#DelhibyMetro walk- Safdarjung Tomb

Safdarjung Tomb was built in memory of a Minister in the Mughal court, who also became the King of Awadh. You can open Wikipedia and read more about Safdarjung. You will also quickly learn that this is the last of the three gems of Mughal architectural style seen first in the Humayun’s tomb. The middle monument is the most famous – Taj Mahal, and this, the third, is really a poor imitation – as it was built at a time when the rule was fading and coffers were dry. 

But these are not the reason for making it one of my favourite spots. It is peaceful, less crowded, and has these two bent trees, on top of which, I have spent hours, staring at the monument. These trees have bent branches, so you can either sit or recline. If you recline, you can stare at the other larger trees all around – which have birds and fruits and flowers. And because there aren’t endless walkers and their dogs, the birds prefer sitting/reclining on these trees rather than on those in its more famous neighbour – Lodi Garden.

Last Sunday we saw large green barbets, flycatchers, sun birds, green pigeons and of course the ubiquitous mynahs, parakeets, pigeons and doves.  Though not as colourful as other Delhi parks, there were bright red poppy flowers, orange marigolds and many coloured chrysanthemums. And on them, were butterflies - we spotted lots of Orange Tips, Common grass yellows and the Common Pierrot.

It would have been a perfect evening but for one irritant, which has come up before on a lot of walks. There are people living in our city, who have come from outside the country. They have to pay close to 10 times the entry fee that we have to pay. We sat under a tree and heard about an American walker’s, research on post-partition urbanisation. We hope that soon, those like her, who probably love the city as much as we do and choose to live here, get the same entry rights into monuments like the rest of us.