New Delhi : Humayun's Tomb, Qutb Minar, Rajpath
October 14, 1981: being in India for four days and already sick...> read the article (in french)
33 years later, virtual comeback on these three places, using Google's Street View Trekker. Exploring traces of the past with today tools.
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Lucky strike: the three monuments I visited that day in New Delhi belong to the few places in India already filmed by the Google's Street View Trekker.
Direction Nizamuddin West to explore Humayun's Tomb.
The trekker has crossed through the place thoroughly.
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| The course of the trekker through the Gardens of Humayun's Tomb, Delhi |
The Isa Khan tomb complex is located at the right of the entrance.
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| Entrance from the north door, overlooking the tomb of Isa Khan Niyazi, Delhi |
The heavy wooden door is still there, easy to recognize.
The lobed arch, which was crumbling, is now redone. As well as the low wall surrounding the mausoleum. The shrub hedge is gone, and the sparse grass gave way to a beautiful English turf.
Critical problem for the trekker: his point of vue is significantly higher than that of the average human eye. The natural perspective is skewed, and the use of a wide angle lens make it worse.
> visit Isa Khan Niyazi with Google Trekker
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| North gate, Isa Khan Niyazi tomb, Delhi |
The north gate has been seriously restored and palm trees grew well. On the ground, the shadow of the trekker's camera is visible...
Continuation of the visit.
Once the last portal crossed, Humayun's Tomb is fully revealed, covered by a huge white dome.
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| Humayun's Tomb, Delhi |
A climb on the terrace.
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| Domes of Nila Gumbad and Nai-ka-Gumbad, Humayun's tomb, Delhi |
Also here, the palm trees that mask the domes appear to have grown well. And, as at the time, the blazing sun does not encourage you to linger...
> visit the terrace with Google Trekker
Once again, rickshaw to reach Qutb Minar.
It's not easy to find a similar point of view: the narrow framing of my photo reveals only few clues. One has to grope with satellite images, and explore the paths and views of the trekker.
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| Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque and Qutb Minar, Delhi |
To the left in the photo, one can see visitors on the first balcony.
On December 4, 1981, a blackout unleashed a dreadful panic in the tower causing 45 victims, mainly schoolchildren. Since then, access to the first floor is prohibited.
This tragedy, so close after my own visit, has become inseparable from this place.
On the ground, the trekker's lens is facing the sun...
> visit Qutb Minar with Google Trekker
Way back through Raj Path that connects India Gate to the presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan.
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| Jaipur Column et Rashtrapati Bhavan, Rajpath, Delhi |
1981: crossing of beautiful bell-bottoms.
2013: access to the presidential palace is blocked by yellow plastic barriers ...
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| From Rashtrapati Bhavan: India Gate, Rajpath, Delhi |
Did you visit and shoot this places ? What was YOUR point of view ?
English readers, please help me to improve this version.
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