I love that feeling of being anonymous in a place I have never been before. This way you give yourself completely to that place and this is how you find true happiness. You dont just travel from one place to the other; you explore a whole new world of hidden magic. For you want to see the world. Follow a Map to its edges, and keep going. Forgo the plans. Trust your instincts. Let curiosity be your guide. You want to change hemispheres. Sleep with unfamiliar stars and let the journey unfold before you.
3 CITIES 9 WORLD HERITAGE SITES .
Here goes my 15 days of journey in search of happiness
DELHI
Whats better than exploring your city first? Delhi has been the seat of power for several rulers and many empires for about a millennium. The city was built, destroyed and then rebuilt here. Interestingly, a number of Delhis rulers played a dual role, first as destroyers and then as creators.
Day 1
Destination: Red Fort
Mode of Transport: Delhi Metro
Time to reach: 30 mins (approx)
Distance Covered: 22 Kms (Shahdara-ChandniChowk-Shahdara)
Metro Fare: Rs. 27 (Shahdara-ChandniChowk-Shahdara)
Food: Rs. 80
Sites visited:
- Red Fort
- Sheeshganj Gurudwara
- Jain Lal Mandir
- Jama Masjid
- Paranthe Wali Gali
I started off my journey early in the morning. I took the nearest metro from my place to Chandni Chowk. First of all, I visited Red Fort (Made of red Sandstone, construction commissioned under ShahJahan). After spending an hour there, I thought of exploring the sites nearby. Next, I visited the Digamber Jain Lal Mandir (made of red Stones, construction commissioned under ShahJahan), which is just opposite to main entrance of Red Fort. After spending approximately 15 mins there, next I visited Jama Masjid (construction commissioned under ShahJahan). From there I went to Sheeshganj Gurudwara. You guys noticed? I gained blessings from the three different religions of my country in a day (Hinduism, Muslim, and Sikhism). Finally I started feeling hungry and instead of grabbing a burger from McDonalds, I thought of having something from the locals. So I visited the very famous Paranthe Wale Gali, where I had a mix vegetable parantha and a glass of chilled lassi. Finally, I left for my home.
Day 2
http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=qutub%20minar
Destination: Qutub Minar
Mode of Transport: Delhi Metro
Time to reach: 45 mins (approx)
Distance covered: 62 kms (Shahdara-QutubMinar-Shahdara)
Metro Fare: Rs. 46
Food: Rs. 150
Again, I took the nearest Metro from my place to Qutub Minar Station. What a beauty that monument is. Qutub Minar, is the 2nd tallest Minar(73 meters) in India after Fateh Burjin ChapparChiriat Mohaliwhich stands 100 meters tall. After admiring its beauty for two hours, I made my journey back home.
Day 3
http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=humayun%20tomb
Destination: Humayuns Tomb
Mode of Transport: Delhi Metro
Distance covered: 32 kms (Shahdara-JLN Stadium-Shahdara)
Time to reach: 35 Mins
Metro Fare: Rs. 34 (Approx)
Food: Rs. 75
Another Day of exploring the city. Again, took the nearest Metro from my place to JLN Stadium. I was definitely in awe with the symmetry of the monument. Inside the walled enclosure the most notable features of the monument are the garden squares (chaharbagh) with pathways water channels, centrally located well proportional mausoleum topped by double dome. Time to go home now!
Day 4
Destination: Hauz Khas Village
Mode of Transport: Delhi Metro and E-Rickshaw
Distance covered: 47 kms (Shahdara-Hauz Khas Village-Shahdara)
Time to reach: 35 mins
Metro & Rickshaw Fare: Rs. 58
Food: Rs. 200
Day 5 & 6
Destination: Cannaught place
Mode of Transport: Delhi Metro
Distance covered: 30 KMS
Food: Rs. 150
Metro & Rickshaw Fare: Rs. 78
Time to reach: 25 mins
Sites Covered: Bangla Saheb Gurudwara
Hanuman Temple
Queens and Mary Church
Janpath
Agrasen ki Baoli
Jantar Mantar
Central Park
Coffee House
Day 7
http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=purana%20quila
Destination: Purana Quila & Zoo
Mode of Transport: Delhi Metro
Distance covered: 25 KMS
Food: Rs. 50
Metro Fare: Rs. 32
Time to reach: 30 Mins
AGRA
Guess, there is so much to see in Delhi that no one can get enough of the city. So I packed my bag and now Im on my way to Agra. Get Set Go!
Day 8, 9, 10 & 11
http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=agra%20fort&rs=ac&len=4
http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=sikandra%20fort
http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=fatehpur%20sikri%20agra
Mode of Transport: Indian railways & E-rickshaw
Time to reach: 2 hrs.
Distance Covered: 525 KMS (Delhi-Agra-Agra Fort-Taj Mahal-Sikandra Fort-Fatehpur Sikri-Delhi)
Train & E-Rickshaw Fare: Rs. 1050 (approx)
Food: Rs. 250
Hotel Cost: NIL
Sites visited: Taj Mahal
Agra Fort
Fatehpur Sikri
Sikandra Fort
Whats better than visiting a monument and paying a little visit to your relatives? Well this not only saves your expense but also makes you feel at home. I decided to stay at my relatives for three days. On the 8th Day of my journey, I visited Agra Fort. It is believed that the famous emperor Shah Jahan was restrained by his son in this building and it is rumored that Shah Jahan died in Muasamman Burj, a tower with a marble balcony with a view of the Taj Mahal.
Next Day, I visited one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Taj Mahal. The whole world considers this beautiful white marble building as the symbol of their love.
Next Day, I visited Sikandra Fort which is just 3 kms away from Taj Mahal. It is said to be the tomb of Akbar, the Great. He himself commenced its construction in around 1600, according to Tartary tradition to commence the construction of one’s tomb during one’s lifetime.
Finally my last stop in Agra was the famous Fatehpur Sikri. It was constructed under Akbar as a symbol of his victory.It is at Fatehpur Sikri that the legends of Akbar and his famed courtiers, the nine jewels or Navaratnas, were born. Fatehpur Sikri is one of the best preserved collections of Indian Mughal architecturein India.
After collecting loads of memory and love, I started packing for my another journey to Madhya Pradesh.
MadhyaPradesh
My next city is the centrally located state of India, Madhya Pradesh.
Day 12, 13, 14 & 15
http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=Buddhist%20Monuments%20at%20Sanchi%2C%20Madhya%20Pradesh
http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=Rock%20Shelters%20of%20Bhimbetka%2C%20Madhya%20Pradesh
http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=Khajuraho%20Group%20of%20Monuments%2C%20Madhya%20Pradesh
Mode of Transport: Indian Railways
Distance Covered: 1480 KMS
Time to reach: 11 Hrs
Train & Auto: Rs. 750
Hotel Cost +Food: Rs. 4500
Sites visited:
After 11 hrs of long journey from Agra, I finally reached my next city, Madhya Pradesh. After booking in a hotel, I started with my next visit to Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi. The sanctuary has a plethora of monolithic pillars, palaces, temples and monasteries in different status of preservation. It was inscribed as a World Heritage Siteby UNESCOon January 24, 1989 for its unique cultural importance.
Next Day, I visited the famous Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka. The unique rock art has been discovered in 400 painted shelters spread over an area of 1,892 amidst dense forest with high diversity of flora and fauna, with one of the shelters dated from 100,000 BC to 1000 AD. It was inscribed as a World Heritage Siteby UNESCOin 2003 as a unique cultural property representing a convergence displayed in the art form between the people and the landscape with links to the hunting gathering economy of the past.
Finally, I visited the Khajuraho Group of Monuments in the very last. Located in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, it was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, a cultural property on October 15, 1982 for its unique original artistic creation and proof of the Chandela Culture that existed prior to the Muslim invasion of India in the early 12th century.
After 14 days of continuously exploring I finally made my way back home.
Total Cities Visited: 3
Total World Heritage Sites Visited: 9
Total Transportation Cost: Rs. 2075
Total Hotel & Food Cost: Rs. 5455
Total Distance Covered: 2223 KMS
