In the afternoon we continued to the two UNESCO World Heritage sites. The first one was Humayun's Tomb which is the earliest example of the Mogul style of tomb and it is really well maintained. Humayuan was the 2nd Great Moghul Emperor who was forced into exile in Persia after being defeated b the Afghan Sher Shah in 1540, he returned to India in 1545 and finally recaptured India in 1555. The tomb was designed and built by his senior widow and the mother of his son and successor Akbar. She supervised the construction, living on site between (1564-1573)
We then headed back in time to the 12th century, with a visit to Qutb Minar.
It was at the tub that Umesh explained the theory of "char bhag"...char meaning four and bhag meaning garden therefore garden dividend into quadrants. It should also contain the four elements of paradise - walled garden, water, trees and birds and animals.
It really was a stunning place but such a huge building and gardens initially for just one man, although it now contains the graves of other members of his family including that of his wife.
We then headed back in time to the 12th century, with a visit to Qutb Minar.
Qutab Minar is a soaring, 73 m-high tower of victory, built in 1193 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak immediately after the defeat of Delhi's last Hindu kingdom. The tower has five distinct storeys, each marked by a projecting balcony and tapers from a 15 m diameter at the base to just 2.5 m at the top. The first three storeys are made of red sandstone; the fourth and fifth storeys are of marble and sandstone. At the foot of the tower is the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, the first mosque to be built in IndiA.
The origins of Qutab Minar are shrouded in controversy. Some believe it was erected as a tower of victory to signify the beginning of the Muslim rule in India. Others say it served as a minaret to the muezzins to call the faithful to prayer. Qutab-ud-din Aibak, the first Muslim ruler of Delhi, commenced the construction of the Qutab Minar in 1200 AD, but could only finish the basement. His successor, Iltutmush, added three more storeys, and in 1368, Firoz Shah Tughlak constructed the fifth and the last storey.
It was whilst at Qtub Minar that we first experienced the Indians fascination with the fair skinned Bitish. We were sat in the shade talking with our guide when a young couple approached us and at first we thought they were asking to the paid to take our photograph but they wanted to have their photograph taken with us! It is apparently a great to have such a photograph in your holiday snaps!!
After a very long and hot day we returned to the hotel for a quick swim before deciding on dinner in our room as the heat, long day and jetlag finally took its toll. We also had to set the alarm for 4.30am to catch the train from Delhi to Agra the next morningPicture of The Maidens Hotel
It was whilst at Qtub Minar that we first experienced the Indians fascination with the fair skinned Bitish. We were sat in the shade talking with our guide when a young couple approached us and at first we thought they were asking to the paid to take our photograph but they wanted to have their photograph taken with us! It is apparently a great to have such a photograph in your holiday snaps!!
After a very long and hot day we returned to the hotel for a quick swim before deciding on dinner in our room as the heat, long day and jetlag finally took its toll. We also had to set the alarm for 4.30am to catch the train from Delhi to Agra the next morningPicture of The Maidens Hotel
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