SINGLE TICKET ENTRY FOR DELHI MONUMENTS & FOREINGER DISCRIMINATION

Single- Ticket Entry for All Monuments in Delhi

Very good and bad news Very soon tourist may no longer have to queue up. The archeological Survey of India (ASI) is introducing a common ticket system for the important monuments of Delhi. This common entry ticket comes at a time when the ASI will be revising the entry rates of Red Fort. (World heritage site)

At present the entry rates for the Mughal marvel are Rps 5 per head and for Indians and $ 2 for foreign Nationals. Entry for world heritage sites are Rps 10 per person for Indians and Rps 250 or US$ for foreigners.

Delhi has three world heritages Red Fort, Humayan’s Tomb, and Qutab Minar

And this is the bad new, how can a state punish his tourist visits; this is incredible and never seen before. My suggestion is that Indians if they visit Europe or the US ought to pay 25 times more the entry fee. So the visit of the Zoo in Frankfurt will be not 10 euro but 250, the Atomium in Brussels not 15 euro but 350 and the Louvre in Paris will be 500 euro. Maybe than after the first visit to Europe the governmental fixing the prices would think it over. But knowing Indians they will have big publications stipulating discrimination and racisms. Only if it is happening in their own country than it is right.

THIS INJUSTICE AND DISCRIMINATION OF FOREIGNERS HAS TO BE STOPPED

TUGHLAQABAD & GHIYAS-UD-DIN TUGHLAQ TOMB

Recently I drove with my bicycle to Tughlaqabad.
I learned from older travel guides that Tughlaqabad, was taken over by monkeys. But this is not the case anymore, the monkeys moved to the lower parts of the rocks and are now dispersed along the street, whre they get food form the people passing-by.

The origin of the historic city of Tughlaqabad and the Tughlaqabad Fort goes to the
period of the Delhi Sultanate (AD 1191–1526). The Tughlaqs (AD 1321–1414) who
followed the Khiljis (AD 1290–1321) constructed the city of Tughlaqabad
and Tughlaqabad Fort.

History tell us that the foundation of Tughlaqabad was performed by,
the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty. Ghazi Malik once was a slave of Mubarak Khilji, the last Khilji sultan. One day, while walking in the area where the Tughlaqabad Fort is now
located, Ghazi Malik suggested to his master that the high rocks dominating the landscape would be an ideal site for building a fort. The Khilji sultan laughed at his slave and suggested that the slave build a fort there when he became a sultan. When Ghazi Malik, as Ghiyasud-din Tughlaq, founded the Tughlaq Dynasty in 1321, he did just that—Tughlaqabad .
The fort of Tughlaqabad was completed rapidly in a short span of four years (1321–
25). (I take this for na fairy tail, the dimensions are as such that even in modern India it would not be possible to finalize a building of these dimensions in 4 years) The fort’s massive walls and bastions (some as high as 15–30 m, built of
enormous blocks of stone and walls 10 m thick in places) rise the question how the construction was performed in a time without having machines.
Sultanate had to face a number of attacks from hoards of marauding, who
descended on it in waves from the north. During is reign Ghiyas-ud-din, had severe difficulties with raids of Mongols in order to counter the Mongol threat, repeatedly battled them and raised pyramids of enemy’s heads and used elephants to crush the captives to death. The skulls of the killed Mongol marauders were used in the construction material of this awesome fort. ( I did not see any skulls)

The end of Tughlaqabad was not brought about by any foreign invasion, but to the
curse of a Sufi Saint Nizam-ud-din. The quarrel between the the Sufi and
Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq started when Ghyas-ud-din did not allow his people to work for the saint on the construction of a baoli. This angered the saint and led to his famous prophecy “Hunuz Dilli dur ast” (Delhi is yet far away), for the sultan was then out in Bengal. He made another ominous reference to the sultan’s fort when he remarked “Ya rahe usar, ya basé Gujjar” (Either it remains deserted or be peopled by men of the Gujjar tribe). Both these prophecies proved true. Ghiyas-ud-din was killed at a place near Delhi when a shamiana (canopy, marquee) collapsed over him during a reception arranged by his son. The sultan could not reach Delhi alive. His successor chose to build his own fort
and deserted Tughlaqabad. It soon became a haunt for the Gujjars tending their cattle
within the abandoned fort of Ghiyas-ud-din.
It is generally believed that the death of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq wasplotted by his son. One story describes that Muhammad bin Tughlaq (Ghiyas-ud-din’s son and successor) killed his father by building a false wooden balcony, which collapsed and killed Ghiyas-ud-din. The son murdered and ascended the throne of Delhi, thus making the prophecies of Saint Nizam-ud-din come true.
With the sultan's death, the city's short-lived glory to an abrupt end
In this devastated situation it now remains and Delhi government does not take actually any measures to improve. The earlier renovations I had the impression are done without plan and it seems to me that they destroy more of the original than to contribute to a reconstruction of this gigantic fort. How the city inside the fort was looking like will be a mystery forever.
When one enters the fort, the first impression are the guides lying half- sleepy around but than later a profound feeling of emptiness and leaving only cows and donkeys as companions.

TOMB OF GHIYAS-UD-DIN TUGHLAQ

On the southern side of the fort is a causeway that takes one across the (now) dry bed
of a lake to the tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq. The tomb was built by the ruler
himself and is enclosed in a private courtyard with fortified walls. The structure of this
simple but elegant building reminds one of the Alai Darwaza—an elegant gateway
built by the erstwhile Khilji ruler Ala-ud-din Khilji, near Qutab Minar, in his
endeavor to beautify the Qutab complex. The style of the tomb conforms to the Indo-
Islamic style of architecture, which was in vogue at that time and was the hallmark of
the buildings belonging to the period of the Delhi Sultanate.

RED FORT (LAL QILA) NOW WORLD HERITAGE

CONGRATULATIONS
Last week was once more at Lal Qila and of course will not show the usual pictures. Being collector of bronze bells, I also find some interesting subjects at the souk of red fort. And I was really positivly surprised about the attidude of the shop owners. I got decent information and never felt forced to buy anything. I really can recommend these shops .... and the prices where the same as in Dehradun, not really the touristic centre of India. For the sure the sellers first have to attract attention by shouting and asking, but the service I got was excellent .... sure came out with 2 more bells

In the following not the usual pictures of Lal Qila and all its fameous buildings but just some details normally not shown in touristic flyers.

INDIA & TOURISMUS A CONTRADICTION ?

Recently in Indian Times the question was asked why India has 0nly 3,4 Mio tourist visits per year, but no real investigation followed.

Well I think 3,4 Mio is already a lot. But taken the exotic ideas in the mind of tourist and the huge number of must see attractions and natural parks it looks like a figure ready for improvement. To attract more visitors things has to change and get more attractive. In the following a list of items making India difficult to digest and less attractive if compared to other countries
· Already at the arrival hall there is a displeasing smell of a mixture of Cresol (for desinfication, dust and human sweat.
· Once outside the air terminal tourist will be asked by numerous people where there are going to, where there are coming from….. with the simple goal to get them in an taxi and charge more than the local range … or worse.
· Tourist are used to stay in line waiting for a taxi, in India you have no change …. People will go to get the first taxi still not lined up and pass you without even taking notice. This makes me personally always very aggressive.
· As soon as you enter a taxi, after the taxi check the brother (friend, father) of the taxi driver will enter. The only goal of this action is to press more money out of you by intimidation (I normally step out of the taxi if the second enter, later it will be difficult to do so).
· The taxis are mostly in a deplorable status, not meeting any security or hygienic standards, the same can be said for the drivers.
· As soon as the taxi stops at traffice lights, some beggars in lumps with faces as if they have to suffer all misery of this world will appear at the car window. Here most female tourist will not be able to resist.
· At least now the tourist will already be confrontated with the broad smell of human excrements and evaporating and decomposing urine
· As soon as arrived in the hotel, tourist will be confrontated with 2 forms, asking a lot of data. In most hotels the reception will insist that the forms will be completely filled out including the for western adult antic question as name of the father.
· As long as the hotel price is over 75 euro the tourist may expect a clean room. Below this value cockroaches may be present and toilet paper not available. Here also the tourist will be confrontated with the style of Indian wall painters, with droppings of paint on the floor and the attitude to paint also parts of the windows, by lack of any tape to get straight borders. Also the use of silicone around the bathtub you have to get used to.
· The next morning, staying in a real Indian hotel (s)he will be confrontated with real Indian breakfast, but by change there might be a toast (without toaster) and some marmalade. If (s)he does not take care they will come super sweet tea with milk and the coffee is always (even in the expensive hotels) prepared over the big filtering and evaporation machines of Nestle’ plants or comparable.
· The first walk outside the hotel will be training how to avoid walking on sidewalks. Because the sidewalks are already taken by trees, cattle, small shops (water/lemon sales, shoe cleaner, bicycle repair) desperate beggars or people asleep (frighten for newcomers because they look like death). Beside that Indians do not mind to park cars and motorbikes per preference on the sidewalks if the curbstones are not too high for them
· Now (s)he will also be confrontated not only with the smell of excrements and urine of all kind of animals but also with the smell of uncovered waste water channels and the sad attitude to put the garbage unprotected in the middle of the village open for the cattle, dog and the ravens. And of course during the night for rats and other night active animals.
· Now also you have to experience that a pedestrian in India as no rights. Nobody will even slow down if you cross the street. Zebra crossings have no meaning, traffic light may be seen as indicators, inviting to stop eventually
· Never come to the idea to rent a car, first the formalities will take one day at least and second driving without any rules is not as easy as you may have thought. The worst revelation will happen at traffic lights or railroad crossings. You maybe first, but soon you will have a car or motorbike on your left and right, this will continue until the first row is completely filled up leaving no space for any maneuvering. The same will happen to the second row etc. This would be still acceptable, but this behavior is not restricted to your lane also the lane for the oncoming traffic will be taken. That means if the light switches to green or the barrier opens at first nothing can happen, because on the opposite side the same procedure happened. You have to have nerves of steel cables to survive that.
· Bicycle or motorbike renting is not available, this is good so, because also as bicycle driver you have no rights and constantly you have to look for cattle, other bicycle drivers and motorbikes on the opposite side of the road (these are not disoriented western tourist) and you are constantly in danger, because of the deplorable status of the roads with potholes and open waste water manhole channels.
· Male tourist have to get used, to see only a part of the belly of the opposite sex and nothing else. Sad for them, who thought that all Indian girls are dressed like in Bollywood films and wiggling with the belly all the time. To look for a sexual adventure India is for sure not the right country …. And stay away of so-called street workers conform to the latest evaluation 1/ 3 is HIV infected.
· But maybe you would like to visit a bar in the evening, please stay in the hotel bar or ask an Indian friend, they are hardly pubs or bars available and when they are difficult to find (beside the hotel bars)
· Now finally you want to visit some of the famous touristic attractions as Taj Mahal Red Fort or Jaipur or Amber City or so. Please be prepared to count at least the double of the traveling time you may have dreamed of in one of your nightmares. Be prepared, before you enter in to this magnificent places you will first be confrontated with the raw sites of the city (smell for shit, beggars etc see above) and than you will have to pay 10 to 200 times more than an Indian tourist at the entrance (when will we finally ask 200 euro for The Louvre for all Indian citizen)
· Take care with guides, some of them are perfect and of big help, some of them are just jerks. Always agree the price in advance otherwise long disagreeable discussions will result afterwards.
· Indians are very proud about their food, for me really not understandable: for meat only chicken and so-called mutton (is goat) is available. Now you can combine this meat with turmeric, bay leave, coriander, or other spices and make it very spicy hot with green peppers, what comes out has always more or less the same taste … hot. At least for me good cooking is accentuating the natural flavor of food by adding spices, this is not Indian cooking. In Indian the natural flavor has to be killed. Especially for vegetables this is really a pity, in all the time I am in India I never could have the real taste of cauliflower or okra (ladyfinger) or beans and peas… this is one of my saddest experiences. Even in ratatouille, being a mixture of vegtables we still can distinguish between the different taste of the vegetables in India , this is due to excessive cooking not possible. Everything must be small and creamy , with lot od greavy , so you will be able to take it with a small piece of chipatti , naan or paratha and bring with the fingers to the mouth.
· Tourist doesn’t want to eat with fingers, they even think it is disgusting and it is indeed. Especially in the south if people start mixing the rice with gravy as mixing mortar, it is simply desgusting.
· Tourist hardly will find a bathroom during traveling (beside the expensive hotels) meeting by far the Western hygienic standards. So they will have to wait in the morning before the can start the touristic journey.And please always have your toilet paper wiith you.
· Train traveling as is own peculiarities, first there are hardly indications, the porters are very aggressive to get your small luggage, the comfort in the train is deplorable, the taste of food disappears as soon as you have passed trough the kitchen. Indian likes to have the air- conditioning at full performance. Western are used to 23 C, so at 19 being in summer cloths they start shivering.

I am still not finished with all recommendations, but I think for a while it is sufficient. And I am sure if all these items could be improved a lot more tourist would come to India and admire the great culture, very open- minded people and give positive impressions to their friends. And everything will get better now that the regional governement decided that also bus depots will be upgraded to tourist hotels !!!