Delhi-Incredible India

The Capital city of India, Delhi is to be one of the oldest existing cities in the world, along with Jerusalem and Varanasi. Legend estimates it to be over 5,000 years old. According to the history of India, Delhi is said to have been built and destroyed 11 times. The oldest alleged incarnation of the city shows up in the Indian mythological epic Mahabharata as Indraprastha.

Places To Visit

There are lot of places where you can see some of the most amazing things. The attractions of Delhi lies in its ability to carry with it the legacy of history as well as the trendiest things that you will get today in any modern metropolis. It is one of the most throbbing cities of the world and is full of life. Some of the places where you must go while on a tour of this historic city is mentioned here so that you may not have to repent for not seeing a spectacular thing.

Chandni Chowk

Chandni Chowk is the place of crowded and congested, this is the most happening marketplace in Delhi. There is nothing in the world that you cannot find here. Located opposite the Red Fort, Chandni Chowk is the best place to be if you want to go on a shopping spree. Digamber Jain Temple is one of the main attractions of the area. There is also a Bird Hospital near Chandni Chowk. From Sunheri Masjid, Nadir Shah ordered his troops to plunder and massacre Delhi. Buy some fineries from Chandni Chowk because you will not get the things better anywhere else.

Old Delhi

Formerly known as Shahjahanabad, Old Delhi was the capital city of the great Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Today, little remained of the old city that for hundreds of years served as the seat of power for emperors and kings. Today, however, all that you will find here is the remnants of the past glory. Kashmiri Gate, Ajmeri Gate, Turkman Gate and Delhi Gate are some of the samples of the then architecture that remains even to this day. The famous Ashokan Pillar can be seen near Feroz Shah Kotla.

The Raj Ghat

This is one place where people come to pay respect to all those freedom fighters and leaders who were cremated here. The Raj Ghat is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Delhi. To the north of Raj Ghat, tourist visit the cremation ground of the First Prime Minister of India, Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru. The place is called Shanti Van. You can also visit the cremation ground of former Prime Ministers of India.

Rajpath and India Gate

If you are in Delhi in the month of January, do not in any way miss the military extravaganza organized by the armed forces of India on the 26th of January every year. This is the official address of the President of India and you will be able to see the huge mansion popularly called the Rashtrapati Bhawan. At the end of this very important road is another extremely important landmark, the India Gate. This gate is a 42m high stone arch of triumph. The names of all the soldiers in the Indian Army who fought and died in the World War l, the North-West Frontier operations and the 1919 Afghan misadventure are inscribed in the stone. There is also a memorial that is dedicated to the unknown soldier.

Among other very important things that you must see are the Parliament House and the apex court of the country or the Supreme Court. Make no mistake about it that Delhi has more to offer than just these.

 

Qutab Minar

The historical importance of Delhi is augmented by the fact that it is home to some of the finest piece of architecture ever built by man. Qutab Minar at Delhi is one of the most commanding architectural specimen built hundreds of years ago by craftsmen that match even the very best of our time. Protruding proudly into the sky, Qutab Minar is an amazing piece of heritage monument. From a height of 238 feet, you will be able to get a breath-taking view of the city of Delhi. The tower was built in three stages and the work was initiated by the slave king Qutab-ud-din Aibak. While Qutab-ud-din managed to complete one storey, it was Iltutmish who completed the next three.

The monument has a total of five storeies tapering towards the top and each storey is marked by a circular balcony. The first three storeies are made of red sandstone while the fourth and the fifth are made of marble. One feature of the tower that stands out is the stalactite support to the balconies. Enjoy the beauty of the historic monument by booking a fine hotel in Delhi.

Quwwat-ul Islam Masjid

Qutab-ud-din built this fantastic mosque in order to commemorate the victory over Rai Pithora. This is one of the few remaining mosques built during the time. The mosque has a rectangular courtyard perhaps specifically created for the purpose of offering prayers.

Iron Pillar

Inside the Qutab Complex and in the courtyard of the mosque, there is an Iron Pillar. The most notable thing about the iron pillar is that even after 2000 years of being exposed to the elements, the pillar has not rusted. On the pillar there is an inscription in Sanskrit that clearly gives us an indication that the pillar was actually in Bihar and probably a part of a Vishnu Temple.

Tomb of Iltutmish

To the north-west of the Iron Pillar, you will find the tomb of Iltutmish. The beauty of the place lies in the solemn quietness of the surroundings. The tomb is nothing short of a hallmark in Indo-Islamic architecture. The tomb was built a year before Iltutmish died and it bears traits of Iltutmish's personality.

Alai Darwaza

Alai Darwaza is often described as the gem of the Islamic architecture. Employing Islamic principles this gate was built with accurate construction and geometric ornamentation. The Alai Darwaza is a square domed building with intricate carvings in red sandstones and marbles.

The Qutab Complex is a remarkable heritage complex. The rich history of India comes alive in the architectural intricacy of the Qutab Complex. Different rulers spanning different centuries have made their presence felt by making some addition to the structure of the buildings in the complex. Their difference in imagination and style has made the place even more rich in terms of variety.

Humayun's Tomb

Built in typical Mughal style, this red sandstone mausoleum encases the last mortal remains of the Mughal emperor, Humayun. This octagonal shaped monument is built by Haji Begum, the wife of Humayun. The mausoleum rests on a raised plinth.

Stay in a luxury hotel in Delhi and enjoy the picturesque Humayun Tomb. Having Mughal architectural characteristics like double domes and high arches, the building rests on an enclosure of high walls. The monument is indeed an imposing structure. There is a paved stone path that divide the garden into four. Other than Mughal Emperor Humayun and his wife, the place also has tombs of many a royals of the Mughal court.

The garden around the monument is designed in Persian style. You will love to walk on narrow stone path that winds its way around the garden. There is also a small water channel that tickles its way through the garden. There is also a fine pavilion that lies at the center of the monument. Among all the monuments of historical importance, Humayun's tomb a very important one. Its domes, arches and raised plinths are wonderful specimens of Mughal art.

India Gate, Delhi

India Gate is arguably the best war memorial in India built to commemorate the fallen heroes. During the First World War, 70,000 Indian soldiers fought for the British throughout the world and laid their lives for the empire. Acknowledging the sacrifices, the British Government built the wonderful monument. Designed by Edwin Lutyens, the monument bears the name of 13,516 Indian and British soldiers who lost their lives in the Afghan war in the year 1919.

After a period of 10 years, the monument was dedicated to the nation by the then Viceroy Lord Irwin. Much later another memorial was added to the India Gate after the Independence of India and it was suitably named Amar Jawan Jyoti in respect to all the unknown soldiers who laid down their lives for the security of the nation. There are hotels in Delhi near India Gate and tourists can enjoy the beauty of this historic monument from some luxurious Delhi hotels.

A flame burns continuously here. There is a war helmet over an upturned rifle. Surrounding the imposing structure, you will find a large expanse of lush green field that has now become a fine picnic spot. In summer evenings you will find hoards of people thronging the area. The imposing structure of India Gate truly symbolizes the acknowledgement of a nation for the sacrifice of all those brave-hearts who lived and died for the sake of India.

Jantar Mantar

This unique specimen of Indian architecture located at the very heart of Delhi's business district was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur in the year 1724. Jantar Mantar is one of the several observatories built by him and was used for astronomical observations. The observatory stands testament to the fact that quest for scientific knowledge and endeavor for development of science was very much active in the then India.

The name of the observatory means "instrument and formula". There is a huge sun dial called "Samrat Yantra" and the accuracy of this instrument is such that it can measure and calculate the time of the day with an accuracy of half a second. It is said that Jai Singh was the person who designed the machine. There are two pillars at the south-western part of the observatory which determines the longest and the shortest day. In the winter it is observed that the shadow of one pillar falls over the other completely while in the summer you will see that no shadow falls at all.

Although this wonderful observatory is relegated to the dust heap of history, yet its importance in the history of India's quest for science and technology can hardly be denied. This is one intriguing structure that still mesmerizes tourists from all over the world.

Purana Quila (Old Fort)

The location of this wonderful yet old fort, commonly referred to as the Purana Quila is at the ancient site of Indraprastha. Archeological excavation of the site have thrown enough proof of the fact that civilization existed in the location even at 1000 BC. Potteries that have been found dates back to the days of Mahabharata and Purana Quila still evokes the aura of mystery. The fort was built by Humayun and it acted as the citadel of the city of Dinapanah. Visit this beautiful fort by making hotel reservation in Delhi.

For a brief period of few years, however, the fort fell into the hands of Sher Shah Suri whose all conquering army overwhelmed and swept away the Mughal resistance. Sher Shah, however, left his impression on the Purana Quila. He built quite a few magnificent buildings inside the fort. Quila Kuhna Masjid is one remarkable building built in Purana Quila under the patronizing eyes of Sher Shah.

The beauty of the mosque lies in its architectural grandeur. White marble and bright red sandstone make for the center portion of the mosque. There is one more building inside the fort that is of historical importance. It is and octagonal building called Sher Mandal built by Sher Shah. After the building was recaptured by Humayun, the Mughal emperor converted it into his library. It was in the Sher Mandal where later Humayun slipped from a ladder and fell to his death. The emperor was buried not far away from the place where he died. One of the remarkable work of architecture in Delhi, The Humayun Tomb lies just outside the gates Purana Quila.

This old but wonderful fort has been a witness to some of the greatest events in the history of India. Its battle scared walls speaks of the agony of defeat and joy of victory. Purana Quila is at the same time imposing and inspiring.

Red Fort

Built by the then Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, Red Fort, popularly called Lal Quila, reflects the true grandeur of the Mughal court. Built more than 350 years ago, the imposing fort will simply overwhelm you with its size. The magnitude of construction can well be imagined when you take into account the simple statistics that the walls of the fort is 2 km long. The height of the wall though, varies. Red Fort has everything that is reminiscent of the pomp and power of the Mughal empire at its prime. There are halls for private and public audience, marbled palaces and beautiful private apartments. There is also a mosque and a fascinatingly designed garden.

Hotel reservation in Delhi is available near the iconic Red Fort. Stay in one such Delhi hotel and visit the historic fort that has now become a symbol of Indian sovereignty. You will have to enter into the complex of the fort through the Lahori Gate. The place has now a very busy bazaar called the "Meena Bazaar". If you want to take back to your home something that is really special, this is the place where you will find the very best in terms of antiques, miniature paintings and exquisitely crafted ivory artifacts. At the heart of the fort you will find a place called Naubat Khana or in other words the drum house. It is here that the musicians used to perform before a royal audience. The beauty of this Mughal fort lies in the fact that it has survived barbaric attacks from Nadir Shah and even the British while they were intent in colonial expansion.

There is also two very beautiful halls inside the Red Fort. In the "Diwan - i - Am", the emperor attended public hearing where the common people came to voice their grievances and submit petition. The "Diwan - i - Khas" is the private meeting place of the emperor. This hall was so beautiful that the court poet Amir Khusro eulogized it in his poem. The lotus shaped fountain that you will see at the front of Rang Mahal is made of a single stone.

Red Fort is at the same time simple and magnificent. The moment you step in the gate and inside the fort, the busy modern world of din and bustle fades away slowly like a bad dream. You will experience history coming alive as you walk down the courtyards and meandering corridors.