New Delhi & Agra, India - Seats Of Power And Poverty

New Delhi and Agra both have incredible buildings that are monuments to power while also being cities dense with extreme poverty.

On my way out of India, I decided to spend a couple of days in New Delhi, primarily so I can go see the Taj Mahal. I only had one day in New Delhi, I didn’t get to see much but I did go visit some of the government buildings and the president’s home. The magnitude of the size of New Delhi is so incomprehensible that I’m bare comfortable with saying I’ve been there.

Rashtrapati Bhavan & The Secretariat Building in New Delhi

The Rashtrapati Bhavan is the President’s residence in India. It was very foggy or smoggy when I visited it. The fog did make for some interesting photos.

The Secretariat Building is the main building where some of the most important governmental agencies govern the country. It’s basically like the Capitol Building here in the US.

Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, India — The Rashtrapati Bhavan

Rashtrapati Bhavan Gardens in New Delhi, India — Rashtrapati Bhavan Gardens

Rashtrapati Bhavan Front Gate in New Delhi, India — The Rashtrapati Bhavan Front Gate

A monkey climbing on the Rashtrapati Bhavan front gate in New Delhi, India — A monkey climbing on the Rashtrapati Bhavan front gate

The Secretariat Building in New Delhi, India — Secretariat Building

Agra

The poverty in Agra was pervasive and striking, especially since the Taj Mahal is in the same city. Traffic was also really bad there.

McDonald’s in Agra

While in Agra I visited a McDonald’s. I don’t usually eat at McDonald’s but I had to see what it was like in India. Plus it would be my first Western meal in a month. The menu was really different though, with no beef or pork. I ended up ordering the Chicken Maharaja Mac, it was actually really good.