Qutb complex part deux

 Photos from the Galaxy S22 Ultra at the Qutb complex

This is smith's folly, a sixth storey of the Qutb Minar

This artiste was practicing in the excellent acoustics of the Bhool Bhulaiya

Safdar Jang's Tomb and Lodi Garden

 Another day, another spectacular monument. Was at the entrance at 7 am sharp. The entry was Rs 25, but there was no token, ticket or receipt. Just had to hand over the cash to the watchman. There was nobody there except for a dog, that followed me around! 

The garden was full of birds, and I even saw a ginormous eagle and a peacock sitting on the same tree! 

Then I crossed the road and headed to Lodi garden. Right near the entrance is the tomb of Muhammad Shah Sayyid. The garden was full of people taking their morning walks and doing yoga. I walked into a pair of people doing shavasan and was startled lol. It was difficult to get the monument without people around, but I hid them behind the bushes and waited for others to leave. 

Up next was the Bada Gumbad, which is also a mosque. 

Then comes the Shish Gumbad. There were no mirrors, I checked. 

Then came the Sikandar Lodi tomb, which was closed. 

Then there was like a duck pond with geese, parrots, pigeons, crows and of course, ducks! 

I was dead tired by this time, my back was aching. But I had to travel by metro to get an 8K video recording. I walked through Khan Market, and got into the wrong direction lol. Realised three stops later, switched the direction. Was finding it difficult to stand in the Metro. Fortunately, there was a free seat which I occupied. By the time I reached Neheru Place, my back was killing me. I was finding it painful to even sit. I somehow managed to get home, plonked myself down on the bed. I filed my review by around 1:30, an hour after the embargo lifted and then fell sound asleep. Twice. I checked in the night and found that I had walked for 10 hours and 30 kilometres in 3 days. OOF. Was feeling feverish by evening. I would have written down more details, but this will have to do, I am dead tired. 

Have decided to not do this to my body, pace myself out, and only visit one monument a week from now on hahaha.  

Tomb of Humayun

 Another colossal tomb complex is the Tomb of Humayun. It is located right next to the Nizamuddin Railway Station.  

There was no entry ticket! The entry was free. I walked in around 7:00 AM. Location is right opposite Sundar Nursery. 

There was some monument to the right, but the gates were closed so I went straight ahead. To the left was a small structure, turned out to be the Bu Halima Tomb. Bu Halima was the wet nurse of Humayun. It is believed to be older than Humayun's tomb, but little is historically recorded about this person. 

Then you pass through the gate of Bu Halima, to see the vast quadrangular Humayun's Tomb looming up ahead of you. Since there were guards outside the gate, this is a view of it from the other side. 

Which brings us to the Tomb of Humayun itself, there are actually four other tombs in the periphery. Here are views of the monument from different directions. 

Then comes Babur's Tomb, which is much more modest. Babur was Humayun's father. 

Up next, on it's own little corner and closest to the railway station, is the Nila Gumbad. 

Then you have to head back towards the entrance, which has a pair of structures, Afsarwala's Tomb and Afsarwala's Mosque. 

Then there is the Arab Ki Serai, which is a caravanserai. It does not look large enough to house an entire caravan, but haven't seen the top floors. It is not a gate, although it looks like one. Maybe the area behind the gateway was the caravanserai. For the first time, I saw a peacock take flight, and it was a long, spectacular flight that I was quite surprised by. It is a myth that peacocks don't fly! 

A few lucky construction workers live in the complex. 

Finally, coming back to the monument that was closed at 7:00 am. It was 9:00 am now, and the place was open. This is the tomb of Isa Khan. 

Then, right at the entrance of the road to the complex is the Sabz Burj. It was a tiring morning, so I waited here for my Uber Auto. Had tea from some of the locals, I was the first customer for the day. 

While I was exiting the complex, I began to see the vendors coming in and setting up their stalls. It was a good thing that I am visiting these places before they get crowded.