Places to visit in Delhi
Introduction:
The Capital city of the country and one of the largest cities
in India, Delhi has a history extending back over three
millennia.The strategic location of Delhi, between the
Aravalli hills and the river Yamuna, had attracted the
attention of almost every King or Conqueror in this part of
the world. The earliest reference to Delhi as a settlement is
made in the Hindu epic, Mahabharata, which states that the
Pandavas founded a city called ‘Indraprastha’, besides
the river Yamuna in 1450 BC. Ever since then, Conquerors from
North treated Delhi as a gateway to the Indian sub-continent.
 Delhi
today is one of the most elegant capitals in the world. Here
one can see, the mingling of many cultures, languages,
tradition and peoples into one united Nation. Delhi welcomes
both the pleasure seeker and the mystic. “Lose yourself in
Delhi” says Khushwant Singh, for “You may find its soul and
your own”.
Red Fort: Red Fort is laid
out along the river Yamuna as an irregular octagon, surrounded
by a wall of about 2.4 km in circumference and is built of red
sandstone. The Mughal King Shah Jahan transferred the capital
from Agra to Delhi and the Fort was completed in 1648. The
Fort has Diwan-e-Am, and Diwan-e-Khas where the king would
grant audience to the public and would grant audience to
important people respectively . Besides this is the Rang Mahal,
the water cooled Apartment for the royal ladies.
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Jama Masjid: This mosque,
the largest in India, was built by Shah Jahan in 1956 AD.
Situated near the Red Fort in Old Delhi, the Jama Masjid has a
sitting capacity of more than 20,000.
 Crowned
by 3 onion domes and tapering minarets made of marble and
slate, this architectural beauty is also a place of religious
significance. The view from the top of the minarets is
excellent.
Chandni Chowk: Today the
centrepiece of Old Delhi, it was the pulse of Mughal Delhi’s
commercial life. Designed by Jahanara Begum, the favourite
daughter of Shah Jahan in 1648, this place was once filled
with shops and houses of wealthy merchants and noblemen. A
narrow water course once flowed down the middle of this road,
carrying water to the palaces. Its winding narrow lanes are
now filled with a variety of shops ranging from sweet stalls
to jewellery, textile and leather shops.
 Rashtrapati
Bhawan: This official residence of the President of
India was formerly known as the Viceregal Palace. Rashtrapati
Bhawan is the highlight of Lutyen's New Delhi and was
completed in 1929 at a cost of Rs.12,53,000. Located in an
area of 130 hectares, the palace has 340 rooms. At one time,
2,000 people were required to look after the building and
serve the Viceroy's household. It has an impressive garden
called the MUGHAL GARDENS, which is open to public
twice in a year, usually in February and March.
India Gate: Straight down
the road from Rashtrapati Bhavan is India Gate which is
primarily a memorial to unknown soldiers. Designed by Lutyens,
the 42 meter high structure is a war memorial in honour of
soldiers who died during the Second World War. The structure
has an eternal flame (Amar Jawan Jyoti) to honour the memory
of the unknown soldiers.
Rajghat: Located near the
banks of the Yamuna River, Rajghat is a serene monument. It
marks the site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated after his
assassination. The samadhi is surrounded by wide lawns and a
garden with fountains and exotic trees that create a perfect
ambience for meditation. Visitors come here to meditate on the
Mahatma and the meaning of his life.
Birla Mandir: This is one of
the landmarks in New Delhi - the capital of India. Built in
the 20th century by the Birla family of industrialists, it
stands apart from other temples in terms of concept and
construction. The presiding deity here is Lakshmi Narain
(Vishnu). 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.
Qutub Minar: Qutab-ud-din
Aibak, the first Muslim ruler of Delhi, commenced the
construction of the Qutub Minar in 1193 AD. The development of
architectural styles from Aibak to Tuglak are quite evident in
the minar.
 The
238 feet high Qutub Minar is 47 feet at the base and tapers to
9 feet at the apex. The main mosque comprises an inner and
outer courtyard, of which the inner one is surrounded by an
exquisite colonnade, the pillars of which are made of richly
decorated shafts.
Among the ruins in the Qutub Complex, the Quwat ul Islam
Masjid is one of the most magnificent mosques in the world.
The building material for this mosque is provided by
demolishing many Hindu and Jain Temples in this area. Built in
1197, this mosque is one of the finest blend of Hindu and
Islamic architecture.
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In the courtyard of the Quwat ul Islam Masjid, is a 7m high
Iron Pillar - one of Delhi's most curious antiquities.
Belonging to the Gupta Age, the pillar contains Sanskrit
inscriptions, which state its history.
 Lotus
Temple: This gleaming white structure, shaped like
a Lotus, is made of marble, cement, dolomite and sand. Located
on Bahapur Hill, the Lotus Temple is meant for the worship of
God, irrespective of caste, creed, race or nation. Visitors
are requested to maintain silence inside the temple premises.
A visit to the Bahai Temple also known as Lotus Temple is a
must both for the tourists and the people in search of peace
and tranquillity.
Iskcon Temple: Iskcon
Temple in Delhi is reputed as one of the largest temple
complexes in India. The elegantly built complex is located on
a hill and is dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radha. The hall of
the temple is centrally air-cooled with a capacity to
accommodate about 1,500 people. There are beautiful paintings
of Russian artists on the different past times of Radha
Krishna, Sita, Ram, Laxman, Hanuman and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
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to Delhi
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