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Red Fort
Red Fort, built by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan between 1638 and 1648, the Red Fort has walls extending up to 2 kms. in length with the height varying from 18 mts. on the river side to 33 mts. on the city side. The entry to this splendid fort is from the Lahori Gate or the Chatta Chowk. Lal Quila is now a busy market place called the 'Meena Bazaar'. This bazaar has an excellent collection of antiques, miniature paintings and skillfully crafted fake ivory jewellery. The bazaar also sells some fabulous carpets beautifully woven. Just beyond the Chhata Chowk, is the heart of the fort called Naubat Khana, or the Drum House. Musicians used to play for the emperor from the Naubat Khana, and the arrival of princes and royalty was heralded from here.
Qutub Minar	Top^
The Qutub Minar made of red sandstone rising to the height of 72.5mts is an architectural marvel of the 13th century. Also a must is the visit to Ashoka Pillar dating back to the 5th century. Though made of iron it has with stood the weathers of time.A very interesting belief is assigned to this pillar- Stand with your back to the pillar, and if you can hold your hands around it, then make a wish and it will surely come true. A distinct present from the past, Qutub Minar has inspired explorers and travelers through the ages. Qutb-u'd-Din Aibak laid the foundation of Qutab Minar in AD 1199 for the use of Mu'azzin to give calls for prayer and raised the first storey, to which were added three more storeys by his successor and son-in-law, Shamsu'd-Din Iitutmish.
India Gate	Top^
India Gate is a majestic high arch, 42 meters high, built as a memorial to the Indian soldiers killed in the World War I. Beneath it burns an eternal flame. From the base of the arch one can get a good view of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. A fascinating and wonderful monument! Enjoy the lush green lawns of India Gate, which house the famous boat club and a children's park. The lawns come alive in the evening with picnicking families and couples taking a stroll. Little children run about playing with balloons and eating ice-creams purchased from nearby vendors. The use of special lighting means that the monument looks even more striking at night than it does by day.From the base of arch one can get a good view of Rashtrapati Bhawan. The entire monument is extremely beautiful and the arch stands on a low base of red Bharatpur stone which rises in stages to a huge molding.
Rashtrapati Bhavan	Top^
Rashtrapati Bhawan in Delhi is a major attraction for tourists in India. Situated on Raisina hill, Rashtrapati Bhavan is the residence of the President of India. Its extraordinary architecture, peaceful ambience and beautiful gardens (resembling the Mughal Gardens in Srinagar, Kashmir) makes it one of the major attractions of the city. The building was designed by Sir Edward Lutyens as the residence of the British Viceroy. Lord Irwin was the first occupant of the building. Rashtrapati Bhawan, spread over an area of about 330 acres, is a marvellous structure and a tourist's delight comprising 340 rooms. The official residence of the First Citizen of India- the President, it was completed in 1929 at a cost of 12,53,000 pound sterling and inaugurated in 1931. Formerly known as the 'Viceroy's House' until independence, it was renamed 'Rashtrapati Bhawan' in 1950.
Akshardham Temple	Top^
Akshardham Temple is a famous monument to world peace. It is constructed by the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS) foundation - the builders to the various Swaminarayan temples across the world. This is one of the biggest Hindu religious temples ever constructed. The construction of this temple took around 5 years which was inaugurated on 6th November 2005. Its unique architecture with a confluence of different architectural style make it one of the wonders of modern India. It showcases the 10,000 years old Indian culture in all its breathtaking grandeur, insight & beauty. The grand Akshardham temple is a blend of different and contrasting architectural styles of Hindu temple architecture. It has elements of Rajasthani, Orissan, Gujarati, Mughal and Jain architecture. The entire monument is constructed of sandstone & marble, where pink stone symbolizes devotion or bhakti and white marble represents absolute purity and peace. Spread over an area of 100 acres this marvelous structure with a hight of 141 feet and 316 feet wide. It has 234 carved pillars, 9 domes, 20 quadrangle shikhars, a spectacular Gajendra Pith and 20,000 statues of India's greatest devotees, sadhus and divine personalities.
Laxmi Narayan Temple	Top^
Laxmi Narayan Temple is one of the major temples and landmarks of Delhi. During 1933-39, Laxmi Narayan Temple was built by Mr. B.D. Birla of Birla Group of Industries, one of the famous business tycoons of India. Being constructed by the Birlas, the temple came to be known as Birla Temple.The famous temple is accredited to have been inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1939. At that time, Mahatma Gandhi kept a condition that the temple would not be restricted to the Hindus and people from every caste would be allowed inside. In those times, the condition was really worked upon; still people visit this temple with full devotion. Laxminarayan Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the preserver and his consort, Goddess Lakshmi. The architecture of the Temple looks imbibed from the Orissan Style.
Old Fort	Top^
Old Fort or Purana Qila has been the seat for administration for many emperors. Now in ruins, this citadel has had the glory of being the seat of legendary ruler Prithviraj Chauhan. Sher Shah Suri built it after he demolished the Humayun's city, Dinpanah. There are bastions on the corners and the western wall of the fort. The 2-km long ramparts boast of three double-storeyed main gates sporting 'chhatris' on top. They can be found in the north, south and west. The northern one is called the 'Talaqi-Darwaza' (the Forbidden Gate) and has a carving of marble lions engaged in combat with a man in its front. One can still see the remnants of the colored tiles used to ornament its exteriors originally.
Jama Masjid	Top^
Jama Masjid, Delhi is the country's largest and perhaps its most magnificent mosque. It stands across the road from Red Fort. The great mosque of Old Delhi is the final architectural extravagance of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan with a courtyard capable of holding 25,000 devotees. The mosque measures 65m by 35m, and its court forms a square of 100m. Built in 1656, it is an eloquent reminder of the Mughal religious fervour. Its spacious courtyard holds thousands of the faithful who offer their prayers here. It's also known as 'Masjid-i-Jahanuma' or 'Mosque commanding view of the world'. It was designed as Emperor Shahjahan's principal mosque. A sprawling esplanade separates it from the main road.
Jantar Mantar	Top^
Jantar Mantar, with Yantra meaning instruments and Mantra meaning formulae, was built in the year 1724. Situated near Connaught Place, New Delhi Jantar Mantar counts amongst the numerous astronomical observatories erected by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur. The other observatories consist of the ones built in Jaipur, Varanasi, Ujjain and Mathura. It basically comprises of the instruments that were used for keeping track of celestial bodies. Jai Singh, after finding the existing astronomical instruments too small to take correct measurements, built these larger and more accurate instruments. The instruments at Jantar Mantar of Delhi display promising brilliance. However, there is a little problem, that, these instruments can no longer make accurate observations because of the numerous tall buildings that have been built around the observatory. Delhi Jantar Mantar is also a reminder of the technological achievements that took place under the rule of the Rajput kings.
Humayun's Tomb	Top^
The first Mughal Emperor, Babur, was succeeded by his son, Humayun, who ruled in India for a decade but was expelled. Eventually he took refuge with the Safavid shah of Persia, who helped him regain Delhi in 1555, the year before his death. Humayun's Persian wife, Hamida Begum, supervised the construction from 1562-1572 of her husband's tomb in Delhi. The tomb established some of the important norms for later Mughal mausolea. It is set in a geometrically arranged garden criscrossed by numerous water channels and probably representing symbolically a paradise setting. Such typical Persian gardens had been introduced into India by Babur; later they would be found in the Red Fort in Delhi and at the Taj Mahal in Agra. The architectural form of the building is Persian and especially in its main chamber shows some familiarity with the tomb of the Mongol Ilkhanid ruler of Persia, Oljeytu, at Sultaniyya. It is one of a long line of Mughal buildings influenced by Timurid architecture, notably the tomb of Timur (Tamerlane) in Samarkand.
ISKCON Temple	Top^
ISKCON Temple is located at Hari Krishna Hill, in the East of Kailash area of New Delhi. It was built as recently as 1998 and is one of the most lavish and grand temples of the city. A fine example of architecture, it sports 'Shikharas', rising to a height of 90-ft above ground level. The temple has air-conditioned hall that can hold as many as 1,500 people at once. The fine art paintings by Russian artists here depict lives and events related to Hindu mythological characters, like Radha-Krishna, Sita-Ram, Laxman, Hanuman and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Lotus Temple	Top^
The Lotus Temple that is located in South Delhi is also known as 'Bahai House of Worship'. This 20th century wonder made of marble, dolomite, cement and sand is dedicated in December 1986. This temple represents the Baha'i faith - founded by Baha'ullah, an independent world religion. The construction of this temple took around 6 years, till it was opened for the public in 1986. The structure of this temple is derived from the Lotus, the national flower of India. The Lotus has been a significant part of the Hindu religion too. A glimpse of Lotus, gives the idea of peace and serenity. The marvelous structure of the temple comprises 27 self-supporting marble clad "petals" that are arranged in groups of three to form nine faces.
Gandhi Smriti	Top^
Gandhi Smriti at 5, Tees January Marg, New Delhi, is now a national memorial where the epic life of the Father of Nation ended on Friday, January 30, 1948. The hallowed house which treasured many memories of the last 144 days of his life now forms part of our rich national heritage. The exhibition on the Mahatma, the room he lived in and the prayer-ground where he fell a martyr with God's name on his hips attract a large number of visitors. The Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti or 'Remembrance of Gandhi and Visiting Centre' was established as one autonomous body on September 1984 under the strict supervision both, administratively and financially, of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism under the band of the Indian Government electing the Prime Minister of India as their Chairperson and the Senior representatives of the Gandhian centre working under the various departments of the Indian Government who assist in the activities and events of the Museum. It is divided into two sections named 'The Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti' and 'The International Centre of Gandhian Studies and Research'.
National Museum	Top^
The National Museum is the largest museum in the country and has several galleries covering 5,000 years of art and culture. The ground floor houses exhibits from Harappan Civilisation, stone, terracotta, bronze and wood sculptures, Buddhist Art, Indian Miniature paintings, Indian scripts and coin evolution, Decorative Art and Jewellery. The first floor has Central Asian Art, Manuscripts, Ajanta Paintings, Maritime Heritage and Tanjore and Mysore Paintings. The second floor has Indian Textiles, Pre-Columbian and Western Art, Indian Coins, Arms and Armour, Wood Carvings, Musical Instruments and Tribal Lifestyle of N E India.
Natural History Museum	Top^
National Museum of Natural History, is the best place to view the varied flora and fauna of India. It is situated in FICCI building at Barakhambha road in New Delhi. It was opened for the people on 5th June 1978. The museum was the brain child of former Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi. It is maintained by the Ministry of Environment & Forests, with an aim to promote environmental education and create awareness among the people. The motto of National Museum of Natural History is 'Educating while entertaining'. It aims at educating people about the rich flora and fauna of the country, while keeping them entertained. The museum comprises of four theme-based galleries and a number of hands-on activity areas. The first gallery provides a basic idea about the evolution of life, along with the brief introduction of the flora and fauna, their natural habitats and the threats they are facing. The second gallery is based on our ecosystems and the dangers they face.
Indira Memorial	Top^
Indira Gandhi is the first female prime minister of India. The iron lady of India was the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, first Prime Minister of Independent India. On Wednesday, October 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi was gunned down by her own bodyguards. The Memorial Museum located in New Delhi is built as a tribute to the memory of a Great lady, leader and statesperson. This historic museum was initially the residence of Indira Gandhi. By visiting this museum, you can get a fascinating insight into the Indian independence movement. Indira Gandhi Memorial, New Delhi displays the saree which she wore at the time of assassination. There is a crystal plaque at Indira Gandhi Memorial which has preserved the brown spots of Indira Gandhi's blood.
Chandni Chowk	Top^
Chandni Chowk is a historic land mark who's narrow and yet congested lanes are considered to be the best place shopoholics. Most of the shops are nearly 100 years old. The name Chandni Chowk is derived out of two 'Chandni' that means moonlit and 'Chowk' meaning square. It was built on the plan of Shah Jahan's daughter. Shopping in Chandani Chowk is an enriching experience in itself. Leading off Chandani Chowk are Dariba Kalan, the silver market full of designer jewellery, Khari Baoli, the spice market, Katra Neel for all kinds of fabrics like silk, satin, crepe, linen, muslin, net, cotton and Kinari Bazaar for bridal trousseau. Chhatta Chowk is famous for matching jewelry with outfits. You can find wide range of varieties in semi precious stones and cheap metal to craft your jewelry here. In some of these markets, the items for sale are manufactured and custom made on orders or on the spot in front of the customers to their satisfaction, which lands a special charm to the shopping experience well integrated into the culture of the old city.
Lodi Gardens	Top^
Lodi Garden is located on the main Lodi Road, about a kilometer east of Safdarjang's tomb. Beautifully landscaped and well laid out with small water bodies, fountains and a jogging track, the gardens are very popular with people of all ages in the capital. Re-landscaped by JA Stein and Garrett Eckbo in 1968, the Lodi garden also house the National Bonsai Park that has a fine selection of bonsais. However, the main attractions are the ancient monuments belonging to the Sayyid and Lodi periods around which the garden was laid out in 1936 by relocating the then existing village. The Lodi Garden has many species of trees, a Rose Garden, and a Green House, where plants are stored. The garden is at its best during the months of February and March, when winter flowers are in full bloom. Many species of birds can be seen in Lodi Gardens throughout the year. These include babblers, parakeets, mynahs, kites, owls, kingfishers near the lake and a family of Hornbills. Previously many vultures could be seen perched on the domes of the tombs, but their numbers have declined in recent years. The playful squirrels in the park are used to people and often approach visitors sitting on benches in the hope of being fed.