Delhi

Geography

Delhi is located in the northern part of the India and extends latitude 28.38°N and longitude 77.12°E. It is encircled by the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in the east and by Haryana in the other three sides. Travelers to Delhi get two cities for the price of one. 'Old' Delhi , the capital of Muslim India between the mid-17th and late 19th centuries, is full of formidable mosques, monuments and forts. It's a lively area of colorful bazaars, narrow streets and barely controlled chaos. In contrast, New Delhi , the imperial city created by the British Raj, is composed of spacious, tree-lined avenues and imposing government buildings, and has a sense of order absent in other parts of the city.

History

As you travel the historical city of Delhi India , you will feel like you are walking down the nostalgic lane and turning back the pages of its glorious history. Whether you are a history buff or a vacationer, the historical city of Delhi will never fail to enrapture your heart and mind. Delhi , the national capital of India , is the treasure trove of rich history and architecture. Its magnificent historical monuments narrate its history. According to the legend, the history of Delhi traces back to the history of Mahabharata, with the foundation of Indraprastha by the Pandavas. Before the end of the 12th century, Delhi was ruled over by the Muslim rulers. From Qutab-ub-din and Iltutmish to Khiljis, Tughlaqs and Mughals, ruled over the historical city of Delhi before the control was shifted in the hands of the British in 1803 AD.
Calcutta served as the capital of the British East India Company. But in 1911, the capital of the British Raj shifted to Delhi . After independence, in 1956, Delhi gained the status of a Union Territory . Most of the part of the city was planned by Sir Edwin Lutyens. On historical tours of Delhi , see myriad faces of the city and get enchanted by its imperial architecture and monuments, stand as the reminders of Delhi 's history. Visit the ruins and ramparts, as you dig out the history of Delhi during your holiday tour. While touring this historical city, breathe the fresh air and see its ancient and medieval monuments that reminds about the great freedom struggle. One can visit the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Humayun's Tomb, Purana Quila, the Red Fort, Lotus Temple , the Laxminarayan Temple , the India Gate and the Raj Ghat on historical tours of Delhi .

Delhi Attraction

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 : The fort lies on the course of the Jamuna river, that fed the trenches that surround most of the wall. The Red Fort was the seventh Muslim city in the Delhi site. The Red Fort stands at the eastern edge of Shahjahanabad, and gets its name from the massive wall of red sandstone there at its eight ides. The wall is 1.5miles long, and varies in height from 60ft on the river side to 110ft towards the city.

In the 18th century, looters damaged some sections of the palace. After the Sepoy mutiny of 1857, when the Fort was used as a headquarters, the British army occupied and destroyed many of its pavilions and gardens. The walls of the fort are smooth, expressed by heavy string-courses along the upper section. They open at two major gates, the Delhi and the Lahore gates. The Lahore Gate is the main entrance; it leads to a long bazaar street, the Chatta Chowk, whose walls are lined with stalls for shops.

Jantar Mantar : Jantar Mantar of Delhi is only one of the five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh II, the other four being located at Jaipur, Varanasi , Ujjain and Mathura . All of these were built as far back as AD 1724-1730 during the period known as the dark age of Indian history, when the last great Mughal emperor Aurangzeb died. The various abstract structures within the Jantar Mantar are, in fact, instruments that were used for keeping track of celestial bodies. 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.

Humayu's Tomb : It is generally regarded as a prototype of the famed Taj Mahal of Agra. The tomb of Begai Begum, wife of Emperor Humayun was buried here. The construction took eight years to complete which was made of white marble and red sandstone.

Raj Ghat : It was later turned into a national memorial, the design for which was conceived by Vanu G Bhuta. A stone footpath laid by well- looked lawns leads to a walled enclosure, open to the sky, with a simple stone platform in black marble to mark the site. The Mahatma's last words have been engraved on it Hey Ram. The Raj Ghat is the last resting place of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. The place is not far away from the banks of River Yamuna.

Delhi Climate

The summer months are not the ideal time to visit Delhi . It is hot, very dry and dusty. You can even get sunstroke unless you take precautions. Wear light cotton clothing. Try to keep your head covered. Cover your head and take your shoes off in places of worship. Stay away from beggars and touts. Female travelers are quite safe but the hazards of being a woman alone exist.

How To Reach Delhi

Flight : Delhi 's Indira Gandhi International Airport is connected to all the important cities of the world, by major international airlines. Palam Domestic airport connects Delhi to the major cities in India .

Train : Delhi is connected to many Indian cities and towns by super-fast and express trains. The city's 3 main railway stations are New Delhi , Old Delhi and Nizamuddin. Luxury trains such as the Palace-on-Wheels, Fairy Queen and Royal Orient Express begin their tour from Delhi Cantonment railway station.

Road : Delhi is well connected to all the major cities of India by a network of highways and roads. There are three Inter State Bus Terminuses (ISBT), at Kashmere Gate, Sarai Kale Khan and Anand Vihar, as well as many starting points in and around the city, from which various state-managed and privately run transport facilities.