Delhi which has seen many an empire rise and fall testifies the long history that it bears. The dynamism and grit of the city goes unabated. Today it gives a picture of the most progressive city in the country. After Independence it has regained its grandeur which was there during the regime of the Great Mughals. Delhi as a tourist hub has many an attraction in its kitty. A visit to the Red Fort or the Qutub Minar gives one the feeling of architectural skills of the Mughals at their time. A drive to the airport from the railway station will give the tourist an idea of the development it has made since independence. The India gate and the Rashtrapati Bhawan built by the Britishers give architecture a modern flavor.
A stroll along the Connaught Place during the day gives one a mixed taste of food, shopping and display of handicrafts of the country. Further down, a visit to Old Delhi will lead one through the narrow streets to the famous Jama Masjid, the Red Fort, the famous Chandni Chowk and the Gurudwara. A visit to the Lotus Temple can give spiritual peace to the tourists.
A phrase developed and coined for Delhi Tourism, “Delhi for the Dilwalas (people with heart)” will gain its true meaning if one goes round the city and its bye lanes. Delhi is the virtual home and a window for the tourists of North India.
History of Delhi
History of Delhi is the history of struggle for power starting from the times of the Mahabharatha for the city of Indraprastha to the present day for the majority in the Parliament. From conqueror to politicians Delhi is the symbol of authority. Every power thirsty group did its best to have a grasp of Delhi and make its mark in the history of India.
Ever since the conquest of Delhi from Prithvi Raj by the Turks, Delhi had been the capital for more than five centuries under the Turkish Sultans and the Mughals. The British decided to make it their capital in 1911 and began to reconstruct Delhi as designed by the two British architects, Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker to make it the grandeur of India. In 1947 Delhi became the capital of Free India and enjoyed autonomy and remained a regime of the chief Commissioner. In 1956, Delhi was converted into a Union Territory and Lt. Governor took over the place of Chief Commissioner. The Indian Government passed legislation under the national capital territory act and a diarchy was established which gave wide powers to the elected Government except law and order which remained with the central Government. Today it is considered as one of the federal state under the Indian Federation.
Delhi has been a witness to many a rise and fall of kingdoms. It gives a contrast of the old ruined city of the Imperial Mughals and the Grandeur of India. Delhi is the combination of the old and the modern existing simultaneously to give a picture of India’s history of tyranny and freedom.
Delhi today depicts a picture of Indian culture and their traditions. The metropolis has demographic structure comprising of different ethnic groups and their varied arts and crafts, cuisines, languages, festivals and their lifestyles.
Delhi has been a centre of many a historic event. It was the centre of the Great Uprising of 1857. Then the Britishers shifted their capital to Delhi. All the activities during the freedom struggle were directed towards Delhi. Even Subhash Chandra Bose gave a call to its Azad Hind Fauj to March to Delhi. The tricolour was hoisted for the first time in Delhi. Even today all the wrath of the political parties are directed towards Delhi. The capital status continues to persist. Today it is the capital of Modern India.Sightseeing in Delhi
Delhi is known to be a city of moral fiber. The city has undergone rise and fall of many empires which reminds the glory and splendor of the former days. The city has the best architectural grandeur. Sightseeing in Delhi is a delight for the eyes and a visual pleasure. The monuments and palaces of the city remind the grandeur it used to have in the bygone days. Few cities all over the world represent such beautiful architecture.
Sightseeing in Delhi is not restricted to forts, monuments and palaces only. It covers markets, gardens, museums and eating joints. The city which seems to be about 2000 years old has converted itself to a modern metropolis. The city is the home to famous monuments like Qutub Minar, India Gate, Chandni Chowk and the Red Fort, the Lotus Temple and Jama Masjid.
Old Delhi is the place for the rich Mughal architecture. The forts and monuments display the best creative art of the Mughal Empire. Delhi is famous for its many museums, art galleries and crafts expositions that are a mirror to the entire country. It is also the center of most important cultural festivals, where the best forms of classical arts to modern pop stars, artists, sculptors, dramatists, film-makers, all come to present their works.
Delhi Museums are something which attracts a lot of people. The National Museum of Natural History, Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum, Gandhi National Museum, The Sanskriti Museum of Indian Terracotta & Sanskriti Museum of Everyday Art, New Delhi, and The Sulabh International Museum of Toilets are some of the museums in Delhi which adds glamour to the Sightseeing in Delhi.
Other than the museums some very important places among the list of Sightseeing in Delhi are:
The Red Fort (Red Fort, Delhi): The Indian name for the Red Fort, Delhi is Lal Quila. The Red Fort, Delhi is one of the most stunning examples of the Mughal architecture. The fort is popularly known as the palace of Emperor Shah Jahan. The Red Fort reminds us of the rich characteristics of the Mughal architecture.
The Qutub Minar (Qutab Minar, Delhi): Qutub Minar, Delhi is the highest stone tower of India. It represents the Indo-islamic architectural excellence. This historical masterpiece was constructed in 1199 by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak to represent it as the victory tower of the Muslims. The monument took 2 decades to complete. The monument in 72.5 m high and has 379 steps to cover from the bottom till the top. The Qutub Minar, Delhi is made up of red sandstone and buff sandstone.
The Jantar Mantar (Jantar Mantar, Delhi): The Jantar Mantar, Delhi has various abstract structures which are the instruments to locate the movements of the celestial bodies. There are several other places of worship in Delhi like the Bahai Temple, The jama Masjid and the ISKON temple.
Sightseeing in Delhi is never over. Exploration of Delhi needs time and the tourists should see Delhi with a lot of time. The tombs and Haveli's of the Mughal emperors attract a lot of tourists.
Major attractions of Delhi are:
- Red Fort, Delhi- Jama Masjid, Delhi
- Chandni Chowk, Delhi
- Qutab Minar, Delhi
- Bahai Temple, Delhi
- Humayun's Tomb, Delhi India
- Jantar Mantar, Delhi
- Hazrat Nizamuddin's Tomb, Delhi
- Fatehpuri Masjid, Delhi
- Dara Shikoh's Library, Delhi
- British Magazine, Delhi
- Haveli of Mirza Sahib, Delhi
- Telegraph Memorial, Delhi
- Gates of Old Delhi
- William Fraser's Bungalow, Delhi
- St James Church, Delhi
- Salimgarh Fort, Delhi
- Lothian Cemetery, Delhi
- Begum Samru's Palace, Delhi
- Sunehri Masjid, Delhi
- Central Baptist Church, Delhi
- Sultan Razia's Tomb, Delhi
- Digambar Jain Temple, Delhi
- Jain Bird Hospital, Delhi
- Jain Swetambara Temple, Delhi
- Feroze Shah Kotla, Delhi
- Khuni Darwaza, Delhi
- Nehar Wali Haweli, Delhi
- Zinat Mahal, Delhi
- Coronation Durbar Site, Delhi
- Shah Alam's Tomb, Delhi
- Flagstaff Tower, Delhi
- Old Secretariat, Delhi
- Majnu Ka Tila, Delhi
- Ashokan Pillar, Delhi
- Mutiny Memorial, Delhi
- Metcalfe House, Delhi
- Lal Kot, Delhi
- Qila Rai Pithora, Delhi
- Chattarpur Temple, Delhi
- Hauz Khas, Delhi
- Siri Fort, Delhi
- Gandhak Ki Baoli, Delhi
- ISKON Temple, Delhi
- Ashokan Edict, Delhi
- Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Delhi
- Mirza Ghalib's Tomb, Delhi
Delhi Museums
Museums are the store houses for the cultural heritage of a country. Delhi is always a city of pride and dignity and one of the oldest cities in the country and the Delhi Museums are those which store the best heritage of the country. There are a number of museums in the city. The museums are the best place to understand the history of the country along with the history of Delhi.
Delhi museums are not of one kind. They are divided into several sectors. These sectors are science related, art related, police, doll and the most shocking one is the toilet museum. These museums are all unique in themselves. Some of the major museums worth mentioning are:
National Museum of natural History (National Museum of natural History, New Delhi) is one of the major interests among the Delhi museums. The museum is rich source of information on the flora and fauna. The pictorial representation of the deforestation is displayed here. The stages of deforestation are well described.
Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum (Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum, New Delhi) is one of the prime attractions among the visitors in Delhi. The museum displays the best pictures of life of Mrs Gandhi. Some of the rare photographs of her life are displayed here. The personal belongings of Mrs Gandhi during her assassination are also displayed. Some of the belongings of her son Rajiv Gandhi are also a major attraction among the visitors.
Gandhi National Museum (Gandhi National Museum, New Delhi): The museum has a beautiful collection of informative books on the life of Mahatma Gandhi and the freedom movement of India. The museum has a rich collection of manuscripts. Around 25000 photocopies of telegrams, letters and notes written and received Mahatma Gandhi are present there.
Very different from the museums on famous people are the rail museum, air force museum and the dolls museum. The Sanskriti Museum of Indian Terracotta & Sanskriti Museum of Everyday Art, New Delhi are the museums which depict the best pieces of terracotta and art Delhi Museums beautifully depict the countries culture.
The Sulabh International Museum of Toilets (The Sulabh International Museum of Toilets, New Delhi) display the various designs of toilets that are found all over the world. The museum also talks about the historical origin of toilets. The most unique of its kind this museum attracts a lot of people. It is considerd the best one among the Delhi museums.
The National Rail Museum is a great attraction because of the collection of locomotives and carriages it has. There are a lot of Delhi museums which are unique among themselves.
- Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi)
- National Science Centre (National Science Centre, New Delhi)
- Tibet House Museum (Tibet House Museum, New Delhi)
- Field Museum(Field Museum, New Delhi)
- Zakir Hussain Museum (Zakir Hussain Museum, New Delhi)
- Sulabh International Museum of Toilets (Sulabh International Museum of Toilets, New Delhi)
- Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum (Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum, New Delhi)
- National Philatelic Museum (National Philatelic Museum, New Delhi)
- Gandhi National Museum (Gandhi National Museum, New Delhi)
- Shankar's Doll's Museum (Shankar's Doll's Museum, New Delhi)
- Sangeet Natak Academy (Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi)
- Gandhi Smriti (Gandhi Smriti, New Delhi)
- Air Force Museum (Air Force Museum, New Delhi)
- National Museum of Natural History (National Museum of Natural History, New Delhi)
- Crafts Museum (Crafts Museum, New Delhi)
- Ghalib Academy & Library memorial (Ghalib Academy & Library memorial, New Delhi)
- Swatantra Sangrahalaya(Swatantra Sangrahalaya, New Delhi)
- Ghalib Museum (Ghalib Museum, New Delhi)
- Nehru Memorial Museum (Nehru Memorial Museum, New Delhi)
- National Children Museum (National Children Museum, New Delhi)
- Nehru Planetarium (Nehru Planetarium, New Delhi)
- National Police Museum (National Police Museum, New Delhi)
- Sanskriti Museum of Indian Terracotta (Sanskriti Museum of Indian Terracotta , New Delhi)
- Sanskriti Museum of Everyday Art (Sanskriti Museum of Everyday Art, New Delhi)
- National Gallery of Modern Art (National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi)
- Museum of the Archaeological Survey of India (Museum of the Archaeological Survey of India, Delhi)
Delhi Parks and Gardens
You have to Delhi, the capital of India, and you have a detour of the city. The City of Delhi is resplendent with number of Parks and gardens that are unparalleled in the world as they are rich in their content and the rich history and the legend, which follows it. The city was the capital of Mughal Empire and the sultans, so what can you expect but the royal touches everywhere. Look about you in this city the architecture and the parks and the gardens are sure to take you on a ride in the time machine to the golden days of the past. You will be spoilt for choice by the plethora of Gardens and Parks in Delhi to mesmerize you, stay connected to get the best experience of your Life: Buddha Jayanti Park, Delhi, Shalimar Bagh, Delhi, Roshanara Bagh, Delhi, Qudsia Bagh, Delhi, Lodi Gardens, Delhi, Urdu Park, Delhi and the Nehru Park, Delhi.
To bring Life into the concrete jungle, the Deer Park is sculptured with much pain to create emerald greens and beautiful water bodies sprinkled with spotted Deer and the peacocks strutting in full gusto. The Delhi Ridge is recognized after Nairobi to be the most bird enriched capital of the world. The park served to be a hub promoting British life style where the rich and famous whiled away their time. The Mahatma Gandhi Park, Delhi is maintained with care and has a good cricket ground. The garden is home to the best of species of roses from all over the world Sir Edwin Lutynes designed this manifestation of art. The lawns of the Mughal Garden are well maintained and sculptured to perfection. The Mughal Garden has within its premises, artificial water bodies and the emerald green makes the lawn a green carpet for you to stroll on it. The grand statue of the Indian National Army (INA) founder, Subhash Chandra Bose, dominates the Netaji Subhash Park. The Garden of Five Senses awakens the spirit of Life in you; the verdant green gives you your much awaited relief from the concrete jungle The Park is a subtle man made creation, which nourishes your eyes, and senses at one go. The first breath you take here almost intoxifies your sun dried brain and replenishes your senses. The Talkatora Gardens plays host to various events all the year round.
Events and Exhibitions in Delhi
India is the land of celebration and festivals and when it comes to the Indian capital, Delhi, the gravity increases manifold. There are various events and exhibitions that are celebrated all throughout the year in Delhi. As quiet expected Delhi, being the Indian capital is the focal point of the numerous events and exhibitions that are celebrated with great pomp and grandeur.
Starting from the diversified religious festivals that include the Id- Ul- Fitr, Diwali, Dussera, Makar Sankranti - Delhi is an inseparable part of all. In addition to the religious festivals there are a number of other cultural events and exhibitions that Delhi special in all sense. Staring from the Republic Day Parade to the different musical concerts in Delhi, there are numerous others that you must experience while you are on a trip to Delhi.
See the gala celebrations that are performed by the different units of the armed forces during the Republic Day Parade. Enjoy the colorful and the amazing tableaux that exhibit the diversified and the rich culture of the country. Or participate in the Lohri, the festival that celebrates the end of the winter season. Experience the huge bonfire around which the farmers engage themselves in singing and dancing. See Delhi all dressed anew as the bright colored flowers veil Delhi. It is the famous Garden Tourism Festival in Delhi that is organized by the Delhi Tourism Department. See and enjoy the grand floral procession at the Phoolwalon-ki-Sair.
There is much to see in Delhi and also much to taste and experience. Taste the juicy and the mouth watering mangoes at the Mango Festival. Or listen to the great musical performances at the Qutab Festival of Classical Music and Dance that upholds the classical Indian art and tradition. Delhi is all about events and exhibitions and much more than you expect.How to Get in
New Delhi is one of the popular tourist destinations in India and attracts travelers from all across the globe and has become an important tourist attraction. How to get there to New Delhi is not difficult to answer as there are several modes of transport making it all easy.
Flights to New Delhi are easily available and are the quickest and comfortable way to get to New Delhi. Delhi has two main airports and that includes international and the domestic. The other means to get to New Delhi is the train that connects all the important cities in the country. The trains offer services that range from luxurious to budget catering to the needs of the travelers.
The other means to get to New Delhi is by train and is the main center for Indian Railways. Delhi has no local train system of its own but it is connected to all small towns and major cities of India by its extensive network of railroads. Delhi has two major stations- one station is situated at Old Delhi, lying about 7kms from Connaught Place while the other is located east of Pahar Ganj in New Delhi.
The travelers can also get to New Delhi by road and five National Highways pass through New Delhi. These highways connect all the important cities of the countries. Delhi is the second-largest metropolis in the country after Mumbai and forms the political and capital of India.Entertainment in Delhi
What was considered as entertainment options is gradually gaining a different meaning all together in the recent years. Delhi had attracted tourists from several decades as it houses of the great historic places. But with the change of time and with the changing taste of human entertainment in Delhi is getting a newer dimension all together.
- Cinemas & Theatres in Delhi
Delhi is one of the most favored destinations to experience the Hollywood thrills. Experience the all the emotions and the thrills as you watch the Hollywood busters in the classy cinema halls of Delhi. All the halls are air- conditioned and have a brilliant acoustics. Though the tickets are a bit expensive yet the fun and the entertainment that you experience seeing the movies in the big screens is simply inexplicable. Experience Shahrukh Khan performing one of his romantic scenes in the big screens of PVR Anupam in Saket. Or see mind blowing dances of Hritik at the Satyam complex in Patel Nagar.
Delhi is also proud to be house the National School of Drama, one of the pioneer training institutes set as one of the constituent unit of the Sangeet Natak Academy. Enjoy some of the great plays staged by the students that are a great source of entertainment in Delhi.
- Sport in Delhi
Sports are a great source of entertainment in Delhi. You can either play them or simply have a great time watching them. But is undoubtedly, Delhi is one of the best places in India to enjoy them. Enjoy cricket that is perhaps the favorite of the most. Experience the thrill of playing tennis and polo. There are numerous tournaments in Delhi that are a great source of entertainment. Though the winters are the best to enjoy the sorts, the numerous tournaments of golf, polo, car rallies are held throughout the year. Delhi is one of the best acknowledged places to host the international competition that has transformed it to the sports capital of India.
What & Where to Eat in Delhi
Delhi is the capital of India and throughout the year the city experiences a regular influx of tourists coming from various parts of the country and also across the globe. Their taste vary accordingly and so the city had to equip itself properly in order to satisfy the tourists coming to appreciate the city's art and culture.
Delhi is not only a historic city but from the commercial point of view the city also enjoys a pivotal position. Business is the order of the day. Transactions in millions takes place here. Along with it the city also nestles in it a huge population who belong to diverse cultures and ethnicities.
So food becomes a prime attraction of this city. No one will be disappointed in the city as Delhi has in it some of the best French, Italian, Thai and Indian Restaurants in it. Be it the flavor or the variety whatever you want to indulge in Delhi restaurants are there to supply you with everything.
Delhi has a plethora of Indian Restaurants specializing in the food of different regions of India. There are also Mughlai restaurants where you can pamper you taste buds with delectable tandoori items , biriyani and kebabs.
If you are a soup lover or would like to go for some continental cuisine try out the Thai restaurant and the French and Italian Restaurants. Pizzas,. Soups, salads of a different variety, and the delicious specialties of each restaurant will surely satiate your hunger.
If you pockets don't admit you to visit expensive restaurants every single day, there is nothing to worry as Delhi has several small food shops where you can get wonderful food at a very low rate.Indian Restaurants in Delhi
Delhi has a host of Indian Restaurants in it. Each of them are unique in their own way. Starting from the decoration to the environment ,each restaurant differ from the other. Some are family restaurants whilst others are meant to be hang out zones.
India being such a big nation with more than twenty five states has different flavors or cuisines for each of them. Delhi is the only place where you can get a miniature India amalgamated together.
South Indian, Gujrati, Marathi, North Indian, Bengali , any kind of cuisines are available in the city. Infact it is these Indian Restaurants which caters to the tourists satisfying their diverse tastes and preferences.
No matter how much one likes to have continental dishes but a Indian in Heart would definitely like to have some ethnic food at the end of the day, Even the foreign tourists always get interested to go for the Indian Restaurants than for the others
It's the spice, the aroma, the expertise of the Indian Chefs which has made the Indian Restaurants of Delhi so popular with the foreign as well as domestic tourists. The kebabas, the Tandoori dishes, the lip smacking south Indian dishes like dosa, vada , utthapam and likes of that simply appeal to the tongue.
Delhi is visited by a huge number of foreign tourists and they like to have Indian food because most of them have never tasted such spicy food before coming to India. Forgetting grills and bakes they plunge in to steamed and fried dishes.
The city has a plethora of Indian Restaurants which tries to satisfy the clients very much. The lovely décor of the interiors of these Indian Restaurants seems all the more interesting to these foreign tourists, as of the food there is nothing to say, because Indian cuisine had always been respected and adored by the people of West.Hotels in India
