Highlights till 29th August-2010

On 28th August-10, a delegation from Concern world came to visit IRC-Khairpur. A debriefing session was held at IRC regional office.
Ms. Jeniffer and Ms. Annia were briefed by the Regional Managers of IRC Khairpur over the existing situation of IDPs and the camps being supported by the Government and the civil society organizations.
Later an out country team was coordinated by RM (IRC-Edl) and the project team working under Concern World project at Khairpur to Kacha bund areas where the affected people are settled in tents whose villages and houses have been washed away by the super flood.
IRC team facilitated the concern world team to Sports complex at Pir jo Goth area where the IDPs are currently settled and IRC under Concern World project has installed couple of hand pumps and toilets. Under this project IRC has to set up 100 washrooms and 35 hand pumps across the flood effected displaced population of Kingri Taluka. Having finished the visit in sports complex team headed towards Jamsheed Bund where IRC has setup some facilities under this project.
An out country team finished its visit at Jamsheed bund and headed towards Shikarpur.
Ms. Haider (Deputy Consulate General) Republic of Germany visited IRC Khairpur; Ms. Haider’s visit was focused on the emerging chaotic situation of flood, assessing the circumstances prevailing in the flood affected areas and the response of IRC in helping and supporting the internally displaced people. IRC is currently implementing a project on human rights education under the aegis of Consulate General of Germany. IRC SMT briefed Ms. Haider over the existing situation of flood affected population and the issues of IDPs. Later she was facilitated by an advisor to ED-IRC towards Jamsheed bund at Kingri Taluka and IRC managed relief camps at Mori and Shah Latif areas.

An emergency meeting held at IRC wherein staff reviewed the flood activities and assessed the response of IRC in helping out the flood affected people in Khairpur.
All IRC staff involved in flood relief activities brief the forum about their assigned activities. Mr. Turab Soomro shared the progress of supplying food and non food items to flood affected population of Sobhodero and Gambat talukas.
Ms. Nusrat and Neghat shared the progress of swing machines and cloths provided to IDPs settled at Mori camp.
Mr. Aslam briefed the forum about his role at warehouse established by DCO to support the flood affected population in Khairpur.
Mr. Ali Madad and Mr. Akram narrated the progress of IRC-adopted camps at Mori and Shah Latif areas.
I my self talked about the situation of School Inbox approach by Unicef for those children who are affected by flood and their study engagement plan.
Mr. Hashmat and his team shared the findings of their reproductive study conducted across the relief camps in Sobhodero and Gambat. A field rapid assessment activity was also shared by them in such a great detail by covering the spheres standards.
ED-IRC expressed her satisfaction over the emergency work being done by all the team members in Khairpur. She emphasized that, though it is very important to help support IDPs in their ever difficult time, but this is also very necessary that each one of us should dedicate our time for relief activities in future too.
 Senior Management and Team leaders’ meeting held at IRC Khazana under the chairpersonship of ED-IRC, 28th August-2010 (9:30pm to 12:00am).

Meeting highlights are mentioned below:
While reviewing the overall condition of IRC-managed relief camps, it was observed that the sanitation and cleanliness situation of Shahlatif relief camps were found satisfactory whereas the issues of cleanliness and sanitation were seriously noticed at Mori Camp.
It was decided that,
 The (Camp Manager) Mori will get atleast three toilets functional, rupees 10,000/- approved for maintenance and cleanliness activities.
The (Camp Manager) Shah Latif schools will also come up with a reasonable estimation for an overhauling and maintenance of non functional toilets at Shahlatif schools.
 Both the managers will figure out the skills of IDPs in both the camps so that support of material for hand made products could be streamlined soon.
 Sweepers will be given Rs.50/- in addition to Rs.100/- per day so that they will do cleaning of toilets twice a day.
 Mr. Jaweed Tajik (Finance Manager) IRC Khairpur will submit a weekly expense report to ED-IRC for analysis and approval of further aid funds to IRC-Khairpur.
The (RM) Khairpur will talk to DCO Khairpur and ensure utensils and hygiene kits for Shah Latif camps while IRC will ensure reasonable utensils that are not included in the package of government but are very important for daily use.
The camp managers will be given weekly petty cash which will help ensure reasonable vegetables for campers and milk for morning tea.
The other agenda point of meeting was to establish IRC-Tent city in date palm orchard located at the north side of broad casting house of radio Pakistan Khairpur.
Decisions:
 Mr. Hashmat Jatoi and his team will be responsible to run and manage the camp affairs. Mr. Jatoi will act as the manager for IRC tent city.
 The leveling of land, establishment of tents, set up of landhis, protection wall of date palm leaves, developing bridge over the water channel and play ground will be the responsibility of Mr. Naveed Khayal, Aumir Abbas, Jaweed Abro and Syed Munir Shah.
 Developing banner of camps will be the sole responsibility of Mr. Aumir.
 Installation of 06 to 08 hand pumps and 20 latrines will be the responsibility of Mr. Ali Madad and Mr. Ubaidullah. Seeking support to have these facilities ensured can be gotten from district government Khairpur.
 A female social mobilizer will be appointed by IRC whose reasonable salary will be decided by SMT, she will directly report to Mr. Hashmat.
 Mr. Jaweed abro will get in touch with district government to have focus lights placed inside the tent city.
 Lantern will be fixed inside the landhis, whose responsibility lies on Mr. Aumir and Jaweed abro.
 Hopefully, IRC tent city will be ready to house IDPs from Tuesday 31st August-10.

Flood up dates till 26th August-2010

The situation of an internal displacement of people from Jacobabad, Kashmore, Shikarpur, Sukkur and the affected Kacha areas of District Khairpur is going on. Many civil society organizations and the Govt. of Sindh are taking emergency steps to help support the IDPs who have been affected by the flood and displaced from their home districts.

Since the magnitude of displacement is quite high, district Khairpur is housing many more IPDs who are coming from above districts. The current shift in policy of Govt. is announced recently that all the IDPs who are occupying Govt. owned buildings would be facilitated to shift in Karachi, so that proper mechanism of helping people in terms of food, shelter, medical assistance, cloths etc could be managed at one place.
IDPs willing to be shifted to Karachi are being facilitated by the district government Khairpur free of charge and trying to vacate the Govt. owned buildings particularly schools so as to initiate classes for those students who used to study being the local recipient of education.

In Khairpur, as it is already mentioned that IRC teams are extensively busy at couple of fronts and supporting the emergency activities.
Being the district coordinator in food committee formed by DCO-Khairpur IRC is supplying draw food items to the flood affected kacha areas that are existing in those taluka which are adversely hit by running water. IRC is also keeping the record of all the supplies received from various channels and the supplies distributed in the field. IRC team is available all the time at DCO house where the warehouse is setup.
Besides this, IRC has adopted three camps in Khairpur whose one by one explanation is mentioned below:
Camp-1 (Govt. Boys Primary School at Mori, Taluka Kingri)
The current figure of IDPs in camp is 250 out of which, there are 50 Females, 47 Male and 153 children.
Now camp life has become normal as IRC is putting its best possible efforts to support these people in terms of food, coordinating their medical needs, provided cloths and possible reasonable material for their daily use.
As reported earlier that there were two females who were in their advance stage to deliver baby. IRC team together with RHC- (Rural Health Centre) kept these two females in strict observation. Out of these two women, one has delivered a baby boy at RHC under normal condition. The other one Ms. Salemat is in her advance stage and we in a team are keeping her in observation. Networking with volunteer doctors is going on, a team from Agha Khan Karachi visited the camp and checked the IDPs, later they found out that there are some viral diseases attacked the people wherein Gastro, Hepatitis and influenza are worth mentioning. Mr. Rano Pahore was found out being the affectee of Hepatitis, doctors advised us to shift him to RHC for his proper treatment. Through RHC- Mr Rano Pahore has been shifted from camp to Khairpur and being admitted in TB-Centre as the wards in civil hospital have already been over crowded.
Ms. Nafisa Shah (MNA) Khairpur visited the camp met with IPDs inquired about their facilities in camp role of IRC. She turned satisfied and appreciated the efforts of IRC team.
Camp-2 (Govt. Boys Primary School) Shah Latif Colony Khairpur
The current figure of IDPs in camp is 119 out of which, there are 34 Females, 27 Male and 58 children.
The IDPs belong to Nindwani community have come from Taluka Tangwani district Kashmore.
IRC has adopted this camp for the last few days and have started providing cooked food for two times, lunch and dinner whereas reasonable material has been provided to them for morning breakfast. A few days back an organization called SRSO provided them the raw food items such as flour, 50 KG bag and Oil 4.5 KG.
Since, they were newly settled and requiring some basic things cloth, slippers etc some of the family members sold out their belongings and the food items given by SRSO and ensured the things for their daily use.
These IDPs are in need of utensils, cloths of children with some other items of daily use; IRC is providing whatever is possible. For breakfast, some containers have been provided along with tea, sugar and flour to those families who didn’t receive any kind of aid from any other organization except IRC. The sanitary condition is not encouraging as the current toilets of schools are non functional except one. IRC is being in touch with Sindh Urban Corporation for their repair and cleanliness.
The health profile of this camp is also meek; IRC arranged a visit of LHWs to this camp for quick medical check up of females. It was found out that a woman namely Naimat is an advance stage to deliver baby. Within IDPs and at Camp level a system is developed in a way so that any medical emergency could be addressed immediately.
The hand pump facility in this camp requires an immediate attention, Mr. Ali Madad (IRC-camp) In charge will get the hand pump issue fixed on urgent basis. IRC has provided a good plastic tank for water storage that has the capacity of more than 150lts which will be used by IDPs in their daily use of water.
Camp-3 (Govt. Girls Primary School) Shah Latif Colony Khairpur
The current figure of IDPs in camp is 36 out of which, there are 09 Females, 13 Male and 14 children.
The IDPs belong to Nindwani community have come from Taluka Tangwani district Kashmore.
IRC is providing two times cooked food whereas breakfast is prepared by IDPs by themselves whose material is provided by IRC.
Networking efforts are being done so that medical facility from District Health Department and some support in terms of utensils from DCO office could be ensured at camps.

Flood situtation till 16th August-2010

The situation of flood is still persistent and displacement of people from Kashmore, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, surrounding areas of Sukkur and Kacha area of Khairpur is going on; people in groups are travelling to Hyderabad, Karachi and to Khairpur city areas.

The camps are being established by district government within Government school premises in Khairpur city and small towns of various talukas.
In Khairpur, civil society organizations are mainly active and playing their useful role with a great enthusiasm and vigour. Since the Indus Resource Centre has adopted couple of relief camps at Govt. Boys Primary School Mori and Govt. Boys High School Bhurgri, the provision of food and non food items are being provided to Mori camp whereas these items are in process for Bhurghri camp.
Major Highlights of relief activities

 During last two days 400 food packets have been distributed to the victims of flood across Sobhodero and Gambat talukas by IRC under the coordinative efforts of District Govt. Khairpur.
 Together with Red Crescent Society and District Government, IRC has managed to distribute 32 hygiene kits among affected families in Mori camp, which included, Towel, bath soap, Female hygiene pads, tooth paste, shaving razors, shaving cream and Nail cutter.
 In Mori relief camp together with above stakeholders some utensils have also been distributed such as Vessels, Roti baking pot, silver food plates, adequate pot for floor kneading, Gerry Kans 15lts and sewed cloths. IRC has also distributed the non food items except those items which had not been delivered to them by any donor.
 IRC has provided 02 sewing machines at Mori Relief camp with some 17 unstitched cloths to those females who are skilled and able to sew cloths. A proper room is allotted to these females so that sewing activity could be performed in conducive environment.
 Stock register is made available at camp which helps us to understand how many things have been provided to campers.
 Food is being provided to campers whereas breakfast is being prepared at camp venue by females.

 Situation of sanitary condition is quite better as compare to previous scene which was prevalent a few days back, a sweeper is appointed by IRC who looks after toilets. Couple of toilets require maintenance whose responsibility has been fixed and to be undertaken on urgent basis.
 Camp in Bhurgri is new and being taken care of to the best of our available resource.
 SRSO organization is also active in field for flood affected people and has started providing temporary toilets and hand pump facilities. One hand pump and two temporary toilets have been provided by this organization at Govt. Boys High School Bhurgri.

 Linkages are established with PPHI (Mobile) medical camp that has checked out IDPs at Bhurgri Camp.
 There we have seen cattle today inside Bhurgri Camp they have arrived last night so, we are in process to have discussion with campers for their future plans.

Flood Updates in Khairpur

On 21 July 2010, Pakistan was hit by heavier than usual monsoon flash foods. The monsoon floods have left above 2.5 million people affected and death toll has reached 1600 people (source: Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) assessment report, 3 August 2010).

The Indus River was flowing in low flood at Sukkur Barrage. It will be in high flood during the next 24 hours,” it said adding that the Indus River was flowing normal at Kotri Barrage and it will remain normal there during the next 24 hours. The Irrigation and Power Department said that discharge at upstream Guddu Barrage may remain between 8,50,000 cusecs to 9,50,000 cusecs on August 8 and August 9. Officials say 19 of Sindh’s 23 districts have been put on high alert.
Kashmore, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Sukkur, Larkana and Khairpur districts are considered high priority, and operations to evacuate vulnerable populations in low-lying areas are under way, according to Khair Muhammad Kalwar, Director of operations at Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
In responding to this situation, on August 6, 2010, all (Indus Resource Centre) IRC Staff including Regional Manager Khairpur were present at the DCO House Khairpur, to help support the Govt. line agencies in packing up the food items and to take measures for their onward delivery to the flood victims. 1, 333 small food bags were prepared. The truck was loaded with 200 food bags which transported this aid to the flood affected areas of Sobhodero taluka district Khairpur. Three volunteers from IRC; Shafique Abbas Mangi, Akeel Ahmed and Ali Madad went to Sobhodero to distribute the food items in due course of time.
On August 7, 2010, IRC team including Naveed Khayal, Turab Ali, Ali Madad, Attique and Ghulam Muhhamd Junejo visited Jamsher Bund area existing in Kingri taluka where it was observed that, there were many small scattered villages found completely inundated consisted of 20-25 houses in each village. It was also observed that the agriculture was adversely affected in which some valuable crops like cotton, sugarcane and bananas were worth noted.
IRC volunteers along with Pakistan Army distributed 300 dry food bags among flood affected families of villages; Azizullah Kalhoro, Allah Dino Junejo, Karam Khan Junejo, Dost Muhammad Junejo, Khaliq Dino Junejo, Moar Kalhoro, Abdul Rehman Unar and Rasool Bux Junejo. All these villages are next to Jamsher Bund. According to Pakistan Army, they have shifted families to some safe places but still there were two villages i.e Azizullah Kalhoro and Allah Dino Junejo whose inhabitants showed reluctance to move to flood relief camps and wanted to take their livestock and grains with them, in case they are forced to be shifted. It was impossible to carry all these things by boat as the boat couldn’t bear the weight of buffaloes and cows.
August 8, 2010, IRC volunteers planned to distribute 500 food bags among 500 flood victims, team departed from DCO house Khairpur for Fareedabad Bund. Volunteers reached at Fareedabad Bund where Pakistan Army personnel were already available, Pak Army arranged the helicopter to take the Arial view of the inundated areas and to monitor all sorts of loss such as houses, crops, pet animals and grain stock etc.


Beside Fareedabad Bund, there was a village Sajan Mehaser where 45 food bags were distributed. Having done a systematic distribution relief team moved towards Point 06 and Point 0 of Ulra Jageer Bund where 100 and 110 food bags were delivered to Pak Army soldiers for their onward distribution to flood affected people. 150 food bags were also delivered to Pak Army for village, Abdul Rehman Unar. I am thankful to all the stakeholder and the Civil Society Organizations in taking such a great part for a noble cause of helping the helpless.

Validation and sightseeing in Delhi

Today was the day of validation for all the training participants, each one of us was really excited to receive participation certificates were to be given by prof. Neelamghan NLLM-CMS at Meadows an international business school at Fareedabad India.
The very beginning session was led by Mr. Najmul Hoda (Assistant Professor) NIILM centre for management Studies. Later the session was proceeded by Prof. Neelmaghan who asked the participants to reflect back on their overall learning expectations from India and how far all of them managed to grasp over the things that they taught and facilitated for the last one week. Quite mix responses were aired by the participants that ensured all the participants have learnt many new concepts regarding microfinance and micro credit.
These responses of participants were:
• Women are quite proactive in India as compare to remote rural areas of Pakistan.
• Women of Pakistan have tremendous potential to join hand in hand with them to start a program that should shape their life.
• Linking microfinance with enterprise can be a feasible thing for Pakistan
• Loan insurance at small scale can be a workable model for Pakistan
• Concept of mobile banking is quite new and can be tested in Pakistan with working class families.
• In addition to learning aspects of team, it was greatly felt by the participants that a field visit to women self help groups was a need of time which couldn’t be made as part of training.
• Making cloth bags, paper plates, advancing in agriculture, embroidery with creativity, hand looms etc are the products that are already in the market of Pakistan but all is needed to have a channel of good marketing in Pakistan and aboard, while in India it has improved and transformed at grater level.

Having had diverse reflections of participants, Prof. Neelmaghan presented couple of videos on the outcomes of microfinance in India.
After this session, a certificate ceremony was held but before this session to happen a request to Madam, Musarat Qadeem was made to come on stage and say few words being the team leader of Pakistani group. She highly appreciated the hospitality and the learning settings for all Pakistani delegates by NIILM in India. She invited NIILM to come to Pakistan and experience the best practices of Micro finance and see some impressing case studies of a few women of our times.
Later a certification ceremony was held with vote of thanks by Prof. Neelmaghan (President NIILM).





In second half team planned to visit one of the holy places in Delhi known as Lotus Temple which is situated 12 km to the southeast of Connaught Place. Architecturally one of the most splendid temples of India, Delhi Lotus Temple is called so because it is built in the shape of a Lotus flower. The temple got completed in the year 1986 and rises to a height of more than 40 m. Located on Bahapur Hills, it is the seventh and the latest Baha'i houses of worship in the world. Bahai Temple of New Delhi is a white marble monument designed like a half-opened lotus.


Twenty-seven giant lotus petals of white marble spring out from nine pools and walkways of the temple. These walkways represent the nine unifying spiritual paths of the Baha'i faith. Exquisitely manicured lawns surround the building of the Lotus Temple. Silence is a prerequisite inside the New Delhi Lotus Temple. Also, one needs to take off the shoes while entering inside. Made up of marble, cement, sand and dolomite, this temple is often equated with the Sydney Opera House. Baha'i Temple in Delhi is often compared to the Sydney Opera House.

There is a simple, but outstanding high central hall in the temple where people sit and meditate. Petal alcoves of the temple are inscribed with stimulating quotes of the Baha'i sacred scriptures. Though the temple belongs to the Baha'i sect, it is open to people of each and every faith. The Baha'i religion, an independent one, places great importance on prayer and meditation as instruments for the progress of the human soul. Committed to the oneness of all religions and mankind, it traces its origins to its prophet Baha'u'llah, born in Persia in the 20th century.

Having visited the temple team came back to Medows to prepare for next day conference at an Indian Chamber of Commerce at Kolkata.

Historical sites in Agra India

Peace process can be fostered and augmented through people to people contact (Stated by Ms Musarat Qadeem) Executive Director Paiman Trust.

In respect of our Pakistani delegation an overwhelming reception by an Indian Media and the management of Heritage Institute of Hotel & Tourism at Agra happened. The second day of an August-2010 was planned to attend press conference at Agra to do a meaningful and positive advocacy through media so that a process of bringing peace and solidarity between India and Pakistan.
The plenary was organized, in which some senior journalists attended the session and reflected over the positive relationship of Pakistani and Indian media over the current status of information sharing at mass level. Positive media is the only solution to bring awareness regarding a variety of activities of both the countries in a very productive manner. It was agreed that, many things are similar and common between these two neighbors and the new generation of both the countries respects each other and values an Asian culture and civilization.
Mr. Siraj Qureshi, Chief Correspondent (The Indian Express) seconded Ms. Qadeem about her move of having interaction of both the countries at people to people level so that differences, if there are any persistent at countries’ level could be addressed for confidence building and positive reinforcement. He reiterated about the role of media must be respected and in other hand media should understand and promote the atmosphere of information sharing and to be able to bring and depict the real picture of fact findings before the mass.







Later, team decided to visit Taj Mahal which was quite near to Heritage Institute of Hotel and Tourism. One of the wonders in the world is located in Agra city in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is quite close to the national capital, New Delhi. It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the loving memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Shahjahan was the fifth of the Mogul rulers and Mumtaz Mahal was his second wife. She was the daughter of the Prime Minister in Shah Jahan's father, Jahangir's court. Shah Jahan was deeply in love with his lady and took her along wherever he went. She died at a tender age of 39 during one such expedition of the emperor in 1630. It is believed that in her dying moments, Mumtaz Mahal had expressed a wish of a monument to be built in her memory. Devastated with grief at the loss of his dear wife, the emperor decided to commemorate his love for her in the most wonderful structure the world has ever seen.

A manuscript called, the 'Diwan-i-Muhandis' dating back to to the 17th century brings forth the name of its architect. It was a Persian engineer cum astrologer named Ustad Ahmad, a resident of Lahore, who designed the Taj Mahal. It is said that the king grieved for two years, spent most of his time secluded and alone in agony. His son, Aurangzeb, who assumed the Mogul throne, imprisoned him in the Agra Fort from where he could see the splendid structure. He passed away during this sojourn, with the Taj Mahal in front of him. It houses the tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and the Emperor Shah Jahan, who wished to be laid to rest besides his beloved wife.







Having visited Taj Mahal, we managed to visit Agra Forte which was also on the way back to Delhi.

The brief history of is associated with Akbar, king at 14, began consolidating his empire and, as an assertion of his power built the fort in Agra between 1565 and 1571, coeval with the construction of Humayun's tomb in Delhi. The Agra fort retains the irregular outline of the demolished mud-wall fort of the Lodis. The lofty battlements o the new fort cast its protective shadow over the far stretching mansions of court that nobles and princes built along the riverfront. The magnificent towers, bastions and ramparts and majestic gateways symbolized the confidence and power of the third Mughal emperor, Akbar.

The fort contains splendid palaces both in red sandstone and white marble built by two generations of prolific builders Akbar and later Jehangir and Shahjahan.
The fort is encircled by a fetid moat. The lofty battlements of the Agra fort cast its protective shadow over the far stretching mansions of nobles and princes built along the riverfront. The magnificent towers, bastions and ramparts and majestic gateways symbolized the confidence and power of the third Mughal emperor.

The fort contains splendid palaces both in red sandstone and white marble built by two generations of prolific builders, Akbar and later on by Jahangir and Shahjahan. Of the nearly Akbari buildings built in the Bengal and Gujarati traditions, only a few have survived, arrayed in a band on the riverfront.

The evening time was full of home work assignments for another day to begun with tremendous expectations by team to learn from the speakers.

Historical places in Delhi

Once again Sunday was really a welcoming day for all of us by a morning rain, we in a team of three people Mr. Shafqat Ali Chaudhary, Mr. Asfandyar Khan and I headed towards Hamyoon tomb in Delhi which is hardly 30 kms away from our Meadow residence in Fareedabad.
We took an auto Rikshah that, one can easily hire with an actual charge in rupees according to a meter fixed inside.



We dropped in by auto nearby to Humuyan’s tomb, the tickets were purchased from archeological and tourism department that enabled us to get inside the area of tomb, the area is quite huge and capacious, in which lawns and parks are developed by Agha Khan Trust in-collaboration with Indian tourism department.
A brief history of Humyan’s tomb is quite fascinating as the building of the Humayun's Tomb was encouraged from the tomb of the Persian Mongol ruler, Oljeytu, at Sultaniyya. It is complex structure but has its own charm and grandeur. Thousands of travellers from all over the world visit the Humayun's Tomb every year and every day.



You can site Humayun's Tomb in Nizamuddin East in Delhi. Located conveniently at the banks of Yamuna, this tomb is major attraction among the tourists. Counted among one of the must visit monuments Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi was built by his beloved wife Hamida Banu Begam. Its construction work started in the year of 1569, which is fourteen years after the death of Humayun. It took about eight long years for the tomb to be completed.



This tomb is one of the most beautiful monuments in Delhi. Humayun's Tomb, Delhi depicts the true Mughal style of architecture, which was inspired from the Persian style of architecture. It was also recognized as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of the brilliant architectural beauty. It involved about 15 lakh rupees for the construction of the Humayun's Tomb in Delhi.
The tomb is surrounded by beautiful lush Mughal garden. The garden is divided into four parts by pathways. This is typical of all Mughal gardens. The various water channels for the fountains make this tomb a true architectural delight.

Inside the Humayun's Tomb, you can find various architectural features, which makes this tomb a truly grand structure. You can find baradari (pavilion) and a hammam (bath chamber) inside the tomb. Built of red sandstone, the dome of the tomb is made up of sparkling white marble. The octagonal chamber within comprise the tomb of Humayun.


After visiting Humyun tomb we moved towards Al Karim Hotel located at Khawaja Nizamudin’s shrine vicinity, this is of one those hotels series which is known by its quality and taste in India.

Following the time constraint in mind we moved towards one of the other historical sites of India by hiring an auto as usual.






A Qutub Minar: The Tallest Monument
The tall and ever attractive monument of Delhi which can be seen from most parts of the city is called the Qutab Minar. Every body has the same question when one sees the structure for the first time. The question that is often being put up is "Why the monument is that big?" or "Was there any specific reason to build such a tall building or it was just a wish of the person who built it?" Well, the exact reason is assumed to have something related to commemorating the victory. Mughals used to build victory towers to proclaim and celebrate victories. Some say the minaret was used to offer prayer but it is so tall that you can hear the person standing on the top. Also, the minaret is not joined on to Qutuddin's mosque and the Iltutmish's mosque.
Qutab Minar is among the tallest and famous towers in the world. When Alauddin returned from the wars in the Deccan, he had this thought in mind that he would build a victory tower. The ruins of this very initiative can be seen adjacent to the Qutbuddin's mosque because Alauddin died at the very start of the construction work and no one carried on to finish the initiative taken by Alauddin.
Qutab Minar is another great masterpiece of Mughal architecture. It has a number of floors or storeys which has beautiful carvings like the one on the tomb of Iltutmish. There are inscriptions all round the tower and these inscriptions reveal that Iltutmish finished the tower. The structure of the wall is made as such that it widens from top to bottom, just to make the minar stronger.
The top of the tower gives an insight to Delhi because you get to see the bird's eye view of the city. To point a few sight seeing from the top, you will find views of the Hauz Khaz on the left and the walls of the Jahanpanah and Siri on the right. It was this very top of Qutab Minar that was used by Khilji and Tughlaq kings to watch the wild Mongol hordes when they threatened Delhi.
The Minar did receive some damage because of earthquakes on more than a couple of occasions but was reinstated and renovated by the respective rulers. During the rule of Firoz Shah, the minar's two top floors got damaged due to earthquake but were repaired by Firoz Shah. In the year 1505, earthquake again struck and it was repaired by Sikandar Lodi. Later on in the year 1794, the minar faced another earthquake and it was Major Smith, an engineer who repaired the affected parts of the minar. Great number of foreigners are coming to visit this site as it is literally amazing and extraordinary work of engineers of that time.



Our visit came to end as the sun was going down to complement visitors to come to visit Minar at evening time. On the way back home we had stop over at some where near to bus stop in Badarpur, a small boy Arjun was selling maze. We bought cooked maze from him and tried to know why he is doing this job in a very small age. On this question, he said that his whole family relies on him to earn bread for them. Again, I tried to know how much he earns daily; he said some times 100 and some time less than this amount. He goes to school in morning and then sales maze at bus stop. In India there, a quite great number of children associated with child labour and struggling very hard to sustain their families for years to come.