Tourist attractions in Delhi

Delhi is known as the proud capital city of India. Delhi has been a reflection of glorious history and rich heritage of the country. Since the 13th Century Delhi has been considered as the most powerful centre of the country. The city has been divided into two parts the old Delhi and the New Delhi. Seven Cities in different parts of Delhi had been established from the 12th to 17th centuries by rulers of successive dynasties.

Delhi has many tourist attractions that bring lakhs of people every year to visit the city. The main tourist attractions are:

India Gate: Built in 1911, this 42 meter high free standing arch was designed by Lutyens. The monument originally known as All India War Memorial was made in the memory of 90,000 soldiers of the Indian Army who died in World War I. All along the walls of the arch the names of the soldiers are inscribed. An eternal flame was lit here in 1971 to honour the immortal soldiers.

Purana Qila (Old Fort): The ruined fort is located on a small hill that stands on the banks of the river Yamuna. Somewhere between 1538 AD to 1545 Ad the construction of the fort was carried by an Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri. Although the legend says that the fort was considered to be the site of Indraprastha, The beautiful and magnificent capital of the Pandavas. The fort comprises of a mosque which has a double storeyed octagonal tower. It is also said that the Mughal King Humayun fell from the tower accidentally and died. The Delhi Tourism has made arrangements for boating at the lake that is located at the foot of the hill.

Jantar Mantar: Jantar Mantar Observatory was built in 1724 by Sawai Jai Singh, Rajput King of Jaipur. The observatory is located in the heart of Delhi. Jantar Mantar was built for observing the movements of the stars and planets.

Humayun's Tomb: The Humayun’s tomb is a magnificent red and white building which is spectacular in view and is mainly inspired by Taj Mahal. The tomb was built in the memory of Humayun by his grieving wife. Humayun’s widow Haji Begum built the tomb nine years after the death in the year 1595 – 1566.

Chandni Chowk: The name Chandni Chowk originally means moonlit square or market. This market is one of the oldest and busiest markets of Delhi. It is famous and best known for wholesale markets for textiles, electronic goods and many other utility items. Chandni Chowk is one of the major street located in the walled city of Old Delhi, which was originally called as Shah Jahanabad. Jahanara Begum, the favourite daughter of Shah Jahan had designed the entire area. The area was inhabited by the well to do families of that time. Today the area of Chandni Chowk is one of the most highly congested areas.

Safdarjang's Tomb: Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah constructed the tomb in the memory of his father Muqim Abul Mansur Khan in the year 1753-54. Muqim Abul Mansur Khan was conferred upon the name of Safdarjung by the Mughal Emperor Mohammed Shah. The monument is one of the last garden tombs made in the Mughal architectural style. The tomb consists of a number of charming pavilions namely Jangli Mahal, (Palace in the woods), Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace) and Badshah Pasand (King's favorite).

Parliament House, New Delhi: The monument is also known as the Sansad Bhawan is a large legislative assembly that can be admired from outside only on account of security restrictions. The parliament house is circular in structure almost a kilometre in structure. It is located close to the house of President of India.

Rashtrapati Bhawan (President's House): The building designed by Lutyens is the official residence of the president of the country. During the British Rule in India, it was the official residence of the Viceroy. It is spread in the area of 330 acres with 340 rooms. The Mughal Gardens within the complex are really beautifully maintained and are open to public during certain periods of the year.

Birla Mandir (Laxmi Narayan Temple): Raja Baldev Birla a famous industrialist built the temple in the year 1938. The Lakshmi Narayan Temple is famously known as the Birla Temple. The temple is famous for Lord Vishnu - the preserver of the Hindu Trinity and also has idols of several other deities. The temple is one of the major tourist attractions of Delhi.

Akshardham Temple: The Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple reflects the essence and magnificence of India's ancient architecture, traditions and timeless spirituality. The temple covers an area of 100 acres and stands on the banks of the Yamuna River. The temple complex is surrounded by beautifully laid out gardens and attracts lakhs of tourists from far and wide. The temple is built in marble and red sandstone, symbolising devotion and eternal peace.

CREMATION SITES OF NATIONAL LEADERS:

On the banks of the river Yamuna are the shrines of national leaders: Raj Ghat (Mahatma Gandhi); Shanti van (Jawaharlal Nehru) Vijay Ghat (Lal Bahadur Shastri), Shakti Sthal (Indira Gandhi) and Vir Bhumi (Rajiv Gandhi)

Red Fort: Built between 1638 and 1648 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The prime minister of India addresses the nation on the Independence Day from the Red fort. The fort is also popularly known as the Lal Quilla and is a popular tourist attraction. The fort displays the grandness of the architecture of the Mughal Empire. The fort complex has the Diwan-i-Am, Diwan-i-Khas, the Moti Masjid, and the Shahi Burj etc.

Linus Orakles
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