sophiakJ3309AZ, Nov 2024

My adventure through New Delhi was an absolute blast! From the moment we set off, it felt like my tour guide, Parul was steering me on a thrilling quest through history. Her storytelling made it all come alive, sparking my imagination, my horror, my awe and my laughter. I’m just a few steps into the stunning Qutub Minar Complex. “Let me tell you a tale of one of our most well known legendary love stories…” Parul is captivating and engaging as she weaves an admittedly embellished story about two medieval figures, Prithviraj Chauhan and Samyukta and their ultimate defeat by Muhammad Ghori to which the Victory Tower is erected for. Not long after, she follows up with a chronicling the events of beheading after gruesome beheading from the bloody historical figure Alauddin Khalji while we’re overlooking his tomb. This sightseeing tour hits hard for the history buff and will keep you on your toes. The tour guide’s account of the Qutub Mosque being constructed from the demolished remains of other Hindu temples and pointing out the archiectural tale-tell signs is an eye-opening experience. “It’s the ultimate insult. If your leader can’t even protect your sacred space, can he really do anything for you?” Humayun’s Tomb held the same kind of magic. Parul spun tales of Mughal intrigue, connecting us with the lives of historical figures Ibrahim Lodi and Babur with an account of warfare technological plot-twists and pachyderm chaos. She brings the story of Humayun and the great love his father and his wife bestowed onto him to life, doing her best to lead you into stepping back in time, experiencing their joys and struggles firsthand. The Lodhi Art District was such a fantastic highlight! Parul didn’t just point out the stunning murals; she dove into the intention behind the art, connecting it to today’s social issues of character belittlement, artist devaluation, feminism, religious mockery and a surveillance state. It was a great way to explore modern themes in a tour that was ancient-heavy. This may have been the most comical moment of the day. It was the opposite of censorship. We had the ability to skip it completely, but Parul brought me to a mural she specifically -did not- enjoy and found insulting so that she could explain it to me and be annoyed at it for a good three minutes while I laughed at her. It was charming the way you could feel that she was personally invested in this piece. During the drives from one location to the next, there was a lot of impromptu conversation that were just as illuminating: New Delhi’s technological breakthroughs, the stranglehold the caste system still has on the people, the day-to-day problems that exist being regularly tackled, a natural comparison of our cultural conventions. Ask her while you’re both having dosas about her contention over the word, “Curry.” At Agrasen ki Baoli, the engineering principles were discussed and the important role it plays in the neighborhood culture who frequented the stepwell. Finally, visiting Bangla Sahib Gurudwara was a heartfelt experience. Alongside the devotional center exists a kitchen open to freely feed everyone and anyone hungry enough to visit. The guide shared her admiration for the importance of community and service in Sikhism, making this stop both enlightening and uplifting. It was a beautiful way to wrap up our day. Every moment was packed with fun, laughter, and insightful stories, thanks to Parul’s fount of local knowledge and natural storytelling flair. You’ll leave with a profound appreciation for the city’s heritage and the people who have shaped it over the centuries. Highly recommended! Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with the past in such a meaningful way.