Introduction:
Delhi is adorned with powerful history, historical
monuments, museums, galleries, panoramic gardens
and cultural shows. Comprising into two distinct
Delhi, the Old Delhi and the New Delhi. The wealth
of Indian handicrafts can be enjoyed at the Crafts
Museum at Pragati Maidan, at the State Emporia
on Baba Kharak singh Marg, and at Dilli Haat,
which is Delhi Tourism's popular venue for crafts
bazaars throughout the year.
Sightseeing:
Purana Qila :
is the supposed site of Indraprastha, the original
city of Delhi. The Afghan ruler, Sher Shah, who
briefly interrupted the Mughal Empire by defeating
Humayun, completed the fort during his reign from
1538-45, before Humayun regained control of India.
The fort, located south-east of the India Gate
and north of Humayun's Tomb and the Nizamuddin
railway station, has massive walls and three large
gateways. There is a small octagonal red sandstone
tower, the Sher Mandal, inside the fort near the
South gate. It was later used by Humayun as a
library. While descending the stairs of this tower
one day in 1556, he slipped, fell and received
injuries from which he later died. The Qila-i-Kuhran
Mosque, or Mosque of Sher Shah, lies just beyond
it and unlike the fort itself, is in a fairly
reasonable condition. There's a small archaeological
museum just inside the main gate. There are good
views of New Delhi from atop the gate.
Humayun's Tomb :
Built in the mid 16th century by Haji Begum, senior
wife of Humayun, the second Mughal emperor, Humayun's
Tomb is an early example of Mughal architecture
built in Delhi. A rose petal sandstone mausoleum
built in proper Mughal style is a beautiful memorial
to the poet king. Octagonal in shape, raised on
a plinth, with double domes, high arches, laid
in the centre of a large walled enclosure, the
monument is an imposing structure.
Qutub Minar :
13 km to the south of Connaught Circus at Lalkote
of 8th century Tomor Rajputs, the 72.5 m high
Victory Pillar stands as a victory stand of a
Muslim King Kutub-ud-din-Aibak in India. At Kila
Roy Pithora, on the dilapidated fort of the last
Hindu king Prithwiraj, this victory stand was
made like throne in Gajni. In 1199 Kutub-ud-Din
started its construction and it was completed
in 1236 by Iltutmish, the son-in-law of Kutub.
Rajpath :
past the imposing India Gate, Parliament House,
the President's Residence and would end with a
drive through the Diplomatic Enclave.
Red Fort :
The red sandstone walls of Lal Qila, the Red Fort,
extend for two km and vary in height from 18 metres
on the river side to 33 metres on the city side.
Shah Jahan started construction of the massive
fort in 1638 and it was completed in 1648. Before
he could move his capital from Agra to Shahjahanabad
in Delhi,he was deposed and imprisoned in Agra
Fort by his son Aurangzeb. The Lahore gate is
the main gate to the fort, getting its name from
the fact that it faces Lahore. It leads to a vaulted
arcade, the Chatta Chowk (Covered Bazaar). The
shops cater to the tourist trade today, but once
they stocked articles for the royal household
- silks, jewellery, gold. This arcade was also
known as the Meena Bazaar, where ladies of the
court shopped on Thursdays. No man was allowed
inside the citadel on that day.
Jama Masjid - Jama Masjid The splendid mosque
built by Muhammad Ali Shah in the typical Mughal
style with two minarets and three domes, lies
to the west of the Hussainabad Imambara and is
entirely free from pseudo Italian art then in
vogue in Lucknow. Mohammad Ali Shah started the
construction of this splendid mosque in 1840 but
his wife Begum Malika Jahan finally completed
it after his death. It is the country's largest
mosque, built in 1656, where thousands of Muslims
offer prayers. It lies opposite the Red Fort and
is surrounded by a large number of shops, which
deal in a variety of goods. The great mosque of
Old Delhi is both the largest in India and the
final architectural extravagance of Shah Jahan
with a courtyard capable of holding 25,000 devotees.
Raj Ghat :
the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. |