Decaying Heritage: The Lost Arabian Treasures in Old Delhi.

I guess every girl has at least once in her life been dreaming about the old Persian world brought to us via stories such as the Arabian Nights or The Physician. I have always felt a strong fascination for its marvelous open palaces, the extravagant clothing, sweet fruits and the ever shining sun.
When I decided to travel to India it was not the Arabian heritage I had in mind. But when I arrived in northern India I realized I had walked into a dream come true. Wandering through the hidden pathways and open gardens at Agra Fort among the beautifully dressed Indian families I certainly did feel like I stepped into an episode of One Thousand and One Nights. A truly magical experience.
Beyond the well marked tourist sites it is the unpolished places you only notice on second glance that give you an idea what the city and culture might have been like. While roaming Old Delhi I discovered many hidden treasures of lost empires and former splendid times. It is such a shame that they might soon be lost forever. Many of those buildings are decaying due to the rough climate and the lack of effort to preserve them. This is of course also true for large parts of India in general. Homes and infrastructure serving a practical purpose can be rebuilt though. Architectural and cultural heritage cannot as easily be brought back. When I was walking through the ruins of a former mansion with an almost undetectable entrance hidden behind random stores, trash or beggars and now inhabited by squirrels and dogs I was overwhelmed by the hidden aura of former grandeur and extraordinary beauty.
The random buildings right in the center of a bustling city have a very different atmosphere than the well preserved monuments like Taj Mahal and Agra Fort which are presented to all visitors in a well organized and almost sterile way. For me the treasures hidden within the city of Old Delhi are the real heritage of the former empire. It is a sad thought that all those may eventually be lost forever. I am thankful for having had the opportunity to glimpse some of the grand Old Delhi.
This text has been previously published on http://themxmag.com
