Delhi sketches
I think everyone who had been to Delhi would agree that one should stay there for a longer term than in many other cities to "get its spirit" and, following its invitation, to see yourself amazing places in this huge area containing the most exquisite objects of different traditions, religions, historical periods etc. etc. This huge city is always full of the things to offer to your eyes, mind, heart and imagination, doesn't matter how much time you have already spent there. I think I could make quite a long list of 'must see' :) It becomes longer every time I'm there. This time I've discovered some new treasures to share.
Qutb Minar. I used to think that there's no use to go to the other end of the city and waste time to see just a stone minaret and an iron column. What a fool I've been!
"Qutub Minar (Urdu: قطب منار) is the world's tallest brick minaret in Delhi, India.[2] Construction commenced in 1193 under the orders of India's first Muslim ruler Qutb-ud-din Aibak and the topmost storey of the minaret was completed in 1386 by Firuz Shah Tughluq. The Qutab Minar is notable for being one of the earliest and most prominent examples of Indo-Islamic architecture." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qutb_Minar)
"The nearby Iron Pillar is one of the world's foremost metallurgical curiosities, standing in the famous Qutub Complex. According to the traditional belief, any one who can encircle the entire column with their arms, with their back towards the pillar, can have their wish granted. Because of the corrosive qualities of sweat, people are no longer allowed to perform this act." (same source)
Not sure whether the academic description sounds inspiring, but to get real inspiration you must go there!!! A huge minaret decorated with incredibly subtle ornaments, how many things it had seen during all these centuries! Looking at it, it's impossible to believe that human hands could have made it. The iron pillar (fenced probably because too many people used to have too strange wishes ;) ) used to have no rust at all! Now there's something reminding rust; probably it's a result of human minds' influence.
Qutb complex itself - it's a number of buildings made practically of stone lace. Lissom lines, complicated and elaborated ornaments, noble contours of elegant constructions full of dignity, so refined and majestic!.. By the way, a very romantic place.
Lal Qila/Red Fort, built in 17th century. I've never been inside before, but friends brought me there; we've come too late - it was getting dark (which means there's twilight for half an hour, and then itr becomes just dark), the museum was closed, but there was sound & light show, and this is something a person with imagination should not miss! The lightened buildings look absolutely magical, and if you switch on your mind and listen to the sounds around, you can nearly believe that you're back in time, witnessing the king's debates with nobility, seeing beautiful court dancers performing, hearing the whisper of water from the queen's bathhouse, and neighing horses carrying the heralds coming to the king...
One more object I've discovered in Delhi thanks to Antara and her family : Akshardham temple in Noida. Dedicated to a Gujarati saint, this temple made of white marbel looks not like built, but braided of inches and inches of lace, decorated with the figures of deities and saints. You can stare at one column for hours! Flowers, leaves, branches, intricate ornaments interlace creating something so very impressive that complemented with the sound of mantras sung by brahman you're able to believe you're in some other world.
..These things are too far, you may think. Yes, they are - and they are not. As it was written in one wonderful book (I'm sure I'll be forgiven for not giving the reference), "a road to the magical dream castle is not long; the longest one still is much shorter than the distance at which eagle flies over the earth; though it's only a dreamer who can find it..."