» Delhi

Delhi is no fairytale city but a city where dreams come to reality. Its strategic location was one of the prime reasons why successive dynasties chose it as their seat of power. Delhi is truly a symbol of the old and the new, a blend of ancient well preserved monuments and temples along with jam-packed burger joints and upmarket shopping malls.

The city is lushed with a plethora of temples, forts, mosques as well as parks, gardens and beautiful colonial mansions. Delhi may seem daunting to a first time visitor but as a national capital and the gateway to the North, it is a must visit city on any travelers itinerary. Impressive museums and interesting nightlife, Delhi has a lot to offer for everyone.

» Sightseeing in Delhi

Delhi has no dirth of sightseeing locations. Some of them are:

India Gate : Built as a memorial to commemorate the 70,000 India soldiers killed in World War I, India Gate was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and completed in 1931. Located on Rajpath, the road which leads to the magnificent Rashtrapati Bhawan, the gate is 160 feet high with an arch of 138 feet.

Built from sandstone, the arch also houses the Eternal Flame, a gesture in memory of the Indian soldiers who laid their lives in the 1971 war with Pakistan.

Red Fort : Red Fort is one of the most magnificent palaces in the world. India's history is also closely linked with this fort. It was frorth here ht the British deposed the last Mughal ruler, Bhadur Shah Zafar, marking the end of the three century long Mughal rule. It was also fromits ramparts that the first prime. Minister of India, pandit Jawharlal Nehru, announced to the nation that India was free form colonial rule. The Diwani-I-Am is the Red Fort's hall of public audience.

Built of sandstone covered with shell plaster polished to look like ivory, the 80 x 40 feet hall is sub-divided by columns. The Mughal emperors would hold court here and meet dignitaries and foreign emissaries. The most imposing feature of the Diwqani-I-Am is the alcove in the back wall where the emperor sat in state on a richly carved and inlaid marble platform. In the recess behind the platform are fine examples of Italian pietra-dura work.

Residence of the senior queens, the Rang Mahal (hall of colours ) has a central hall surrounded by six apartments. The apartments are assured privacy by intricately carved screens which do not hinder the free flow of fresh air and light. The stream of paradise flows through the main hall, and is marked in the centre by a huge lotus shaped marble basin with an ivory fountain.

Qutub Minar : Soaring high above the Quwwatual Islam mosque is the tower Sultan Qutbuddin Aibak built in AD 1196 to celebrate the invincibility of Islam. Although modelled as a classical minaror tower from which the muezzin calls the faithful to prayers, the Qutb Minar was a symbolic rather than a functional structure.

It would be an extraordinary muezzin who would expect to be heard from a height of 72.5 meters - assuming, in the first place, that he managed to trudge up the 379 steps five times, each day. Qutab Minar points up to heaven on the southern side of the city.

It was built in the 12th century, and it still towers high above its surroundings. When the cab driver drops you off at the gate, you are directly approached by several persons trying to sell you anything from postcards to a nice embrace with an enormous snake. As you escape them, and after paying the entrance fee, you enter the area that houses the Qutab Minar. Not only that, it is also to several buildings, although most of them are in ruins now. You can see the first mosque of India, right at the feet of the Qutab Minar. It was built using building material from Hindu temples.

Although many parts of the mosque are missing or in bad shape, you can still see marvellously sculpted ceilings, columns, and capitals. In the central square, there is an iron pillar, unfortunately closed by a low fence. Unfortunately because, as was the tradition, anyone who could encircle the iron pillar with his arms, while standing with his back to it, would have his wishes fulfilled.

» Places to Stay in Delhi

Delhi is one of the major tourist destination, where international tourist inflow is also quite good. So the options of luxurious accommodations are plenty. If you are a budget travellers, there are numerous tourist lodges as well mid-range hotels in Delhi.

» Shopping in Delhi

Delhi is unique in that it has representative outlets for the handicrafts of each Indian state. This in it self presents a staggering array of goods, and at very affordable prices. In the last decade there has been a dramatic change in Delhi's markets. Upwardly mobile lifestyle has led to greater sophistication in display and upgrading of various markets in terms of availability of items.

» How to Get there

Air : Delhi is well connected by air with many airlines flying into and out of Delhi. There are two airports, the Safdarjang airport and the Indira Gandhi International Airport. The Indira Gandhi International Airport is located some 23-kms away from the city center

Rail : Delhi is very well connected by rail to all parts of India. Delhi currently has five railway stations. The main office for making train reservations is located between the New Delhi Station and Connaught Place on Chelmsford Road.

Road : Delhi is Linked with Bus Services of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and state roadways of the neighbouring states to all important cities and destinations in North India. The Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT) located at Kashmiri Gate is fully equipped with a bank counter, tourist information center, post office and snack bars

» Nearby Cities

    » Agra: 200 km
    » Jaipur: 258 km
    » Chandigarh : 238 km
    » Shimla: 368 km
    » Udaipur: 635 km

Delhi Travel Packages
1. Incredible India Tour     Destinations : Delhi - Udaipur - Varanasi     Duration : 13 Nights / 14 Days	Read More :: Book Now
2. Maharaja Retreat Tour     Destinations : Delhi - Agra - Jaipur     Duration : 09 Nights / 10 Days	Read More :: Book Now
3. Royal Rajasthan Tour     Destinations : Delhi - Jaipur - Jodhpur     Duration : 09 Nights / 10 Days	Read More :: Book Now
4. Golden Triangle Tour     Destinations : Delhi - Agra - Jaipur     Duration : 06 Nights / 07 Days	Read More :: Book Now
5. Golden Triangle with Khajuraho Tour     Destinations : Agra - Jaipur - Khajurahao     Duration : 08 Nights / 09 Days	Read More :: Book Now
6. Touring India     Destinations : Agra - Delhi - Corbett     Duration : 12 Nights / 13 Days	Read More :: Book Now