Places around Delhi
Gandhi National Museum
Old Delhi
The great mosque of 'Old' Delhi is the largest in India, with a courtyardMuseums & Arts Galleries
Crafts Museum, Thapar House: It showcases traditional and rural hadicrafts.Doll’s Museum
IT is a part of children’s Book Trust and has an international collection of dolls which are dressed in their respective national costumes. The museum is located to the east of Bahadur shah zafar marg.National Gallery of Modern Art
The gallery has a fine collection of art from the 19th and 20th centuries. There are over 2,000 paintings, sculptures and graphics.National Museum
On Janpath, the National Museum has a varied and interesting collection of Indian bronze, One of India’s most important museums exhibits artefacts from prehistorics and Indus valley civilizations, sculptures from the Maurya, Gandhara, Gupta and other periods, bronzes, miniature paintings, copies of murals, central Asian antiqities, textiles and decorative art, an anthropological section and a handicrafts gallery. Nearby is the National Archives with a wealth of documents and records.Nehru Memorial Museum (teen Murti House)
It was the residence of Nehruji, the first prime Ministe of India and now houses a museum and research library dedicated to him. A sound and light show- ‘Tryst with Destiny’ is held here every evening.National Memorials
Rajghat is the site of Mahatma Gandhi’s cremation in 1948. This is now marked by a slab of black marble and enclosed by walls bearing inscriptions of his writings in many languages. Rajghat is something rare in India, impressive without being pompous or impersonal. The Gandhi Darshan and Gandhi Museum, both just over the road, are good.A simple square platform of black marble marks the site where mahatma Gandhi, the Father of Nation was cremated. His last utterance ‘Hey Ram’ is inscribed at the base. Extensive lawns create a peaceful atmosphere.
Shanti Vana (the forest of Peace)
India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru was cremated here in 1964. Adjacent to Raj Ghat, it is flanked by lawns and foliage of many variety.It is site where Jawaharal Nehru, the first prime minister of India was cremated.
Vijay Ghat
Nehru’s successor, Lal Bahadur Shastri, was cremated here.Lal Bahadur shastri, the second prime minister was cremated here.
Shakti Sthal
India’s Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, and her son Sanjay Gandhi were cremated here.Kisan Ghat
Memorial to the legendary farmer’s leader Charan Singh, who was also prime minister briefly in 1979.Samta Sthal
The site is opposite Raj Ghat and was built in the mid- 1980s as a memorial to the legendary leader of the backward communities, Jagjivan Ram.Nehru Park
A beautifully landscaped park in Chanakyapuri. This park is filled with grassy mounds, ponds, groves, trees and lower beds. It also has a swimming pool and a snack bar. An ideal haunt for romantic couples.Pragati Maidan
Just next to the Purana Qila, this extensive exhibition ground hosts national and international fairs and exhibitions almost throughout the year. At one end this ground contains the enchanting Crafts Museum. Besides shops selling wonderful Indian handicrafts, a village has been created to give a very distinctive rural Indian feel. Besides a host of pavilions and museums, the exhibitions ground also boasts of theatres, cinemas and eateries. The other end of this ground contains the popular amusement park, the Appu Ghar, where children can enjoy all sorts of joy rides and games.Qudsia Garden
This garden, on the banks of then river Yamuna, was laid out in 1748 by Qudsia Begum, a favourite mistress of Muhammad Shah. The garden contains a wide variety of flowers and an imposing gateway, where peacocks can be found in abundance. The garden is also associated with the first war of Independence in 1857.Roshnara Bagh
This garden, in Old Delhi, was laid out by Roshnara Begum, Shahjahan’s daughter, in 1650. The garden contains a variety of roses, a Japanese garden and a network of water channels. It now contains a small traffic park for children.Talkatora Garden
This bowl- shaped garden complex at Willingdon Crescent, with mini lakes and fountains, attracts picnickers throught the year. It hosts an indoor swimming complex and a modern stadin where national and international sports events are frequently held.The Baha’ I House of Worship (Lotus Temple)
Situated on top of the Kalkaji hill this distinctive Baha’ I House of worship is shaped to form a lotus of 45 petals in white marble and surrounded by a landscaped garden. People of all faiths are free to visit and pray in the temple. An atmosphere of local peace makes it worth a visit.Monuments & Memorials
Humayun’s Tomb
This world Heritage Monument built by Haji Begum, the widow of emperor Humayan and designed by persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, served as a model for the world renowned Taj Mahal. It was completed in 1565, eight years after the death of Humayun and is the first great example of the Mughal tomb-in-garden complex. Several other members of Mughal royal family lie buried here and many tombstones can be seen on the terrace.Humayun’s Tom (1560) is a great advance over the Lodi tombs. Although built mainly of red sandstone it has marble decoration and is clearly the direct predecessor of the Taj. Built by Haji Begum, the wife of Emperor Humayun, is one of the earliest examples of Mughal arcghitecture. The mausoleum is the first tomb built in the centre of a planned garden. Built with red sandstone and marble, the mausoleum is surrounded by avenues of trees, water courses and flower beds, a harmonious blend of architecture and nature and a great influence on later Mughal architecture. You can see several other slightly earlier tombs in this area including that of Isa Khan, which also has a small mosque. At the other end of a long straight road is an interesting contrast. The tomb of Safdarjang (prime minister to a late Mughal emperor and the second Nawab of Oudh.) Was build in 1753- 4, the last of its kind. The tomb of Safdarjang, widely named as the "last flicker in the lamp of Mughal architecture, marks the end of the closing phase of Mughal’s building art. The tomb was constructed by the 3rd Nawab of Oudh after the death of his father Mirza Mansur Khan, popularly called Safdarjang. The marble and sandstone cladding was taken from the tomb of Khan-I- Khanan, a short distance from Humayun’s Tomb. This is a son’s tribute to his father. Near Humayun’s Tomb is Hazrat Nizamuddin Auli the tomb of the saint who quarreled with Tughlak Shah. There is some very fine marble tracery in the several tombs and a richly decorated mosque. Nizamuddin village was founded 600 years ago around the Hazrat Nizamuddin’s Dargah- one of Sufism’s greatest shrines. The tomb was built for one of the most renowned of saints of the Chistia order. Nizamuddin Aulia (1236- 1325). Another important monument is the tomb of Amir khusrau, a celebrated Urdu poet and the founder of one of the most popular forms of north Indian classical music.
India Gate
India Gate is a 42m high stone arch of triumph. IT bears the name of the 85,000 Indian Army soldiers who died in the campaigns of the First World War, the North -West Frontiers operations and the 1919 Afghan Fiasco. Below the arch is the memorial to the Unknown Soldier.India’s ‘Arc d’ Triomphe’s’ stands majestically at the estern end of Raqjpath, the great avenue with wide lawns on either side of it, that leads to Rashtrapati Bhavan. Formely known as the All India War Memorial, the 42 metre high arch was designed by Lutyens and built in 1931, in the memory of soldiers of the Indian Army who died in world war-I. Names of 13,516 soldiers are inscribed on its walls. In 1971, an eternal flame was lit here to honour the ‘Amar Jawan’ the immortal soldier. At night the view of floodlit India Gate is spectacular.
Red Fort (Lal Qila)
The Red Fort or the Lal Quila, situated on the western bank of the river, Yamuna forms the majestic centerpieces of Mughal Emperor Shahajahan’s medieval walled city.’Shah Jahanabad’ (Old Delhi). This sandstone citadel encompasses grand audience halls, marble palaces ornamented with exquisite pietra dura, once embedded with precious stones, a market place where the royalty used to shop, a mosque gardens with, arbled fountains, plazas, baths, etc. The Red Fort is enclosed nearly 2.5km of battlement walls which vary in height from 18.5 m(60ft) ai its highest watch towers on the river side to 33 m on the city side, and is surrounded by a 9 m deep moat. It was here that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, unfurled the Indian flag on 15th August, 1947 commemorating the end of the British colonial rule.It was built in 17th century by shah Jahan, when the Mughal capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi. Shaped like an irregular octagon, the fort is about 2kms. in circumference. The river Yamuna once flowed besides its battlements. Its handsome gates-Lahore, Delhi and Eldphant are masterpieces of builder’s art. Within the ramparts are splendid ornmented buildings, pavilions, gardens tanks, the Moti Masjid a marvel in marble and two museums, the Archaeological and war memorial. The buildings worth visiting are- Naubat khana, Diwani-I-Am, Diwan-I-Khas, Rang Mahal and Khas Mahal. A sound And Light show recreates the history of Delhi and this fort. The Red Fort was the last of Delhi, it witnessed the glory and fall or Mughals, the British rule and then the dawn of Indian independence.
Qutab Minar
In 1199, Qutubuddin Aibak raised the Qutab Minar either as a victory tower or as a minaret to the adjacent mosque. From a base of 14.32 metres, it tapers to 2.75 metres, at a height of 72.5 metres. It is still the highest stone tower in India. It was complete by the Sultan’s successor and son-in-law, Iltutmish.This most fmous landmark of Delhi towering above the Lal kot monuments, is one of the World ?Heritage sites of UNESCO. It is 72.5 metres tall and tapers from a base diameter of 14.4 metres to a peak diameter of 2.4 meters. The five storeyed minar has three storeys built of red sandstone and two of marble and sandstone. Each storey is clearly distinfusihed from the outside because of its projecting balconies. Its foundation was laid by Qutb-ud-din Aibak (1193) and was completed by his son-in-law and successor shamsuddin Iltumish. The Devanagari inscriptions on the minar mentions that the it was damaged in 1326 and repaired by Muhammad-bin Tughlak and in 1368, Firoz shah replaced the upper storey and added two floors, making liberal use of marble stone.
A unique 7 metre high Iron pillar in the courtyard of Quwwar-ul-Islam mosque was perhaps a flagpole of a 4th-5th century vishnu temple. It has remained completely rust free for over 1500 years and is a tribute to ancient Indian metallurgy. Other attractions nearby are – the Tombs of the sultans Iltumish (1235), Alauddin, Balban and of Adham Khan, son of the emperor akbar’s wet nurse.
Jantar Mantar
Few minutes walk from Connaught Place, is a strange collection of solomon coloured structures. These were built by Maharaja Jai Singh and is actually an observatory. Though not as large as its compatriot in Jaipur, Jantar Mantar at Delhi is also an attraction for the tourists.Only a short stroll down Sansad Marg from Connaught Place,
This unique observatory was designed and built by Mirza Raja Jai Singh II of Jaipur in 1719. It is surrounded by stately palm trees and has a number of masonry instruments which were used to study the movement of constellations and stars in the sky. The samrat yantra, a huge sun-dial shaped like a right angled triangle is the largest instrument here.
Parlinament House (Sansad Bhawan)
This colonnaded circular building is 171 metres in diameter with 8.3 metres high 144 pillars surrounding it. Magnificent wood panelled halls and one of the finest Parliament libraries in Asia are part of this stately building.Purana Qila (old Fort)
The grand old fort, one of the most spectacular monuments of Delhi, is believed to have been built by the Afghan ruler sher shah suri (1538-1545). As one enters from the zoo side, one sees at the far end a small octagonal red sandstone tower, the sher Manzil. A little ahead is the Qila-I-kunha mosque. A field Museum nearby exhibits artefacts discovered in the area.Rashtrapati Bhavan
The spectacular official residence of president of India set on the eminence of the Raisina hill, sprawls over an area of 330 acres. It was designed by Sri Edwin Lutyens and is one of the largest residential buildings in the world with 340 rooms, 37 slons, 74 lobbies and loggias, one km. long corridor, 18 staircases and 37 fountains. In the front is a large court and a Mughal style gardens in the back, which is open for public viewing in February. The most magnificent room in the Rashtrapati Bhawan is the Burbar Hall, which lies directly under the main dome.Safdarjang’s Tomb
The graceful monument standing on a high terrace amidst an extensive garden was built in 1753-54 by Nawab shia-ud-Daulah, son of safdarjang, the second Nawab of Avadh and Prime Minister to Mughal emperor Muhammad shah.Bahai’s House of Worship (Lotus Temple)
Completed in 1986, the Bahai temple is set amidst pools and gardens, and adherenhts of any faith are free to visit the temple and pray or mediate silently according to their own religion. The structure is in lotus shape so it often called the lotus temple.The lotus shaped shrine of the Bahai sect invites followers of all faiths to meditate and pray in silence. The petals of the lotus are made of concrete clad with white marble which gives freshness and transparency to its surface. Around the blooming petals are nine pools of water, which light up in natural light. At dusk the sight of floodlit Lotus temple is simply spectacular.
Akshardham Temple
Akshardham is a Hindu temple complex in Delhi, India. It was indugurated in November 2005 by the President of India, Abdulo Kalam, the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and the leader of the organisation responsible for the creation of Akshardham, Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Build over an area of 100 acres on the banks of the Yamuna River, it took more than two years for construction, and costed around Rs. 2 billion, funded by millions of Bochasanvasi Aksharushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha followers worldwide. The temple has 234 ornate pillars, 20,000 statues and many arches.The massive temple complex of seaminarayan sect is set amidst 100 acres of well laid out lawns and lotus shaped water bodies, on the banks of river Yamuna. It was imauguarated on November 7,2005 by the president and prime Minister of India and has become a must visit site of Delhi. Akshardham is much more than a temple. The gigantic structure was ornately carved by over 11,000 crafismen woking diligently for ever 300 million man hours. The main temple is 141ft. high 316ft. broad and 370ft. long and has 239 exquisitely carved pillars and ninedomes. It enshrines a 11ft. high gold plated idol of Lord swaminarayan. There are also idols of Lakshmi - Narayan, shiva - Parvati, Ratha - Krishna and Sita - Ram, Over 20,000 other idols of disciples are carved on the inside and outside walls. Finely carved foral motifs, 869 peacocks and 149 full-sized elephants also grace the magnificent temple complex. About 2kms. long parikramas have over 1,152 beautifully carved pillars.
The exhibition halls studded with modern technologies like IMAX theatre, autoelectromatic machines and sound and light shows exhibits an amazing wold of Indian culture and heritage. There is also a disneyland kind of 12-minute boat ride which takes visitors through the vast magnitude of Indian culture. Models of Ajanta and Ellora caves and thematic setting of our culture are broutht to life through dummy depictions. The mamooth edifice resembles the Akshardham of Gandhinagar (Gujarat) and over 2 billion rupees are said to have been spent to create this wonderland.
Bangla Sahib Gurudwara
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is situated on the Gole Dakhana roundabout on Baba Kharak Sing Marg near Connaught Place. As the story goes, the eighth Guru of the Sikh Community, Guru Harkrishan Sahibji, appointed a guru at the tender age of five years and three months, was attributed with miraculous healing powers. At the request of Punjabis from Delhi where chicken pox had epidemic proportions, he decided to come here fro Hoshiarpur.In Delhi, he was received by Raja Jai Singh andhis childless wife. Legend has it that the Rani on meeting him had a passing thought that she would like to have a son like him and wished silently that he would come and sit on her lap. And sure he did! Impresses, she asked the king to give him his Bangla for his residence. The Guru had a lake dug in this complex and made a wish to God to let him suffer instead of the people. Devotees who thronged to received the waters from this lake were relieved of their sufferings. Guru Harkrishan died at the age of eight. The waters of this lake are still attributed with medicinal powers.
The sacred sikh shrine at Baba Kharak singh Marg commemorates the visit of Guru Harkrishan Sahibji.
Lakshmi Narayan Temple (Birla Mandir)
This late Hindu temple built in 1938 by eminent industrialist Raja Baldev Birla, and inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi, contains a large number of idols representing the various gods of the Indian pantheon. People of all faiths can enter and worship. The main deities are Narayana (The Preserver) and Lakshmi (the Goddess of Wealth).The massive temple dedicated to Narayana (the preserver) and Lakshni (the goddess of wealth), is the most popular Hindu temple of the city. It was built in 1938, by an eminent industrialist Raja Baldev Birla and inaugurated by Gandhi ji. The temple has a large number of idols representing various Hindu deities.
The Lakshmi Narayan Mandir (temple) built by B.D. Birla is a modern Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth) and Narayana (the preserve). The highest tower in the temple reaches a height of 165 feet while the ancillary towers reach 116 feet. The Geeta Bhavan, a hall is adorned with beautiful paintings depicting scenes from Indian mythology. There is also a temple dedicated to Lord Buddha in this complex with fresco paintings describing his life and work. The entire complex, especially the walls and the upper gallery are full of paintings carried out by artists from Jaipur in Rajasthan. This temple was built over a six-year period (1933-1939), and was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi.
Chhatatpur Temple
The massive structures built in white marble are just 4kms from Qutb Minar. Worth a visit. The main shrine is dedicated to Goddess durga.Digambar Jain Mandir
This important Jain temple on the eastern end of chandni chowk is dedicated to Lord Adinath. It was built in 1656, as a part of the city of shahjahanabad and also has a well known bird hospital.Hanuman Mandir
This small shrine neat Connaught place was built in 1724 by Maharaja Jai singh of Jaipur. It is one of the important Hindu shrines of the city and very popular among the devotees to Lord Hanuman.Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia
The sacred Muslim pilgrim site is dedicated to sheikh Nizamuddin Chisti, fouth in the line of chisti saints. HE was born in Budaun in Uttar pradesh in 1236 and lived most of his life in Delhi. Among his illustrious disciples were the sultans, alauddin Khilji and Mohammed bin tughlaq and the celebrated poet, Amir khusro. Sheikh Nizamuddin died in 1325 and soon after his burial at this spot the adjacent area became the oveted cemetery of Muslim nobility. Every Thursday, after sunset qawwals sing the melodious lyricws of Amir Khusro.Fatehpuri Masjid
The mosque was built in 1650, by Fatehpuri Begum, one of the wives of emperor shah Jahan. Located on the western end of chandni Chowk, the mosque is surmounted by a single dome and flanked by minarets.Jama Masjid
One of the architectural gift given by Shahjahan, Jama Masjid is one of the largest mosques not only in India. Completed in 1658, this mosque has three gateways, four angle towers and two 40 m high minarets. The superb buildings in this complex date from the onset of Islamic rule in India.The red sandstone mosque was built by shah Jahan between 1644 and 1650. It is set on a high platfrom and can be reached by steps on the north, south and east sides. The rectangular prayer hall has magnificent façade of arches decorared with marble frames and inscribed panels. The towering minarets of the mosque dominate old Delhi sky line and affords a fine view of the city.
Shish Ganj Gurudwara
This Gurudwara was build on the land where the Sikh Guru Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur was martyred by the Mughals in 1675 A.D. It is believed that the night he was murdered along with three of his disciples, it was raining very heavily. Because of the fear of the Mughals, nobody came to pick the bodies up that night. The next day, the head was taken to Anandpur Sahib and the body to where the Furudwara Rakab Ganj is now situated. A century later, a devotee named Baba Baghel Singh searched and found this place, and had this place of worship constructed here.It lies at chandni chowk and is associated with Guru Teg Bahadur, who was beheaded here in 1675, on the 1675, orders of emperor Aurangzeb.
St. James church
It was built by James skinner and consecrated in 1836 and is the oldest surviving church in Delhi. The church is of a western classical design with a Greek cross plan.Karol Bagh
Karol Bagh is a mixed residential/commercial neighbourhood in West-Central Delhi. It is primarily known today as a shopping area, originally centred around the main street, called Ajmal Khan Road. In recent years, commercial activity has expanded into the lanes that lead off it, swallowing once-residential areas which now house, alongwith a variety of shops, a large concentration of mid-range hotels catering to a mixture of domestic businessmen and foreign tourists.Ahimsa Sthal
A beautiful landscaped 3 acre garden on a hilly terrain, a statue of Bhagwan Mahavira seated on a lotus over a raised platform of white marble. About 52 feet from the road level, it is visible as one drives on the Mehrauli Road near the Qutub Minar. Sculpted in granite, the statue is 17 feet high and weights 50 tonnes. The rituals followed in the worship are as per the Digamber Jain sect.Asola Wildlife Sanctuary
A beautiful road moving south of the Mehrauli- Badarpur Road next to Ghiyasuddin’s Tomb leads to Asola Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary covers an area of 26 sq. km. Though not much wildlife exists here, it is full of all kinds of birds and smaller animals. Next to the sanctuary is the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range.Azad Hind Gram
Located on National Highway No. 10, the Azad Hind Gram Tourist Complex at Tikri Kalan is a project developed by Delhi Tourism to honour Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the legendary freedom fighter. Azad Hind Gram exudes a flavour of North Indian rural architecture and reflects the rich traditions of Indian craftsmanship. The dominant features are the memorial and the museum buildings. The museum has been dedicated to the Indian National Army (INA) formed by Nataji. There are regular audio- visual shows on this great Indian leader. The complex also houses an amphitheatre, a tourist information counter, a souvenir shop, a garden shop and food kiosks. A promising recreational place.Gardens & Parks
National zoological Park
It is one of the largest zoos in Asia. The open enclosures provides a view of animals in natural surroundings. In autumn, migratory birds flock to the trees in this huge park, adding their number to the large bird count in the zoo.One of the finest in Asia, the Delhi Zoo was established in 1959, along the South- west wall of Purana Qila. Spread over a massive area of 186 acres, it houses some 1,600 animals and birds and attracts nearly three million visitors a year. The zoo is a great attraction for migratory ducks and other wild birds. During the winter, several thousand spotbills, pintails, common teal and shovelers share the ponds. Between September and November painted storks nest in the trees, while the heronry is active roughly between April and July. The zoo collection also includes rare and endangered species like the lion- tailed macaque and brew- antlered deer. It is also an ideal picnic spot.
The commercial centre of New Delhi is Connaught Place** built around a circular garden and fountain. Shady arcades make window shopping pleasant. A short distance down Parliament Street (Sansad Marg) is the Jantar Mantar** The astronomical observatory built in 1724 by Maharaja Jai Singh- II, the mathematician and astronomer king of Jaipur. The Sarmat Yantra (supreme instrument) the largest structure shaped like a right- angled triangle is a huge sundial. The instruments plot the course of the planet and predict eclipses with startling accuracy.
Buddha Jayanti Park
This garden, on Ridge Road was laid to commemorate the 2,500th anniversary of Lord Buddha’s attainment of nirvana (enlightenment). The sloping terrains of the Ridge have been converted into wooded areas with streams and bridges. The park has a flourishing Bodhi tree, which was a sapling and bridges. The park has a flourishing Bodhi tree, which was a sapling of the orginal ‘tree of enlightenment’. The park provides an atmosphere of peace and tranquility- ideal for meditation. It is a favourite haunt for joggers.Serenity is the hallmark of this beautiful wooded park, landscaped to commemorate the 2500th anniversary of Lord Buddha’s parinirvana. The park was originally conceived as a Japanes garden. It has a splendid sttue of lord Buddha and a flourishing Bodhi tree, which was a sapling of the original tree of enlightenment.
