Introduction

There is famous saying that goes
One who knows Delhi is a loser and one
who doesnt know Delhi is also a loser. Which is very true. Because, a
person who has known Delhi finds it very difficult to adjust and accept any
other place while a person who has not known Delhi at all is simply missing
out all the fun that Delhi has to offer. Actually, Delhi is a small mirror
that reflects India. Over the millennia, the capital of the worlds
largest democracy has wooed rulers who just could not resist its charm. The
best way to know about the glorious heritage of Delhi is to know its
monuments, to travel through time back into centuries of history filled with
the rise and fall of dynasties that ruled the land.
Tourist Attractions in New Delhi
Delhi has an enviable number of tourist spots. The major ones are listed
below.
The
India Gate India Gate is a memorial raised in
honour of the Indian soldiers martyred during the Afghan war. The green,
velvety lawns at India Gate, particularly, are a popular evening and holiday
rendezvous for young and old alike, who come packed in cars and enjoy a
picnic-dinner in the lawns while children enjoy boating and playing around
the place.
Humayuns Tomb Humayun's Tomb was built nine years
after Humayun's death by his wife Haji Begum. Designed by a Persian
architect named Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, and completed in 1565, the edifice was a
trendsetter of the time. It is said that all later Mughal monuments,
including the Taj Mahal, followed its design.
Qutub Minar
The Qutab Minar is located at a small village called Mehrauli in South
Delhi. It was built by Qutub-ud-din Aibek of the Slave Dynasty, who took
possession of Delhi in 1206. It is a red sandstone tower, standing tall at a
height of 72.5 metres and is covered with intricate carvings and verses from
the holy Qur'an. Qutub-ud-din Aibak began constructing this victory tower as
a sign of Muslim domination of Delhi and as a minaret for the Muslim priest,
the muezzin, to call the faithful to prayer. However, only the first storey
was completed by Qutb-ud-din. The other storeys were built by his successor
Iltutmish. The two circular storeys in white marble were built by Ferozshah
Tughlaq in 1368, replacing the original fourth storey. The projected
balconies in the tower are supported by exquisite stalactite designs. The
tapering tower has pointed and circular flutings on the first storey and
star-shaped on the second and third storeys. The bands of calligraphic
inscriptions are amazing in perfection with the exquisite stalactite designs
seen on the exterior of this tower.
The
Red Fort Situated in Old Delhi, where the lanes are
narrow and always filled with people, Red Fort stands tall and proud-a great
witness to history, a mute spectator of the present. The decision for
constructing the fort was taken in 1639, when Shahjahan decided to shift his
capital to Delhi. Within eight years, Shahjahanabad was completed with the
Red Fort-Qila-i-Mubarak (fortunate citadel)-Delhi's seventh fort, ready in
all its magnificence to receive the Emperor. Though much has changed now
because of large-scale demolitions during the British occupation of the
fort, its important structures have survived, the glory faded with age but
still impressive.
Rang Mahal,
Mumtaz
Mahal and
Peacock Throne, is the venue of the
Independence Day parade of India every year, and lies in the charming Old
City old-world Mughal ambience with all its traditions and customs is
intact.
Chandni Chowk is Asias largest wholesale market
with an unparalleled air of timelessness around it. The delicious
Parantha Wali Gali,
Darya Ganj and,
Dariba Kalan- the oldest jewellery market dating back to
the Mughal period are all located here. The
Raj Ghat and
Shanti Van are other historic sites here.
The
Laxminarayan Temple attracts thousands of devotees
of Lord Krishna on Janmashtami day every year. It is also called the Birla
Mandir and was built in 1938. Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated here in 1948.
The
Rashtrapati Bhawan Rashtrapati Bhawan is
architecturally a very impressive building standing at a height, with the
India Gate right opposite to it. This stretch called the Rajpath is where
the Republic Day parade is held. The imposing plan of this area conceived by
Lutyens attracts lots of tourists as well as the residents of Delhi who make
it a point to visit the place often.

lies
at the center of the modern concentric development, the perfectly
proportioned plan of Delhi was conceived by Lutyens. The imposing
Rashtrapati Bhawan is an impressive architectural achievement. The Rajpath
is a faultless stretch that leads to the India Gate and is the venue of the
Republic Day parade of India every year.
Other Tourist Spots
The other major tourist attractions of Delhi are the
Purana Quila
The Purana Quila is a good example of medieval military architecture. Built
by Humayun, the Purana Quila is a monument of bold design, which is strong,
straightforward and every inch a fortress. It is different from the
well-planned, carefully decorated, and palatial forts of the later Mughal
rulers. Purana Quila is also different from the later forts of the Mughals,
as it does not have a complex of palaces, administrative and recreational
buildings, as is generally found in the forts built later on. The main
purpose of this now-dilapidated fort was its utility, with less emphasis on
decoration.
Bahai Temple (Lotus Temple) The Baha'i Temple,
situated in South Delhi, is shaped like a lotus. Built by the Baha'i
community, it offers the visitor a serenity that pervades the temple and its
artistic design.
Excursions in New Delhi
Delhis proximity to a number of historic tourist locations adds to
the incentive of choosing it as your final holiday destination.
» Neemrana Fort
The majestic Neemrana Fort was built by Prithviraj Chauhan III in 1464 is
situated 122 km away from Delhi. It has now been converted into a heritage
resort.
» Mathura

The town of Mathura is another often visited place that has been a
pilgrimage site for Buddhists, Hindus, and Jains since ancient times. It
lies 145 km away from Delhi on the banks of the River Yamuna.
» Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary
The Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary lies 46 km away and is a birdwatchers
paradise with a sizable population of resident and migratory birds.
The historic cities of
Agra and
Fatehpur
Sikri are about 203 km from Delhi.
Sultanpur,
Tilyar Lake,
Surajkund,
Mud Fort,
Kesroli and
Badhkal
Lake are other places where you might be interested in visiting.
How to Reach New Delhi
» By Air
Delhi is conveniently connected to all the major cities of the world. Delhi
has two airports catering to domestic and international flights, located 4½
km apart in Palam. The international airport (known as Indira Gandhi
International Airport) is situated 20 km from the city center. Taxis and
coaches are available. The booking offices are mostly situated at Connaught
Place and around.
» By Rail
Delhi is connected to almost all the cities in the country by super-fast
and express trains. The city has three major railway stations at New Delhi,
Old Delhi, and Nizamuddin. Luxury trains like the Palace-on-Wheels, Fairy
Queen, and Royal Orient Express can be taken from Delhi Cantonment railway
station. Rajdhani Express trains connect Delhi from the state capitals.
Shatabdi Express trains connect Delhi to the neighboring cities.
» By Road
New Delhi is connected to all the major cities of the northern India
through road. Buses can be taken from the inter-state bus terminals at
Kashmere Gate, Anand Vihar, and Sarai Kale Khan.
Important Travel Information
Delhi is hot and humid in the summers, and cold in the winters. The average
temperature ranges from 25°C to 46°C during summer and 2°C to
5°C during winter. Winters are very chilly due to the cold wave from
the Himalayan region. Summers, however, are blistering and adequate
precaution needs to be taken before venturing outdoors in the afternoons.
The best season to visit Delhi is during the spring seasons of February to
April and August to November. It wears a festive look between February and
April, the blooming season.
| Recommended
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Destination Covered : Delhi - Jaipur -
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Duration
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Destination Covered :
Delhi - Jaipur - Agra - Khajuraho - Varanasi |
Duration
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Destination Covered :
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