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Delhi Information
Delhi – with its tenacious touts and crush
of mechanical and human traffic – can be downright confronting and
confounding for the first-time visitor. But don’t let petulant first
impressions muddy the plus points of this truly multidimensional
metropolis. Scratch beyond the gritty surface and you’ll swiftly discover
that India’s capital is sprinkled with glittering gems: captivating
ancient monuments, magnificent museums, a vivacious performing-arts scene
and some of the subcontinent’s yummiest places to eat.
A vibrant melting pot, you’ll hear a jumble
of vernaculars spoken in Delhi, the most common being Hindi, English,
Punjabi and Urdu. In terms of its layout, Delhi encapsulates two very
different worlds, the ‘old’ and the ‘new’, each presenting deliciously
different experiences. Spacious New Delhi was built as the imperial
capital of India by the British; rambunctious Old Delhi served as the
capital of Islamic India. Visitors can easily dip into both, spending half
the day immersing themselves in history at the dramatic Red Fort, Jama
Masjid and medieval-flavoured bazaars of Old Delhi, and the other half
reviving themselves over frothy cappuccinos or frosty cocktails at one of
New Delhi’s swanky cafés and bars. Furthermore, Delhi’s recent global
cuisine revolution means that hungry travellers can now feast on
everything from meaty Mughals curries and plump South Indian idlis
(rice cakes), to crispy wood-fired pizzas and squishy sashimi.
About Delhi
: Delhi, the capital of India, can easily be symbolized with a lotus where
each petal represents different era and milestones of the history.
Starting from the ages of Mahabharata to the British rule, Delhi has been
always the most preferred destination for the power seekers whoever wished
to start their legacy in India. The city is thus studded with mementos and
edifice carrying reminiscence of the bygone era.
Being the third-largest city and capital of India, no wonder, Delhi has
gained the position of North India`s industrial hub. It presents a nice
montage of the modern and ancient life where Old Delhi carries the
heritage of the 17th and 19th century and New Delhi boasts of modern city
life. Once the capital of Mughals, Old Delhi is adorned with cenotaphs,
mausoleums, mosques and forts all narrating the saga of Muslim history.
But if you think this is all about Delhi, then you are mistaken, as the
splendour of New Delhi is yet to discovered. With the advent of British
rulers, a need of new capital was needed and thus Sir Edwin Lutyens came
into limelight with a new version of Delhi with imperial architecture and
government buildings creating New Delhi. Delhi, combining both Old and New
Delhi seem to never lose its charming mystery with the passage of time.
The bustling markets of Delhi need special mention to feel the warmth of
the city. From the traditional jewellery and garments to modern electronic
goods, Delhi markets are the dream destination of the shopalcoholics.
Delhi cuisine is another identity that explores the hidden flavour of
Delhi culture. Its said dilwalon ki shahar (city of warm hearted people)
loves to steal the heart of people by feeding them. Be it Mughlai Paratha
or Shammi Kabab, the heritage of Delhi cuisine dates back to Mughal era.
The delicious street foods of Delhi vendors find their mention in the
pages of history and on the screens of celluloid.
Once you come and taste the fragrance of this heritage city, it's for sure
that you are destined to come here again and again. The warm and melting
hospitality of the city will surely steal your heart and you never know
when Delhi becomes the most favorite destination of yours in the world.
Brief
This is the capital city of India, and can be called as a major gateway to
India. Delhi is one of the most important metropolis in India,as it is the
city of power. It has a very good combination of both modern, as well as
ancient culture. It is also known as the Headquarters of Indian politics,
as most of the heads of the Indian government and other political parties,
reside here, including the Prime Minister, and President of the country.
In these 3000 years of its existence, there has been the origin of seven
more cities ,where the traditional Indian capital is. Strategic location,
mixture of modern and Indian culture, rich history, medieval market,
beside the modern ones etc are the main reasons for choosing it, as the
seat of power. Delhi is a city waiting to be explored.
History
Down the ages, the region in and around modern Delhi, saw Lalkot built in
the mid-11th century; Siri established by Allauddin Khilji; Tughlakabad
and Ferozabad built by the Tuglaks, followed by the city of the Lodis; and
then came Shahjahanbad, the capital of the Mughals under Shah Jahan. New
Delhi also reflects the legacy, the British left behind. The division
between New and Old Delhi, is the distinction, between the capitals of the
British and the Mughals respectively. So, wherever the visitor goes, he
will invariably confront the past of the city.
Culture
The throbbing presence of Delhi, pulls one out of the reflections of a
mute past. The divisions in the Walled City and New Delh,i also mark their
varied lifestyles. The Walled City, is all about traditions, whereas New
Delhi, in contrast, is a city living up to contemporary international
standards.
Climate & Geographical Location
It is extremely hot and dry in summer and cold and pleasant in winter.
Standing on the west bank of the Yamuna river, at the narrowest point
between the Aravalli hills and the Himalayas is Delhi.
How to Reach
New Delhi is well connected by rail, road and air. By air, New Delhi has
two terminals, one for domestic and the other for international flights.
4.5 km apart ,the two are linked by coach services. The Indira Gandhi
International Airport connects Delhi , to the world. On the domestic
front, it is well connected with all state capitals and major metros all
over India. By rail, Old Delhi, New Delhi and Hazrat Nizammuddin stations
,connect Delhi to all parts of the country. All these 3 stations ,are
located at a distance of maximum 5 km from each other. By road, Delhi is
connected by National Highways ,to all the parts of the country. It is
also linked by bus services of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and state
roadways ,of neighbouring states to all important cities and destinations
in North India. Delhi is well connected by road ,with many major cities
like Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Shimla, Nainital, Agra, Ajmer,
Gwalior etc.
Tourist Places
Raj Ghat
Mahatma Gandhi was cremated here in 1948. This sprawling site, on the
banks of the Yamuna, is marked by a brick platform, flanked by an eternall
flame, surrounded by lush green lawns and imposing boundary walls of
concrete.
Rashtrapati Bhavan
The official residence of the President of India, it stands at the
opposite end of the Rajpath, from India Gate. This palace-like building,
is an interesting blend of Mughal and western architectural styles, the
most obvious Indian feature being the huge copper dome. Attached is a
Mughal garden which remains open to the public, only in February and early
March. Prior to Independence this was the viceroy's residence.
Sansad Bhavan
Although a large and imposing building, Sansad Bhavan, the Indian
parliament building, stands almost hidden and virtually unnoticed,at the
end of Sansad Marg. A circular colonnaded structure, its relative physical
insignificance in the grand scheme of New Delhi, shows how the focus of
Power has shifted,from the viceroy's residence, which was given pride of
place during the time of the British Raj, when New Delhi was conceived.
Bahai Temple
Lying to the east of Siri Fort, is the Bahai Temple shaped like a lotus
flower. Completed in 1986, it is set amongst pools and gardens, and
adherents of any Faith, are free to visit the temple and pray, or meditate
silently, according to their own religion. It looks spectacular at dusk,
particularly from the air, when it is floodlit, but is rather
disappointing close up. The temple lies just inside the Outer Ring Road,
12 km southeast of the city centre.
Red Fort
The red sandstone walls of Lal Qila, the Red Fort, extends for 2 km, and
vary in height from 18ms on the riverside, to 33ms on the city side.
Started by Shah Jahan in 1638, the construction of the massive fort was
completed in 1648. But he was never able, to move his capital from Agra to
this new city of Shahjahanabad in Delhi, for he was imprisoned in Agra
Fort by his son Aurangzeb. Dating from the very peak of Mughal power, the
Mughal reign from Delhi, was a short one. However Aurangzeb was the first
and last great Mughal emperor to rule from here.
Chandni Chowk
This main street of Old Delhi, is the colourful shopping bazaar, known as
Chandni Chowk. A very sharp contrast to the open, spacious streets of New
Delhi. At its eastern end is a Digambara Jain Gurdwara (temple), with a
small marble courtyard, surrounded by a colonnade. There is an interesting
bird hospital here, run by the Jains.
Jama Masjid.
The largest in India, and the final architectural extravagance of Shah
Jahan; Jama Masjid is the great mosque of Old Delhi. It has three great
gateways, four angle towers and two minarets constructed of alternating
vertical strips of red sandstone and white marble. Broad flights of steps,
lead up to the imposing gateways. The Eastern gateway was originally, only
opened for the emperor, but is now only open on Friday and Muslim festival
days. So large is the mosque's countryard, that it can hold 25,000 people.
Connaught Place
A business and tourist centre, it's a vast traffic circle, with an
architecturally uniform series, of colonnaded buildings around the edge,
mainly devoted to shops, banks, restaurants and airline offices. Willing
to shop, you can have any and every thing at your disposal. Its spacious,
but busy, and the people will be willing to provide you with everything
imaginable, from an airline ticket to Timbuktu, to having your fortune
read. The outer circle is known as Connaught Circus.
Jantar Mantar.
A short stroll down Sansad Marg, from Cannaught Place, this strange
collection of salmon -coloured structure, is one of Maharaja Jai Singh
II's observatories. The ruler from Jaipur constructed this observatory in
1725 and a huge sundial known as the Prince of Dials dominates it. Other
instruments, plot the course of heavenly bodies and predict eclipses.
Lakshmi Narayan Temple
To the west of Connaught Place, the industrialist B.D. Birla, erected this
garish modern temple in 1938. Its dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of
prosperity and good fortune and is commonly known as Birla Mandir.
India Gate
This 42ms high stone of triumph, stands at the eastern end of the Rajpath.
It bears the names of 85,000 Indian army soldiers, who died in the
campaigns of WW I, the NorthWest Frontier operations of the same time, and
the 1919 Afghan fiasco.
Qutb Minar
One of the earliest Muslim monuments in India, it was erected in (c.1230)
by Iltutmish of the Delhi Sultanate. Built in the early 13th century, a
few kilometres south of Delhi, the red sandstone tower is covered with
relief work and has a symbolic function, its a Victory Tower, for
glorifying Islam's victory against idolators. The highest monument of
India, Qutb Minar is 72.5 m high, tapering from 2.75 m in diameter at its
peak, to 14.32 m at its base, and alternating angular and rounded
flutings. An indoor staircase leads to the outside galleries, from where
the muezzin calls for prayer. The monument is decked out with huge strips
of Koranic verses. The surrounding archeological area contains funerary
buildings, notably the magnificent Alai-Darwaza gate, the masterpiece of
Indo-Moslem art built in 1311, and two mosques, including Quwwatul-Islam,
the oldest in northern India, made from materials from about twenty
Brahmin temples.
Others
CORONATION DURBAR SITE - This is a sobering sight for people interested in
the Raj. Standing in a desolate field, this lone obelisk is where, in 1877
and 1903, the great theatrical durbars, featuring the full set of Indian
rulers paid homage to the British monarch.
FEROZ SHAH KOTLA - Between the old and new Delhis, lies the Feroz Shah
Kotla, erected by Feroz Shah Tuglaq in 1354, the ruins of Ferozabad, the
fifth city of Delhi. In the fortress-palace is a 13m high sandstone Ashoka
pillar, inscribed with Ashoka's edicts.
MOTI MASJID - Built in 1659 by Aurangzeb, for his own personal use and
security, the small and totally enclosed Pearl Mosque, made of marble, is
next to the baths. One curious feature of the mosque is that, its outer
walls are oriented exactly to be in symmetry with the rest of the Red
Fort, while the inner walls are slightly askew, so that the mosque has the
correct orientation with Mecca.
NIZAM-UD-DIN'S SHRINE - Close to Humayun's tomb, is the shrine of the
Muslim Sufi saint, Nizam-ud-din Chishti. His shrine, with its large tank,
is one of several interesting tombs here. Its worth visiting the shrine at
around sunset on Thursday, as it is a popular time for worship.
PURANA QUILA - Just South-east of India Gate and north of Humayun's tomb
and Nizamuddin train station is the Purana Quila. This is the supposed
site of Indraprastha, the oiginal city of Delhi.
RAJPATH - Rajpath or the Kings- way is another focus of Lutyens New Delhi.
Immensely broad, it is flanked on either side by ornamental ponds. The
Republic Day parade is held here every 26th January, and millions of
people gather to enjoy the spectacle.
SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS - The north and south Secretariat buildings, lie on
either side of Rajpath on Raisina hill. These imposing buildings, topped
with chhatris (small domes), now house the ministries of Finance and
External Affairs respectively
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