aryan-sachdeva

[aryan-sachdeva]

I am pleased to announce the publication of my debut book titled "Chai and Chaos" which is currently available on Amazon India, flipkart and will soon be available in 150+ countries worldwide. The creation of this book required around 100 hours of dedicated design work and a span of 2 years to transform my dream into a reality.The book follows the adventurous journey of a 15-year-old boy written in form of a journal through a city that is familiar to all yet shrouded in mystery.The book, primarily designed as a Coffee Table publication, aims to engage and entertain guests while also sparking meaningful conversations. It contains more than 100 pictures and illustrations. Attached is the Amazon link for reference in the bio.

Best regards,

Aryan Sachdeva

[aryan-sachdeva]

EPISODE 15- THE URBAN OASIS OF LODHI GARDEN

Thank you for your extensive adoration and support towards the last blog, you people are legends! So after a long time, I am back with another one of my escapades in this city replenished with purposes. So let's start, with the full moon smiling in the open sky and the air filled with dreams, I started my journey towards the Lodhi Garden when I took the turn towards the Lodhi art district I saw this charmer:

I couldn't comprehend the beauty of the graffiti. It was so beautiful and out of the world! I stood there for a gleam to believe that the art was not real. I feared that it might jump on me at any moment. I somehow bought my mind out of the portrait and moved towards the gate of Lodhi garden. As I moved inside I was greeted with these gorgeous flowers.

Ohh, the stunning beauty of the pink Bougainvillea was remarking the commencement of summer. Thrilled by this site I moved forward just to catch a glimpse of one of the best animal interactions of my life.

I met my friend Donald Duck! out exploring Lodhi garden with his friends and family! I followed them for a moment and they left me at a big stone house as I veered around I read the board which said The Tomb of Sikandar Lodi. I got thrilled by this sign and proceeded inside just to enter a different world. As I entered the main chamber a hoard of bats chased me out of the place and I ran for my life. Fighting the bats I ended up clicking this picture from the top of the tomb.

After this strange interaction, I moved forward to exploring the loveliness of the garden where many of the most powerful people in the country come for a walk as it was very near to the ministry. After passing through a scenic lake I saw one of the most captivating monuments at the center of the garden.

The vibe of the place was so vibrant and beautiful that I began wondering what the place might have been at the time it was built. I moved forward and looked at the broken blue marble which was attached to the ends of the monuments I was pretty sure that these were imported from some other country. I hauled and saw one of the most carved mosques I had ever seen.

I can tell that the mosque was one of a kind and aesthetically pleasing. I questioned whether the site I was seeing was real or a work of my fantasies. To make myself believe I moved forward.

Oh my, the Arabic carvings were telling a new tale about the environment. I wondered how precise one might have to be to do such a kind of work. Sadly I wasn't able to find any translation of the texts :(

(the inside beauty of the mosque)

Half-heartedly I returned to my home still thinking about the glamour of the place I researched about the place. Here are some of my findings. Lodhi Gardens trace their history back to 1444 when the tomb of Mohammed Shah, a Sayyid Dynasty ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, was erected here by his son and the last ruler of the dynasty, Ala-ud-din Alam Shah. Another significant tomb located in the area is that of Sikander Lodi from the Lodi Dynasty, which was built in 1517 by his son Ibrahim Lodi.

It covers an area of over 90 acres and houses many 15th-century structures that display spectacular architectural beauty. The mausoleum of Mohammed Shah features Islamic and Hindu architectural styles. Designed with eight small domed structures or chattris, each adorned with a lotus finial, ornate pinnacles at the corners, a huge central dome, and an octagonal chamber, the tomb is a sight to behold.

Here is a small video about my journey exploring the urban oasis of the lodhi garden.

With this, we come to the end of this blog hope you liked it. Would love to here your views and thought about it in the comments

Until next time

With love

Aryan Sachdeva

[aryan-sachdeva]

THE STONE PALACE OF UNSOLVED MYSTERIES EPISODE-14

Welcome to the first blog of the year! I hope all of you are doing great and might have started to fulfil your new year's resolutions jk. Once again a big thank you for your support toward the last you guys are the best :).The place of mystery is no doubt one of my adventures that I still can't explain it has a lot of drama, adventure, and literally everything, so let's get to the story. As the timepiece showed the time 6 am I started my vogue to the unknown when I turned around and saw this.

I was stunned by the mysterious look of the portrait And especially the eyes they were telling an entirely difficult story. Unknown of the scares of the future I moved ahead following the map to a place called Sultan Ghari. As I took the turn from Vasant Kunj it lead me to a small road that didn't look to go anywhere. I still forward the damaged road and the thing that I saw blew my mind.

The theme song of Arabian Nights was playing in my mind as I stood speechless and my mouth open looking at an unknown palace in the middle of nowhere. I closed my mouth parked my cycle and went to explore the palace. The door of the palace was so big and gorgeous and the Arabic carvings were giving a different aesthetic look.

The interiors of the tomb were no different from the exquisite exteriors one thing that surprised me that was that no cement or bricks were used to make the place they were made of stone blocks using an ancient method of stacking the blocks. As I moved further inside the palace a saw an unusual octagonal place with a dark opening.

I got a strange vibe so I decided not to go inside the deep dark void and kept exploring the castle for my adventurous reader here is a picture of the interiors of the void I found online

As I moved forward I saw one of the most encrypted Marble Mehrab( a niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla, the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca) I have ever seen and experienced. It had so much beauty to it that I can't express it in words. The sun shining on it was offering a different sense of spirituality.

After seeing the Mehrab I was sure that this was not a normal palace. To know more about the place I asked a guy in full white attire who looked like the caretaker of the place about the palace. He told me that this was not a palace it is the dargah of Peer Baba and both Hindus and Muslims come here to worship on Thursday. He further told me about the Old village ruins and the mosque surrounding the tomb. Not knowing the madness that was ahead in my journey I went to explore the village.

Not knowing where to go I entered a rectangular garden that had this broken sign on the front wall. I couldn't believe what I was reading it said the place was the ancient mosque!

Sadly most of the place had collapsed with time and the remaining was engulfed by nature. I thought about how important this place might have been back in the period. Rich, poor, king, slave all might have come here to make their prayers. As I was lost in my thoughts I saw a family of wild pigs approaching me it looked like I might have invaded their home. Giving them full privacy I ran back toward the other parts of the village.

Once furthermore as I wandering along the ruins of the forgotten village I came across a small chamber that had a small black void inside it.

When I tried to peek inside the black spot a huge bird of about 3 feet tall tried to attack me and I got really scared and ran back towards the entrance of the village. That's when a person who looked like a gypsy heard me scream and came to the rescue. When I told him about the room he warned me about the place and said that a peahen lives there and protects the staircase to the underground vault in which nobody has ever gone. (no this was not fictional) Here's a video

After I reached back home from this mysterious adventure I tried to research the place here are some of my findings Sultan Ghari the oldest Islamic mausoleum in India, housing the remains of Nasiruddin Mahmud, the eldest son of Shams-ud-din Iltutmish (1167-1236). It lies virtually unknown in Vasant Kunj. Sultan Ghari was built in 1231-32, and the only earlier royal mausoleum in the subcontinent is Qutbuddin Aibak’s tomb in Lahore. Numerous ruins lie near the mausoleum, mostly residential quarters spread over a vast area now covered with thick foliage. The quarters comprise mostly cramped individual units, suggesting that small families must have occupied them. Towards the east of the tomb lies a ruined mosque dating back to the Tughlaq period. Built with stone columns and arches, it is similar to structures constructed by Firoz Shah Tughlaq.

So with that, we end with this blog this adventure remains one of my unsolved adventures waiting to be solved...

Hope you liked the blog

Until next time with love

Aryan Sachdeva

[aryan-sachdeva]

THE DOOR OF BLOOD AND HYPOTHETICAL WELL, EPISODE 13

Thank you for your immense love and support towards the blog! It's always great to read those lovely comments :) So, finally, we are here with the final blog of the year. I selected two haunted stories from my book of adventures for you people. Hope you will like it. Let's begin. A flawless half-moon floated in a perfectly blue sky (thank you for the line, Loveleen ma'am 😀 ) when I started to cycle towards a place called Khooni Darwaza (Bloody Door). 'Strange name', I told myself as I was following the road to Purani Delhi. I saw this beautiful quote beside a building it said

I fell into the deepness of the quote and it stayed with me for a while. As I continued my journey toward the Khooni Darwaza my eyes saw something in the middle of the road; the more I moved towards it, it got bigger and bigger. As I reached the place I saw a big door that was beautifully engraved. The board near that place said

(Heading- Bloody Door) I felt a great sense of satisfaction realizing that I have finally reached my destination. But as soon as I read the writings on the board my satisfaction turned into fear. It read that the Mughal emperor and the eldest son of Akbar, Jahangir killed the two sons of Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khana for being traitors. After the killing, the two bodies were supposedly left right outside the gate for them to rot and be eaten by birds and animals. Scared by these stories, I shifted towards the front of the door and saw this.

The door gave a mysterious stare and the bars around the place were no less. After experiencing the horrors of the Bloody Door I moved toward the second half of my journey. The sign on Hailey Road indicated left for Agarsen ki Baoli. As I took a left, I saw one of the most beautiful murals.

The mural was so so ravishing that I stood there and admired the art and the artist and thought about the inspiration of the artist behind this awesome mural. But then I remembered that I still had some miles to go. So I moved and reached this small gate that said Agarsen ki Baoli. As I moved inside I got shocked on seeing this

The staircase was massive and the architecture was so perfect that I had to wash my eyes to believe that I was not in a fantasy world. To believe that I was not dreaming, I went towards the old broken mosque.

The mosque had similar Arabic engravings to that seen in other monuments in Delhi. The awning of the mosque had collapsed and there were little to no cravings that left any marks imprints. As I was exploring the place I saw a cat going down the steps of the step well. I followed the cat down the step well and saw this

I felt so small around the big staircase; the stones of the monument were telling a story of its past. I overheard a tourist guide who was telling his client that this place was a hub for traders and that they used to come here and relax for a bit.

I sat down on the stairs and experienced a strange sense of silence- unreal silence the one that's difficult to express. To understand the place I googled it and once again I found out that this place is also haunted. One story of the haunting says that according to legend, many people who came here were often led to the water and felt like drowning in it. It was as if the water was calling them out to submerge themselves in it. There have been reports of suicides in the past.

Many people who have come here have complained of being followed when there is no one around. After reading those tales the silence turned into fear and I left the place in one go. After having a fearful yet enjoyable time in the Boali the last leg of my journey was the charm of Delhi, the famous Wengerscafe.

The patties were just out of the globe. It's ironic isn't it that the adventure that started with a mysterious fear ended with tasty patties?

Here's a small video

So with that, we end with the last blog of the year! I hope you liked this blog! Don't forget to leave a comment telling your reviews and suggestions.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !

Until next time

With love

Aryan Sachdeva

[aryan-sachdeva]

THE GARDEN OF POETRY,EPISODE 12

Firstly Thankyou! you for your immense love and support towards the last blog it's always so fun! to read your comments and suggestions about the blog. So this adventure of mine took me to the most Poetic Place in Delhi which remains hidden from most admirers. So let's explore this place together! I started my journey toward the posh area of Vasant Kunj with these lines of poetry by Ahmad Faraz it goes Search for pearls of loyalty amongst those who are uprooted Maybe you will find these treasures in the ruins of the taverns". with these lines, I started my journey toward the infamous Poetry Garden. As was moving along the street of the prosperous Vasant Vihar I saw this astonishing Graffiti.

I stood there and gazed at the portrait for a minute thinking about the mysterious vibe of the painting. I somehow stopped myself from staring at the portrait and moved forward. With a left turn from Malai Mandir, I arrived at Priya Garden. As I entered the garden a felt a strange smell. A smell of love, beauty, and the past we all have forgotten. As I glanced around the place I saw these beautiful writings by the famous poet on a rock.

These verses were on stone surrounding a luscious tree whose trunk is so entangled in vines that it looks like a sage's knotted hair. I was lost in a world of happiness after reading these lines. They appeared as if these were some clues to an unknown enigma. As I blinked I saw a signboard providing directions to the other parts of the Park. I followed the path toward the historical garden.

The vibes of the place were so pleasant and awesome that it was hard for me to believe that I was really in Delhi. The green silage and the small wooden yoga areas gave the place a new and different outlook. As I moved forward I cannot comprehend what I was looking at....

The place looked so royal and out of the world. The gumbad was shining white with designs made of blue marble and the rest of the structure was made with identical red stone which was used in Lodi structures back in the time. The entrance had a big lock at the main door when I insisted the security guard unlock the place he only allowed me to enter on the condition that I would not click any pictures. The monument was tremendous from the inside it also had a small mosque attached to it.

(View of the Park from the monument)

As I was leaving the place I saw a place out of the normal. It looked a bit different from the surrounding area. When I went a bit forward I sensed a strange beauty coming from the place.

As I was trying to know about the area I saw a sign which said POETRY GARDEN. I got excited after reading that I was standing in the main Poetry Garden! I continued reading the board it further said that the four stones in the garden contain verses from two of the most renowned Tughlaq era Persian poets namely Amir Khusrau and Hafez, to create harmony and a symphony of songs. Lyrics that are dedicated to the glory of bountiful nature, and sing the praise of spectacular tres. As I read these lines I jumped from my cycle to read the poems.

For the admirers, the poems were written in 3 languages Hindi, English, and Urdu. And trust me each of the poems where so beautiful and unique that it made me wonder how the garden might have looked back then when these poems dedicated to the garden might have been written. The Poetry Garden was situated at the axis, which Inconspicuously connects the Baradari and the mosque. Just like Naubagh which was originally laid by the Mughals.

As I was admiring the place saw this open theatre in the middle of the grassland which resembled the amphitheater found in the gardens of the modern Western world.

The amphitheater perfect was a perfect place to sit and hear yourself contemplating in unison with time. It was named "Gulzar" to keep the cultural ethos of Bagh-e-Bahaar intact, which is filled with references to springtime, trees, flowers, and mellow fruitfulness. In Persian, flowers are called 'Gul', and hence a flower garden is termed as 'Gulshan' or 'Gulistan' 'Gulzar' in that sense, would stand for a place, which is rich with joyful excess.

I also noticed that many trees in the park were of the Amaltas. They lay a carpet of yellow flowers on the ground, when in full bloom, and create the magnificent ethos of springtime. I somehow managed to come back from this magical place and returned home here is a video about the place.

According to my research Bagh-e-Bahaar Situated in Vasant Vihar, in an area spreading over 18 hectares, this garden was laid out by Firuz Shah Tughlaq (1309-1388), in a 12-hectare area of the same lie remains of the garden originally laid. Most constructive of all Sultans. Firuz Shah is known for establishing cities and citadels like Firozabad, Kotla, and Hisar Firoza, as well as digging grand canals like Ulugh Khani and Razali. His biographer Afif notes in Tarikh-i-Firuzshahi that, Sultan had laid out or resurrected some 1500 gardens in Delhi and its close vicinity. Firuz had a liking for fruit gardens or orchards, and his gardens would also cultivate grapes among other fruits. This is the last surviving garden of those 1500 baghs that the Sultan had laid. Persian literature celebrates gardens earthly as representation of Paradise. The very first Mughal Garden of India, laid by Babur in Agra, is called Hasht-Bahisht and the word Bahisht itself stands for the Paradise.This was much before the Taj Mahal or the Humayun's Tomb which now stand splendid as examples of Tomb Gardens. The design schemecreates a Charbagh for the Tomb and the Baradari. A small water feature, reminiscent of water channels, is neatly tucked in the geometry. The axes of the Charbagh are complemented entirely by the entrances towards the Poorvi Marg and Basant Lok Complex. So with that, I end this blog of my marvelous adventure to the infamous Poetry Garden.

Until next time with love

Aryan Sachdeva

[aryan-sachdeva]

THE CITY LOST WITH TIME, EPISODE 11

Thank you!! for your immense love and affection towards the last special blog. With your support, Dastan-i-Delhi has completed a great milestone and has even been featured in the newspaper once again a big THANK YOU!! This blog is going to take you back to the first and second blogs but this we will go deep into the jungles of Mehrauli following Ghost, Saints, and trying to understand the stories that got somewhere lost from the books of history. Let's get started at the stroke of the morning hour I started my Vogue with Angad Singh. We reached the place just in time as the sun was rising from the east I couldn't believe my eyes what I saw...

I was too thunderstruck to see what I was witnessing I couldn't believe my eyes the beauty was really out of this world. The view of the Qutub Minar and the rose garden were going hand to hand. I somehow got back to my senses and half-heartedly moved ahead little did I know what mysteries were waiting for me. As I moved forward a saw a big park and stone structures as far as I could see. I followed the directions board and reached Jamali Kamali Tomb and Mosque.

The mosque was massive and was so damm beautiful but as I moved inside strange energy and smell came from the place. I ignored it and moved ahead in the big alleyway. Suddenly I heard an eerie sound and I ran outside the tomb. Having no attention to go inside once again I followed the marker towards this place called Rajao ki Baoli. As I reached there I got shocked to look at this.

The baoli was so perfectly made that not even a single stone was placed wrongly I stood there and wondered about the craft man that made this spot so talented! I moved near the water and noticed a strange thing. The stairs of the step well we're going deep down!!

It is said that the step well goes down to 5 levels! It's that amazing. Astonished by the beauty of the place I decided to move further and explore more parts of the park. As I was moving towards the next place a strange incident happened. I saw a person with spotless white clothes and a crown kind of thing(not visible probably) moving towards the jungle I don't know what happened but I thought of following him. But as soon as I turned he vanished in thin air and I started to hear a similar eerie sound. I accelerated my cycle and rushed to the next place.

The place that I reached was called Metcalfe House named after Charles Metcalfe who was a British colonial administrator and lived in this place during summers. The place was different from the rest of the monument as the stones didn't belong there.

The stones looked like they were taken from a Hindu temple as the designs matched the ancient Hindu architecture. Confused by the place I moved forward and saw a big board saying " Quli Khan Tomb". The exteriors of the tomb were decorated with Arabic writing and painted plasters with looked like something out of a Disney movie.

I climbed the steep stairs and reached the top of the tomb. The design of the tomb was so gorgeous that I couldn't even believe that they were made by hand!

The designs gave a whole new shine to the walls of the tomb and told the stories of kings, rulers, and their countrymen. One thing that I found strange about the place was there was no tomb on the monument as I was looking for an explanation I saw many locked doors which were leading to the underground parts of the monument. It's still a mystery what they are hiding behind these closed doors. Disappointed by seeing these closed doors I moved around and saw this place that looked like a royal batch. I climbed the old stairs and was too stupefied by the place

The MIGHTY Qutub Minar was just 50 feet away from me! The first thing I did was wash my eyes, to get be sure that I was not dreaming and I was not. I didn't want to return from the place but sadly every good thing has an end. Here's a video of the place

As I returned from the place to my surprise I was at the most haunted place in Delhi! and there are hundreds of stories about the hauntings of the place here are some from my research. There are numerous stories about the Jinns that are now believed to reside within Jamali Kamali. Yes, the story of the Djinns from the last blog continues. Some of the interesting ones that either make people stay away from here or be here at night are instances of sightings of lights, apparitions, animals growling,g and a feeling that there is someone else standing right next to you. People have mentioned that they sometimes felt a person peeking from behind a pillar but when they walked over to it, there was no one there. A wisp of air as if someone just breathed on your neck and a laughing sound are a few other stories. The best one however is of people getting slapped by an invisible force.

Just like the last blog, I found incidents that said that Every Thursday, people come here to have their man at (wishes) fulfilled by these supernatural beings who are supposed to be somewhere between a farishta (an angel) and the shaitan (the devil). With this, I ended my journey exploring the loss of the city of Mehrauli.

Until next time

Aryan Sachdeva

[aryan-sachdeva]

ACT 1 - THROUGH THE COLUMNS OF YOUR ESTEEMED NEWSPAPER (Secret project)

Dastan-i-Delhi to a new level! Dastan-i-Delhi got published in Hindustan Times! It really doesn't feel real!!! It wouldn't have possible without you guys ❤️

Dastan-i-Delhi to the moon...

Aryan Sachdeva

[aryan-sachdeva]

DJINNS OF DELHI, EPISODE 10

Dastan-i-Delhi turns 1!! I started this blog with no intention to continue this blog this long but every time I posted anything, the response you people gave was just out of the world! So I want to thank you for your constant support and love towards my adventures. To Dastan-i-Delhi 🥂. So we finally come to the 10th blog! This adventure of mine to Firoz Shah Kotla Fort was one of the most mysterious yet fascinating adventures of them all. Let’s get into it, so my day began a bit late as scheduled because I overslept. The weather was flawless with little to no traffic. As I was crossing the beautiful streets of Connaught Place’s inner circle, I saw one of the most ravishing portraits I have ever seen.

The eyes of the portrait were so captivating that I got lost in it's beauty and stared at it for 5 minutes straight! The beauty of the portrayal can not be explained in words. I somehow managed to get my eyes out of the portrait and continued my expedition, not knowing the mysteries which were coming along the journey. I followed the maps and finally reached the infamous “Feroz Shah Kotla Fort”. The place had a strange vibe of solitude but I could feel some forces pulling me inside.

As I entered the ruins of the fort I couldn’t comprehend that I was walking the same way that kings, warriors, and saints would have walked. There were many abandoned gates and buildings which had a kind of vague mist. As I was moving around the bits of history I noticed two big buildings had a huge pillar on top of it. The buildings were truly fascinating and the architecture was just perfect.

As I was moving around the establishment, I felt a strange heat and a smell that was just like an old book coming from a dark place. I peeped through the old locked door and saw one of the most frightening hallways I have very seen.

There was a strange heat coming from the hallway and several bats flying around the place making those frightening noises. I looked down and noticed a pretty strange thing: there were papers around the floor, just like a letter, and they were around a jasmine flower garland.

There were many such kinds of letters around the area all wrapped around the same kind of jasmine Garland. For my curiosity, I zoomed into one of the letters to understand the real motive behind those letters and to whom they were addressed. The first line scared the living daylights out of me! (Address blurred)

The letter was addressed to Jinnat Badshah!! A strange nervousness drove into me after reading this name. Are stories about jinn and the mysterious lamp true? I asked myself for my readers not to know much about Jinns Jinn – also romanized as djinn or anglicized as a genie – are invisible creatures in early pre-Islamic Arabian religious systems and later in Islamic mythology and theology. The famous Disney movie “Aladdin” is also based on the same concept. I somehow managed to get back to my senses and moved toward the second building to look for some answers.

I climbed the big stairs to reach an old mosque that was in a ruined state. I pushed open the old rustic door and entered a large complex where a great view of the whole premises was visible. I also saw some green-painted structures which are a common thing in the mosque as they pointed towards the direction of Madina.

As I was admiring the beauty of the place and looking for clues about the Djinn’s mystery I found another strange signboard that was instructing me not to light up a Chirag 🧞‍♂️

As I was still looking around the place I noticed a man in full white attire wearing a skull cap. I asked the man “Uncle, I want to know about the place”. He smiled and told me a lot about the place and also answered many of my questions. Here are some parts of our conversation.

“This place is an ancient city just like purani Dilli and Tughlakabad it was created by FIRUZ SHAH TUGHLAQ. The citadel contained places, pillared halls, a mosque a pigeon tower, and a baoli. Further, I asked him about the jinns and the letters written to them he said yes jinns do come to this place and read namaz. People write to them and attach a photograph of themselves at the top. Some people also perform exorcisms here for those who are believed to be under the spell of evil spirits.”

I returned from the mysterious place with many questions and some answers I researched a lot about the place and here are some of the answers. Those believing in Islam are of the view that while light created angels and clay created humans, djinns were brought to life by smokeless fire. (Here's a video)

And those believing in supernatural powers, come here, write letters stating their problems, and leave them behind for the supernatural powers to take care of. this story about djinns started in 1977 when people started flocking to the fort a few months after the Emergency. However, experts on supernatural theory state that djinns have been living here for the past four decades. People attach copies of the same letters, so that the djinn under whose jurisdiction the particular case falls, can take it up, Remember, the government of the djinns, is quite like ours. That’s why you have to make sure that the correct department gets your application. It is also believed that Djinns have a soft corner for women with long, luscious hair. People claim that Djinns get attracted to beautiful women and try to possess them. Myth has it that they live for thousands of years and can bear a family too, just like humans.

So, in a nutshell, it was the most mysterious yet memorable experience I hope you liked my small adventure chasing the Djinns of Delhi. With this blog, we complete 10 blogs of Dastan-i-Delhi!!! I’ll return with a new adventure soon. Keep Supporting!

Signing off

Until next time,

Aryan Sachdeva

[aryan-sachdeva]

THE TALE OF THE FIRST RULER, EPISODE 9

Thank you for your love and support towards the last blog :). Greetings to the regular readers and a warm welcome to the new readers. Through this blog, ill tell you about my expedition to the famous "Humayun's Tomb". My journey started with a beautiful mistake as I took a wrong turn toward Lodhi Art District following a longer route to Nizamuddin due to my mistake but when I saw this my mistake turned into a beautiful one.

The art District was full of beautiful graffiti and street art I can even write a blog on them but ill keep that for another day. Somehow, I finally reached the busy streets of Nizamuddin. I parked my cycle and entered the complex. The area was so big that there was signs board every 100 meters. The first sign led me to a place called Isa Khan's Tomb. And the first view of the place was jaw dropping .

The structure is so beautifully made with a mixture of Arabic and Hindu architecture and the blue stone acts as a cherry on the top. I stared at the exterior for about a minute. And decided to explore the insides of the octagonal tomb. The main entrance to the tomb was covered with chains and as I passed through them they took me back to the era of the emperors.

The tomb had three graves and there were quotes from The Quran written all around the walls. Sadly I was not able to find any translations :(. But the carvings were no less than a masterpiece. The place already had my heart and I didn't want to leave but little did I know what wonders were waiting for me. Further, I followed the marks to reach a place called "Arab Ki Sarai". As I reached the point I couldn't believe what I saw.

The door was around 40 feet in height and width of about 15 feet. The door had some kind of magical power it tempted me to go through. The door as took me away from all the tourists to a hidden yet big mosque but the mosque had lost its elegance with time.

I followed the pointers and finally reached the main entrance. The first glance of the legendary place was so out of the world that I thought that I was in a dream .

To make myself speculate what I was witnessing was real I splashed some water onto my face from the ancient water fountain. Yes! It was real I followed the path and reached the big stairways. I climbed the stairs and was very close to the tomb. I was so overwhelmed that you could have knocked me down with a feather

The tomb is built of rubble masonry and red sandstone which gives a total royal look to the place. One thing that I noticed was that there were big rooms underneath the tomb that were visible but still were not never accessible to the public. I wonder what mysteries they are hiding for so many years? I moved inside the monument and was amazed at the interior! The tomb was on a raised platform with a small chandelier.

Like can you believe this was all made by human hands without any special machinery? The thing that surprised me the most was the jaali work

I sat there for a while to absorb the excitement and admire the craftsman. I was lost in my thoughts and even questioned reality. But in the end, I walked away from the place. As I was finding a way back I saw a big blue structure with a different kind of carvings on it

The carvings were typical Arab carvings with some mix of Persian According to my research the place is called Neela Gumbad because of its shining blue Gumbad. I was overwhelmed with the energy of the place that I didn't want to return but sadly every good thing has an end :(. Here are some clips from my adventure

A bit about Humayun Tomb

Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi is the first of the grand dynastic mausoleums that were to become synonyms of Mughal architecture with the architectural style reaching its zenith 80 years later at the later Taj Mahal. Persian and Indian craftsmen worked together to build the garden tomb, far grander than any tomb built before in the Islamic world.Humayun’s garden-tomb is also called the ‘dormitory of the Mughals’ as in the cells are buried over 150 Mughal family members.

So that was my adventure to the Humayun's Tomb hope you enjoyed it. I just wanted to end with the announcement of my 10th Blog! A little seek peak about the blog would be on the most haunted place in Delhi and real haunted practices being followed their. So stay tuned!

Signing off

Until next time

Aryan Sachdeva

[aryan-sachdeva]

THE FORGOTTEN RULER, EPISODE 8

Thank you for your love and support towards the last blog. :) Special greetings to the new readers of my blog. Through this blog, I’ll tell you about my solo adventure to the famous yet unknown monument ’The Safdarjung Tomb’. My journey started early in the morning as I enjoyed the sunrise at Delhi Cantonment during my ride and finally reached Safdarjung Tomb.

The first thought that occurred to me after seeing the place was that it was some kind of haveli but little did I know what mysteries were waiting for me. As I moved a bit forward and was going to park my bike, I couldn’t believe my eyes! What beauty my eyes were witnessing!

The door was so beautifully decorated with hand paintings that were no less than a masterpiece. I couldn’t resist constantly staring at the beauty but as I moved further inside the big door, I saw this.

The tomb was at its best as the first rays of sunrise were directly falling on the tomb. Right now, it looked like the tomb was made up of solid gold. The exteriors of the tomb have 4 fountains and attached to the fountains are 4 small yet beautiful gardens. The gardens are so beautiful that they don’t even feel real.

As I moved closer to the tomb, I saw a big staircase leading towards the entrance of the minaret and the tomb. As I reached the top I saw a big entrance which was made of brownish-red stone and a layer of white marble. And on the top was a structure similar to the famous Red Fort.

The craftsmanship of the monument is so perfect that there is not even one wrongly cut stone. Leaving the architecture, the thing that excited me was the Arabic inscription.

According to my research, the inscription said, “When the hero of plain bravery departs from the transitory, may he become a resident of god’s paradise”. Isn’t the saying so beautiful? Further, I climbed the big stairs which led me to the tomb.

After seeing the elegance of the stone tomb, I thought my eyes were playing tricks with me. Until I looked up, you wouldn’t believe what I saw!! The ceiling of the tomb was designed in such a way that it resembled a flower which also had a place for a chandelier.

I also noticed some holes in the poles of the monument and also a closed upper part and the underground part. As per my research, the holes are the air vent to the original tomb of Safdarjung and his wife. Both the upper part and the lower part have never been opened to the public. I wonder what are they hiding in there?

I have heard that the premises also have a small library but sadly it was closed when I reached there. As I was leaving, I saw a big closed door, I somehow sneaked inside (don’t tell the Ministry of Archaeology). Behind the big door was an old fountain kind of thing which led to a big domed mosque but all the entrances of the mosque were sadly sealed.

Here are some clips from my adventure

The place is so beautiful that I didn’t want to leave and go back home. But sadly, all the good things have an end. As I returned I did some research about the place. Here are some of my findings. Built-in 1754 by Shauja-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Awadh, to house the remains of his father Safdarjung, who was a powerful minister in the Mughal court during the reign of Muhammad Shah, the tomb is referred to as the “last flicker in the lamp of Mughal architecture.” The mosque, which used to attract a large number of devotees in the earlier days, is relevant from a visitor’s perspective now. Regular prayers are not offered at this mosque as it has been declared a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Signing Off

Until next time

Aryan Sachdeva

[aryan-sachdeva]

INTO THE ARAVALI (LEOPARD HILLS)

Thank you for your immense love and support for the last blog ❤️. Through this blog, I'll tell you about the glamours of Leopard Hills, Delhi NCR border. The Leopard Trail is a winding road in the Gurgaon area. You will be awestruck by the stunning lush hillocks on both sides of the narrow road that will make you feel you’re in a hill station!!!

So the journey to the leopard hills started when one day I and Angad Singh decided to go for a super long cycle ride of about 100 km!. Our trip was just another adventure my cycle punched midway not an ideal start I must say but little did we know what was coming for us. This place was not easy to find as it was not a well-known place. We finally found the place. The first glance the place was just jaw-dropping!

We got so excited and overwhelmed that we stayed at a stop for about 10-15 minutes clicking pictures and admiring the beauty of the place. As the photo session ended we moved towards the great Aravali Range my eyes saw this beautiful picture-perfect temple on top of a hill.

As we moved there were huge mountains on one side and a small fields on the other.

On our adventure, we also saw some people trekking toward the mountains and some families enjoying themselves. I have heard also heard that there is a lotus pond somewhere in the middle of the range but we didn't have the exact location so we sadly had to skip that.

As we went down the range the elevation of the road was perfect and in no time the view changed from the village to a cliff.

Driving this road was so adventurous that we didn't have to even apply much force to the paddle and the cycle was just following the road with great speed. The wind blowing on my face while cycling was just sole satisfying.

At the end of the road, there was a small open cafe which was operated by the local community of the area. After taking a short break we once again started our journey to go back home. Here is a short video summing up my magical experience of the place

Angad Singh has asked me to confess the real truth about the returning home part this one is for Ya old chap 🤭 So after 88kms of cycling, I got severe cramps and had to take an auto-rickshaw ride back home 😂. This adventure will always be one of my favourites. The Leopard Hills is a must-visit place for sure and ya about the name even I don't know why they have named it leopard hills when there ain't any leopards around the region.

Signing off

Until next time

Aryan Sachdeva

[aryan-sachdeva]

THE MAGICAL SUNRISE, Episode 6

Ahh after such a long time I am writing a blog. Days have been tough but, I am happy that my boards are over now. Through this blog, I'll tell you about my magical experience in Sanjay Van. Sanjay van Spread over 784 acres, is known for its tranquillity, the sound of birds chirping, butterflies fluttering around, dense tree cover and five ponds.

As I took the turn towards the Qutub institutional area I saw a small gate which lead to an endless forest. I somehow fitted my cycle through the small gate which led to a trail which lead deep inside the forest.

I followed the trail which lead me deep into the dark forest. As the sun was just rising from the east I stumbled upon a viewpoint near a cliff. As I climbed the stairs I was shocked to see the view, it was like I entered a new world far from the lands I have known.

Can you even believe that this is Delhi? But Little did I know what adventure was coming for me. Once again I started my adventure and followed the jungle not knowing what the hell I was doing. Still following the trail I saw an old board which said अरावली रेंज and near the board was this

One might think of it as the stairs to heaven and I couldn't resist the temptation to walk them. The stairs led me to the ruins of the first place of Delhi "The Qila Rai Pithora". As I climbed the topmost hill of Sanjay van I saw a panoramic view of the whole city and to my surprise, I was also able to have a glance at the legendary Qutub Minar

I sat there for a moment to feel the beauty of the place and listened to some jazz music. As far as my eyes went the area was fully covered with big green trees and some buildings at a distance.

I didn't feel like leaving the place but I continued on my adventure. This time the trail took me to a lake which also had a small Waterfall! You might be thinking how can there be a waterfall in a city like Delhi why not see it for yourself!

To go to the other side of the lake the bridge I used was so beautiful that I can't explain it in words. Here's a pic of the same

I shot many videos of this wonderful place here is a compilation

This jungle never fails to surprise my readers who are interested in ghost stories this part is especially for you. So Sanjay Van is also considered one of the most haunted places in Delhi sharing some of the hauntings I found on the internet. Sanjay Van is believed by many, to be a host to endless spirits.People who have visited the forests have witnessed strange, inexplicable sounds and noises emanating from the many graves there.Incidences of a specter in white, hanging from a peepal tree(thus, giving birth to the story of a lady who hung herself

Interestingly, a lady-in-white is not all the forests of the Ridge have to offer. The interiors of it are believed to be haunted by the ghost of Hazrat Sheikh Shahabuddin Ashiqallah. People have often reported hearing crying and clawing sounds emerging from the graves.People of the forest believe that the Pir walks there, every night, and the stones are believed to be his footprints. Lamps are lit there, to show him the path.

Spooky isn't it but I never felt any paranormal activities while exploring the place but I must say that the place has some energy that calls you back to come and explore more to forget all your problems for a moment and live in the moment feel free and open yourself to the nature. I recommended visiting this place for a feeling which will last a lifetime. Sanjay van will always be one of my favourite places in Delhi

Until next time

Aryan Sachdeva

[aryan-sachdeva]

A normal hour in one of most famous street in the country

[aryan-sachdeva]

[aryan-sachdeva]

Found this while returning from tution coincidence I think not 😶

[aryan-sachdeva]

[aryan-sachdeva]

Exploring the green trails of Kamala Nehru

Episode 5

So this is going to be the first blog that I would post on the website!! Thank you, it wouldn't be possible without your support!. Like every time I used to blog at home, that is in my comfort zone, but I am writing this blog as I sit on a bench, in the jungle of Kamla Nehru ridge, surrounded by a family of monkeys, and a pair of peacocks listening to Krishna chants.

So hello! for your curiosity no I was not accepted by the group of monkeys they said I spoke too much. Anyways, Kamala Nehru Ridge is called the green lungs of Delhi. It is a perfect place to have a great time the place is full of great history, lush green trees etc.

So let's get back to the story, As I moved further inside the jungle I saw the centre of the park I saw the flags Tower. It is the highest point of the ridge and hence the best place to give you a bird's eye view of the surrounding area. The tower was built around 1828 by the British as a signal tower and sepoys were permanently stationed here to keep a watch on the northern expanse.

There are several people near the flag house as this is the centermost area of the park I then saw a Peacock going inside the jungle I followed him in the jungle

The best thing I like about Kamla Nehru ridge is it always has something or the other to surprise you there is no fixed route you have to follow you can take any random trail and it will lead you to something or the other.

I had a great time offroad cycling in the trails and then I reached this lake called khooni Jheel. Ya it's the name of the place and it also has a dark history related to the Great Indian Revolt of 1857.

It is also said to be haunted here is some information I found about the place The khooni jheel meaning bloody lake got its name in 1857 when several Indian sepoys and British soldiers, women and children died there. First, the British trying to escape from Delhi were killed and later sepoys fleeing from the avenging firangis met their end in those surroundings. Besides the bodies of dead people, the carcasses of horses and mules were also dumped in the jheel. The water remained bloody for many days and the stink was enough to drive away anybody who approached it.

There are many stories about the lake being haunted one of them is An old man in army uniform who emerges from the water, riding a horse without a head and a skeleton, armed with a long, rusty sword tries to thrust it into the back of the weird horseman. Strange isn't it? So after some time, I moved back to so as I was going back I saw another high tower kinda thing with said Mutiny Memorial and the tower was just beautiful!!

The Gothic-style building was just so admirable, the red stone just gave a different feeling to touch I could feel the craftsmanship of the monument.

Sadly the staircase to go to the top was locked permanently to avoid any mishappening. But the walls of the monument were telling the tails of Rebel of 1857

And yes, it is also called haunted. Is it a coincidence that every place I go has some connection with a ghost? I guess I will never know.

It was said that many headless bodies of British soldiers were found here and one of those British soldiers have been seen by people asking for a light for his cigarette. This soldier has never hurt anyone. He is generally found roaming on the road connecting Mutiny House to the main road. So I hope you liked this blog about Kamla Nehru ridge you should visit Kamla Nehru it's more beautiful than you can imagine, thanks for reading

Until next Time...

Aryan Sachdeva