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Lodi Garden, Delhi (Where Gumbo was #162)

 

Gumbo was visiting the beautiful Lodi Garden in New Delhi, India.  It was one of my favorite destinations in Delhi.  Congratulations to TravelingCanuck and GarryRF, the only two who solved the puzzle this week, which was a tough one to be sure.

00 Lodhi Gardens, Delhi 02-2016
In a crowded, congested city of 17 million, green spaces are very important and much appreciated by the residents.  This park offers lots of free space for people to enjoy.  Here you have a chance to walk, jog, do yoga, have a picnic and play.  We arrived fairly early on a drizzly morning and the park was almost deserted.  Of course a little rain never stopped me from exploring.   The drizzle dried up within an hour and then the crowds started to arrive.  But not before I got to see a nearly empty park with lovely palm-tree lined walks, like these....

07 Lodhi Gardens, Delhi 02-201608 Lodhi Gardens, Delhi 02-2016 (1)08 Lodhi Gardens, Delhi 02-2016 (7)08 Lodhi Gardens, Delhi 02-2016 (2)

A number of beautiful flower gardens are scattered throughout the park.  This layout was created in 1936 by Lady Willingdon who was wife of the viceroy....  08 Lodhi Gardens, Delhi 02-2016 (12)08 Lodhi Gardens, Delhi 02-2016 (13)

What I found most amazing about the Lodi Gardens was how history and nature were in harmony here.  The park had originally been created as a burial garden for the Lodi family (and their noblemen), Delhi Sultans.  There are a number of beautiful medieval tombs on the grounds which are certainly well worth seeing, between which you have the green space of the park that people enjoy. 

The most imposing of structure in Lodi Garden is the Bara Gumbad Tomb, seen below, crafted of red, gray and black stones.  Built around 1500 AD, it's a large cuboidal tomb whose occupant is unknown.... 

09 Lodhi Gardens, Bara Gumbad Tomb. Delhi 02-201611 Lodhi Gardens, Bara Gumbad Tomb. Delhi 02-201615 Lodhi Gardens, Bara Gumbad Tomb. Delhi 02-2016

The tomb is capped by a large dome and you can walk in to see its interior.  There is need for restoration, but some lovely tile work was included in its construction....

18 Lodhi Gardens, Bara Gumbad Tomb. Delhi 02-2016
(the tomb is in the center, the mosque the domed structure to the right)

19 Lodhi Gardens, Bara Gumbad Tomb. Delhi 02-2016

Built as part of the Bara Gumbad Tomb is an old mosque, the Bara Gumbad Masjid.  The mosque is not large but beautifully decorated with inscriptions from the Koran and has elaborate tilework.  The six images that follow are of this mosque.

33 Lodhi Gardens, Bara Gumbad Masjid. Delhi 02-201620 Lodhi Gardens, Bara Gumbad Masjid. Delhi 02-201623 Lodhi Gardens, Bara Gumbad Masjid. Delhi 02-201625 Lodhi Gardens, Bara Gumbad Masjid. Delhi 02-201626 Lodhi Gardens, Bara Gumbad Masjid. Delhi 02-201628 Lodhi Gardens, Bara Gumbad Masjid. Delhi 02-2016
Situated close to the Bara Gumbad complex is Shish Gumbad, seen below.  This tomb was built around 1600 AD for an unknown nobleman.  Smaller than it's neighbor, the Bara Gumbad tomb, it's known for the blue tiles that decoratively frame it.

36 Lodhi Gardens, Bara Shish Gumbad. Delhi 02-201636a Lodhi Gardens, Bara Shish Gumbad. Delhi 02-2016 (2)37 Lodhi Gardens, Bara Shish Gumbad. Delhi 02-201639 Lodhi Gardens, Bara Shish Gumbad. Delhi 02-2016
A little hard to spot but near the Bara Gumbad complex stands this well built tower, known as the Round Tower, dating from about the 14th century.....
44 Lodhi Gardens, Round Tower. Delhi 02-2016
The Tomb of Muhammed Shah (about 1434 A.D.) is about a 10 minute walk from the Bara Gumbud complex.  It's built in an octagonal shape, which was to become the geometric designed favored by later Delhi sultans for their tombs.  As you can see below, its main dome is surrounded by 8 smaller domes, or chattris.

46 Lodhi Gardens, Muhammad Shah's Tomb. Delhi 02-201647b Lodhi Gardens, Muhammad Shah's Tomb. Delhi 02-201647c Lodhi Gardens, Muhammad Shah's Tomb. Delhi 02-201647d Lodhi Gardens, Muhammad Shah's Tomb. Delhi 02-201647e Lodhi Gardens, Muhammad Shah's Tomb. Delhi 02-2016
The Lodi Garden is a very popular place for couples about to enter an arranged marriage to make a photo album of their "getting to know each other" days.  Sort of an engagement album.  The couple below was posing for their photographer at the Tomb of Muhammad Shah....
47f Lodhi Gardens, Muhammad Shah's Tomb. Delhi 02-2016

Perhaps the most beautiful spot in the garden is the Athpula, a bridge located near the tomb of Sikander Lodi.  Athpula means "eight piers".  The bridge was built during the late sixteenth century...

50a Lodhi Gardens, Athpula. Delhi 02-201650b Lodhi Gardens, Athpula. Delhi 02-2016

Our final stop at the Lodi Garden was the Tomb of Sikander Lodi, near the garden's north end.  He was an important Delhi sultan who ruled from 1489 - 1517 A.D. His tomb is grand, in the middle of a fenced-in-garden whose walls were the very first clue of our puzzle.....

58 Lodhi Gardens, Sikander Lodhi's Tomb. Delhi 02-201660 Lodhi Gardens, Sikander Lodhi's Tomb. Delhi 02-201661 Lodhi Gardens, Sikander Lodhi's Tomb. Delhi 02-201663 Lodhi Gardens, Sikander Lodhi's Tomb. Delhi 02-201664 Lodhi Gardens, Sikander Lodhi's Tomb. Delhi 02-201668 Lodhi Gardens, Sikander Lodhi's Tomb. Delhi 02-201670 Lodhi Gardens, Sikander Lodhi's Tomb. Delhi 02-2016
73 Lodhi Gardens, Sikander Lodhi's Tomb. Delhi 02-2016
Before we leave the Lodi Garden, I need to point out that it's a great location for bird watching.  The most colorful birds are the flocks of ring-necked parakeets, which were also in one of our puzzle clues.....
74 Lodhi Gardens, Parakeets. Delhi 02-2016 (7)
But there are mynah birds in large numbers....
75 Lodhi Gardens, Mynah bird. Delhi 02-2016 (2)

Lots of crows, and many other birds as well.76 Lodhi Gardens, Crow. Delhi 02-2016
Admission to the park is free, so no reason not to enjoy a few hours in this beautiful place.

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Images (45)
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  • Lodi Gardens, Delhi, Parakeets
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  • Lodi Gardens, Delhi, Mynah bird.
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Twitter: @DrFumblefinger

"We do not take a trip, a trip takes us".  John Steinbeck, from Travels with Charlie

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Comments (4)

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Dear Karl -

A beautiful sequence of images. I especially enjoyed seeing all the space(s) that you moved into and through and gave to your armchair companions through your fine images.

Thank you. I plan to share your experience  with my friend Ximena, who is planning to travel to India next year with a group of women friends.

All my very best to you,

Neil 

 

 

 

 

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