Few weeks back, Nat Geo Moments Awards 2014 team announced an Instawalk in Delhi and Photographers were asked for share their Instagram & Twitter accounts to select 20 Photographers from the City. I also got a chance to join for this Instawalk, which happens in Mehrauli Archelogical Park in Delhi. Let's check out this Photo Journey to know more about the Instawalk and Nat Geo Moments Awards.
I had also shared by Instagram account with Nat Geo team and was selected to join this Insta-walk. It sounded very exciting but at the same time I had my doubts about this Photo-walk, because I couldn't find names of photographers who definitely do great photography & my inspiration as well. Because it was about Nat Geo, I wanted to give them a benefit of doubt. One of my office friend was also joining for the walk, which was encouraging.
Mehrauli Archeological Park is close to Qutub Minar Metro station, so we planned to take Metro-train from Noida to reach for Instawalk at 9:30am. Opposite to Delhi trends, Instawalk started on time and we were late by 5 minutes. But we hit the place before the first brief. Delhi Heritage Walks team was there to help every Photographer to understand the place, although most of the photographers were more interested in capturing the place well. There was negligible participation from Nat Geo. It seemed more like a promotional event by Nat Geo, wherein they wanted folks to create some buzz about #NGMA2014 through Instagram and Twitter.
All of us met around Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb complex built in Mehrauli Archaeological Park. Jamali Kamali is one of the oldest structures in the town which is maintained by ASI. It was built around 1528 CE.
Breakfast was arranged during the Instawalk. There is a green area around Jamali Kamali, which was chosen for breakfast. Food was good and I think, it was home made.
Mehrauli Archaeological Park is spread over an area of around 200 acres in Delhi. This Archeological park is located just on the back side of Qutub Minar World
Heritage site and the Qutb complex. This park consists of more than 100 historically
significant monuments, although many of them are in ruins now. There are few interesting water bodies in this complex and most part of it is very well maintained with green patches.
Mehrauli Archeological Park is the only area in Delhi includes the ruins of Lal
Kot built by Tomar Rajputs, which makes it the oldest extant fort
of Delhi.
Mehrauli Archeological park contains sites like Tomb of Balban, wherein a true arch and the true dome were built for the first time in India... and then Jamali Kamali Mosque and Tomb of Maulana Jamali Kamali (Jamali Kamboh),Quli Khan's Tomb, Jahaz Mahal, Zafar Mahal of Bahadur Shah II alias Lal Mahal, Gandhak ki Baoli, Hauz-i-Shamsi and Tomb of Adham Khan. Rajon Ki Baoli, a stepwell, and Madhi Masjid.
A view of Qutub Minar from Kuli Khan Tomb. When we were roaming around this place, a bunch of folks were playing cricket in the back side of Tomb of Kuli Khan. This comparitively a smaller tomb and one needs to climb up few stairs to see it from inside.
Tomb of Quli Khan, overlooking the Qutub Minar. All Instagrammers were busy in clicking photographs around the tomb and few were simultaneously posting these photographs to Instagram and Twitter. Rain had happened last night so some of us tried clicking reflections as well :).
Above is a photograph of Rajaon ki Baoli, which is comparatively smaller than Gandhak ki Baoli. All this shows about rich Indian Heritage in capital city Delhi. It's a famous stepwell near Adham Khan's Tomb having multiple levels in it and one of the special places inside Mehrauli Archaeological Park.
Rajon Ki Baoli is also referred as 'Rajon ki Bain'. This magnificent three-storeyed stepwell is believed to have been built by Daulat Khan during the reign of Sikandar Lodi.
Rajaon ki baoli is one of the highlights of Mehrauli Archaeological Park and everyone during Instawalk liked this place the most. This baoli has multiple levels and each level of the baoli exposes to visitors as one walks towards its steps. The baoli-complex has a 12-pillared tomb and a mosque with some pretty plaster decoration on it.
This Instawalk was concluded here and we headed back. Now it was time for me to attend a Blogger meet at CP.