Delhi Favorite Tips by husain Top 5 Page for this destination

Delhi maps Transportation Review

Favorite thing: At the Domestic and International airports in Delhi, there are some useful maps of the city available. They also have some important numbers and other info about the city- sightseeing, restaurants, shopping, and autorickshaw and taxi fares...

Rajpath Rajpath Review

Favorite thing: Literally translating to `Kings way', Rajpath was built by the British to impose and impress.
It was supposed to intimidate and drive home the point that they were in-charge. Even today, when you make your way up on Raisina Hill, you soak in the desired impact that the British Empire was wanting to leave.
Rajpath is the road that runs from National Stadium/India gate towards Raisina Hill, past North and South Block and onto `Rashtrapati bhavan'- which used to be the British Viceroys palace.
The Viceroy's palace now hosts the Presidet of India and his office, while the North and South Block house Government ministries and Military offices.

Fondest memory: Every year, the annual military and cultural parade is held on the 26th of January and passes thru Rajpath.

'Republic day parade' General Review

Favorite thing: The 'Republic day parade' in New Delhi which takes place on the 26th of Jan every year to mark the day India became a 'Republic'.
This is the occassion where India shows off its cultural and military might... The President of India, who is also the chief of its military, takes the salute.
Its also a custom to host a chief guest- usually a visiting foreign head of state.

The Corridors of Power General Review

Favorite thing: Built by the British about 100 years ago, these buildings now house many of the government offices. The main architect was Herbert Baker and Lutyens, and the design draws from Mughal and Rajpur styles...
The Home ministry, Ministry of External Affairs, Finance, etc are all housed within the North Block, while the block opposite (South Block) is almost identical and it houses the Ministry of Defence.

Old Delhi... General Review

Favorite thing: V Old Delhi and Connaught Place.
For handicrafts- visit the cottage industries emporium, the market at janpath (near connaught place) and dilli haat.
if you are one for history, the red fort in the old city, the purana quila (old fort), the qutab minar, Humayun's tomb, tughlakabad fort, hauz khas, safdarjungs tomb, and various structures from the british raj days, are worth a visit.
the picture here is of the qutab minar.

Structures within the fort Red fort Review

Favorite thing: After the `First war of independence' in 1857, or as the British called it: `the sepoy mutiny', where there were several armed uprisings against the occupation of India by the British thru the `East India Company', much of the Red fort was occupied and destroyed by the British army.
Many of the structures within were razed and Barracks were built in their place for British troops.
The contrasting architecture within the fort still survives and the somewhat ugly barracks can still be seen right in the middle of some of the most elegant buildings from the Mughal era...
Large parts of the fort were also used by the Indian Army in recent years to house soldiers, but the courts ordered them to vacate recently and the remaining part of the fort is due to be handed back to the Archeological Survey soon and opened to the public

The Red fort Red fort Review

Favorite thing: This 17th century Mughal fort, also known to the locals as Lal Quila was constructed by Shah Jahan (who also made the Taj mahal), when he shifted his empires capital from Agra to the newly planned city of Shahjahanabad in Delhi in 1638. It represents a period which was the peak of the Mughal era.
The fort houses the Diwan-e-am, the hall for public audience with the emperor, where he would hear public grievances etc, and the Diwan-e-khas, the hall of private audiences with the emperor.
These and other mughal era features are common to the Agra fort and the Lahore fort.

The fort has political significance in todays India, since the Prime minister addresses the nation from here on Independence day, on August 15th every year.

Take the underground metro service to Red Fort. The most central access points to the metro are probably Connaught Place and India Gate (Central Secretariat stations). Thats probably the best way to reach any of the Old Delhi areas these days.

Delhi Gate and the Walled City Red fort Review

Favorite thing: In the early 17th century, when the Mughal emperor Shahjahan (who also built the Red Fort and the Taj Mahal) decided to build an `imperial city', the plan included a wall on all sides. Today, this part of Delhi is know as Old Delhi, and includes the Chandni Chowk, Red Fort, Jama Masjid areas... It is also referred to sometimes as `The walled City', though only fragments of the original wall are visible today.
There were huge gates and smaller windows through which people could enter or exit the city.
The city was said to have 14 gates, one of which was the Delhi Gate. This gate was often used, by the Emperor when he proceeded to the Jama Masjid for the Friday prayers.

Lotus Temple Lotus Temple Review

Favorite thing: The bahai house of worship, or the Lotus temple, in south Delhi, is one of the cities popular tourist attractions...
This interesting and innovative design- where the structure resembles a lotus flower, and has won numerous awards for architecture- is actually a minimal prayer hall from the inside.

Fondest memory: http://www.bahaindia.org/temple/index.html

The writing on the walls... India gate Review

Favorite thing: Names of soldiers who died fighting for the British-Indian army during World War 1.
Many of them died in faraway lands- Africa, Europe, the Far east... There are many names, and you probably will struggle to read them, but if you look carefully, you`ll see them all inscribed.
The Gate, however, is barricaded for security reasons, and you cant walk up all the way to the monument. You can still go up close enough to have a good look or picture. The best way to see the names on the monument is from the sides, which lets you get up closer than from the front or back...