It can be a case of mistaken identity if you go by your first impressions of
the capital city of India Delhi. Behind all the frantic and frenzy of a
modern city there lies a serene peace which is an integral part of Delhi. A
city of dynamic contrasts and colors, Delhi is deep with history and rich
with culture. As corollary to all these, tourism in Delhi is fast
increasing.
A travel to Delhi will cast an irresistible spell of charm to the tourist.
Both 'Old' and New Delhi exert a beguiling charm on visitors. Explore Old
City and get immersed in the Mughal past. Stroll down the labyrinthine
streets of Old Delhi before coming out in the lush boulevards of imperial
New Delhi, with its planned governmental offices and tree-lined avenues.
Apart from being the capital of India, Delhi is also the travel point for
visitors from overseas. It's an excellent base for visiting Agra and the Taj
Mahal, and the chivalrous land of Rajasthan. If you're planning to immerse
yourself in the breathtaking scenic beauty or adventure activities in the
lap of the Himalayas or east to the ghats of Varanasi, Delhi is the most
appropriate base.
Bounded by the state of Uttar Pradesh and on three sides by the state of
Haryana, Delhi is located at the western end of the Gangetic Plain. A great
tourism destination, a travel to Delhi will give you two cities for the
price of one. 'Old' Delhi, the capital of the Mughal India between the
mid-17th and late 19th centuries, is full of forts, great mosques and
monuments. It's a lively area of narrow streets and colorful bazaars. In
contrast, New Delhi, the imperial city of the British India, is replete with
generous leafy avenues and impressive government vistas, and has a sense of
order absent from other parts of the city.
Though extensive in area, the city is easy to navigate. The commercial hub
of Delhi is Connaught Place, where you'll find most of the offices of travel
agents, tours operators, banks and airlines. 'Old' Delhi is two kilometers
north of Connaught Place, and its main thoroughfare is Chandni Chowk.
Paharganj, near New Delhi Railway Station (budget), and Janpath, on the
southern side of Connaught Place (budget and mid-range). Are the two main
centers for accommodation. There are a number of art galleries, cinemas,
theatres and performing arts center around Connaught Place. Though nightlife
is strictly curtailed in Delhi, now-a-days process is on to make licensing
laws more flexible.
India Gate
Built as a memorial to commemorate the 70,000 India soldiers killed in World
War I, India Gate was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and completed in 1931.
Built from sandstone, the arch also houses the Eternal Flame, a gesture in
memory of the Indian soldiers who laid their lives in the 1971 war with
Pakistan.
Rashtrapati Bhawan
Formely the Viceregal Lodge, the building is the highlight of Lutyen's New
Delhi and was completed in 1929 at a cost of 12,53,000 pound sterling.
Located in an area of 130 hectares, the palace has 340 rooms.
Red Fort
So called because of the red stone with which it is built, the Red Fort is
one of the most magnificent palaces in the world. India's history is also
closely linked with this fort. It was frorth here ht the British deposed the
last Mughal ruler, Bhadur Shah Zafar, marking the end of the three century
long Mughal rule. It was also fromits ramparts that the first prime.
Minister of India, pandit Jawharlal Nehru, announced to the nation that
India was free form colonial rule.
Qutub Minar
The origins of Qutab Minar are shrouded in controversy. Some believe it was
erected as a tower of victory to signify the beginning of the Muslim rule in
India. Others say it served as a minaret to the muezzins to call the
faithful to prayer. No one can, however, dispute that the tower is not only
one of the finest monuments in India, but also in the world.
Purana Quila
The fort is said to be constructed on the historic site of Indraprastha
(900BC) by Humayun and Sher Shah. Covering a circuit of about a mile, the
walls of the fort have three gates and are surrounded by a mat fed by the
river Yamuna.
Jantar Mantar
At first sight, the Jantar Mantar appears like a gallery of modern art. It
is, however, an observatory. Sawai Jia Singh II of Jaipur (1699-1743), a
keen astronomer and a noble in the Mughal court, was dissatisfied by the
errors of brass and metal astronomical instruments.
Humayun's Tomb
The mughals brought with them a love for gardens, fountains and water. The
first mature example of Mughal architecture in India, Humayun's Tomb was
built by the emperor's grieving widow, Haji Begum, in 1565 AD.
Jama Masjid
Work on the Jama Masjid mosque was begun in 1650 by the Mughal Emperor Shah
Jahan to complement his palace at the Red Fort. More than 5,000 workers
toiled for six years to complete the largest mosque in India. Every Friday,
the emperor and his retinue would travel in state from the fort to the
mosque to attend the congressional prayers.
Safdarjung's Tomb
Representing the last phase of the Mughal style of architecture,
Safdarjang's Tomb stands in the centre of an extensive garden.
Rajghat
The mortal remains of mahatma Gandhi were cremated on this spot on the west
bank of the river Yamuna on the evening of January 31, 1948.
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