Delhi temples

While I was in Delhi I visited two temples. Actually, I was taken to the temples by an over eager Indian boy who would not take no for an answer. He had been close at my heels wanting to practice his English with me for over an hour despite my VERY firm rejections and attempts to ignore him. Finally I caved. (My India travel mentors are cringing right now! Clearly I was not firm enough and probably I should have thrown a fit and yelled at the top of my lungs till he left me alone, but I just didn't have it in me that day). So then he invited me to go to some nearby temples and I did. And I'm glad.

The first was surrounded by a lovely garden with loads of statues. We walked around the grounds and I didn't actually go inside.

The second was absolutely fabulous. In front was a three story sculpture of Hanuman complete with little golden Rama and Sita in his heart! You can enter the temple through the mouth of a lion. Inside there are many rooms and cubby holes filled with altars to different deities. Old men lit candles at Hanuman's giant feet and a group of children looked at the glittering gods and goddesses excitedly. I climbed the stairs behind Hanuman's legs all the way to the top to see Rama and Sita and behind a little door I saw a secret room full of sweets! It was amazing!

So I've been warned about making friends with Indian guys and now I know why! I don't quite know how to explain it but the cultural difference is just too big. He got so attached in so little time and acted devastated when I said "ok, it's time I went my on own way. No really. I'm going by myself." Like he couldn't understand what he'd done wrong and didn't I like the temples and what if he went to Rishikesh with me, and on and on. So I ditched him.