Rajdhani of india
I lived in Delhi most of my young adult life. Like most natives of the city, I have felt a keen sense of separation from most travel literature and guides about Delhi, almost as if they were talking about a different city to that of my youth. It is a challenge enough to capture a sense of a place
Perhaps most fascinating is the fact that many of his observations about Delhi are derived from his walks around the city. Walking is a hazardous enterprise in Delhi, reserved only for the poor or the adventurous.
It is written from the point of view of someone who has not just visited the city..
Ab dilli door nahin
Besides the usual tourist attractions of Modern Delhi - India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan,Parliament House, North and South Block - which are stunning examples of British architecture, you can also visit the various museums, temples and memorials that provide a comprehensive and entertaining insight into the lives of Delhites. In Old Delhi, there are attractions like mosques, forts and other monuments that represent India's history. The important places in Old Delhi include the majestic Red Fort. New Delhi on the other hand.. these are the famous places in delhi ..
Akshardham Temple
Azad Hind Gram
Bahai Temple
Birla Mandir
Dilli Haat
Garden of Five Senses
Humayun's Tomb
India Gate
Jama Masjid
Jantar Mantar
Lodi Tomb
Parliment House
Purana Quila
Qutab Minar
Safdarjang Tomb
Red Fort
Rajpath This is a main parade route that leads from Rashtrapati Bhavan (the President's residence) to India Gate, with many grassy lawns along the way. Especially nice in the evenings and at night when the buildings are lit and the vendors come out to supply the many picnicking families.
India Gate This monument has been built as a memorial for the Indian soldiers who died in World War I. There is also a fire ("eternal flame") burning for all fallen Indian soldiers.
Jantar Mantar One of five astronomical observatories commissioned by Sawai Jain Singh II of Jaipur during the 18th century. The odd structures inside are actually enormous scientific instruments for measuring the movement of celestial bodies
Raj Ghat Memorial to Mahatma Gandhi at the site of his cremation. Check for closure dates/security checks around national holidays/gandhiji's death anniversary
Purana Qila of the 16th century city of Shergarh, this complex sits on top of what is believed to be the site of Indraprastha, the capital of the Pandavas in the Mahabharata epic.
Tughlaqabad Fort, Massive fortress built by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq in the 14th century and was the third city of Delhi. The monstrous ruins of this complex are now overrun by hordes of Langur monkeys.
Azaad Hind Gram, A tourist complex dedicated to Netaji (respected leader) Subhash Chandra Bose, a leader in the Indian independence movement
Parks and gardens
Delhi, the national capital of India, has very popular gardens located in it. Few of the name are Mughal Garden Garden of Five Senses Kalindi Kunj and many more. The Mughal Garden, that reside in President House is very popular. It only opens 30 days in a year (from February to March).
Lodhi Garden is a peaceful park in the heart of New Delhi. Lodhi garden is ideal for morning walks in the hot season and for afternoon strolls and picnics during the cooler months
Nehru Park is a large park in the new Delhi neighborhood of Chankayapuri, lying in the southwest.
Religious buildings
Bahá'í Lotus Temple Kalkaji, South Delhi, Shaped like a lotus bud with 27 petals, this stunning temple suspended above milky-blue ponds is surely one of the most magnificent monuments ever made from concrete, however there is very little to see inside. The lush park around is well landscaped but mostly off-limits. Chhattarpur Mandir Huge & beautiful temple complex with a big surrounding campus - located near Mehrauli area of South Delhi.
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib just off Baba Kharak Singh Marg near Connaught Place, is the main gurudwara for the many Sikhs of Delhi. You will need to cover your head (scarves provided for free) and stash your shoes in the shoe storage run by volunteers (also free)
Gurudwara Sis Ganj Chandni Chowk An important Sikh place of worship. Built on the spot where their ninth guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, was beheaded on the orders of the mughal emperor Aurangzeb, it is an oasis of calm in the chaos of Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk. You will need to cover your head (scarves provided for free) and stash your shoes in the shoe storage run by volunteers (also free).
Sacred Heart Cathedral It is the biggest church in terms of structure and also the headquarters of the Delhi Catholic Archdiocese. A must visit to enjoy the beutiful architecture and pristine beuty.
Cathdral Church of Redemption Delhi Diocese. Built by Henry Medd between 1927-1935 it is a fine example of Colonial architecture.
St. Peter's Cathedral Bhai Veer Singh Marg, near St Columbas' school the headquarters of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox church in Delhi. It is known as the Antioch of the East and is a fine example of Oriental architecture blended with modernity.
ISKCON (Hare Krishna) temple, at East of Kailash – Centre for Krishna Consciousness, it has robotic shows and multimedia presentations, apart from the traditional temple complex. Lively atmosphere and excellent tasting sweets - and the delicious Govinda's restaurant is on site.
Jama Masjid opposite the Red fort, next to Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi .The largest mosque in India and a must-see while in Delhi. Entry is free, although you'll be charged Rs 200 if you have a camera with you. Beware of the tenacious guides who will try and convince you that a tour guide is mandatory and is included in the Rs 200 camera fee; they will give you an extremely hurried 'tour' of the mosque and then demand a further payment of Rs 200-300 for the tour. You can climb to the top of the minaret for Rs 20 (as of February 2011 this charge appears to have gone up to Rs 100, although this may just be the rate for foreigners).
Lakshmi Narayan Temple or popularly known as Birla Mandir this temple is located next to Connaught Place. It is a big impressive Hindu temple complex. Closest Metro - Rajiv Chowk (Yellow Line). It will take you 45 min to visit, and you will not be able to take pictures from inside the Temple. With a great park behind it, it is an oasis of calm from Delhi. Its multiple shrines and paintings (often) have English explanations.
Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple off National Highway 24 East Delhi, , no expense has been spared in decorating this large and elaborate temple carved of red sandstone. The central monument, built without any steel, houses an 11-ft golden statue of the founder of the Swaminarayan faith, Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
Sai Baba Temple Although there are many Shirdi Sai Baba Temples in and around Delhi, the one located at Lodhi Road is the oldest. Temple
Bazaars & Markets
Connaught Place – The landmark and historical shopping arcade of Delhi. Many Western-style shops are here that have nice products for Indian prices.
Paharganj market, – Oriented toward backpackers, this strip of shops sells items such as Indian perfumes, shawls, tablas, rugs, jewelry, etc. This is right opposite New Delhi Railway
Kamla Nagar - Located right next to Delhi University's North campus, the affluent market provides possibly all shopping experiences right from high end brands to the street side shops and some rich palatable delights to have the perfect shopping day out.
Rajouri Garden Market - Excellent place to shop for wedding as well as everyday clothing.
Central Market, Lajpat Nagar – Middle-class Indians do their shopping here. Great deals for apparel, whether ethnic Indian or otherwise.
Sarojini Nagar market is great for export surplus garments, and green grocery.
Khan Market is where the foreign diplomats and Tibetan lama's go for lunch and to shop for dog supplies, groceries (great choice of vegetables), clothes (upper class Indian style, not expensive, Fabindia and Anohki for women's clothing), housewares (Good Earth), jewelry/accessories, and books (many bookshops).
Janpath is a bargain-hunter's dream and just a two minute walk from Connaught place. Think of it as a vast flea market, where you can get all kinds of knick-knacks and clothes. Janpath is not a place for those unwilling or unable to bargain ruthlessly. Also, as in any flea market, quality will vary greatly. There are also some bookshops.
Karol Bagh, West Delhi Market known for traditional Indian Wear, sarees and shawls. Huge area and big brand showrooms.
Khari Baoli walking away from the Red Fort through Chandni Chowk will lead you here, which is the main spice market in Old Dehli where most restaurants shop from. Great place to buy individual spices (especially cardamom in bulk), masala chai mix, and various masala mixes for vegetables, meat, fish, meat, chicken, and rice.
Palika Bazaar, Connaught Place – This is a large underground market in the center of Connaught Place. The air here is bad and the quality of products low. One can hunt for DVDs, VCDs and Audio CDs of Hindi, English and a few regional and foreign language films and PC-based games.
Chandni Chowk, Metro Yellow Line. The heart of Old Delhi, this is the place to go for the full-on Indian experience of crowded, twisting alleys and tiny shops. The Fountain serves as a useful orientation point, and there are great Delhi-style snacks to be found in the vicinity too .
Handicrafts
Cottage Emporium, located near Connaught Place, is the main government-run location for selling handicrafts from all over the country. The prices are a little more than what you'd find if you went bargain hunting, but you can shop in air-conditioned comfort and all of the sales people speak English.
Dilli Haat, South Delhi Crafts fairs happen here every week. It is a wonderful place to get crafts from all over the country. What is distinctive here is that the artists themselves come to sell their goods, so your money goes directly to them, rather than to middlemen. Some bargaining may be necessary if you want the best price.
In Delhi..Punjabi and Mughlai delicacies like kababs and biryanis are popular in Delhi. The street food there is known to be delicious and includes chaat, golgappe and aloo tikki.Due to Delhi's large cosmopolitan and migrant population, cuisines from every part of India
Furthermore, Delhi’s recent global cuisine revolution means that hungry travellers can now feast on everything from meaty Mughlai curries and plump South Indian idlis (rice cakes), to crispy wood-fired pizzas and squishy sashimi.
Delhi has arguably the best street food in India. However, do not eat unhygenic or open food. There are plenty of restaurants offering street food in a potentially more hygenic environment.
You can join local groups of foodies who go out regularly to sample and savor what new and old dishes the city has to offer. One of the most active groups is Food Enthusiasts of Delhi.
brought together by passion and love for food. If you are looking for professionally run setups, Delhi Food Adventure runs commercial food walks exclusively for tourists.
India a land of snake charmers and magicians and the capital of this land of mysteries is Delhi. Delhi is just not a city but it is a book-- a book which narrates the history of India.
the beauty and the dynamism of a city where the past coexists with the present. many dynasties ruled from here and the city is rich in the architecture of its monuments. Diverse cultural elements absorbed into the daily life of the city have enriched its character. exploring the city can be a fascinating and rewarding experience.... "DELHI"
