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Welcome to the city of Delhi, the capital of India. A city that is as old as civilization itself and nurtured with loving care in the hands of several dynasties. As history unfolds itself, we find Delhi a city of magnificent kings and princes, men of great culture, learning and refinement who created famous masterpieces like the Qutab Minar, the Diwan-e-Aam and the Pearl Mosque in the Red Fort. No wonder the city's history is synonymous with the history of India. The evidence of this can be marked distinctly as the city is flourished with tombs, forts, monuments, ramparts and ruins where sightseeing is of great pleasure.Delhi offers a multitude of interesting places and attractions to the visitor, so much so that it becomes difficult to decide from where to begin exploring the city. In Old Delhi, attractions like mosques, forts, and other monuments that depict India's Muslim history. The important places in Old Delhi includes the majestic Red Fort, the historical Chandni Chowk, besides Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana, the last two being modern structures constructed after India's Independence in 1947. New Delhi, on the other hand, is a modern city designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. Delhi is a spacious, open city that houses many government buildings and embassies, apart from places of historical interest. Notable attractions in New Delhi include the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the one-time imperial residence of the British viceroys; the India Gate, a memorial raised in honour of the Indian soldiers martyred during the Afghan war; the Laxminarayan Temple, built by the Birlas, one of India's leading industrial families; the Humayun's Tomb, said to be the forerunner of the Taj at Agra; the Purana Quila, built by Humayun, with later-day modifications by Sher Shah Suri; Tughlaqabad, Delhi's most colossal and awesome fort; Qutab Minar, built by Qutub-ud-din Aibek of the Slave Dynasty; and the lotus-shaped Baha'i Temple.
Akshardham Temple
Akshardham Temple is a magnificent Hindu shrine, situated in the east region of New Delhi. Located on the banks of River Yamuna,  it was inaugurated in November 2005, by the former President of India - APJ Abdul Kalam, the Prime Minister - Manmohan Singh and Pramukh Swami Maharaj - the spiritual leader of BAPS. Pramukh Swami Maharaj is the current spiritual leader of Swaminarayan Sanstha, BAPS. Swaminarayan Akshardham was constructed under his guidance, after his guru, Yogiji Maharaj, expressed a wish for the same.As a spiritual leader, Swamiji constantly travels and meets people across the world, to help them lead better lives. There are various cultural and educational activities conducted by the Swaminarayan Sanstha. Akshardham is also a part of BAPS's initiative to promote Indian art, culture and values. BAPS also has a charitable arm, known as BAPS Care, working for the betterment of the people. The main shrine in the complex is dedicated to Bhawgwan Swaminarayan.
The temple enshrines 11 ft tall gilded statue of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. The building is constructed entirely from Pink Sandstone and Italian Marble, without any concrete or steel. The intricate carvings, magnanimous structure and the backdrop of River Yamuna, render the temple a masterpiece of art. Other than the main temple, there are a number of buildings in the complex where you can enjoy cultural and spiritual activities.
The Bahai
Completed in 1986,the Bahai temple is set amidst pools and gardens.
 Adherents of any faith are free to visit the temple and pray or meditate silently according to their own religion . The structure is in lotus shape so it often called the lotus temple. The view of the temple is spectacular before dusk when the temple is floodlit.It is a very recent architectural marvel of the Bahai faith, located in Kalkaji, south of Delhi. Shaped like a half opened Lotus flower, this temple is made of marble, cement, dolomite and sand. It is open to all faiths and is an ideal place for meditation and obtaining peace and tranquility. Bahai's Temple is a marvel of modern architecture, which is visible from several spots in south Delhi. The lotus flower signifies purity and peace, a representation of the Manifestation of God, to the people of India. This ancient symbol has been given a modern and contemporary form in the structure of the Bahai House of Worship drawing into its sanctum sanctorum people from all races, religious backgrounds and culture from around the globe. It represents the Bahai faith, - an independent world religion; divine in origin, all embracing in scope, broad in its outlook, scientific in its method, humanitarian in its principles, and dynamic in the influence.
The Chhatarpur Temple Located on the main Guragon Mehrauli Road, about 4-kilometers away from Qutab Minar Complex, the sacred Chhatarpur Temple is one of the largest and most popular Hindu temples of the capital.
Completely built with white marble and richly crafted, the temple complex has many temples dedicated to different deities like Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha and Lord Rama. However, the main presiding deity of the whole temple complex is Goddess Durga. Thus the Chhatarpur Temple becomes the center of attraction of the capital during the festival of Navratri when thousands of devotees throng the temple complex.
Don't forget to remove your shoes outside the temple and wash your hands and feet before entering the temple. Humayun's Tomb Humayun died in 1556, and his widow Hamida Banu Begam, also known as Haji Begam, commenced the construction of his tomb in 1569, fourteen years after his death.
It is the first distinct example of proper Mughal style, which was inspired by Persian architecture. It is well known that Humayun picked up the principles of Persian architecture during his exile, and he himself is likely to have planned the tomb, although there is no record to that effect. The tomb was constructed at a cost of 15 lakh rupees (1.5 million). Mirak Mirza Ghiyath, a Persian, was the architect employed by Haji Begam for this tomb. The tomb proper stands in the centre of a square garden, divided into four main parterres by causeways (charbagh), in the centre of which ran shallow water-channels. The high rubble built enclosure is entered through two lofty double-storeyed gateways on the west and south. A baradari (pavilion) occupies the centre of the eastern wall and a hammam (bath chamber) in the centre of northern wall. The square red sandstone double-storeyed structure of the mausoleum with chamfered corners rises from a 7-m. high square terrace, raised over a series of cells, which are accessible through, arches on each side. The grave proper in the centre of this cell-complex is reached by a passage on the south. The octagonal central chamber contains the cenotaph, and the diagonal sides lead to corner-chambers which house the graves of other members of the royal family. Externally each side of the tomb, its elevations decorated by marble borders and panels, is dominated by three arched alcoves, the central one being the highest. Over the roof pillared kiosks are disposed around the high emphatic double dome in the centre. The central octagonal chamber contains the cenotaph, encompassed by octagonal chambers at the diagonals and arched lobbies on the sides. Their openings are closed with perforated screens. Each side is dominated by three arches, the central one being the highest. This plan is repeated on the second storey too. The roof surmounted by a double dome (42.5m) of marble has pillared kiosks (chhatris) placed around it. India Gate The war memorial arch, India Gate, was built by the British in the honor of the unknown martyrs, who lost their lives in the First World War and Second Afghan War.
Vijay Chowk (the Victory Square) is the site of 'Beating the Retreat' ceremony held annually in New Delhi, on 29th January. Originally known as All India War Memorial, it has the names of the soldiers who died in the wars inscribed on its walls. Since 1971, there is the eternal soldier's flame burning under it, known as 'Amar Jawan Jyoti'. It is said that Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker designed India Gate and its surrounding area. India Gate is situated on Rajpath (the Royal Road). It is the ceremonial boulevard of the Indian republic that boasts of ornamental parks, pools and gardens alongside. It is here that the much-awaited event of Republic Day Parade takes place on 26th January every year. Rajpath runs through India Gate and Vijay Chowk and has Rashtrapati Bhavan at one end and National Stadium at another. As we go along Rajpath, across Raisina Hill - the administrative center of India, we find the two secretarial buildings - North Block and South Block on its either side. One can also see Sansad Marg and the Parliament House along the stretch of this wide road. North Block houses the offices of Finance and Home Ministries, while South Block is home to External Affairs and Defense Ministries. Other than this, Rajpath is surrounded by many official buildings and museums. There is Indira Gandhi National Center for Arts as well as National Museum, famous for its archaeological collections. Jama Masjid Masjid-i-Jahan Numa popularly called as Jama Masjid, means the mosque commanding a view of the world. The mosque is a real example of great architecture that existed during the Mughal period. It has the blend of both Hindu and Mughal style of architecture.
The mosque contains several remnants of the Muslim Religion like a replica of the Quran written on a deer skin, a red beard-hair of the prophet, sandals of the prophet and his footprint. It is believed that the total cost of Rs.10 lakhs was incurred for the construction of the mosque. Shah Jahan has many mosques to his names that include the famous Moti Masjid at Agra and other mosques in Ajmer and Lahore (in Pakistan). One of the specialties of Jama Masjid is the high ground construction that makes the appearance even more beautiful. Broad and high steps lead to the main gateways. The eastern gateway was perhaps used by the emperors during the Mughal Rule. It is close on weekdays. One can have the view of Old Delhi, Red Fort and some parts of New Delhi from the Southern Minaret. A nominal fee of Rs. 5 is charged for sight seeing from this particular spot. ISKCON Temple 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. Special sermons and prayer meeting are held at the temple, every Sunday afternoon. Dedicated mainly to Lord Krishna, the elegant temple was built by the followers of 'Hare-Rama Hare-Krishna' cult. One of the largest temple complexes in India, it also boasts of a Robot, which was built especially to enact and preach 'Gita'. The temple remains opened every day from 4.30am to 12:00pm and from 4.00pm to 9.00pm. There is a museum in the temple which organizes multimedia shows to explain the philosophy and teachings of Ramayana and Mahabharata. The festival of Janamashtmi (the birth of Lord Krishna) is celebrated here at a very large scale. It falls between the month of August and September. Thousands of devotees throng the temple on this auspicious occasion. The temple is beautifully decorated on this day and the enthusiasm of the pilgrims is on the peak level. It is definitely a worth watching sight. Aarti, Bhajans and sermons are a regular feature of the temple, which provide peace to body, mind and soul. The Rashtrapati Bhawan The Rashtrapati Bhawan is an eminent monument of British Empire which is said to be the palace of the Viceroy of India. Rashtrapati Bhawan is the house of the President of India. It is a real masterpiece that was built in the British period. It is the focal point of New Delhi and situated in the Raisina Hills. The total cost of constructing the Rashtrapati Bhawan crossed £12,53,000 in British India. There is a Durbar Hall inside the Rashtrapati Bhawan in Delhi and the dome of the hall measures 22.8 meters in diameter. The hall is marked by the beautiful colored marbles. You can see the Viceroy's throne in this hall. Today, the Durbar Hall is the major venue of all official ceremonies of the Indian Government such as the oath taking ceremony by the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and the Members of Parliament. The Arjuna Awards for Excellence is also presented in this hall of the Rashtrapati Bhawan. Laxminarayan Mandir Laxminarayan Mandir 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,
Qutub Minar Qutub Minar was constructed in 1192 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak, the founder of Slave Dynasty and later completed by his son-in-law and successor Iltutmish. The soaring tower of Qutab Minar of Delhi is made out of brick tile and sandstones. Qutub Minar is an exquisite example of Indo-Islamic Afghan architecture. Today, Qutub Minar is an eminent member of the World Heritage Site community and survived the ravages of time impressively. Qutub Minar of Delhi is surrounded by a lush green manicured garden, which is a much favored leisure pad for Delhi locals. You can see tourists and locals loitering around the whole winter afternoons here and there inside the tower. Qutub Minar at Delhi is a 5 storied tower. Each tower of the famous Qutub Minar has unique designs. It was hit by lightening twice. Due to this hazard, there was major damage in the structure. But during the reign of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq, the king repaired the ensuing damage. Again during the reign of emperor Feroze Shah Tughlaq, when the top most storey of the Qutub Minar was destroyed, the king repaired the floor and elevated the Qutub Minar to another level. Thus we see an interesting mix in architectural styles if we minutely study the structure. The base of the Qutub Minar at Delhi measures 14.32 meters and the top of the structure measures 2.75 meters. The first 3 stories of the Qutub Minar has different designs. While the base has alternate angular and circular flutings, the second one are round. The third storey of the Qutub Minar has only angular flutings. The balconies projecting out of the Delhi Qutub Minar heightens the beauty of the Minar. Red Fort Shah Jahan shifted his capital from Agra to Shahjahanabad and laid the foundation of Red Fort, The perimeter of its strong ramparts is about 2.41 km. Red Fort rises to a height of 33.5 m on the town side and 18 m along the river. A wide moat surrounds the fort, which was originally connected with the river and was always filled with water. The two main gateways, known as Lahori Gate and Delhi Gate (named so, as they face Lahore and Delhi respectively), are three storeys high and are flanked by semi-octagonal towers. They are situated on the centre of the western and southern sides respectively. The main entrance to the Lal Quila is through the Lahori Gate. Beyond the gate, there is a roofed passage, flanked by arcaded apartments leading to the palaces, known as Chhatta Chowk. These apartments are now used as shops. Besides these, there are three more gates on other sides, which are kept closed now. The master builders of the Red Fort were Hamid and Ahmad. Rajghat Rajghat is only 4 kilometers away from Janpath in New Delhi. Rajghat at Delhi is adjacent to Feroz Shah and Delhi Gate on the Ring Road from where you can view the Yamuna river.
In Rajghat, Mahatma Gandhi's last rituals were performed on 31st January, 1948. You can see the memorial stone of Gandhiji in square shaped black stone when you visit this famous Rajghat in Delhi. The Rajghat at Delhi is visited by the nationals as well as by the foreigners who wishes to pay their homage to Mahatma Gandhi. Beside Rajghat of New Delhi, you will find a Gandhi Memorial Museum. The museum displays the life cycle of the great soul and the philosophy of the Sarvodaya Movement through a movie. If you want to see the show in English the timing is from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm except Thursdays. On Sundays the show is shown at 3 pm in Hindi and at 5 pm in English. The foreign delegates of the Government of India come to pay their homage to Gandhiji at the Delhi Rajghat by offering flowers on the platform. All visitors to Rajghat at Delhi should remove their Footwear at the gate in order to show respect to the memorial. Every Friday, a commemorating ceremony is held to check the day Gandhi died. You can see Jawaharlal Nehru's Samadhi, to the north of the Delhi Rajghat, known as the Shantivan or Shanti Vana. Former Prime Minister of India, Mrs Indira Gandhi's son, Sanjay Gandhi's Samadhi is adjacent to it. Nizamuddin Shrine Shanti Vana
Jawaharlal Nehru's samadhi is to the north of the Raj Ghat and is known as the Shantivan or Shanti Vana meaning the forest of peace. The area has a beautiful park adorned with trees planted by visiting dignitaries and heads of state. His grandson Sanjay Gandhi's samadhi is adjacent to it. |
Jama Masjid has three gates, two minarets - 40 meters in height and four towers. The minarets are made up of red sand stone and white marbles bearing stripes of black color. Tourists visiting the mosque have the option of wearing the traditional ceremonial clothes available at the northern gate. Jama Masjid used to be the main mosque of Shah jahan. The mosque stands on the hill of Bho Jhala, in the old Mughal capital called Shahjahanabad. Prayer hall on the west is adorned by high cusped arches and marble domes.
Rashtrapati Bhawan of Delhi is considered to be the best known monument of India next to glorious Taj Mahal and Qutub Minar.
one of the famous business tycoons of India. Being constructed by the Birlas, the temple came to be known as Birla Temple. Located on Mandir Marg near Connaught Circus in Delhi, the temple is easily accessible from the city by metro, local buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws. 
or the Lal Quila, on 16th April 1639. It took nine years to build this mighty citadel and it got completed on 16th April 1648. It is said that about one crore rupees, an astronomical sum in those days, was spent on its construction. Half of this sum was spent to build the exotic palaces within the fort. Built of red sandstone, it is octagonal in shape, with two longer sides on the east and west.
