Matt Long – India Trek Day 1

Day 1 – 2:00am: Arrive at the Taj Mahal Hotel New Delhi. We landed in New Delhi at 12:30am where we were greeted by our trip guide, Anup, and Professor Jan Barton. At the Taj, we were given flower leis and they applied red dots to our foreheads, symbolizing good luck, honor, love and prosperity.

Day 1 – 11:00am: Tour of New Delhi, including the India Gate (below), Swaminarayan Akshardham temple, North & South Black secretariat, Presidential Palace, and Parliament. We’re all pretty jet lagged but we are excited to be in India!

Day 1 – 3:30pm: After getting off the rickshaws, we toured the Red Fort and Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque. We had to wear orange head covers to go inside the mosque

Day 1 – 2:30pm: Rickshaw tour through Old Delhi. We cycled our way through the most narrow streets I’ve ever seen, sharing the road with hundreds of people shopping, scooters, and, of course, cows. It was one of the most intense rides I’ve ever been on.

Day 1 – 6:00pm: Visit Rajghat, where Mahatma Gandhi’s last rites were performed. It was very peaceful and a relaxing place to end the day.