Heart of India with Delhi Sightseeing

Red Fort Delhi

A modern metropolitan city with a historic past is what surmises Delhi. The capital has seen the rise and fall of many empires. Delhi is truly a cosmopolitan city which brings together people of various ethnic groups and their traditions and cultures. Its rich culture is reflected in the variety of arts, crafts, cuisines, festivals and lifestyles. Tourism in Delhi state combines the modern and the traditional aspects; from traditional bazaars to mega malls, from historical monuments to modern architectural wonders Delhi has it all. To visit this cultural potpourri, I envisaged on a trip to Delhi, the imperial city.

My first encounter in Delhi sightseeing was with the mighty Qutub Minar: It is the highest tower in India in red and buff sandstone. Numerous inscriptions in Nagari and Arabic in different places reveal the Qutub history. At the foot of the tower is the Quwwat Ul Islam Mosque, the 1st in India built on the ruins of Hindu temples. A 7m high iron pillar stands in the courtyard of the mosque.

India Gate: This landmark in India commemorates the members of the India Army who sacrificed their lives in the war. Amar Jawan Jyoti is the largest war memorials in India which is burning since 1971. It is a 5 storey tower and each is unique in its design. In the evening, the entire boulevard is lined with vehicles and people making it a leisurely spot.

Humayun’s Tomb: Is the 1st distinct example of Mughal style and the 1st garden tomb in India. The tomb is constructed in typical char bagh style.

Delhi Humayun Tomb

Lotus Temple- Known as the Baha I House of worship, it is a prominent attraction due to its lotus shape with 27 petals and 9 pools surrounding it. The massive hall offers for a peaceful prayer hall where one can sit and meditate in silence. One is required to remove their shoes before entering the hall and observe silence.

Red Fort - Is known as Lal Qila because of the extensive use of red sandstone; it is located near the river Yamuna. The major highlight is the massive 2 km long wall. Every evening, there is a display of history through the light and sound show. Every year on 15th August, the prime minister addresses to the nation from here. In 2007, it was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Discovering the mystical Delhi with Delhi tourism

I have always been fascinated reading and hearing about Delhi. So, I along with my family took a Delhi tour in November. Knowing about the extreme climatic conditions of Delhi, we went in November. We hired a cab at an affordable rate for our travel to Delhi.

Rang Mahal Fountain

We kicked off our Delhi tourism with the Red Fort in Old Delhi. On the first look itself from the entrance gate, this majestic monument captivated me. I was so excited to discover what’s in store. The Chhatta Chowk aka Meena Baazar on the entrance pavement took me to the time of Mughal era. I started imagining how this small market would be then. Built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, this fort made of red sandstone has many attractive spots inside. Rang Mahal or the Palace of Colours with marble pool is strikingly beautiful. The lavishly decorated private audience hall, Diwan-e-Khas and Diwan-e-am, the public hall are magnificently constructed.

From the Red Fort, we went to Jama Masjid, which is just the opposite of this fort. It is the largest mosque in India. Jama Masjid reflects a blend of Hindu and Mughal architectural styles. Constructed with red sandstone and white marble, the mosque has three gateways, four towers and two minarets.

After Jama Masjid, we went to the very famous bustling bazaar, Chandni Chowk. I heard a lot about this well-known parathe lane called Paranthe wali Gali and so was really keen to visit. And my god! There are endless eating joints selling varieties of parathas. We savoured paneer parathe, kaju, matar, badam paratha. We also purchased sarees with zari work, jewellery, shoes and some other stuff from Chandni Chowk.

Akshardham Temple Delhi

Our Delhi India tour package took us to some other great monuments of Mughal era like Humayun's Tomb, Safdarjung Tomb, Purana Quila, Qutub Minar, the tallest brick minaret in the world and Jantar Mantar, the astronomical observatory built by Raja Jai Singh II of Jaipur.

The next day we had planned to capture other tourist attractions of Delhi. We started off with Akshardham Temple. This huge temple complex located near the Nizamuddin Bridge is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan. We spent more than 3 hours exploring the magnificence of this temple. From there on, our Delhi tour guide took us to Lotus Temple. This modern architecture in the shape of a lotus flower is a famous prayer hall of the Bahai faith. After that, we headed straight to India Gate, Parliament House and President House.

Knowing that Delhi is a shopper's delight, we went for shopping and picked up lots of things from Connought Place, Sarojini Nagar and Lajpat Nagar at affordable rates.

Our three-day Delhi tour was short but we managed to cover all the major attractions of Delhi. It was a memorable trip for all of us.

Witness the Heritage and Splendour of India on Delhi Tour (Part -2)

Next morning, I was all set to explore few other popular attractions of the city. Qutub Minar was the first one on my Delhi sightseeing that day. This huge structure was located in a peaceful ambiance and there I could also spot several other structures. This historic attraction still retains its old-world charm.

Qutub Minar

The famous Humayun's Tomb of Delhi was another part of my exploration. It is the first garden tomb in India and I found the architecture very impressive. The tour guide told me that it was built in 1570 by the emperor's widow, Haji Begum. With high arches and formal gardens or charbagh, the tomb is also listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After this wonderful experience, I was too excited to visit Lotus Temple in Delhi. Reason being, its flower-like shape always make me wonder that how can a temple lie within. It was the time to end my surprise and there I was at Lotus temple by Delhi metro. I got down at Kalkaji metro station and it was just on a walking distance. Based on my experience, I would recommend this popular tourist spot in Delhi. Its tranquil atmosphere, pleasant surroundings and majestic architecture will surely add delight to your Delhi tour.

I could also visit the Iskon temple and Birla temple on my travel to Delhi. Amazing architecture, pleasant ambiance and tranquil feeling that is all I could say after visiting these famous temples in Delhi.

Humayun Tomb Delhi

On my trip to Delhi, I also spent my last few hours at Akshardham temple Delhi. It was easily accessible by Delhi metro. This majestic temple offers you the beautiful glimpses of Indian sculptures that will occupy your mind. I had to rush as the leisure time was over for me and next day I was to report at office.

My Delhi tour ended and I bid goodbye to Delhi but with a promise to come again to visit all the Delhi attractions that I missed on this trip. The moments I captured in my camera was making me feel delightful throughout my way back to home.

Delhi Tourism Comes with Hidden Surprises for Tourists (Part-1)

On concluding my business trip at Agra, I had two days in my hand when there nothing much to do. To make the most of my time, I planned to visit Delhi. This capital city of India unfolds its charm in mainly the two areas-the Old Delhi and the New Delhi. Delhi tourism is formed by its historical monuments, lush green gardens, happening shopping malls and much more.

Chandni Chowk Delhi

I was very much relaxed after my business trip as the task was already accomplished successfully and I was free to encash the time in hand. I contacted a good hotel at Karol Bagh and stayed there. At night while relaxing at hotel, I was busy in planning out the vacant time.

I started my Delhi sightseeing with RedFort. This majestic structure, known as the Red Fort or Lal Quila situates in old Delhi. Built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, this huge structure captivated my attention as long as I was there and even after I moved ahead.

Having heard a lot about Chandni Chowk in Delhi, I entered this area. Though I found it very congested yet a rickshaw ride helped me out. I tasted lip-smacking food in Parantha wali gali that made my visit to Chandni Chowk worthwhile. This area has so much to offer that you cannot do without shopping. Same happened to me; I shopped some beautiful traditional dresses and handicrafts from the market.

From there I headed towards another famous Delhi tourist attraction-Rajghat. That was a peaceful place where all I could witness was the memories of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of nation. I was so fascinated by the experience that I decided to visit the Gandhi Memorial Museum that lies nearby. It showcases the life cycle of the great soul through a movie.

Red Fort Delhi

India gate became the next attraction that I explore. By the time, I reach India Gate, it was evening and I could clearly see that it was an ideal picnic time for Delhiites. There were many people, came with families and all were enjoying different activities-playing games, boating or relishing ice-creams.

At night, I came back and enjoyed a delicious dinner at hotel and soon I was transported to the dreamland.

International Arts Festival: Colourful Element Of Delhi Tourism

Ralph Reichenbach & Doug Madill have rightly said, “Art strives to express; craft strives for excellence. Good art has good craft, good craft is artistic. Within every craft there exists artists. Within every artist there is craft”. And my good fortune sneaked me an opportunity to visit the International Arts Festival in Delhi. The capital city is undoubtedly the centre of attraction in terms of lifestyle, food, culture, festivals, media, technology, art, and almost everything. I, being an art lover, planned a four-day trip to the National Capital Territory of Delhi and flew to celebrate India's signature festival. Located on the banks of the River Yamuna, the city has been continuously inhabited since the 6th century BC, according to archaeological evidence. According to the Archaeological Survey of India, Delhi houses about 1200 heritage buildings and 175 monuments as national heritage sites.

My cousin, Sameer, puts up at South Extension, one of the most happening areas of Delhi. He had promised to accompany me on the entire Delhi tour. Sam, that is how I call him, told me that the International Arts Festival is very helpful in establishing India as a global soft power and making it a destination of cultural tourism. This 24-day festival covers 35 segments, 72 venues and 2500 artistes. We first drove to the Crafts Museum (Pragati Maidan), which exhibited a rarest collection of 20,000 items of folk and tribal arts, crafts and textiles. I was quite surprised to see the expertise of the artisans in bronze images, lamps and incense burners, ritual accessories, utensils, wood and stone carvings, papier mache, ivories, dolls, toys, puppets and masks, jewellery, paintings, terracotta, cane and bamboo work and textiles from different regions of India.

Our next halt was FICCI auditorium, where we saw galleries of folk and tribal arts and craftsd, aristocratic objects, and traditional Indian textiles. I bought a few items for my mom and my brothers. We stopped for a quick bite at Connaught Place, the heart of Delhi. Sam asked me if I wanted to visit the popular art galleries like Triveni, Sridharani, Vadehra, Eicher, Lalit Kala Akademi, Max Mueller Photo Gallery etc. But I preferred going Dilli Haat, popular venue for crafts bazaars throughout the year. It is famous for offering almost all types of handicrafts, mementos, gifts and crafts of each and every state of India. While returning to home, our last halt was Kamani Auditorium, where we enjoyed various performing arts representing the range of classical dance forms and schools of music from all over India.

Delhi Tourism has served as the seat of empires for centuries, and therefore it is a major cultural center, attracting the best of painters, musicians and dancers. Sam told me that October to March is the 'cultural season' of Delhi and countless elements of this colourful and vibrant city were remained untouched. No worries, as I had enough time to explore all the historical, cultural and adventurous aspects of Delhi.