New Delhi
Distance from
Jaipur 277
Overview
Indraprastha, the renowned capital of the legendary Pandavas, boast of an overwhelming history and rich cultural heritage. Nestled in the lap of majestic Yamuna, Delhi presents the soul of India in its true self. This cosmopolitan city replicates the true essence of India and houses people from all part of the country. Its highly vivid populace represents the diverse culture of the subcontinent that has gained the accolade as the capital city of a unique nation.
Delhi portrays the new face of contemporary Indian society, where the glorious past is intertwined to the fabrics of modernism. Delhi is a depository of varied cultural rudiments that has been engrossed into the everyday life of the city. Among the archaeological ramparts of ancient and medieval India, this seven times destroyed city proudly stands as a living monument of the bygone glory.
Elegantly designed buildings, which reveals the architectural brilliance of the British architect, Edwin Lutyens attributes the magnificence of this cosmopolitan city to a great extent. Among the marvels of architectural excellence the Rashtrapathi Bhavan in the Raisina Hills and its accompanying Mugal Garden stands first among the others. When we speak about Delhi, we cannot avoid writing about JNU. One among the prestigious institutions in India, this university campus has given birth to so many illustrious Indians.
Being the capital city, almost all the industrial icons have their outlets here. There flamboyant office set up and highly qualified executive cadre shows the developing facade of this historic city. Delhi presents the sophisticated facilities of communications and travel. Its spacious roads are akin to traffic jams and the city is better known for its good public transport system.
Today's Delhi is a perfect blend of tradition, culture, power and politics. One would not get a nice place than this to have a clear picture of Indian society.
Attraction
India Gate: India Gate is located on the Raj Path in New Delhi and is one of the most visited destinations in Delhi. The works on India Gate were commenced by Edwin Lutyens to pay reverence to the Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting the World War I and the Afgan War.
A close look at the huge walls of India Gate reveals the names of around 90,000 soldiers who died during these wars. The structure was completed in 1931 and since then, has attracted many a tourist. India Gate was originally known as the All India War Memorial. This 42 meter tall gate has beautiful gardens and fountains around it.
The lush green lawns, the boat club, and the children's park around India Gate make it an ideal destination for an idyllic evening out.
Red Fort: The then Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built the Red Fort. The Red Fort is popularly known as the Lal Quila and is representative of the true splendor of the Mughal court. This imposing fort will engulf you with its size and grandeur. The scale of construction can well be imagined when one realizes that the walls of the fort are a good 2 km long!
The Red Fort is suggestive of the pomp and power enjoyed by the Mughals in the olden times. The red fort is made out of marble and designed exquisitely. The splendor of this Mughal fort lays in the fact that it has endured barbaric attacks from Nadir Shah the colonial British rulers.
Qutab Minar: Qutab Minar is amongst the tallest and the most famous monuments in the world. This beautiful minaret is 234 feet high and is regarded as the tallest individual tower in the world. The Qutab Minar is one of the many masterpieces that depicted the sheer brilliance of the Mughal architects of those times. Qutub-ud-din Aibak placed the groundwork for Qutub Minar in 1199 AD and his descendant Shamsu'd-Din- Iitutmish completed the works on this magnificent structure by adding three more storeys.
The exquisitely carved minaret has a number of storeys and inscriptions all round the tower. This monument of fervent historical interest is open from sunrise to sunset. Indian visitors are charged an entry fee of Rs.10 while the foreigners have to pay Rs. 250. Visitors are allowed to carry their cameras inside in order to capture their memories.
Humayun Tomb: The Humayun tomb garden is one of the most popular sites of visit in Delhi. The second Mughal monarch Humayun died after he won Delhi again. His wife, Hamida Begum, who was of Persian origin, commissioned the construction of his tomb. The construction was completed within the time from 1562-1572.
Designed by the noted Persian architect, Mirak Mirza Ghiyuath. Humayun's tomb also houses the remains of hundreds of members from the Mughal times. The tomb is situated on the bank of River Yamuna and is said to have been a pattern of later Mughal mausoleum architectural styles in India. The entry fee to this beautiful garden is Rs. 10 for Indian and $5 for foreigner. However, on Fridays the entry is free.
Jantar Mantar: The Jantar Mantar is one of the five astronomical observatories that were constructed by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur in the year 1724. It is easily reachable, since it is located in the Connaught place, which is a major commercial area of New Delhi. It is a place that would pique one's interest on seeing how our antecedents had formulated ways in order to enhance their scientific knowledge.
Jantar Mantar has a range of old-fashioned structures, which are actually instruments that were used to track the movements of the celestial bodies. Jantar Mantar is a place of heritage interest and marks the achievements of the ancestors in India in the field of astronomy.
Lotus Temple: Lotus Temple is one of the most incredible architectures of the Bahai faith. It is situated at Kalkaji, a place close to New Delhi. The temple has been constructed to resemble a lotus flower. The huge lotus flower has been made out of marble, dolomite, cement, and sand. The temple does not impose restrictions on any visitor and has been thrown open to people of all religions. The place is known for its spotlessly clean environment that allows believers to meditate in peace.
The Bahai temple, which was completed in 1986 by the Persian architect Fariborz Sahba from Canada is known for its prayer sessions that include prayers of all religions. Visitors are allowed a free entry to the majestic temple, but they are expected to maintain silence in the interiors. The integration of the vibrant Indian history with the modern styles of engineering and architecture stands out boldly and makes the temple unique in its appeal.
Jama Masjid: Jama Masjid, was commissioned to be constructed by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. It holds the distinction of being one of the biggest and the most well known mosque of Old Delhi. Due to its setting at a very prominent center in Old Delhi, a lot of visitors visit it right through the year.
The name Jama Masjid indicates a reference to the weekly congregation of worshippers who observe prayers every Friday at the mosque. The floor of the mosque has been covered with white and black marble works to give it the look of the prayer mat typical to the Mohammedan culture.
The mosque is open from 7 AM to sunset, but tourists are not allowed to visit the premises between 12:15 and 1:45 PM. Photography is strictly banned during prayer hours.
Akshardham Temple: The Akshardham Temple has been constructed of recent times and was inaugurated in the year 2005. The temple has been built by the Bochasanvasi Aksharpurushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha on the banks of the River Yamuna. The Delhi Akshar Dham Mandir was thrown open to the general public after the then President APJ Abdul Kalam inaugurated it. The temple stretches over an area of 100 acres and was completed in two years.
Akshardhaam Temple of New Delhi is constructed in an architectural fashion comparable to that of the Akshardham temple that is located in Gandhinagar in the state of Gujarat. Its structure is based on the olden Sthaapatya shastras of India and is erected entirely out of sandstone and marble without using steel. The main shrine house the idol of Lord Swaminarayan and a monument celebrating world peace is also prominent on the temple premises.
How to reach
By Air: Indira Gandhi International Airport is located in the south-western region of Delhi and the airport serves for domestic flights and international flights. Delhi is connected to almost all airports in India and many important cities in abroad including Beijing, Singapore, New York and Hongkong.
By Train: The important railheads in Delhi are Hazrat Nizammudin, New Delhi and Old Delhi. Delhi is well connected to all cities in India through express, super fast and many A/C trains. Delhi metro railway is a most efficient commutation system in Delhi. These fast trains cover all important areas in the city.
