DELHI TRAVEL GUIDE

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, www.nikejanoski.es 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.