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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 28 JUNE 2015 44 TRAVEL DELHI is a city that bridges two different worlds. Old Delhi, once the capital of Islamic India, is a labyrinth of narrow lanes lined with crumbling havelis and for- midable mosques. In contrast, the imperial city of New Delhi created by the British Raj is composed of spacious, tree-lined avenues and imposing government buildings. Delhi has been the seat of power for rulers and empires for about a millennium. Many a time the city was built, destroyed and then rebuilt here, where Delhi's rulers often played a double role of de- stroyer, then creator. The city's importance lies not just in its past glory as the seat of empires and magnificent monu- ments, 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 Audiences, 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 mod- ern Indian nation. An evening sound and light show re-creates events in India's history connected with the fort. Just across from the Red Fort is India's largest mosque, Jama Masjid, one of the last architec- tural works of the Mugal emperor Shah Jahan, completed in 1658. Constructed in red sandstone and marble the mosque contains a central courtyard to accommo- date thousands of worshippers with separate entrances used by the emperors. Some of the proph- et Mohammad's relics are stored here, including the Koran written on deerskin, a red beard-hair of the prophet, his sandals and his footprints, implanted in a marble block. The tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun, commissioned by his wife, was the first garden-tomb on the Indian sub-continent, with geometrically shaped gardens and criss-crossing water channels, probably symbolic of a paradise setting. Humayun's Persian wife's influence 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 pas- sion 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 finest mausoleum, which took 22 years to complete, 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 Del- hi's bustling wholesale spice mar- ket. It's well worth a wander sim- ply to take in the sights and smells because for centuries things have changed little here. Huge sacks of herbs and spices are still brought to the wholesalers on long, narrow barrows pushed by labourers, and there are eye-catching displays of everything from lentils and rice to giant jars of chutneys, pickles, nuts and tea. Where to stay? For five-star luxury, one could do worse than visit The Uppal Hotel, www.uppalhotels.com, in New Delhi, where 48 rooms oc- cupy an enviable location, close to the industrial suburbs of Gurgaon and Delhi. The hotel is situated on 10.5 acres of scenic grandeur and lush greenery, with around 200,000 plants being nurtured for the ho- tel itself. The chic rooms all have private balconies overlooking the fantas- tically lovely gardens or the invit- ing pool. The Taj Palace Hotel, www. tajhotels.com, is the perfect em- bodiment of world-class service and hospitality. Located in the very heart of the Indian capital, the location is quin- tessentially Taj. The hotel is only a few minutes' drive from both the airport and the city centre and is near to most of the embassies in New Delhi. The Bajaj Home Stay, www.in- dianhomestay.com is a unique ex- perience offering different rooms, which offer a completely different experience. Every room is named after an Indian mythological or historical character and has a special story to tell. The guest rooms are aes- thetically decorated and retain traditional themes. Equally popu- lar among Indians as well as tour- ists, accommodation is on a bed and breakfast basis. How to get there? Emirates offer daily flights be- tween Malta and Delhi. Flights de- parting from Malta on 9 July and returning on 23 July were priced at €797 including taxes, at the time of going to print. Total flying time is approximately 10.5 hours. Sights and smells of India The Taj Mahal: Built as a tribute for Shah Jahan's wife who died in childbirth, the Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World Humayun's tomb: Humayun's Tomb was the first Persian influenced garden-tomb, which later reappeared in the Red Fort and the Taj Mahal Red Fort: Made of red sandstone, the Red Fort was designed to protect the city from invaders