Red Fort, Delhi

In Old Delhi, our first destination was the Red Fort, completed in 1648. Successfully using our employment papers, we were able to get in with the drastically reduced local ticket price. We followed the tourists through the Lahore Gate, so-named because it faces the city of Lahore. The vaulted archade known as Chatta Chowk contained quite a few shops selling goods from Rajasthan, but we ignored them, knowing that there would be plenty of authentic shopping opportunities once in Rajasthan. We then quickly visited the Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience) and wandered through the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience), admiring the graceful white marble arches with their delicate inlaid designs. We peered through the window of the hammam, the cool marble reflected by window light. We glimpsed the domes of the Pearl Mosque (1659), whose structure was otherwise obscured by a high wall. Disappointed that the restaurant did not serve food until later, we headed back towards the Lahore Gate, passing by some ugly barracks constructed by the British.

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