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Welcome To The Capital DELHI

CAPITAL : NEW DELHI.

AREA : 1,483 sq.kms.

POPULATION : 13,782,976.

LANGUAGES : Hindi,Punjabi,Urdu,English.

WEATHER : Best time to visit is between October to February.
 

PLACES TO VISIT

When the sun goes down in Delhi, it is time to go out and enjoy everything that this exciting destination has on offer. Whether your preference is for relaxing in a quiet wine-bar, or letting your hair down and dancing the night away in a nightclub. Nightlife means fun and entertainment at night: dance clubs, bars, parties, festivals, shows, restaurants, live music bands and all that. The idea is to go out and have good old-fashioned fun.

LOTUS TEMPLE :- These beautiful pools were all around the temple, and the water was blue and clear. There were people everywhere, sitting or standing near the pools, mostly sitting and just enjoying the beautiful day. Even with all the people, it was so peaceful and serene here.Lotus Temple is a Baha'i house of worship. Baha'i is a religion dating back to 1844, started by the Bab, a Persian who proclaimed himself the forerunner to prepare the way and herald the appearance of a new Spiritual Figure. He was martyred. Baha'u'llah was a follower of the Bab, and a few years after he was martyred, had an intimation that he was the Promised One foretold by the Bab, and proclaimed it several years later.

Lakshmi Narayan Mandir
Situated due west of Connaught Place, this garish modern temple was erected by the industrialist BD Birla in 1938. Its's dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and good fortune, and is commonly known as Birla Mandir. Built in Orissan style, the temple is a fine example of modern Indian architecture.

Rajghat
4 km away from Janpath to the N-East of Feroz Shah near Delhi Gate at Ring Rd on the bank of Jamuna situated Rajghat. Jawaharlal Nehru Rd also ends opp. Rajghat. On 31st Jan. 1948, Mahatma Gandhi's last rites was performed here. The memorial stone of Gandhi is square in shape made of black stone. His last ward- 'Hey Ram' is inscribed on it.

Ordinary people, VIPs, foreign tourists all come here at Rajghat to pay their homage to him. On every Friday (the day of his death) a prayer is being held. Except Monday, a regular feature of projecting Gandhi philosophy in picture, sculpture and photos from 10-00 to 17-00 is being performed at Rajghat. Besides, there is Gandhi Memorial Museum projecting his life and the philosophy of Sarvodaya Movement in film from 9-30 to 17-30 except Thursday and on Sunday at 16-00 in Hindi and 17-00 in English.

Another Gandhi memorial is Gandhi Balidansthal or assassinated spot at Tis January Marg of the city. On 30 Jan. 1948 on his way to prayer at Biral Bhawan , he was assassinated by bullets. Hence, this memorial.

Safdarjung's Tomb
Representing the last phase of the Mughal style of architecture, Safdarjang's Tomb stands in the centre of an extensive garden.

Built in 1753 by Nawab Shauja-ud-Daula to house the remains of his father, who was a minister in the Mughal court, the tomb is referred to as the "last flicker in the lamp of Mughal architecture." It shows how the grace and simplicity of he Mughals had been overtaken by decadence. The tomb also has a mosque.

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.

A fine example of Mughal architecture, the Jama Masjid has three gateways. The largest and highest on the east was reserve exclusively for the emperor. The main courtyard of the emperor. The main courtyard of the mosque is 408 square feet and paved with red stone. In the centre is a large marble tank in which the devout wash before attending prayers.

The main mosque is crowned by three onion shaped domes made of white marble and inlaid with stripes of black slate. On the north and south of the complex are two 130 feet high minarets which offer a spectacular bird's eye-view of the city. Jama Masjid is not only architecturally beautiful, but also a place of great religious significance as it houses a hair from the beard of the Prophet and also a chapter of the Holy Quran written by him.

Humayun's Tomb
Humayun's tomb is a grand affair, built by his widow who brought 300 craftsmen from Persia for this job. This magnificent tomb in red sandstone, crowned by a glorious double-dome in marble stands on a terrace, Char Bagh-the authentic Islamic lay out for a paradise on earth. Four canals divide the garden into four sections. In the central domed chamber is Humayun's grave lying in isolated grandeur. Some less fortunate later Mughal princes are also buried here. In 1857, Bahadur shah II sought refuge in the tomb but was captured, tried and exiled.

Jantar Mantar
The Maharaja of Jaipur Sawai Jay Singh II founded it. A little distance of Connaught Circus at Sansad Marg it was built in 1725. It is space observatory a house that is instrumental in observing astronomical and aeronotical movements of sun, moon and other stars and planets. The huge Prince Dial is unique. It is next to that similar one in Jaipur in size and grade. There are other Jantar-Mantars in Ujjain, Varanasi and Mathura. Open from 9-00 to 19-00. There is one Bhairab Temple as old as Jantar-Mantar.

Purana Quila
It is 4 km away from Connaught Circus to the S-East of India Gate, the foundation of this Fort was started by Humayun in 1530 but remained incomplete as he was defeated by Afghan hero Sher-Shah-Suri in 1541. It is located in the pre-historical Indraprastha (as is surveyed and proved in 1955 findings) of the Mahabharata and completed by Sher Shah as the 6th city or Killa or the Fort. Later it was named Shergarh.

On the 3 sides by Jamuna. From 3rd BC to pre-Mughal period, there was fort in Indraprastha. Humayun built a new one.
Old Indraprastha became Dinpanaha. The Fort was encircled with high walls having 3 main entrances. Entering through the Zoo Garden or the Talaki Entrance of north, you will see the octogonal peaks made of sand stones on Sher Manzil. After the death of Sher-Shah-Suri in 1548, Humayun recaptured Delhi in 1555 defeating Sher Shah' son Islam Shah. Humayun also destroyed Shergarh. However, Sher Manjil founded by Sher Shah became Humayun's library.

The new attraction of Old Fort is Sound & Light show. By the light of renowned Tapas Sen, the rise and fall of Delhi from Indraprastha to Mughal era becomes live in Sound & Light show, duration of which is 1 hr. Voice given by Jaya Bachhan, Om Puri and others. English version: Sept-Oct & Feb- April 20-30 to 21-30, Nov-Jan 19-30-21-30, May-Aug 21-00-22-00; Hindi: 19-00-20-00/18-00-19-00/19-30-20-30hr. Ticket 25, Free upto 5 yrs old.

Qutub Minar
Qutab-ud-din Aibak, the first Muslim ruler of Delhi, commenced the construction of the Qutab Minar in 1200 AD, but could only finish the basement. His successor, Iltutmush, added three more storeys, and in 1368, Firoz Shah Tughlak constructed the fifth and the last storey. The development of architectural styles from Aibak to Tughlak are quite evident in the minar. The relief work and even the materials used for construction differ.

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.

The 238 feet Qutab Minar is 47 feet at the base and tapers to nine feet at the apex. The tower is ornamented by bands of inscriptions and by four projecting balconies supported by elaborately decorated brackets.

Close to the mosque is one of Delhi's most curious antiques, the Iron Pillar. Dating back to the 4th century AD, the pillar bears an inscription which stated that it was erected as a flagstaff in honour of the Hindu god, Vishnu, and in the memory of the Gupta king Chandragupta II (375-413). How the pillar moved to its present location remains a mystery. 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.

Red Fort
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.

The mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, after ruling from Agra for eleven years, decided to shift to Delhi and laid the foundation stone of the Red Fort in 1618. For its inauguration in 1647, the main halls of the palace were draped in rich tapestry and covered with silk from china and velvet from Turkey. With a circumference of almost one and a half miles, the fort is an irregular octagon and has two entrances, the Lahore and Delhi Gates.

Form the Lahore Gate, a visitor has access to the Chatta Chowk (vaulted arcade ) which as once a royal market and housed court jewelers, miniature painters carpet manufacturers, workers in enamel, silk weavers and families of specialized craftsmen. The road from the royal market leads to the Nawabarkhana (band house) where the royal band played five times a day. The band house also marks the entry into the main palace and all visitors, except royalty had to dismount here.

The Diwani-I-Am is the Red Fort's hall of public audience. Built of sandstone covered with shell plaster polished to look like ivory, the 80 x 40 feet hall is sub-divided by columns. The Mughal emperors would hold court here and meet dignitaries and foreign emissaries. The most imposing feature of the Diwqani-I-Am is the alcove in the back wall where the emperor sat in state on a richly carved and inlaid marble platform. In the recess behind the platform are fine examples of Italian pietra-dura work.

The piece de resistance of the fort, the Diwan-I-Khas was the hall of private audience. The most highly ornamented of all Shah Jahan's buildings, the 90 x 67 feet Diwani-I-Khas is a pavilion of white marble supported by intricately carved pillars. So enamoured was the emperor by the beauty of this pavilion that he engraved on it the following words: If there is paradise on the face of this earth, it is this, it is this."

Richly decorated with flowers of inlaid mosaic work of cornelian and other stones, the Diwan-I-Khas once housed the famous Peacock Throne, which when it was plundered by Nadir Shah in 1739, was valued at six million sterling.

Residence of the senior queens, the Rang Mahal (hall of colours ) has a central hall surrounded by six apartments. The apartments are assured privacy by intricately carved screens which do not hinder the free flow of fresh air and light. The stream of paradise flows through the main hall, and is marked in the centre by a huge lotus shaped marble basin with an ivory fountain.

Rashtrapati Bhawan
The Rashtrapati Bhavan is the official residence of the President of the country. Designed by Lutyens, it was the official residence of the Viceroy when the British ruled India. With 340 rooms and an area of about 330 acres, it is an imposing structure and a tourist's delight. The pillars and the porticos are an architect's marvel and so are the Durbar Hall and the Ashoka Hall within the complex. Although special permission has to be obtained to visit the complex, the Mughal Gardens within the complex are a treat for the eyes and are open to the public during certain periods of the year.

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.

India War Monument is in the memory of the Great War 1914-18. Its foundation stone was laid by H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught, in 1912 and opened by Lord Irwin. The inscription reads, "To the dead of the Indian armies who fell honoured in France and Flanders. Mesopotamia and Persia, East Africa, Gallipoli and elsewhere in the near and the far-east and in sacred memory also of those whose names are recorded and who fell in India or the north-west frontier and during the Third Afgan War."

This 42 metre heigh huge building was built in the memory of 90,000 soldiers of the Indian Army who died in first world war. This grand memorial arch was designed by Lutyens and started to built in 1921 the work was completed in 1931.

The names of soldiers are inscribed on the arch of this tower. In the centre of the arch stands an inverted rifle and helmet and an eternal flame burns in honor of the unknown soldiers. Sunset at India Gate, when the arch and the fountains are illuminated with colorful lights, is truly an exhilarating experience. It also provides a spectacular view of the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

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