April 11, 2012

• Delhi Days

  The group finally all together, we met our local guide Tarun and set off for our first destination, Jama Masjid

  

  Jama Masjid is the principal mosque of Old Delhi in India. Commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal,in the year 1644 CE and completed in the year 1658 AD, it is the largest and best-known mosque in India. Being A Mosque, you are not allowed to wear shorts, or be a Short Round

  

  at least not without covering up in holy mumuus. Once past the entry gate the mosque comes into view.

  

  Jama Masjid is a reference to the weekly Friday noon congregation prayers of Muslims, Jummah, which are usually done at a mosque, the “congregational mosque” or “jāmi’ masjid”. The courtyard of the mosque can hold up to twenty-five thousand worshippers. or three times that many pigeons

  

  Muslim Architecture does not allow representations of any living creatures, that being the sole province of God. Instead elaborate geometrical designs fill the walls, offering worshipers a focus while they contemplate and pray

  

  We took the opportunity to indulge in a bit of contemplation of our own before heading on a brief rickshaw ride through the streets of old delhi to nearby Red Fort aka Lal Qil’ah

  

  

  Lal Qilah is a 17th century fort complex constructed by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan  in the walled city of Old Delhi that served as the residence of the royal family. It also served as the capital of the Mughals until 1857, when Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled by the British Indian government. We entered this elegant complex through the hilariously named Whore Gate

  

  Probably does not mean what you think it does.

  

  Red Fort is so named because of the red sandstone which makes it up. It is filled with intricate inlaid and carved designs of flowers, which demonstrate the influence of Hindu architecture, which shows gods in everything on the muslim architecture, which strictly forbids representations of living things

  

  Above is Diwan-I-Am, the hall of public audience, where the shah would hear resolve the peoples problems, in what I can only assume was a hilarious Dr Seuss-like fashion based on the name of the hall. You Shall not have your neighbors land, from this country you are banned, you shall not take your goat or cow, you must leave here, must leave right now!

  

  I have no idea what this structure was originally used for, but damn did it look epic. Off in the background to the right you can see the barracks used by the emperors military, and then when the British took over, used as their military barracks, meaning this fort was in use long past its expected prime, though now it is overun by tourists and wildlife

  

  Ch-ch-ch-chip and Dale!

  

  Of course, surrounded by all this cool stuff, some of the locals begin to take it for granted and just stare at passerby. LIKE A BOSS.

  Next Post: Humayuns Tomb and Qutb complex!

  -Indiana J

  • 9:46 pm
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