Travelling around New Delhi was certainly an adventure: the throng of people, the traffic, the animals, the smells, the colours – it was true sensory overload. It is where India’s rich history blends with the vibrant present as it is India’s largest metropolis, as well as having the second largest population. On Lewis the Lion’s first day of exploring this incredible city, he got to board a metro but it was quite unlike any other metro system he had ever been on before. Here it was more like going through an airport as both you and your bags had to be scanned. There was a queue for the men and a queue for the ladies. Lewis the Lion would have liked to have taken a photo of this experience but there were signs up saying that it was forbidden – a bit like the security at an airport, he thought.
Boarding the metros in New Delhi
When he got to the metro platform, he was reminded of his time in Malaysia as here also there was separate carriages on the metro for men and women. Big signs told you where to stand and wait, according to your gender. Aboard the metro itself, it was efficient with maps above the doors which lit up to tell you which station your were at or were headed towards. On one side of the carriage the map was in English and on the other side, it was in Hindi script. The metro itself was very busy. Lewis the Lion felt like it was definitely one of the busiest places he had ever encountered in his little life: it almost felt like being part of an ant colony! On exiting the metro system, he was catapulted out onto streets, not far from one of Delhi’s oldest market: Chandni Chowk. The whole place seemed to be chaotic, including what looked like a spontaneous mount of rubbish that had formed. People just seemed to walk past it nonchalantly, not batting an eyelid, as if this were quite normal.
Rubbish on the New Delhi streets
On walking into the narrow market streets, Lewis the Lion thought it was rather like a Dickensian England. Or perhaps it reminded of another place he had seen on his travels: Rocinha – the favela or shanty town he had visited in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil? That was because of the mass of swirling electricity cables dangling just above his head, joining one building to the next. Like Rocinha, the place teemed with life and Lewis the Lion felt like he couldn’t turn his head quickly enough to capture all that was going on around him.
Entering the Chandni Chowk
Indeed, Lewis the Lion learnt that not only is Chandni Chowk one of India’s oldest markets but it is one of its busiest markets too.
Lewis experiences an Indian market
Originally, it was inhabited by the well-to-do families of the Mughals and Lewis stopped to admire some of the house frontages hidden among the back streets of the market itself.
Outside a traditional Old Delhi doorway
Dushyant led the group quickly and efficiently through the dark, winding, cobbled streets, past all sorts of shops which seemed to have goods that sparkled to entice the passers-by. Lewis the Lion discovered that this market is famous nowadays for its textiles, electronic goods and watches including gold and silver items. He seemed to see numerous dress shops which displayed beautifully sequined and coloured saris and fabrics.
Beads in the textile market
He had to watch his step, as cycle rickshaws hurtled past, not to mention all the different animals.
Animals regularly pass by on the streets
He was happy to see that there were lots of Indian flags flying because in a few days’ time, India would be celebrating their independence from the British Empire – Republic Day on 26th January. He wondered where he’d be by that stage in his adventure?
Indian flags are flying
The smells of incense and food also flooded the air as there were numerous street-food options. However, Lewis the Lion remembered what Dushyant had told the group right from the start that better that they were avoided if they didn’t want to risk getting an upset tummy whilst on the trip.
There was all sorts of life to see in the market and Lewis the Lion would perhaps just have liked to have sat and pondered the world around him but their schedule was jam-packed for today: there was no time to rest. One of the things that did fascinate him on his journey was the fact that there were even people sat having their shoes and their ears cleaned out! This bazaar really did seem to have everything!
Ear cleaners on the street
Lewis the Lion’s mind boggled when he saw the scaffolding out on the street. ‘Health and safety’ seemed to be a very definite foreign concept out on these Indian streets and Lewis wondered if there were many accidents?
Scary scaffolding on the streets of Delhi
Nonetheless, Lewis the Lion couldn’t help but fall in love with the vibrancy and chaos of this place. He felt like India was well and truly getting under his skin!
Which place have you visited in your life that you have truly loved? What was so special about it?
