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XVI maltatoday, Sunday, 1 March 2015 Travel Sights and smells of India Delhi Delhi is a city that bridges two different worlds. Old Delhi, once the capital of Is- lamic India, is a labyrinth of narrow lanes lined with crumbling havelis and formi- dable mosques. In contrast, the imperial city of New Delhi created by the British Raj is composed of spacious, tree-lined avenues and imposing government build- ings. Delhi has been the seat of power for several rulers and many empires for about a millennium. Many a times the city was built, destroyed and then rebuilt here, where Delhi 's rulers often played a double role of destroyer, then creator. The city's importance lies not just in its past glory as the seat of empires and magnificent monuments, but also in the rich and diverse cultures. What to do? The Red sandstone walls of the massive Red Fort (Lal Qila) rise 33 metres above the clamour of Old Delhi as a reminder of the magnificent power and pomp of the Mughal emperors. The walls, built in 1638, were designed to keep invaders from a treasure trove of buildings, including the Drum House, the Hall of Public Audi- ences, the white marble Hall of Private Audiences, the Pearl Mosque, Royal Baths and Palace of Colour. The main gate, Lahore Gate, is one of the emotional and symbolic focal points of the modern In- dian nation. The vaulted arcade of Chatta Chowk, a bazaar selling tourist trinkets, leads into the huge fort compound. An evening sound and light show re- creates events in India's history connect- ed with the fort. The tomb of Mughal Emperor Hu- mayun, commissioned by his wife, was the first garden-tomb on the Indian sub-continent, with geometrically shaped gardens and criss-crossing water chan- nels, probably symbolic of a paradise set- ting. Humayun's Persian wife's inf luence is evident in the double domes, similar structures were later used for the Red Fort and the Taj Majal. If you can spare the time take a trip 200km out of Delhi to visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World – the Taj Mahal. English poet Edwin Arnold called it "Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passion of an emperor's love wrought in living stones." The building is a tribute of Shah Jahan, emperor of India, to his wife Mumtaz Mahal who died giving birth to their 14th child. He was so saddened by her death that he ordered the court into two years of mourning and built the world 's fines mausoleum which took 22 years to con- struct, employing the services of 22,000 men. Khari Baoli, the street that runs from the Fatehpuri Mosque to the western edge of the old city, is Delhi 's bustling whole- sale spice market. It's well worth a wander simply to take in the sights and smells be- cause things have changed little here for centuries. Huge sacks of herbs and spices are still brought to the wholesalers on long, narrow barrows pushed by labour- ers, and there are eye-catching displays of everything from lentils and rice to giant jars of chutneys, pickles, nuts and tea. How to get there? Emirates offer daily f lights between Malta and Delhi. Flights departing from Malta on 19 March and returning on 2 April were priced at €653.93 including taxes, at the time of going to print. Total f lying time is approximately 13.5 hours. Built as a tribute for Shah Jahan's wife who died giving birth, the Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World Made of red sandstone, the Red Fort was designed to protect the city from invaders