ruins of Tughlaqabad Fort

What a change in scene – and weather – between the cold Himalayas and hot Delhi!

I spent the last days in India with packing and organizing, but also got the chance to see some of the sights together with colleagues and friends. We visited a few places which were already known to me, such as the Jantar Mantar or the splendid Humayun’s Tomb. I really enjoyed Tughlaqabad Fort, which was built by Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq of the Delhi Sultanate in 1321. It was really nice strolling through the forested area with the imposing ruins. Just across the road is the modest mausoleum of the ruler himself who died under mysterious circumstances in 1325. I also had the chance to visit the National Museum (housing a large number of fantastic ancient art pieces from all over the country) as well as the National Gallery of Modern Arts.

Jantar Mantar

Jantar Mantar

Jantar Mantar

Jantar Mantar

India Gate

India Gate

ceremony at India Gate

Rashtrapati Bhavan

Rashtrapati Bhavan

ministry building

Isa Khan Niyazi’s Tomb

Isa Khan Niyazi’s Tomb

Isa Khan Niyazi’s Tomb

Isa Khan Niyazi’s Tomb

Isa Khan Niyazi’s Tomb

Isa Khan Niyazi’s Tomb

entrance portal to Humayun’s Tomb

Humayun’s Tomb

Humayun’s Tomb

Humayun’s Tomb

Humayun’s Tomb

Humayun’s Tomb

inside Humayun’s Tomb

inside Humayun’s Tomb

inside Humayun’s Tomb

Humayun’s Tomb

Humayun’s Tomb

Humayun’s Tomb

Bhutan Festival in Delhi

replica of a monastery in Bhutan

travel altar

travel altar

travel altar

Tughlaqabad Fort

Tughlaqabad Fort

Tughlaqabad Fort

view from the tower

view from the tower

view from the tower

Tughlaqabad Fort

Tughlaqabad Fort

Tughlaqabad Fort

Tughlaqabad Fort

underground passage

Tughlaqabad Fort

causeway to the Mausoleum of Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq

entrance to the Mausoleum of Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq

Mausoleum of Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq

Mausoleum of Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq

Mausoleum of Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq

National Museum

National Museum

Mohini (Karnataka, 12th century AD)

Kubera (Uttar Pradesh, 2nd century AD)

Vishnu (Uttar Pradesh, 5th century AD)

Vishnu (Orissa, 13th century AD)

Buddha relics

folio from the Kalkacharya – Katha (Gujarat, ~1475)

Guru Nanak (Hyderabad, 1730-40)

Krishna playing Holi (Himachal Pradesh, ~1800)

Yama (Kerala, 19th century AD)

Surya (Orissa, 13th century AD)

Jaipur House at the National Gallery of Modern Art

My journey through the mighty Himalayas came to an end just where it started: in Delhi. India had again overwhelmed me with its magnificent diversity and I was happy that plans were already finalized that I would return only a couple of months later for another work trip!