|
INTRODUCTION
One of India's fastest growing cities has spread far beyond the "Seven Cities" created between the 13th and the 17th centuries. Now it's divided in to two parts old and New Delhi, city carried history of thousand years, Old Delhi was the capital of Muslims between 17th to 19th centuries. City that is as old as civilization itself and has been over nine capitals, each built with loving care by several destinies. Delhi was the city of magnificent kings and prince's who gave world famous masterpieces of beauty like the Red Fort, Qutab
Minar, Purana Qila, Raj Ghat, India Gate, President's House, Parliament House etc. New Delhi designed and constructed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker is a mixture of east & west.
Red Fort
The red sandstone walls of the massive Red Fort
(Lal Qila) rise 33m (108ft) above the clamour of 'Old' Delhi as a reminder of the magnificent power and pomp of the Moghul emperors. The walls, built in 1638, may have been designed to keep out invaders, but today they mainly keep out the noise and confusion of the city, making the fort and its gardens and pavilions a peaceful haven from the surrounding chaos. The fort's main gate, the Lahore Gate, is one of the emotional and symbolic focal points of the modern Indian nation and attracts a major crowd each Independence Day.
The vaulted arcade of Chatta Chowk, an impressive covered bazaar now dedicated to selling tourist junk, leads into the huge fort compound. Inside is a veritable treasure trove of buildings, including the Drum House, the Hall of Public Audiences, the white marble Hall of Private Audiences, the Pearl Mosque, Royal Baths and Palace of
Colour. An evening sound and light show re-creates events in India's history connected with the fort. It's well worth seeing the show, but make sure you bring that modern
self-defence system - mosquito repellent.
Jama Masjid
The great mosque of 'Old' Delhi is the largest in India, with a courtyard capable of holding 25,000 devotees. It was commenced in 1644 and ended up being the final architectural extravagance of Shah
Jahan, the Moghul emperor who built the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort. The highly decorative mosque has three great gateways, four towers and two 40m (135ft) high minarets constructed of strips of red sandstone and white marble. Travellers arriving bare-legged can hire robes at the northern gate. This may be the only time you get to dress like a local without feeling like a
prat, so make the most of the hallowed atmosphere.
Qutab Minar
This magnificent five-storey tower (73 Mt high.) built by Qutab-ud-din in 1193 and completed by his successors. The first three storeys of the five storeyed towers are of red sandstone, but the other two are of marble and sand stone. Firoz ShahTughlaq added a couple to it in 1368, which was collapsed during an earthquake in 1803. It was replaced later.
Humayun's Tomb
This grand tomb is the best-preserved example of early Moghul architecture in Delhi and one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. Built in the mid-16th century by Haji Begum, wife of
Humayun, the second Moghul emperor, it displays elements of Moghul design which were eventually refined and incorporated into the Taj Mahal in Agra. It comprises a squat building with high arched entrances topped by a bulbous dome and surrounded by formal gardens. The gardens also contain the red-and-white sandstone and black-and-yellow marble tomb of Humayun's wife and, somewhat surprisingly, the tomb of Humayun's barber.
India Gate
INDIA GATE: 42 Mt. High stone arch stand on the eastern end of Rajpath bearing names of 8,500 Indian soldiers who died in World War I.
President's House
The residence of President of India, built in 1929, prior to the independence this was the residence of Viceroy.
|