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While India is not known as being a high tourist country it does offer some beautiful tourist attractions. Full of sprawling history the landmark sites such as the Taj Mahal, Qutb Minar and Lotus Temple are some of the sites that attract visitors from all over the world.
I had the pleasure of visiting India in late October. It was mild fall weather and the temperatures ranged from the 70’s during the day to the high 60’s in the evening. The first thing I noticed exiting the plane was a thick smoke and burnt odor. When I inquired about it I was told that the smoke was the aftermath of fireworks being lit in celebration of Diwali. Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights similar to Christmas.
Not willing to let this damper our trip, concerned mainly because of my allergies, we set out to our hotel located in the capital city New Delhi. The hotel, Radisson Blu Hotel Paschim Vihar, did not disappoint. Nestled in the heart of the city, we were greeted by an awesome team of security, doormen and front desk personnel. The hotel decor was beautiful and the rooms were clean and comfortable. We enjoyed a buffet style breakfast every morning that included both traditional Indian dishes and some American cuisine. The hotel amenities included a gym, a full service spa, a boutique and a quaint tea and pastry bar.
Lotus Temple
Lotus temple was one of our first attraction stops. Because it is a place of worship there were no costs to visit. What’s unique about this temple is that it’s built in the shape of a lotus flower and it’s structure is all marble. Out of respect for the customs we were required to remove our shoes before entering. We were also not allowed to use our cameras for the privacy of those who were there to pray. The decor inside was breathtaking. I highly recommend as a place to visit.
Qutb Minar
The Qutb Minar (Qutab Minar) complex was filled with Indian history. The five story tower is the highest stone tower in India. It was said to be built as a symbol of victory. At the foot of the tower is the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque which was the first mosque built in Delhi.
Madame Tussauds Delhi
Madame Tussauds was one of my favorite stops of the trip. Who doesn’t love a good wax museum? I was curious to see which figures they would have on display.
Delhi Sites
There were so many beautiful sites to see throughout Delhi. We were lucky to be able to explore various places and meet wonderful people along the way. We viewed the grounds of a Christian church, one of the local malls (Pacific Mall) and street vendors throughout the city. If you plan to visit the city, it’s a good idea to have a tour guide who speaks the language and/or a good travel guide.
My overall experience of Delhi is I can’t wait to go again. My allergies were mildly affected by the environment but the trip was worth it. We were blessed to be able to fly over to Jaipur, India while we were there. I’ll tell you all about that adventure and my first ride on an elephant in my next post.
Stay tuned…
What an exciting trip. It looked a lot cleaner than I expected. Did you visit the Ganges river. Hope you had fun
No, I didn’t visit that place. Overall, it was clean where I visited. There were areas of obvious poverty but even in those areas things were contained.
Adding this to my list of places to travel to. Love the recommendations you made for places to go while there and I’m glad you had a great time. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you. I definitely recommend it as a place to visit.
Really nice & unbiased blog. A great help for first time travellers. 👍
Thanks Amrit!