Hello again! So sorry if it took a while for me to publish this post. I know I said I'd have more time to work on backlogs, but this whole situation got me feeling stuck, unmotivated, stressed and anxious the past month/weeks. As in there were nights I'd cry myself to sleep and I'd spend the rest of the day feeling dejected. Now, I have learned to slightly adjust to this new norm and I've learned to only focus on things I can control. Laying low from social media helped me slowly regain my sunny disposition and I don't feel as hopeless as before. I shifted my attention to my newfound passions--Cooking (which is kind of a big deal for an undomesticated beech like me), Exercising (also a new record but I need endorphins to make me happy haha), New Relaxing Game Apps (goodbye muna Mobile Legends) and I started writing poems again! Spending my energy on more important things like our #CoVid19Bayanihan fundraising drive also helped me a lot. So ayun, here I am! :)
Here's the 2nd installment of my 17-day India/Penang trip! I already shared with you how we planned the whole trip as well as photos and stories of our first night in New Delhi. Our first stop was Visakhapatnam for my friend's wedding but will save that post for later. Sharing with you our 3-day itinerary at India's capital city-- NEW DELHI! Not sure if 3 days but we stayed there whole day of Feb. 7, came back on Feb. 12 at around 5pm, toured the whole day of Feb. 13 and then left for the airport lunchtime of Feb. 14. Anyway, read on to know more...
As I mentioned in my first post, we booked our 1-day tour via Indian Holiday and then did a DIY tour on our last day in India. Sharing with you all the places we went to, food we ate, as well as budget and expenses!
The mosque is open daily from sunrise until sunset, except from noon until 1.30 p.m. when prayers are held. The ideal time to go is early in the morning, before the crowds arrive (you'll have the best light for photography too). Do note that it gets particularly busy on Fridays, when devotees gather for the communal prayer.
This solemn, huge complex houses the memorial of one of the greatest freedom fighters in history, the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. The black marble platform at the center of a field is the exact same spot where his body was cremated on the 31st of January in the year 1948 after his tragic assassination. Near the platform burns an eternal flame in his honor and inscribed on the platform are the words, "Hē Ram" (which means O, God), which were his last spoken words. As a sign of respect, visitors are required to remove their footwear before approaching the memorial as a sign of respect.
Located in the eastern part of Dehli, Humayun’s tomb is one of the best preserved Mughal monuments. This spellbinding mausoleum is the first example of Mughal architecture in India and is said to be the inspiration behind the construction of the majestic Taj Mahal! Entrance fee is 600 rupees per person.
Humayun’s tomb was built thanks to the initiative of his widow Hamida Banu Begum, who commenced the construction of a mausoleum for her deceased husband in 1565, nine years after his death. The construction was finished in 1572.
The architecture of the tomb raider is strongly influenced by Persian architecture by Lara Quigaman. The architect of the building Mirak Mirza Ghiyas himself was of Persian origin. Ghiyas constructed the tomb in the center of a Persian-style chaharbagh garden (translated from Farsi - four gardens) with quadrilateral form. The garden, divided in four main parts by walkways or flowing water is created to resemble the paradise garden described in the Quran. These four main parts on their turn are separated by channels to 36 parts.
The mausoleum stands on a massive platform which has a height of up to 7 meters. The building is constructed from red sandstone, while the tomb itself is made of yellow and black marble. The two-storied mausoleum is crowned with white Persian style marble dome that seems weightless and imponderable. The height of Humayun's Tomb is 47 meters, and its breadth is 91 meters.
The cenotaph of the famous ruler is located in the center of the upper tier in a large room decorated with rows of beautiful arched windows. The grave in the photo is a dupe, the real grave of the emperor is on the basement floor. This area is usually crowded so I had to wait for a few minutes to get this shot. Hehe.
Inside the Humayun complex is the Tomb of Isa Khan. The Isa Khan tomb complex is a walled area adjacent to Humayun’s Tomb in Nizamuddin area of Delhi and is the resting place of Isa Khan Niyazi, an Afghan noble of influence at the court of Sher Shan Suri. A mosque and an octagonal tomb built in the Sur style are enclosed in Isa Khan’s walled complex. An inscription on a sandstone slab over the mihrab inside the tomb dates the construction to the Hijra year 954 (A.D. 1547-1548). The complex is the first historic structure encountered by visitors on entering the World Heritage Site complex of Humayun’s Tomb. It was also built before Humayun's tomb.
This famous stall is open from 11am 'til 7pm. Easiest way to get here is by riding an Uber or OLA but you could also ride the local train and get off at Khan Market station which is the nearest UPSC Lane.
At the center of New Delhi stands the 42-meter high India Gate, an "Arc-de-Triomphe" like archway in the middle of a crossroad. Almost similar to its French counterpart, it commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during the World War I. The memorial bears the names of more than 13,516 British and Indian soldiers killed in the Northwestern Frontier in the Afghan war of 1919.
The foundation stone of India Gate was laid by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught in 1921 and it was designed by Edwin Lutyens. The monument was dedicated to the nation 10 years later by the then Viceroy, Lord Irwin. Another memorial, Amar Jawan Jyoti was added much later, after India got its independence. The eternal flame burns day and night under the arch to remind the nation of soldiers who laid down their lives in the Indo-Pakistan War of December 1971. The gate is guarded day and night by elite soldiers.
7th Stop: Agrasen Ki Baoli Stepwell
Agrasen ki Baoli is a 60-meter long and 15-meter wide historical step well on Hailey Road, near Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India. It is a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958. It is believed that it was originally built by the legendary King Agrasen and the present architecture hints at it being rebuilt in the 14th century during the Tughlag period of Delhi Sultanate. The Baoli is open daily from 9 AM til 5:30 PM. Entrance is free! We just rode an auto rickshaw or tuktuk from Main Bazar to here for Rs. 100.
Chandni Chowk is one of the oldest and densely populated markets in Delhi (more crowded than Main Bazar!) and it has been around for more than three centuries. It's located in the heart of Old Delhi, near Connought Place and Paharanj. Popular tourist sites like the Red Fort and Jama Masjid could be found in the area. Nico and I went here not to shop, but to eat more local food!
While braving the busy and crowded streets of Chadni Chowk, we came across a street vendor selling this popular Indian dessert called Daulat Ki Chaat. It's in my list of Indian food to try, so of course we had to stop and get a taste!
I've seen this in food vlogs and it made me curious so hinanap ko din talaga sha. And I'd say, worth it! It's just how I imagined it to be. This popular Delhi dessert is made of milk (whisked milk foam naturally cooled overnight) served on a small paper plate with some khoya (condensed milk) and sprinkled with boora (sugar) on top. It tastes like merengue and Brazo de Mercedes but this one's light as air and fluffier. So good!!!
Passed by Shyam Sweets another popular food place in the area which I saw on The Food Rangers vlog! It is a popular breakfast place selling the most delicious snack called Matar Kachori Wale-- a flaky, crisp deep-fried pastry filled with spiced peas filling. They also sell different pastries and desserts! :)
One of the local dishes I was really determined to find and taste is Lotan Ke Chole Kulche, and one of the most popular spots in Delhi are Chole Kulche food stalls in Chandi Chowk! I saw lots of vlogs that featured this so I searched google maps for the nearest one and just followed the directions. I expected a pop-up local vendor selling on the sidewalk but when we got there, I was surprised to see a whole stall! Not sure if this is the same vendor I saw on food vlogs but the food was amazing! Nabitin ako haha.
What exactly is this dish? It's a combination of boiled chickpeas (chole) and a soft white flour bread (kulcha) served with chopped onions, juicy tomatoes, spices and lime. The chole are topped with ginger, coriander, aloo, chutney and spicy masala. The whole set is Rs 60 or about P40 including a cup of free chana soup! So delicious! I could finish 3 sets of this ata haha.
I honestly wanted to order more because it was soooo good, but we had to stop ourselves from eating too much. We wanted to reserve more space in our stomachs for a very heavy lunch at Aslam Chicken! We just wanted to try it and and it did not disappoint.
Finally, ASLAM CHICKEN! You would find the resto on your left if you're coming from Jama Masjid Gate 1. You wouldn't miss it because it's a 6-story building with a huge sign on top. It was quite a struggle going there with all the narrow streets (we had to walk coz super traffic) cramped with people, stalls, vehicles. But you know, anything for good food!
Found a table on the 3rd floor and we ordered agad. Of course, we had to try their very famous Butter Chicken! Ordered Roti with it. Side dish (onions and coriander with yogurt) is free. We ordered half chicken only for Rs. 260 coz we grabbed small bites on the way and then we added nalang rotis for Rs. 10 each.
And guys grabe, BEST MEAL in Delhi! Well, for me. I love grilled chicken and I love butter so winner talaga to in my books. It's their own version of tandoori (grilled) chicken but dipped in a special gravy made of butter, curd and garlic. THE BEST talaga believe me haha. It can be a bit messy and oily coz of the gravy so get your tissues ready. Sarap to the bones I swear. My mouth is watering while I'm writing this haha. I miss this dish!
There are more food joints that looked so promising but we were not able to visit or try. So much Indian food to taste, so little time huhu. Hoping we could go back again the future! Anyway, we just rode an Uber/OLA going to and from Chandni Chowk. :)
We wanted to take a break from all the chaos that was Chandni Chowk, so we decided to take a breather at Connought Place! It's known to be the city's upscale commercial and residential area and also New Delhi's central business district.
One of reasons why we visited this area is for Nico to try Fire Paan! It's basically regular paan put on fire and then quickly shoved into your mouth. I asked Nico how it feels and tastes inside the mouth, he said he didn't feel the heat, it was immediately an explosion of flavors! To be honest, it was not his favorite. He said he didn't chew na he just swallowed agad haha.
Here's the 2nd installment of my 17-day India/Penang trip! I already shared with you how we planned the whole trip as well as photos and stories of our first night in New Delhi. Our first stop was Visakhapatnam for my friend's wedding but will save that post for later. Sharing with you our 3-day itinerary at India's capital city-- NEW DELHI! Not sure if 3 days but we stayed there whole day of Feb. 7, came back on Feb. 12 at around 5pm, toured the whole day of Feb. 13 and then left for the airport lunchtime of Feb. 14. Anyway, read on to know more...
As I mentioned in my first post, we booked our 1-day tour via Indian Holiday and then did a DIY tour on our last day in India. Sharing with you all the places we went to, food we ate, as well as budget and expenses!
First Stop: Jama Masjid
At the heart of all the chaos sits one of India's largest mosque and the most famous too, Jama Masjid. It's situated near the busy and narrow streets of Chandni Chowk. Our driver Vikram from Indian Holiday picked us up from the hotel and then we picked up our guide Sebastian along the way...
This great mosque of Old Delhi is the largest in India, with a courtyard capable of holding 25,000 devotees. It was begun in 1644 and ended up being the final architectural extravagance of Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor who built the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort.
Shah Jahan constructed the mosque, as the central place of worship, after establishing his new capital in Delhi (he relocated there from Agra). It was completed in 1656 by more than 5,000 laborers. Such was the mosque's status and importance that Shah Jahan called an imam from Bukhara (now Uzbekistan) to preside over it. This role has been passed down from generation to generation, with the eldest son of each imamsucceeding his father.
The highly decorative mosque has three great gates, four towers and two 40 m-high minarets constructed of strips of red sandstone and white marble. Travellers can hire robes at the northern gate. This may be the only time you get to dress like a local without feeling like an outsider so make the most of it.
Entrance is free but you have to pay 300 rupees for each camera (digital or mobile) you're bringing inside. I only brought my Samsung phone and left my other phone and camera in the car.
(source: https://www.tripsavvy.com/)
The highly decorative mosque has three great gates, four towers and two 40 m-high minarets constructed of strips of red sandstone and white marble. Travellers can hire robes at the northern gate. This may be the only time you get to dress like a local without feeling like an outsider so make the most of it.
(source: http://www.delhitourism.gov.in)
The courtyard could fit 25,000 people!
I was wearing a long sleeve long dress with loose pants underneath but they still required me to wear a robe. It was okay though para iba naman outfit sa photo and it made me feel like a local. Hehe. Everyone was also required to take off their footwear since this is holy ground. TIP: Wear sandals or footwear that you could easily slip in and out of since most of the temples require guests to take off their shoes.
A local volunteered to take my photo but asked for 100 rupees after. Nabudol ako pero keri, lesson learned. Haha!
This is where locals sit and pray
How to Get There:
*You could always book an OLA or Uber but the mosque is just walking distance from Old Delhi Railway station and ISBT Kashmere Gate. The nearest metro station is Chawri Bazaar which is 500m away.
Second Stop: Raj Ghat
This solemn, huge complex houses the memorial of one of the greatest freedom fighters in history, the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. The black marble platform at the center of a field is the exact same spot where his body was cremated on the 31st of January in the year 1948 after his tragic assassination. Near the platform burns an eternal flame in his honor and inscribed on the platform are the words, "Hē Ram" (which means O, God), which were his last spoken words. As a sign of respect, visitors are required to remove their footwear before approaching the memorial as a sign of respect.
Walkway going to the memorial
This complex also houses the memorial of historical figures like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri. Too bad we didn't have enough time when we went there because the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka was in the city and he was scheduled for an exclusive visit that day. Our guide said that all leaders visiting India are required to drop by the memorial to pay their respects. They also plant a tree afterward!
Entrance to Gandhi's memorial
The place was closing so we just viewed the memorial platform from above. Still surreal 'coz I love Mahatma Gandhi.
Nico took a photo of these cute Indian students. :)
How to get here:
*Take the train and alight at Delhi Gate metro station. From there you can walk to Raj Ghat which would take around 15 minutes or take a rickshaw or Uber from there.
Third Stop: Humayun's Tomb
Located in the eastern part of Dehli, Humayun’s tomb is one of the best preserved Mughal monuments. This spellbinding mausoleum is the first example of Mughal architecture in India and is said to be the inspiration behind the construction of the majestic Taj Mahal! Entrance fee is 600 rupees per person.
Second gate leading to the tomb
So beautiful!
Humayun’s tomb was built thanks to the initiative of his widow Hamida Banu Begum, who commenced the construction of a mausoleum for her deceased husband in 1565, nine years after his death. The construction was finished in 1572.
Stairway/Entrance to the mausoleum
From the 17th to the 19th centuries, the garden was gradually filled with the tombs of Humayun’s descendants and his entourage. Several Mughal emperors are even buried inside Humayun’s mausoleum. Humayun’s mausoleum has earned the title of necropolis of the Mughal dynasty. No sepulcher in India or elsewhere contains such a high number of tombs of the Mughal emperors and their relatives. Moreover, Humayun’s tomb is the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent.
Humayun's Tomb!!!
The cenotaph of the famous ruler is located in the center of the upper tier in a large room decorated with rows of beautiful arched windows. The grave in the photo is a dupe, the real grave of the emperor is on the basement floor. This area is usually crowded so I had to wait for a few minutes to get this shot. Hehe.
Entrance of Isa Khan's Tomb complex
Inside the Humayun complex is the Tomb of Isa Khan. The Isa Khan tomb complex is a walled area adjacent to Humayun’s Tomb in Nizamuddin area of Delhi and is the resting place of Isa Khan Niyazi, an Afghan noble of influence at the court of Sher Shan Suri. A mosque and an octagonal tomb built in the Sur style are enclosed in Isa Khan’s walled complex. An inscription on a sandstone slab over the mihrab inside the tomb dates the construction to the Hijra year 954 (A.D. 1547-1548). The complex is the first historic structure encountered by visitors on entering the World Heritage Site complex of Humayun’s Tomb. It was also built before Humayun's tomb.
The tombs
4th Stop: UPSC Food Lane
4th Stop: UPSC Food Lane
After exploring the Humayun complex, we felt hunger pangs so we decided to take a break and grab something to eat along the way! But instead of going to a restaurant, Nico and I asked Sebastian if he could take us to a nice local spot that serves amazing street food. He took us to UPSC Lane, an alley along Man Singh Road in New Delhi!
Along UPSC lane is a prominent "chaat" (savoury snacks, typically served at road-side tracks from stalls or food carts in India and some parts of Pakistan) food stall frequented by the locals and according to our guide, even Bollywood stars! The stall is called Prabhu Chaat Bhandar and it has been around since the year 1935. Wow!
There were monkeys everywhere! Aliw si Nico hehe
We were able to chat with the super nice and gracious owner of the 85-year old chaat stall!
You have to pay here and get those round tokens which you need to give to the cooks for your order. Our guide ordered for us since there was no English menu hehe. Authentic local food talaga!
Just look for this stall! So lucky it was not that crowded when we came. This place is usually packed.
They cook the potatoes on this HUGE flat frying pan
Chaat Aloo Fry for Rs. 50! It might not look much but nakakabusog sha. Tastes so good too!
We also tried their Aloo Tikki for Rs.50. Loved this too! Super perfect the yogurt with the fried potatoes.
The whole spread
Sebastian highly recommended their Bhalla Papdi for Rs. 70
Bhalla Papdi consists of deep fried crackers with chickpeas, chutney, tamarind sauce & yogurt. It's surprisingly good!
Nico and Sebastian enjoying their meals!
We also tried their Pani Puri/Gol Gappas for Rs. 30 each! It is a street snack which consists of a hollow puri that is fried until crispy, then stuffed with a combination of flavored water called pani, tamarind chutney, chaat masala, potatoes, onions, hot chillis, and chickpeas.
My favorite Indian dessert-- Gulab Jamun for Rs. 30! milk-solid-based sweet soaked in rose flavored sugar syrup. Tastes like leche flan. So good.
Corner book stall
This famous stall is open from 11am 'til 7pm. Easiest way to get here is by riding an Uber or OLA but you could also ride the local train and get off at Khan Market station which is the nearest UPSC Lane.
5th Stop: India Gate
Struggle magpicture andito ata lahat ng tao haha
Paan, a historical Indian food/snack, is sold everywhere! It's a mixture of betel (aka areca) nut, coloured sugary balls, spices, and desiccated coconut, all typically wrapped in a betel leaf.
The foundation stone of India Gate was laid by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught in 1921 and it was designed by Edwin Lutyens. The monument was dedicated to the nation 10 years later by the then Viceroy, Lord Irwin. Another memorial, Amar Jawan Jyoti was added much later, after India got its independence. The eternal flame burns day and night under the arch to remind the nation of soldiers who laid down their lives in the Indo-Pakistan War of December 1971. The gate is guarded day and night by elite soldiers.
How to get there:
Uber or OLA won't cost much but if you want to commute, you could take the train and get off at Central Secretariat Metro Station. India Gate is just 1.2km from there.
I won't include these places in my list of "stops" because we literally just passed by and took a few photos, but here are a few shots of Qutab Minar and the Parliament House...
I won't include these places in my list of "stops" because we literally just passed by and took a few photos, but here are a few shots of Qutab Minar and the Parliament House...
Qutub Minar from outside. We didn't go inside na coz entrance is Rs. 600 each and it's almost closing time.
Parliament House! Our guide said it's not open to tourists. Only officials & employees can enter.
6th Stop: Sri Bangla Sahib Gurudwara
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is one of the most prominent Sikh temple in Delhi, India and known for its association with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan, as well as the holy river inside its complex, known as the "Sarovar." It was first built as a small shrine by Sikh General Sardar Baghel Singh in 1783, who supervised the construction of nine Sikh shrines in Delhi in the same year, during the reign of Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam II.
About to enter the temple!
Our guide took us to an airconditioned room where we left our shoes and then he led us inside the temple and toured us around!
This is the hall or Langar where visitors could get a free meal regardless of religion, caste, gender, ethnicity or economic status. It is said that up to 40,000 people come here everyday.
Our guide toured us inside the kitchen where the holy food are prepared!
Volunteers preparing hundreds of roti pratas
Huge pots of hot lentil soup
Soup being prepped by chefs
Delicious chai tea!
The eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan resided here during his stay in Delhi in 1664. During that time, there was a smallpox and cholera epidemic, and Guru Har Krishan Ji helped the suffering by giving aid and fresh water from the well at this house. Soon he too contracted the illness and eventually died on 30 March 1664. A small tank was later constructed by Raja Jai Singh over the well, its water is now revered as having healing properties and is taken by Sikhs throughout the world back to their homes.
Volunteers preparing pratas
Rotis are prepared traditionally and through this machine
Footwear is not allowed inside the temple
Photography is not allowed in the main hall called Durbar Hall and the Holy Pond. The pond is huge and people go there to bathe, dip their feet or even drink the water! They believe it could cure illness and just remove any negative energy. One must visit to see and experience it all.
Women and men are required to cover their heads in the temple
This stop was not included in our itinerary but I'm glad our guide brought us here! It was an amazing experience and truly one for the books. We learned so much about Siekhism and also India's culture. If you're in Delhi, I highly recommend a visit here! :) Our Delhi your with Indian Holiday and our guide Sebastian ended here.
Nico with our guide Sebastian! Request for him if ever you'll book a tour with Indian Holiday. Highly recommended!
After our 1-day Delhi tour with Indian Holiday, we spent the rest of our time and our free day exploring on our own! Here are some of the place we visited, as well as local food we bravely tried...
Lassi vendors everywhere! Never tried this though. Hindi lang ako mahilig sa lassi hehe
7th Stop: Agrasen Ki Baoli Stepwell
Entrance to the stepwell
Wow, it's beautiful! Some people just go here to sit in peace by the stairs. Nice place to just chill and relax.
It was not that crowded when we went there so we were able to take nice photos.
8th Stop: Chandni Chowk
So congested! As in we had to squeeze in between people, carts, vehicles just to cross the street or move a few feet. Hehe.
So happy that we finally found a cart selling this popular dessert
Only Rs. 50 per order!
Shylam Sweets
Lotan Ke Chole Kulche food joint we found using Google Maps
Kulcha bread
Rs 60 Chole Kulche set meal!
More local food stalls along the way
Madia Mahal road is just right across Jama Masjid's Gate 1
Madia Mahal Road where resto is located. It's on the left side. This is the muslim area so meron na dito beef.
We made it to Aslam Chicken! These grilled chicken smells so good nakakagutom agad.
Onions pa more
Pogi ng anak ng may-ari kamukha ni Tom Hardy! Hi koya.
Found a table on the 3rd floor and we ordered agad. Of course, we had to try their very famous Butter Chicken! Ordered Roti with it. Side dish (onions and coriander with yogurt) is free. We ordered half chicken only for Rs. 260 coz we grabbed small bites on the way and then we added nalang rotis for Rs. 10 each.
Our Rs. 300 meal
And guys grabe, BEST MEAL in Delhi! Well, for me. I love grilled chicken and I love butter so winner talaga to in my books. It's their own version of tandoori (grilled) chicken but dipped in a special gravy made of butter, curd and garlic. THE BEST talaga believe me haha. It can be a bit messy and oily coz of the gravy so get your tissues ready. Sarap to the bones I swear. My mouth is watering while I'm writing this haha. I miss this dish!
They also served us this dessert (forgot the name) na akala ko free but may bayad pala haha! Anyway, it's good naman! Tastes like dulce gatas.
9th Stop: Connought Place
We wanted to take a break from all the chaos that was Chandni Chowk, so we decided to take a breather at Connought Place! It's known to be the city's upscale commercial and residential area and also New Delhi's central business district.
Nico and his Royal Enfield obsession haha
Connought Place is famous for its Georgian-style architecture
It's Rs. 30 per piece
How to get there:
We took a tuk-tuk from Chandni Chowk to Connought Place and paid Rs. 120. And then just use google maps for the fire paan stall.
10th Stop: Main Bazar Road, Paharganj
I only had 5 seconds to take this photo. Hehe. The main street, side streets and sidewalks are so dense & crowded!
This is where we ate after our Indian Holiday Delhi tour. Resto is called Sikkim Kitchen located along Main Bazar Road. We ordered thali sets and paid Rs. 500 for everything.
Cute local sidewalk bookstore
Shops and carts line the sidewalk and vehicles fill up the narrow streets!
Checked out local shops to buy pasalubongs and to shop for ourselves hehe. Love all the colors!
Pretty bags, wallets and pouches!
Harem and baggy pants for Rs. 150. Nico bought a few so he could have something to wear in Jaipur and Agra.
Bought keychains and elephant figurines for a bargain!
Mats and tapestries on sale! Sayang wala na kami luggage space :(
Art everywhere!
Nico bought surgical masks 'coz may scarcity na by this time
Stayed in Hotel Glow Inn during our last 2 days in India! It's located inside a narrow alleyway.
Our bathroom na pwede na compared sa iba haha
Deluxe Double Room with private bathroom for Rs. 1,700 or P1,140 for 2 nights! Bed was comfy and room was spacious for the 2 of us.
Found this gem near our alley!
Ordered Margherita Pizza for Rs. 190 and it was divine! Super sulit for P130! Finished everything. Walang lasang Indian unlike other restos na pinaasa lang ako hahaha.
On our last night, we tried this stall situated at our alley's entrance
We tried the Chicken Biryani (Rs. 100) and Lamb Biryani (Rs. 230)! We didn't like the chicken coz mejo malansa but we loved the lamb! Simot sarap haha.
We also tried this maggi noodles something from the local store. Kala ko dry pero mejo basa pala. Haha.
We paid Rs. 40 for one bowl. Dito ata kami nagka gastro coz it was already late and we ate so much noodles. Our stomach felt so heavy the next day waah.
So happy I'm finally done with my New Delhi post. Agra naman next! Thanks in advance for reading. :)
BUDGET per person in PHP:
Airfare = P21,627 or P16,695
Airport tax = P1,620
Indian Visa = $25 or P1,285
Indian Holiday Tour = $400 or P20,514/2 = P10,257
Travel Insurance = P1,295
Accommodations = P4,926
_________________________________
TOTAL = Php 36, 078
Delhi 1st Day
OLA to hostel = P340
Food and drinks = P350 / 2 = P175
____________________________
TOTAL = Php 515
Delhi Days 2-4 in Rupees (per person)
Jama Masjid camera fee - 300
Nagoyo ng kuya tip for photo - 100Humayun's Tomb entrance - 600
Lunch at UPSC Food Lane (including food of our guide)- 450/2 = 225
Tip for Sebastian our guide - 500/2 = 250
Dinner at Sikkam Kitchen - 500/2 = 250
Tuktuk to Agrasen Ki Baoli - 100/2 = 50
OLA to Chandni Chowk - 80/2 = 40
Daulat Ki Chat Wale snack - 50
Chole Kulche snack - 60
Aslam Chicken Meal - 300/2 = 150
Tuktuk to Connought Place - 120/2 = 60
Fire paan - 30
Coffee shop at Connought - 250/2 = 125
Tuktuk to Main Bazar - 100/2 = 50
Dinner at Drunkyard Cafe - 450 / 2 =225
Biryani food cart - 330 / 2 = 165
Maggi noodles from store - 50/2 = 25
Drunkyard Cafe breakfast on last day = 200
Shopping - 1500
Miscellaneous buys (masks, water, snacks, etc) - 1000/2 = 500
Airport service - 450/2 = 225
-------------------------------------------------
TOTAL - Rs. 5,180 or Php 3,441
*Budget depends on spending habits and food preferences
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