Places for tourism
100km
Rashtrapati
Bhawan
Modern
Delhi, or New Delhi as it is called, centres around the Rashtrapati Bhawan. It
is architecturally a very impressive building standing at a height, flowing down
as it were to India Gate. This stretch called the Rajpath is where the Republic
Day parade is held. The imposing plan of this area conceived by Lutyens does not
fade in its charm with the numerous summers or winters that go past.
India Gate
India Gate is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Delhi. The
impressive colonial architecture of India Gate is a symbol of modern Delhi. The
beautiful stone arch was built by the British in honor of Indian soldiers killed
in World War I. Here you will also find the 'Amar Javan Jyoti', which is a
permanent flame in honor of the Indian soldiers who died in wars since 1918.
Laxminarayan Temple
Also called
the Birla Mandir, the Laxminarayan Temple was built by the Birla family in 1938.
It is a temple with a large garden and fountains behind it. The temple attracts
thousands of devotees on Janmashtami day, the birthday of Lord Krishna.
Humayun's Tomb
Humayun's
wife, Hamida Begum, built this monument in Delhi in the year 1556. The tomb is
set on a platform amidst a garden and is believed to have influenced the design
of the Taj Mahal. The structure of the tomb is as magnificent as the Taj Mahal
in Agra. The splendor of this grand monument becomes overpowering on entering
through the lofty double storied gateway. The fountains with simple yet highly
developed engineering skills enhance the beauty of the garden.
Qutab
Minar
The Qutab
Minar is located at a small village called Mehrauli in South Delhi. It was built
by Qutb-ud-din Aybak of the Slave Dynasty, who took possession of Delhi in 1206.
It is a fluted red sandstone tower, which tapers up to a height of 72.5 metres
and is covered with intricate carvings and verses from the holy Qur'an.
Qutb-ud-din Aybak began constructing this victory tower as a sign of Muslim
domination of Delhi and as a minaret for the Muslim priest, the muezzin, to call
the faithful to prayer. However, only the first storey was completed by
Qutb-ud-din. The other storeys were built by his successor Iltutmish. The two
circular storeys in white marble were built by Ferozshah Tughlaq in 1368,
replacing the original fourth storey.
Raj Ghat
On the bank
of the legendary Yamuna, which flows past Delhi, there is Raj Ghat-the last
resting place of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation. It has become an
essential point of call for all visiting dignitaries. Two museums dedicated to
Gandhi are situated nearby.
Lotus
Temple
Known in India as the "Lotus Temple", the Baha'i House of Worship attracts an
average of three and a half million visitors a year.The Baha'i Temple, situated
in South Delhi, is shaped like a lotus. It is an eye-catching edifice worth
exploring. Built by the Baha'i community, it offers the visitor a serenity that
pervades the temple and its artistic design.
Jantar mantar
The various abstract structures within the Jantar Mantar are, in fact,
instruments that were used for keeping track of celestial bodies. Yet, Jantar
Mantar is not only a timekeeper of celestial bodies, it also tells a lot about
the technological achievements under the Rajput kings and their attempt to
resolve the mysteries regarding astronomy.
The Rail Museum
Its vintage displays include the oldest locomotive in the world-still working;
the Viceregal Dining Car (1889) and the Prince of Wales Saloon (1875), Maharaja
of Mysore's Saloon (1899), Maharaja of Baroda's Saloon (1886). The royal saloons
are definitely worth a look for the elaborate interior design.
Lal Quila (Red
Fort)
The Red Fort's massive curtain wall and battlements dominate the skyline of Old
Delhi. Inside, the bastions - built, like the nearby Jama Masjid, by Shah Jahan
- are an range of exquisite 17th-century Mughal buildings, which provided the
living quarters for the Emperor, his courtiers and family. The flawless balance
and proportion of these buildings, as well as the intricate decoration, is
wonderful to behold and in complete contrast to the military might of the fort
itself. Sadly, the water conduits that would once have cooled the dwellings and
gardens are now dry. The Lahore Gate, on the west side of the fort, was a potent
symbol in the fight for Independence and is still regarded as a shrine of the
Republic.
The National Museum
For a museum that was built in 1960, the National Museum has an extraordinarily
rich collection. It begins with prehistory, going on to the classical period of
Indian art, then on through galleries of miniature painting, textiles,
decorative art, arms, tribal art, Central Asian antiquities, costumes and
musical instruments. The museum remains open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on all days
except Mondays.
National
Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi
The National Gallery of Modern Art contains a large collection of 20th-century
Indian art. There are examples of the work of the painters of the Bengali
Renaissance and of the poet and artist, Tagore.
The highlight is the room devoted to the pictures of female Indian artist
Amrita Sher-Gil (1913-1941), whose portraits - more successful than her genre
scenes - are painted with the confident bravura of the youthful Augustus John.
The galleries recently have been reorganized to accommodate a program of
biannual exhibitions designed to bring a larger proportion of the 15,000-piece
collection before the public. The museum is in Jaipur House - by any yardstick,
a grandee's townhouse - formerly the Delhi
residence of the
Maharaja of Jaipur.