Delhi and the Red Fort

On November 5, we went to visit the Red Fort in Delhi.

The king of the Muslim empire moved from Agra to Delhi in the 17th century and built this fort.

The fort is like a small city. It resembles a park with individual buildings such as a ballroom or a guesthouse.

Within the Red Fort, there is a very beautiful bazaar in the luxurious style of the Middle East. In the past, gold, silver, and other luxury items were sold in the bazaar. Today, kitchen magnets, jewelry, and other souvenirs are sold. The bazaar is very beautiful due to its elegant architecture.

In the evening, we watched a Light and Sound Show that tells the history of the Red Fort. The show was good and had great costumes and dances.

In the evening, we also played a raffle. It's similar to Bingo and is found in every Indian household.

The next day, we visited relatives of my host family.

When you visit someone in India:

1. You are offered something to drink and eat.
2. If you don't want it, it is insisted (not meant to be rude)
3. You are taken care of the entire time and new snacks or drinks are offered.
4. When you're finished, you're asked if you would like more.
5. When visiting relatives you haven't seen in a while, you also receive money in an envelope.

Getting an envelope with money is very typical in India. The envelopes are even personalized for the giver and usually contain either 1100, 2100, 5100, (11100 for weddings). The number 1 is believed to bring luck.

In Indian culture, there is a significantly stronger connection with distant relatives. This is very nice and practical when traveling to other cities, since most often a relative lives there.

In the evening, we went to one of the largest landmarks in Delhi. Qutb Minar is a minaret built by Muslims. The complex is small but fine and can be visited in an hour. You can discover Islamic architecture.

With Delhi's well-developed subway network, we then went out for dinner.

Now we were returning from Delhi to Mumbai, to get to Pune. At the airport, everything is conducted by the military who are very strict in their checks.

Next, the plans for my southern trip with other exchange students were made.