. We took bus to India gate and it was late 740 when we reached the place. The majestic road stretched ahead culminating at the big gate. We walked all the way till the gate, saluted the Amrajawan jyothi and then walked back to see the parliament building. Walk on this straight road which we have seen on the republic parades was awesome. There were lots of romance going on all around us and as the republic day was coming up there were metallic structures being erected on both sides.

On leaving the Dada hotel they charged us an extra rs 118 which was supposed to be taxes. we resisted, but had to eventually give in. When we reached back yathri nivas to get back refund for one day they charged rs 200 for cancellation. Now we both were so exhausted and so irritated that we could fight no more. Now Anish had realised that our train left the same day when we were at qutab minar. Thats why we had to cancel one full day stay. To our horror when we reached delhi station we realised that delhi had yet another station which is old delhi station and our train left in 40 mins from there. We could not have any food, but rushed to find the other station. We had to get in metro and get off at chandni chowk. this time we had delays as we had to have our luggages checked.

On reaching the station we didnt know which platform to go to, when asked a coolie he told for 50 rs he will make us catch the train or all will be lost. We denied the offer and found the train just as it was taking off. Now we were on our way to pathankot. When i remember delhi i have my heart out thaks to the metro without which we couldnot have made a successful day in delhi. Al other memories are bad, even the chana battura which we had at qutab minar for rs 50. The story continues from pathankot in the next episode.