Your East Midlands Wedding - Feb/Mar 2019 (Issue 30)

A fter an eight-hour flight I arrived in India’s capital, New Delhi, where I was whisked away to the luxurious five-star THE Park New Delhi Hotel. As soon as I saw the impressive reception I fell in love with the décor – its grand furniture, marble floors and high ceilings made me feel like I was in a palace. I was greeted by the oh-so friendly staff who presented me with gifts and locally-sourced drinks before escorting me to my room. One of the best parts of staying anywhere new is opening the door to your bedroom, as you never quite know what you’re going to find. The space went beyond my expectations; with a king-sized bed, en suite bathroom, television, living area and a grand window that overlooked the city – it was more than I could have asked for. After a quick change of clothes, I was ready to embark on a tour of New Delhi. I’ve always had a strong interest in culture so I was really excited to see the sights and meet some of the local people. The majority of the buildings were painted with murals and the streets were filled with tuk tuks that whizzed past – I felt like I was in a Bollywood film. I visited the local markets, where I saw how saris were made and had the opportunity to purchase handmade jewellery and locally-sourced spices that smelt out of this world. That evening I enjoyed dinner at the hotel’s fabulous restaurant, Fire. The extravagant menu was 80 per cent organic and the ingredients were all sourced by local farmers. It had something to suit everyone and was absolutely delicious. My personal favourite was the curry platter that was so good I wanted seconds! DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY The next morning I ventured down to the lobby where I was greeted by the lovely tour guides who took me to see the sights of Old Delhi. It’s the oldest part of the city and is full of historic gems. I visited the Red Fort, which was home to the emperors of the Mughal dynasty in the 19 th century. The history behind the building was fascinating and its definitely worth a visit. I also explored the local spice markets on a rickshaw – a highlight of the trip for me, it was great fun whizzing in and out of traffic and a fantastic A WORLD AWAY Melissa Barker discovers the delights of India 102