I had my own driver for the day, but he managed to never be around when i came out of anything, it was actually rather annoying! Felt terrible being angry about it though, and tried very hard not to!
Visited the Gandhi museum, housed in the building where he was living up to his death (a very nice one, but his room was suitably simple), and he was shot in the garden there. The building has been very nicely preserved, and it is a great venue for a museum, but I was very disappointed by the place itself. The bottom floor features lots of information about Gandhi, the struggle for Independence etc, but it is SO DRY! Walls and walls of black and white photo and huge chunks of text. It would take a whole day to read everything. And I have no idea what the idea was for the upstairs, but it made me angry enough that i walked out. It has been set up as an interactive walk through Gandhi's ideas and life, but it looks and feels like a mix between the kids hands-on section at the Science Museum in London and the Tate Modern. Which is fine if it WAS aimed at kids, but its not. Such a huge waste of money, and the whole effect was naff, something Gandhi would have been totally against I am sure. The whole place was such a contrast from the Ashram where I stayed, and I know where I preferred, and learnt more about the man and his ideas.
Next up was Indira Gandhi 's (no relation) museum. She was Nehru's daughter and was Prime Minister for a long time, before also being shot. It is set in her house as well, just around the corner, and is rather nice, without being over the top. While the beginning panders rather and involves showing off all the awards she received, the rest just shows the house and how it was at the time of her death. It offers a nice snapshot of her life.
I had run out of interest in assassinated former leaders of India, so Nehru's museum will have to be done another time.
Next up was a driving tour of the Rajput, the government area of Delhi. It follows the model of the Mall in London, or Washinton DC - A big road with a monument at one end, and the seat of government at the other. It is very impressive, and green, and long and i was glad not to have to walk it!
The only other area on my 'New Delhi' tour for the day was Connaught Place. It is essentially the shopping district of the city (well, it was until all the malls were built in the south, and it itself was designed to replace the old bazaars in Old Delhi). It is in a giant circle design, and is currently being restored to its former self. Features lots of western shops - Levis, Lacosste at prices not that much cheaper than in England, despite a large number of these brands having their stuff made in India. I treated myself to some Indian street food for lunch (no Indian food in the house, so I found myself actually missing it!) Clotilde arrived in the late afternoon, and we went for a quick snack at the Imperial Hotel, the grandest hotel in Delhi. 1930's Art Decco in design on the outside, it is stuffed full of paintings of the Raj and a very British feel on the inside. $500 a night! I had two Boston Creme donuts from the bakery and they were lovely. Then it was home on the Metro and birthday dinner - shredded duck with potatoes, and an Apricot sponge cake, complete with candle. It was a surprise, and very nice, especially when an Indian top, blue scarf and 3 books were added as presents. Did I mention i really enjoyed my stay in Delhi and my amazing hosts?
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