Our wonderful Delhi stay: a photo essay
Momo smiled, breathed in rain-misted air, and said dreamily, “Mmm…I love Delhi. I can stay here forever.“ I looked at her in surprise. Most first-time India visitors hate Delhi. It is a sort of stereotype feedback that the city gets. They find it too big, too crowded, too noisy, too polluted and the list goes on. The Indian capital city is, without any doubt, a huge cultural shock. My funny German friend, also a first-time visitor said something so totally opposite that it took me by surprise and I blamed it on jet lag. However, she did love the capital city and our Delhi city stay was perhaps the most wonderful experience, after Goa.
Our charming Delhi city stay
To begin with, we met some of my old and dearest friends. They added a magic twist to our Delhi stay and we felt loved, wanted, and taken care of. Moreover, our homestay hosts were absolutely fantastic and the accommodation itself was a real find. The homestay was located in Saket and there were huge jamun trees all the building. These attracted birds in hordes and every morning, we were woken up by bird songs. Squirrels with bushy tails and striped, furry backs frolicked everywhere and we even had visits from a few somber-looking languors. They sat on the terrace and stared at us ponderously, their long, silvery tails dangling like tassels. After some contemplative moments, they went away as they had arrived, their swift feet beating on the corrugated tin roof like hailstones. At night, an owl hooted outside our window and fireworms flitted in and out of the hibiscus trees on the terrace. It was a literal Garden of Eden in the middle of a vast, cosmopolitan city and we spent some very happy days there.
Attractions visited during our Delhi stay
During our Delhi stay, we spent the afternoons indoors playing board games or reading. The mornings and evenings were dedicated to going out and we explored the gorgeous Qutub Minar, Safdarjung Tomb, and the Lodhi Gardens. Those were beautiful days and here is a photo essay of our brief, but lovely Delhi stay.
Follow the rest of the Delhi series
- INDIA TRIP IN A NUTSHELL
- STREET ART IN DELHI
- DELHI GARDENS AND PARKS
- KHAORI BAOLI SPICE MARKET IN DELHI
- DELHI IN WINTER
- JAMA MASJID IN DELHI
- KATHPUTLI COLONY IN DELHI
RESPONSIBLE TRAVELING-BECAUSE I CARE
FAQs
What does Delhi look like?
Delhi is a striking mix of Mughal-era monuments like the Qutub Minar and Safdarjung Tomb, green pockets like Lodhi Gardens, and buzzing, misty streets full of tea stalls and everyday life.
What are the best photo spots in Delhi?
The Qutub Minar complex, Safdarjung Tomb, and Lodhi Gardens are the standout photo spots covered in this Delhi city stay, alongside candid street scenes like the neighbourhood tea-seller.
What is “Our Wonderful Delhi City Stay” photo essay about?
It’s a photo essay capturing a short, memorable stay in Delhi spent with old friends — mornings and evenings exploring the Qutub Minar, Safdarjung Tomb and Lodhi Gardens, and quiet afternoons at home.
What makes Delhi visually striking?
The contrast between towering Mughal-era ruins, manicured garden tombs, and the raw energy of Delhi’s crowded, misty streets gives the city a striking visual range.
When is the best time to photograph Delhi?
Cooler, rain-misted mornings and evenings — like the ones described in this Delhi stay — give the softest light for photographing Delhi’s monuments and street life.
Can you describe what visiting Delhi actually looks and feels like, through someone’s own eyes?
Visiting Delhi feels like a genuine culture shock at first — big, crowded and noisy — but staying with locals and slowing down to explore places like Lodhi Gardens and Qutub Minar reveals a gentler, more charming side of the city.
What visual details make Delhi stand out compared to other destinations?
Delhi stands out for pairing ancient red-sandstone ruins such as the Qutub Minar and Safdarjung Tomb with everyday scenes like steaming tea stalls and rain-misted streets, a mix you won’t find in more modern Indian cities.
What’s the story behind this photo essay?
The essay follows a short Delhi stay with old friends, where mornings and evenings were spent sightseeing at the Qutub Minar, Safdarjung Tomb and Lodhi Gardens, while quieter days were spent at home over tea and board games.
If I wanted to capture Delhi well in photos, what should I focus on?
Focus on the layered textures of its Mughal monuments, the soft light of early morning or post-rain evenings, and candid everyday moments like tea-sellers and street life.
What impressions does Delhi tend to leave on first-time visitors?
Delhi often overwhelms first-time visitors with its size, crowds and pollution, but as this stay shows, it can just as easily leave you wanting to stay forever once you look past the initial culture shock.
