Delhi

Delhi is the capital city of the Federal Republic of India. It is one of India's fastest growing cities. It has sprawled over the West Bank of the river Yamuna, straddling the river. The city has two distinct parts, Old Delhi and New Delhi. Old Delhi is centered on the Red Fort built by Emperor Shah Jahan between 1636 and 1658.
The streets of Old Delhi are narrow and bustling. The beauty and serenity lies inside the courts of the main buildings. Delhi has some of the finest museums in the country. Its boutiques and shopping arcades offer access to a wealth of traditional and contemporary crafts, from all over the country. New Delhi was proclaimed the capital of India by the British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens (1869-1944), and is tree-lined and spacious.

Some famous landmarks and tourist sites

Connaught Place: One of Delhi's most popular shopping centres built as early as 1931, there is nothing that one cannot buy here. There are several eating-houses. The state emporia buildings are located in this area, as are the head offices of major banks and airlines. The complex popularly referred to as CP is a site no tourist should miss, if for nothing else then for its architecture and the humdrum of everyday life.
Janpath is one of the busiest roads in New Delhi. Its one of the most popular shopping areas in Delhi. Tourists around this spot to shop for trinkets, handicrafts, clothes, jewellery etc.,

Dilli Haat: This Food and Crafts Bazaar, opposite INA Market in South Delhi, is a one-stop shopping place for tourists, which not only offers various arts and handicrafts of India, but also a taste of the ethnic cuisine. Visitors can also witness the different performing arts of the country. There are food stalls and shops from almost all Indian states.

The Red Fort: The Red Fort, with a circumference of over 2.2 kilometers, was laid out by the banks of the Yamuna river in the 17th century. The Mughal emperor Shahjhan built it with the ambition of concentrating the Mughal power in one monument. Monument is perhaps not the right word. A mini-city is more like it. The fort is a delight to one's imagination. Imagine the Naqqar Khana (Drum room) also called Naubat Khana (Welcome Room), where once drums loudly heralded the arrival of the emperor and the Diwan-e-Am (Hall of Public Audience) resounded with the incantations of the people. There's more to see - Mumtaz Mahal, Rang Mahal (Palace of Colours), Khas Mahal (Emperor's Palace), Diwan-e Khas (Hall of Private Audience), the Hammam (bathing area) and Shah Burj. The fort has two main entrances - Delhi Gate and Lahore Gate. The latter get its name from the fact that it faces Lahore in Pakistan. There is a Light and Sound Show every evening.
Summer timing: Hindi - 7 pm to 8 pm, English - 8 pm to 9 pm
Winter timing: Hindi - 6 pm to 7 pm, English - 7 pm to 8 pm

Purana Quila: In 1538, the Mughal emperor Humayun laid the foundations of his city named Dinpanah, or the Refuge of the Faithful. The inner citadel of this city is today called Purana Qila or the Old Fort. Excavations near the eastern wall of the fort reveal that the site had been occupied since 1000 B.C. The Purana Qila has three gates - Humayun Darwaza, Talaqi Darwaza and Bara Darwaza. The present entrance is the Bara Darwaza, an imposing red sandstone gate on the western wall. Inside the Purana Qila is the Sher Mandal, a two-storied octagonal pavilion in red sandstone, built by Sher Shah. Humayun used it as a library after he captured the fort.
Timings: 6 am to 6 pm
Tickets: Available at the site and Delhi Tourism offices

Qutab Minar: The highest stone tower in India, the Qutab Minar was built by Qutbuddin Aibak, the viceroy of Mohammed Ghori in 1192. It was built to celebrate Ghori's victory over the Rajputs. The tower and the victory are very significant, because both heralded the birth of a new dynasty - Slave Dynasty. And it laid the foundations of the Delhi Sultanate. The Minar is a five-storey building with a height of 72.5 metres. The first storey of Qutab Minar was completed in the lifetime of Qutbuddin. His son-in-law and successor, Iltumush, added the next three storeys.
Within the complex, is the famous Iron Pillar which has stood for millennia without rusting. Entry to the Minar has been closed, after the tower became infamous for the several suicides that were committed here. Qutab Minar is a successful tribute to architecture, as it captures one's attention by its sheer mass appeal. Even on close encounter, the attention lingers, owing to the delicate and almost ethereal carvings.
Address: Mehrauli, Delhi-Gurgaon Road
Timings: 6 am to 6 pm

India Gate: This solemn monument was built in memory of the 90,000 Indian soldiers who died in World War I. It was built in 1931, designed by Lutyens, and was originally called the All India War Memorial. The names of the soldiers are inscribed on the walls of the arc of the gate. Later in 1971, an eternal flame was lit here in memory of the unknown soldiers who died in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. India Gate is a popular picnic site especially during hot summer evenings. At night, the Gate is brightly lit and the fountains near the Gate are lit with coloured lights.

Rashtrapati Bhavan: This house is the residence of the President of India and boasts of having welcomed the most powerful men in history. The Rashtrapati Bhavan was designed by Edwin Lutyens and built in 1931, to be the central point of the British power in Delhi. Originally called the Viceroy's House, the Rashtrapati Bhavan covers an area of 4.5 acres of land. It has 340 rooms, 37 salons, 74 lobbies and loggias, 18 staircases and 37 fountains. The most magnificent room in the Rashtrapati Bhavan is the Durbar Hall, which lies directly beneath the main dome. All important Indian State and Official ceremonies are held here. To the west, is the famous and beautifully landscaped Mughal Gardens, designed after the terraced gardens the Mughals built in Kashmir. The garden is famous as the 'Butterfly Garden' for the numerous butterflies that visit the varied flowers. The garden is open to the public in February.
Change of Guard Ceremony
April-October : 8:30 am
November-March: 10:35 am

Lodi Gardens: In these well-maintained gardens, are the domed tombs of Sayyid and Lodi rulers. This garden is known for its fountains, ponds, flowering trees, blossoming shrubs and artificial streams. In the middle of the garden is Bara Gumbad (Big Dome), a mosque built in 1494. The garden has Sheesh Gumbad (Glass Dome), Mohammad Shah's Tomb and Sikander Lodi's tomb. These tombs boast of excellent architecture, and this style was later used in the construction of Taj Mahal. These gardens are ideal for joggers and for those who seek solitude.