Previously in New Delhi Part 2:
There was still one last stop on my New Delhi itinerary - Humayun's Tomb in Hazrat Nizamuddin - a legendary enclave. I had a senior called Humayun, and I was intrigued with this place - Hazrat Nizamuddin, in the middle of New Delhi.
Humayun's Tomb is also along the Yamuna River - The river that will lead to the banks of the Taj Mahal
~~~
Feeling refreshed, I walked out of the serene Lodhi Garden after a historical visit to Gandhi Smrithi in Part 2.
Adjacent to Lodhi Garden was Khan Market, an uptown square which felt like Clark Quay of Singapore or Sri Hartamas in KL.
There was a FREE public toilet!
Out of curiosity, I went up Starbucks. There was a security guard at the door, who I presume was there to ensure only customers were allowed in. It was definitely not affordably priced.
Not a coffee lover, and was already loaded with too much chai (tea), that I ordered a Flapp, which was a mistake
Nizamuddin sounds like a common name in Malaysia. The suburb of Nizamuddin has ferocious history, and one of the last ruled enclave of the Mughal Empire (till the late 1800s'). There was a mystique aura oozing out of this area.
I would find out that Nizamuddin was a name of a Sunni Muslim scholar and Sufi Saint of the 1200s. This was a time before Islam came to South East Asia. The Malay language may have been influenced when the Muslim traders came.
Wikipedia gives a comprehensive summary about who Nizamuddin was:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nizamuddin_Auliya
One of the 3 main railway station in Delhi is located in Nizamuddin
A busy market place
A tough life makes you tougher
Just across the railway station, was Humayun's Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage. The final resting place of Emperor Humayun (1508-1556). Humayun was the 2nd emperor of the Mughal Empire. The Mughals were of Turkish and Central Asia (Genghis Khan) lineage.
You could spend a day inside admiring the complex - More than 400 years of history
This place is also known as the dormitory of the Mughals - Around 160 of the royal family rest here for eternity
There were several impressive tombs in the complex
Isa Khan being one of them
Men's best friend seems welcomed everywhere - Maybe it's because of the Turkish/Central Asia school of thought?
Unfortunately, not everyone in Malaysia welcomes furry friends, which is fine. Don't harm or hurt them.
The complex was huge, and after admiring several other tombs and relics, Humayun's Tomb lie at the end of the complex - A fitting tribute for the first emperor of the Mughal Empire who had his tomb laid in mausoleum style. His father - Emperor Babur, the founder of Mughal Empire was buried in Kabul, Iraq, and had a simple tomb.
Humayun's Tomb, a magnificent architecture by his son - Akhbar in the 1500s
It laid the blue-print and foundation for the Taj Mahal 100 years later.
The Star of David was often used by the Mughals and Ottomans. I suppose they would like to show peaceful co-existence between Jews and Muslims
Cenotaphs and the evening sun
For all its glory, Humayun's Tomb complex had their rainy days, especially when the last Mughal Emperor - Bahadur Shah Zahar's failed Indian Rebellion of 1857, or others call it the First War of Independence. The emperor retreated to Humayun's Tomb, before the British army surrounded the complex.
Read about the fascinating story of the last Mughal emperor:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahadur_Shah_Zafar#Rebellion_of_1857
Some tombs are beyond repair
A visit to Humayun's Tomb felt like a passage back to the Mughal Dynasty. It was exhilarating and a privilege to get up close with such history.
I walked out of Humayun's Tomb around 5pm, and head back to my hotel, in Paharganj to grab my luggage, via Uber. I would catch the 11pm flight back to KL.
Had the best shower in India at the lounge
As the world prepared for the new year, I was left hugely satisfied and grateful for the 10 days in India. It was one of the true adventures of my life, and I truly look forward to visit India again - Maybe Bombay, Calcutta, Goa, Ladakh, Chennai or the state of Kerala. Maybe I should visit Lahore too.
India is a beautiful country, rich in history/culture, with fantastic food. Most importantly, being the birthplace of religions, I would imagine myself somehow realizing the meaning of life. Juxtaposing hardships and luxury reminded, that being fortunate, I should always stay humble, work harder and capitalize the opportunities I received.
To live is to live simple
No comments:
Post a Comment