delhi Archives - Holiday and Travel Guide to India

Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah in Delhi

As you enter the narrow maze of lanes leading to Nizamuddin Dargah, it is difficult to believe that this is one of the country’s most sacred Sufi shrines. The lanes of Nizamiddin are packed with shops and spilling over with … Read more

How to get to Varanasi from Delhi

Varanasi is considered the holiest of the seven holy cities in India. It is also the oldest city which is known to be continuously inhabited anywhere in the world. Earlier known as Kashi and then Benaras or Banaras, the pilgrimage … Read more

Going to New Delhi? Then these are the best places to shop!

Despite the fact that the plots are often predictable, the acting is usually overdone and you can generally spot the fake sets and props from a mile away, I have always loved Bollywood movies. My friends think they’re ridiculous but … Read more

Gurgaon (Gurugram): The Cyber Hub of India

If you are visiting Delhi then you might as well visit Gurgoan (also known as Gurugram). In recent years Gurgoan has seen rapid urbanization and has become an industrial hub. You can do plenty of things in Gurgoan such as … Read more

Finding the grave of Dara Shikoh at Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi

If you are in Delhi then you simply have to visit Humayun’s Tomb. It’s one of the most spectacular buildings in Delhi. I am not going to go in its history of the building (you can read about it in … Read more

Places to Visit in Delhi Ebook

Most visitors to India will probably land in Delhi – the capital of India. It is here that they will spend considerable amount of time site-seeing. Many would take day trips to Agra to see the Taj Mahal and spend a few days exploring Rajasthan particularly Jaipur and then coming back to Delhi before flying back to their own country. I personally think this is an excellent idea. So why not make the most of the stay in Delhi.

Visiting Raj Ghat the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial

People paying respects to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat

If you happen to be in Delhi then do not forget to visit Raj Ghat, a memorial built on the very place where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. The Mahatma Gandhi Memorial known as the “Raj Ghat” in Hindi is built on the banks of the River Yamuna surrounded by a beautiful garden. The memorial itself is built of black marble that marks the place where he was cremated, a day after his assassination. There is an eternal flame that burns at one end. “Hey Ram” is inscribed on the memorial which is supposed to be his last words when he was shot by an assassin who thought that the Mahatma was responsible for the division of India and giving way to much concessions to the Muslims of Pakistan.

A trip to the legendary Parathe-wali Gali in Old Delhi

If you want to enjoy Delhi then you just have to walk its small by-lanes. This is where the magic of India really is. I understand site-seeing is an integral part of any visit but Delhi is different. You don’t just do site-seeing, you experience the place.

Dilli Haat – The open air food and craft bazaar of Delhi

Dilli Haat is an open air shopper’s paradise, covering an area of 6 acres; it is a destination for art, craft and food lovers. Situated in the capital city of India, Dilli Haat is visited by thousands of national and international tourists every day. Dilli Haat has food stalls representing various states of India, so that one can have breakfast of Kashmir, lunch of Andhra Pradesh and dinner from Manipur on the same day. The craft stalls exhibits ethnic and exotic products and materials exclusive to India. The shops are well organized so that the customers do not have trouble finding the products they are looking for.

Finding the Delhi Vibe

Aura - Vodka Bar at Claridges, New Delhi

Whether you’re in Delhi or in Johannesburg; London or Bangkok; New York or Singapore; a bar, is a bar, is a bar. Right? Wrong. They may all serve the same drinks, they may all have similar names, they may all have alcohol served, but each offers their patrons an experience unlike each other’s and unlike any other. The decor may be the same, but the ambiance is a different matter altogether.

Purana Qila in Delhi

Delhi happens to be one of the most visited places in India. It happens to be one of the most historical capitals of the world. In Old Delhi, you’ll find forts, mosques, Mughal monuments that represent India’s history. On the other hand you’ll find government and civil buildings, embassies of the world and many newly constructed temples and other attractions.

One such attraction of Delhi is the Old Fort known as the Purana Qila in Hindi. The Purana Qila is a must see for those interested in the history of the city and India in general or those interested in historical monuments. You can get to hear a show in the evening that explains the history of the entire city of Delhi.

Purana Qila (Old Fort), Delhi. Source: Flickr Prato9x's photostream

Red Fort of Delhi – Lal Qila

The Red Fort (known as the Lal Qila in Hindi) is an old fort complex located in Delhi. It was constructed by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, who also constructed the world-famous Taj Mahal, in the 17th century. The fort served as the residence of the Mughal emperor, his acolytes and their families. It was also the place from where the emperors ran their vast empire. Currently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage, the fort complex serves as a tourist spot and is a powerful symbol of the Indian Republic. The prime minister addresses the nation from this complex on the Independence Day each year. Today the Red Fort is seen as the symbol of the seat of power of government of India. The Red Fort is heavily guarded and has been a subject of a terror attack in 22 December 2000 by Lashkar-e-Taiba (one of the most militant terror outfit in South Asia).

Humayun’s Tomb

Located in the Indian capital New Delhi, the Tomb of Humayun is a mausoleum constructed in 1569-1572 for the second Mughal Emperor Humayun. The tomb was the first of its kind, in fact it was the first tomb surrounded by gardens, ever constructed on the Indian Subcontinent by the Mughals. The architect of the tomb was Mirak Mirza Ghiyath and built by Biga Begum (also known as Hamida Banu Begum) after the death of her husband. The Persian architect was specially brought from Herat in Northwest Afghanistan who incidentally died before he could complete the monument and was completed by his son instead in 1572.

This construction marks the beginning of the Mughal architectural style which will reach its zenith in the construction of Taj Mahal. It also marks the first time when red sand stone was used on such a grand scale. UNESCO currently designates the tomb as a World Heritage Site.

Tomb of Humayun as seen through the gateway. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Visiting the capital of India, Delhi

Delhi is a wonderful city with a fascinating history and a promising future. It’s a city of contrasts, where the old and the new exist simultaneously. It is the place where important decisions are made and what direction this nation of a billion people should take is discussed everyday. Despite having only a fraction of the area of Australia, it has a population comparable to that vast continent-size country. In terms of money, it’s one of the richest cities in India. However, unlike many other big cities, it has managed to preserve its heritage while keeping in pace with the rest of the world.

Map of Delhi

History of Delhi

There is archaeological evidence to suggest people were inhabiting in Delhi as long ago as third millennium BC. There are signs of urban dwellings going back to 6th century BC. From 12th century to until the arrival of the British in 17th century, it was one of the most powerful cities in the world. The English moved the capital to Calcutta (Kolkata). They later changed the capital to Delhi and since then it’s remained the seat of most powerful men and women in South Asia.