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Delhi |
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 Delhi, the capital of India, can easily be symbolized with a lotus where each petal represents different era and milestones of the history. Starting from the ages of Mahabharata to the British rule, Delhi has been always the most preferred destination for the power seekers whoever wished to start their legacy in India. The city is thus studded with mementos and edifice carrying reminiscence of the bygone era.
Being the third-largest city and capital of India, no wonder, Delhi has gained the position of North India`s industrial hub. It presents a nice montage of the modern and ancient life where Old Delhi carries the heritage of the 17th and 19th century and New Delhi boasts of modern city life. Once the capital of Mughals, Old Delhi is adorned with cenotaphs, mausoleums, mosques and forts all narrating the saga of Muslim history. But if you think this is all about Delhi, then you are mistaken, as the splendour of New Delhi is yet to discovered. With the advent of British rulers, a need of new capital was needed and thus Sir Edwin Lutyens came into limelight with a new version of Delhi with imperial architecture and government buildings creating New Delhi. Delhi, combining both Old and New Delhi seem to never lose its charming mystery with the passage of time.
The bustling markets of Delhi need special mention to feel the warmth of the city. From the traditional jewellery and garments to modern electronic goods, Delhi markets are the dream destination of the shopalcoholics. Delhi cuisine is another identity that explores the hidden flavour of Delhi culture. Its said dilwalon ki shahar (city of warm hearted people) loves to steal the heart of people by feeding them. Be it Mughlai Paratha or Shammi Kabab, the heritage of Delhi cuisine dates back to Mughal era. The delicious street foods of Delhi vendors find their mention in the pages of history and on the screens of celluloid.
Once you come and taste the fragrance of this heritage city, it's for sure that you are destined to come here again and again. The warm and melting hospitality of the city will surely steal your heart and you never know when Delhi becomes the most favourite destination of yours in the world.
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Destinations |
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Akshardham Mandir |
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 Built under the anchor of the Bochasanvasi Aksharpurushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha. there is a stunning array of 20,000 statues, floral motifs, arches and beautifully carved pillars. It is believed that the construction of the temple cost a whopping Rs. 2 billion. It is open till 8 pm all days, except Mondays.
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Ancient Observatory, Jantar Mantar |
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 This fascinating observatory, with enormous astronomical instruments constructed in brick and plaster, was erected by that intrepid astronomer and king, Sawai Jai Singh of Jaipur in 1724. He also built similar observatories in Jaipur, Ujjain, Mathura and Varanasi.
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Appu Ghar |
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 The first amusement park of India, Appu Ghar is the favorite of all children because of its exquisite roller coasters and water slides. The mini-Disneyland of Delhi has joy rides for people of all ages. The large range of swings and 'jhoolas' here include the popular Roller Coaster, the Big Splash, Dodgem Cars, The Eerie Tunnel, Giant Wheel and Columbus Jhoola. Children love the thrill of riding in a Cable Car and the Speeding Cup. Since there is no snowfall in Delhi, the Ice Games at OYSTERS offering winter sports is quite popular here.
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Birla Mandir |
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 This temple was built over a six year period (1933 - 1939) and was opened by Mahatma Gandhi. The highest tower in the temple reaches a height of 165 feet while the ancillary towers reach 116 feet. The Geeta Bhavan, a hall is adorned with beautiful paintings depicting scenes from Indian mythology. There is also a temple dedicated to Buddha in this complex with fresco paintings describing his life and work. The entire complex, especially the walls and the upper gallery are full of paintings carried out by artists from Jaipur in Rajasthan. The rear of the temple has been developed as an artificial mountainous landscape with fountains and waterfalls.
This is one of the landmarks in the nation's capital New Delhi . It was built in the 20th century by the Birla family of industrialists known for its many other temples in India . It is modern in concept and construction. It attracts several devotees and international tourists. The presiding deity here is Lakshmi Narain (Vishnu).
Durga and Shiva are the other major deities housed in this temple. Mention must be made of the Buddha temple in this complex. Access and Accommodation: Accommodation is available in the temple guest house for out of town travelers especially for international scholars pursuing knowledge in Sanskrit or in the Hindu religion.
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Gandhi Museum |
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 The Gandhi Memorial museum at Madurai has been built and organized by the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi. it was in Madurai , in the year 1921, that Gandhiji adopted for the first time the loin cloth as his mode of dress which made him known throughout the world as the "Half Naked Fakir". It was in Madurai again that the doors of the great Meenakshi Temple were thrown open to Harijans, thus winning a historic battle against 'Untouchability'. Gandhiji visited this temple in 1946 along with the Harijans as a triumph for the cause of Harijan Temple Entry.
The building that houses the Gandhi Memorial Museum Madurai is the historic Tamukkam Palace of Rani Mangammal of Naick dynasty built about 1670 A.D. It was in 1955 that the palace with about 13 acres of land was gifted by the Tamilnadu State Government, to the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi for the purpose pf housing Gandhi Memorial Museum .
The picture Gallery presents a visual biography of Gandhiji.The Museum may broadly be divided into the following sections: Special Exhibition on " India " Fights for Freedom" with 265 illustrations, depicting the history of the Freedom Movement, greets you first.
Then follows the exhibition of the choice specimens of Handicrafts donated by the states of Tamilnadu, Mysore, Andhra and Kerala. This leads to the Pictorial Gallery depicting a visual biography of Gandhiji by means of photographs, quotations, paintings etc and some of the selected Photostat copies of many of Gandhiji's letters. Then you enter 'The Hall of Relics' where some of Gandhiji's personal belongings (original and replicas) are preserved. Lastly you come to the Khadi and Village Industries Section in the ground floor of the building, where you come across the Exhibits of some of the Village Industries, which Gandhiji revived.
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Humayun's Tomb |
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 The tomb has been placed bang in the center of a well planned garden, a combination of high arched entrances topped by a bulbous dome in white marble and red sandstone brings out the beauty in this structure against the setting sun.
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India Gate |
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 India Gate is a majestic high arch, 42 meters high, built as a memorial to the Indian soldiers killed in the World War I. Beneath it burns an eternal flame. From the base of the arch one can get a good view of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
A fascinating and wonderful monument! Enjoy the lush green lawns of India Gate, which house the famous boat club and a children's park. The lawns come alive in the evening with picnicking families and couples taking a stroll. Little children run about playing with balloons and eating ice-creams purchased from nearby vendors. The use of special lighting means that the monument looks even more striking at night than it does by day.
From the base of arch one can get a good view of Rashtrapati Bhawan. The entire monument is extremely beautiful and the arch stands on a low base of red Bharatpur stone which rises in stages to a huge molding. Above on both sides is inscribed INDIA , flanked by MCM and to the right, XIX. The shallow domed bowl at the top was intended to be filled with burning oil on anniversaries but this is rarely done.
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Indira Gandhi Memorial |
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 Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum is located in a sprawling yet simple white bungalow where the great leader Mrs. Gandhi lived as prime minister of India. It was here in the gardens of this bungalow that her two bodyguards assassinated her on October 31st 1984 . The bungalow was later converted into a memorial museum.
Though the museum has limited display but still it has a beautiful collection of photographs covering the Nationalist movement and personal and public life of Nehru-Gandhi family. The collection gives a visual narration of her life from childhood to her last days. Apart from some personal belongings of Mrs. Gandhi, one can also view her still laid out simple drawing room and study room through the large glass. The museum conserves her blood stained sari, which she wore on the day she was assassinated.
The museum also contains the personal exhibits of her son Rajeev Gandhi including the burnt clothes and shoes that he wore when he was assassinated in a bomb blast in May 1991. As Rajeev was himself a trained photographer, the museum houses some of his best photographs covering some good times of his life.
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Lodi Garden |
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 A splendid landscaped garden surrounds the 15th century tombs of the Lodi kings. Ibrahim Lodi the last Lodi ruler was defeated in 1526 by Babur who established the Mughal Empire in India. A walk amidst the ancient, fat trees gives a true pleasure in the heart of Delhi. This is a favourite destination of the lovers of the city.
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Lotus Temple |
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 This distinctive lotus shaped marvel in marble is surrounded by a landscaped garden and is a symbol of peace. Even if your visit to this temple is short, it will certainly enhance your thoughtfulness due to the warmth and genuineness of this place. Similar in style to the Sydney opera house is this white marble and concrete structure in the shape of a lotus flower. This is the Asian headquarters of the Bahai faith, and a circular temple that is open to all. It looks particularly spectacular at dusk when it is floodlit. You will be spellbound by the sacredness of this place. The number nine represents the highest digit and, in the Bahai faith, it represents unity. The nine pools on the elevated platform signify the green leaves of the lotus -- and cool the stark, elegant interior. The lotus shaped structure has two layers: nine white marble-covered petals that point to heaven, and nine petals that conceal the portals. The interior conforms to that of all Bahai temples: there are no religious icons, just copies of the Holy Scriptures and wooden pews. Develop your strength of character and sense of discipline through prayer and meditation. Bahai faith believes that these are important instruments for the progress of the human soul, both in this world and the next. The Bahai is pray to one God, the Creator of the Universe. The act of praying is described as 'Conversation with God' and meditation is perceived as the 'Key for opening the doors of mysteries'. In that state, man withdraws himself from all outside objects and immerses himself in the ocean of spiritual life.
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National museum |
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 National museum Janpath Road, Near India Gate Built in 1960, this place stores an endless and great collection of Indian antiquities. The collection is truly fantastic and extraordinary; there are treasures from pre-historic times and from the time of the birth of Indian civilization. There are priceless pieces and art, sculptures from the Indus Valley civilization. That's not all, the place stores rare miniatures, Buddhist and Jain relics, and an extensive collection of artifacts from the Chola era.
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National Zoological Park |
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 Zoological park Spread over an area of 176-acre, the Delhi Zoo is surrounded by beautiful gardens and a hill on one side, and a picturesque lake on the other. A favoured spot for the migratory birds, it also holds numerous exhibits and enclosures of rare animals and birds. The zoo is a favorite with the kids and a popular picnic place for Delhiites.
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Old Fort |
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 Popularly known as the Purana Quila, this wondrous structure owes its existence to two emperors: Sher Shah Suri and Humayun. Its ramparts cover a perimeter of nearly 2 km and there are three main gates, on the north, south and west.
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Qutub Minar |
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 The Qutub Minar was started in 1199 AD by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak and completed by the sultan's successor and son-in-law, Iltutmish. The building is 72.5 m high and has 379 steps from the bottom to the top. The Minar is tapering with the diameter of the base is 14.3 m while at the top floor it is 2.7 m. The Qutub Minar is still the highest stone tower as well as one of the finest Islamic structures ever raised in India . It is made of red and buff sandstone. Aibak constructed the first floor and the tree more storeys were added by Iltutmish. All the storeys are surrounded by a projected balcony encircling the Minar and supported by stone brackets, which are decorated with honeycomb design, more conspicuously in the first storey. The first storey and its balcony have the curved and fluted design. The second storey has only curved design while the third storey has only fluted design. The Qutub Minar is decorated with floral motif and arabesque. The inscriptions on the surface of the Minar suggest that Firoz Shah Tughlaq (AD 1351-88) and Sikandar Lodi (AD 1489-1517) repaired it. Firoz Shah renovated the top floor and added marble to the building.
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Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque |
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 Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque was built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak in AD 1198. It is the earliest mosque built by the Delhi Sultans. It consists of a rectangular courtyard enclosed by cloisters, erected with the carved columns and architectural members of 27 Hindu and Jain temples. These temples were demolished in order to construct the mosque. The Qutub Minar was probably built as a minar for the purpose of azaan by the muezzin. A lofty arched screen was erected and the mosque was enlarged by Iltutmish and Ala-ud-Din Khalji With in the mosque complex is the Iron Pillar, which dates back to 4th century AD. The pillar bears an inscription, which states that it was erected as a flagstaff in honor of the Hindu god, Vishnu, and in the memory of the Gupta King Chandragupta II (BC375-413). The pillar also highlights ancient India 's achievements in metallurgy. The pillar is made of 98 per cent wrought iron and has stood 1,600 years without rusting or decomposing.
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Rajghat |
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 Set in the midst of deep green lawns, Rajghat is the place where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. A memorial to the father of the nation, Rajghat is a simple square platform with a black memorial stone with "Hey Ram" inscribed on it.
"Hey Ram" were the last words uttered by the Mahatma before collapsing after being shot at. Located on the west bank of the River Yamuna, Rajghat is surrounded by a wooded area and several exotic shrubs that give the area a serene ambience. Walk along the ornate stone pathways as you relax on your tours to the Samadhi of one of the greatest leaders, statesman and humanist ever born.
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Rashtrapati Bhawan |
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 This is the official residence of the president of India. Designed by Sir Edwin L. Lutyens and completed in 1929, this palatial building on Raisina Hill was formerly the Viceroy's House. Built on 330 acres of land, it comprises 340 rooms, no it does not translate to an acre a room, a lot of the space is used up by gardens like the mughal garden. you do need permission to enter parts of the complex though. Parts of the building are open 9.30 am to 2.30 pm on all days except Mondays.
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Red Fort (Lal Qila) |
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 One of the most spectacular pieces of Mughal Architecture is the Lal Quila or the Red Fort. Built by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan between 1638 and 1648, the Red Fort has walls extending up to 2 kms. in length with the height varying from 18 mts. on the river side to 33 mts. on the city side.
The entry to this splendid fort is from the Lahori Gate or the Chatta Chowk. Lal Quila is now a busy market place called the 'Meena Bazaar'. This bazaar has an excellent collection of antiques, miniature paintings and skillfully crafted fake ivory jewellery. The bazaar also sells some fabulous carpets beautifully woven. Just beyond the Chhata Chowk, is the heart of the fort called Naubat Khana, or the Drum House. Musicians used to play for the emperor from the Naubat Khana and the arrival of princes and royalty was heralded from here.
The Fort sports all the obvious trappings befitting a vital centre of Mughal governance: halls of public and private audiences, domed and arched marble palaces, plush private apartments, a mosque, and elaborately designed gardens. Even today, the Fort remains an impressive testimony to Mughal grandeur, despite being attacked by the Persian Emperor Nadir Shah in 1739, and by the British soldiers, during the war of independence in 1857.
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Shopping in Delhi |
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 If you have heard of the red fort, you have to have heard of the meena bazaar that lies just outside the red fort. It?s hard to decide which ones better known than the other! the arts, crafts, handlooms and food of different states. Usually, visits here last from anything two hours to the whole day, its an experience, complete with dining from all states of India. Note of caution though, most places here do not accept credit cards, it is after all an upgraded variance of India's traditional haat (marketplace), beautifully laid out and well maintained. The stalls are let out to for a maximum of 15 days only, allowing variety to the goods you can get here. A suggestion, if you se something you like buy it, do not wait for the next time.
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Teen Murti ( Nehru Museum ) |
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 This colonial mansion, also known as Teen Murti Bhavan, was originally built for the commander of the British Indian Army. When the Viceroy's residence, Rashtrapati Bhavan (at the other end of South Avenue), became the home of India's president. India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, took up residence here. Those interested in the Independence movement should not miss this landmark or the nearby Gandhi Smriti.
Nehru's yellow mansion is fronted by a long, oval-shape lawn; out back, there's a tranquil flower garden. Inside, several rooms remain as Nehru left them, and extensive displays chronicle Nehru's life and the Independence movement. Move through the rooms in order: one by one, photographs, newspaper clippings, and personal letters tell the breathtaking story of the birth of the world's largest democracy. On your way out, stop and see the 14th-century hunting lodge next to the Nehru Planetarium. (The latter, good for children, has shows in English at 11:30 AM and 3 PM .) COST: Free. OPEN: Tues.-Sun. 9-5:30
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The National Museum |
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 This prestigious institution houses artifacts from the time of the Indus Valley Civilization (2500 BC) to the present times. Bronzes from South The National Gallery of Modern Art India, an impressive collection of stone sculpture, miniature paintings, textiles, coins and tribal art form part of its extensive collection. Of special interest is the superb Central Asian Gallery that exhibits the silk banners, sculpture and wall paintings that form part of Sir Aurel Stein's collection - brought to India in the early part of the 20th century. Open from 10 am to 5 pm and Monday remains closed.
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