delhi tourist places , delhi sightseeings,tourist places delhi ,delhi tourist attractions

Red Fort
The foundation of Red Fort, or the Lal Quila, on 16th April 1639. It took nine years to build this mighty citadel and it got completed on 16th April 1648. It is said that about one crore rupees, an astronomical sum in those days, was spent on its construction. Half of this sum was spent to build the exotic palaces within the fort. Built of red sandstone, it is octagonal in shape, with two longer sides on the east and west. The perimeter of its strong ramparts is about 2.41 km. Red Fort rises to a height of 33.5 m on the town side and 18 m along the river. A wide moat surrounds the fort, which was originally connected with the river and was always filled with water. The two main gateways, known as Lahori Gate and Delhi Gate (named so, as they face Lahore and Delhi respectively), are three storeys high and are flanked by semi-octagonal towers. They are situated on the centre of the western and southern sides respectively.
India Gate	Top^
India Gate is a magnificent monument, situated near the famous Connaught Place market of New Delhi. The edifice was constructed as a commemorative structure, in the memory of the soldiers who lost their lives while fighting in the World War I. Falling on the Rajpath; India Gate stands tall at a height of 42 m. It is a very popular picnic spot and people from all over Delhi come here to enjoy and relax, especially in summer evenings. India Gate is also known as All India War Memorial. Edwin Lutyens, who was the man behind the design and construction of the entire New Delhi, designed this monument also. The foundation stone of India Gate was laid down in the year 1921, by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught. Almost ten years later, the monument was dedicated to the country, by the then Viceroy, Lord Irwin. India Gate, an "Arc-de-Triomphe", comes across as a gateway in the middle of a crossroad. It is designed in the shape of an arch, which stands on a low base of red Bharatpur stone. The arch of India Gate mounts in stages to a huge cornice, underneath which Imperial suns have been inscribed. Both the sides have been inscribed with the word 'India', which is flanked by the dates MCMXIV (1914) on the left and MCMXIX (1919) on the right. There is a shallow domed bowl at the top, which was initially intended to be filled with burning oil on special occasions. However, this practice is not in vogue today. The names of the martyred British and Indian soldiers of the Afghan war of 1919 have been written on the Indian Gate.
Old Fort	Top^
Old Fort is located in the pre-historical Indraprastha of the Mahabharata, which has been surveyed and proved in findings of 1955. From 3rd B.C to pre-Mughal period, there was a fort in Indraprastha. Mughal Emperor Humayun built a new fort here and Old Indraprastha became Dinpanaha. Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun in 1541 and occupied the power. In 1548 Sher Shah Suri died, eventually Humayun recaptured Delhi in 1555 by defeating Sher Shah’s son Islam Shah. Humayun also destroyed Sher Shah’s capital Shergarh Old Fort or Purana Quila is a must visit place during your trip to Delhi. Old Fort is located just south-east of India Gate and north of Humayun’s Tomb and the Nizamuddin Railway Station. Mughal Emperor Humayun laid the foundation stone of this impressive fort in 1538 but he couldn’t complete it as Afghan warrior Sher Shah Suri defeated him in 1541. Later, Sher Shah Suri made essential modifications in the fort and named it as Shergarh. When the fort was built, there were canals on three sides and the remaining side was banked by the river Yamuna. Old Fort was flanked with massive walls and there were three main entrances to the fort.
Qutub Minar	Top^
The tall and ever attractive monument of Delhi which can be seen from most parts of the city is called the Qutab Minar. Every body has the same question when one sees the structure for the first time. The question that is often being put up is "Why the monument is that big?" or "Was there any specific reason to build such a tall building or it was just a wish of the person who built it?" Well, the exact reason is assumed to have something related to commemorating the victory. Mughals used to build victory towers to proclaim and celebrate victories. Some say the minaret was used to offer prayer but it is so tall that you can hear the person standing on the top. Also, the minaret is not joined on to Qutuddin's mosque and the Iltutmish's mosque. Qutab Minar is among the tallest and famous towers in the world. The minaret is 234 feet high and the highest individual tower in the world. Other towers in the world are the Great Pagoda in Pekin, China and the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy but these towers are not as high as the Qutab Minar in Delhi.
Jantar Mantar	Top^
Jantar Mantar is very popular among tourists and the people of Delhi. The structure is another great masterpiece of Indian architecture which shows the scientific acumen of ancient India. Jantar Manter is situated at Parliament Street, very close to Connaught Place. Jantar Mantar is also called Delhi Observatory. It is maintained by the Jaipur government because it was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur in 1710 A.D. It is a remarkable structure which consists of fourteen geometric devices used for measuring time, forecasting weather changes, predicting behaviour of planets and finding extraterrestrial altitude. All these devices are fixed structures and point to a specific direction. The largest device or instrument is the Samrat Jantar which is 90 feet high and its shadow is plotted in such a manner so that is shows the exact time of the day. Any weather change or the onset of monsoons can be ascertained by the Hindu Chhatri, which is a small domed structure The whole structure is made of stone and marble with each of then having an engraved astronomical scale. Jantar Mantar finally got the status of a national monument in 1948. It has always attracted architects, historians and scientists from all over the world.
Jama Masjid	Top^
Jama Masjid located in the centre of the old city, this congregational mosque was built by Sultan Ahmed Shah in 1423. Built in yellow sandstone, it combines the best of Hindu and Muslim styles of architecture, standing on 260 pillars supporting 15 domes at varying elevations. Jama Masjid mosque was begun in 1650 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to complement his palace at the Red Fort. More than 5,000 workers toiled for six years to complete the largest mosque in India. Every Friday, the emperor and his retinue would travel in state from the fort to the mosque to attend the congressional prayers. A fine example of Mughal architecture, the Jama Masjid has three gateways. The largest and highest on the east was reserve exclusively for the emperor. The main courtyard of the emperor. The main courtyard of the mosque is 408 square feet and paved with red stone. In the centre is a large marble tank in which the devout wash before attending prayers.
Rashtrapati Bhavan	Top^
Rashtrapati Bhavan is the most prestigious building of India. This imposing structure holds great political and cultural significance as it is not only one of the most magnificent architecture of the country but is also the official residence of the President of India. The structure is striking with its two shades sandstone construction that reflects a pure blend of Mughal and classical European architecture. The most beautiful and distinguishing aspect of this edifice is the dome whose style and pattern is taken from the great Stupa at Sanchi. The dome is superimposed on the structure in a way that it is visible from a very long distance and is breathtaking. The dome of Rashtrapati Bhavan is called 'Chhatri'. Under this large dome, is the main hall 'Durbar Hall', where the President hosts official functions. Measuring about 22.8 m in diameter, the Durbar Hall is used for all kinds of official ceremonies such as the swearing in of the Prime Minister, Cabinet, and the Members of Parliament, or the Arjuna Award ceremony etc. The Durbar Hall, Ashoka Hall and the pillars are excellent examples of traditional Indian art and engravings. The circular stone basins on the top of the palace, statues of elephants, fountain sculptures of cobras in the gardens, and the grilles made from red sandstone (jaalis) are well known for unique Indian designs.
Akshardham Temple	Top^
Akshardham temple located in Delhi is a great destination for a day trip. Built on the banks of Yamuna River, this temple was built on 100 acres of lush gardens with water fountains and carved pavilions. Also known as the Disneyland devotional India, the temple has a high-tech sound and light show and a study of 3-D animation to add to his greatness. A visit to the Akshardham temple takes you through a unique journey through India's glorious art, values and 10,000 years of Indian culture. Tourists can also experience the traditions and timeless spiritual messages of ancient India here. The design reflects the style of temple architecture of Hindu temples in India - especially Rajasthan, Orissa, Gujarat, Mughal and Jain. Built entirely of marble and red sandstone, the temple has been built without the use of steel.
Laxmi Narayan Temple	Top^
Laxmi Narayan Temple is located west of Connaught Place and was build by Raja Baldev Das in 1938. The temple is dedicated to the goddess of prosperity and good fortune & is commonly known as the Birla Mandir. It is modern in concept and construction and attracts several devotees and international tourists. The presiding deity here is Lakshmi Narayan, a manifestation of Lord Vishnu. The walls of the temple are decorated with various Hindu symbols and quotes from the Gita and the Upanishads. This temple was built over a six-year period (1933 - 1939) and was inaurgated by Mahatma Gandhi on the condition that people of all castes especially untouchables would be allowed in. It was built in the 20th century by the Birla family of industrialists known for its many other temples in India.
ISKCON Temple	Top^
Iskcon Temple is a magnificent shrine, one amongst the 40 temples made by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in India. Located at Sant Nagar in East of Kailash, Iskcon Temple dominates the skyline of the southern part of Delhi. Initiated by Acharya Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, ISCKON is a society that belongs to Hare Rama Hare Krishna cult. The original name of this temple is Sri Radha-Parthasarthy Temple. Being made by the ISCKON, the temple is popular by the name of Isckon Temple. Built in 1998, Iskcon Temple can be easily reached by taking local buses, auto-rickshaws or by hiring taxis from the city. The huge temple looks majestic with its outer appearance, while it appears celestial from inside. The colossal temple complex spreads in a vast area of Hare Krishna Hill. The three tall spires (shikhars) look awesome when they are brightly lit in the night. In order to reach the main shrine, one has to take a flight of steps. This flight of steps has various halts that lead to other destinations of the temple complex. On the way, there are shops on one side and on the other side, fountains add to the mysticism of this shrine.
Humayun's Tomb	Top^
Humayun, who ruled in India for a decade but was expelled. Eventually he took refuge with the Safavid shah of Persia, who helped him regain Delhi in 1555, the year before his death. Humayun's Persian wife, Hamida Begum, supervised the construction from 1562-1572 of her husband's tomb in Delhi. The architect, Mirak Mirza Ghiyuath, was Persian and had previously designed buildings in Herat (now northwest Afghanistan), Bukhara (now Uzbekistan), and elsewhere in India. The location chosen for the building on the bank of the Yamuna river adjoins the shrine of an important Sufi Chistiyya order saint, Nizam al-Din Awliya. The Chistiyya was particularly venerated by the Mughals; Humayun's son, Akbar, would build his new palace at Fatehpur Sikri next to the shrine of another saint of the Chistiyya order. The tomb established some of the important norms for later Mughal mausolea. It is set in a geometrically arranged garden criscrossed by numerous water channels and probably representing symbolically a paradise setting. Such typical Persian gardens had been introduced into India by Babur; later they would be found in the Red Fort in Delhi and at the Taj Mahal in Agra. The architectural form of the building is Persian and especially in its main chamber shows some familiarity with the tomb of the Mongol Ilkhanid ruler of Persia, Oljeytu, at Sultaniyya. It is one of a long line of Mughal buildings influenced by Timurid architecture, notably the tomb of Timur (Tamerlane) in Samarkand.
Lotus Temple	Top^
Lotus Temple, Located in Kalkaji in the south of Delhi, it is lotus shaped and has rightly been given the name. It is made of marble, cement, dolomite and sand. It is open to all faiths and is an ideal place for meditation and obtaining peace and tranquility. It is a very recent architectural marvel of the Bahai faith. The Bahá'í Faith is the youngest of the world's independent religions. Its founder, Bahá'u'lláh (1817-1892), is regarded by Bahá'ís as the most recent in the line of Messengers of God that stretches back beyond recorded time and that includes Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Zoroaster, Christ and Muhammad. The central theme of Bahá'u'lláh's message is that humanity is one single race and that the day has come for its unification in one global society. God, Bahá'u'lláh said, has set in motion historical forces that are breaking down traditional barriers of race, class, creed, and nation and that will, in time, give birth to a universal civilization. The principal challenge facing the peoples of the earth is to accept the fact of their oneness and to assist the processes of unification.
Gandhi Smriti	Top^
Gandhi Smriti Museum is one tourist draw you can not miss. As you visit this museum you can get a detailed knowledge of the personal relics, documents, photographs, manuscripts, books, journals and audio-visual materials related to Gandhiji. Get an insight into the life and work of Mahatma Gandhi as you explore the various sections of the museum. This is the best opportunity to gather information on the greatest freedom fighter of the nation. Besides, Gandhi Smriti Museum, New Delhi holds regular exhibition of dolls that depict significant landmarks in Gandhiji's life. Gandhiji had popularized the use of Khadi and other village products. The museum comprises a khadi and village industry products shop to commemorate this aspect of bapuji. You can even buy some khadi products available in these shops at a reasonable price.
National Museum	Top^
The largest museum of New Delhi, the National museum at Janpath, offers a unique insight into the history and culture of India. It has a wide array of exhibits, depicting the 5000 years of Indian history. The three floors of the museum offer splendid and priceless pieces of Indian art and sculpture that have been arranged in galleries, according to the period to which they belong. The famous sculpture of Dancing Girl from Mohenjodaro belonging to 2,500 BC, the Moghul period paintings & Arabian manuscripts are some of the prized possessions here. The silk banners, sculpture and wall paintings that were a part of Sir Aurel Stein's collection in the Central Asian gallery are worth seeing here. A collection of Indian miniature paintings, from Mughal, Rajasthani and Pahari schools, and simple stone Neolithic Tools, dating back to 3,000 -1,500 BC, are simply outstanding. Then, there is shell and bone jewelry belonging to Indus Valley Civilization of Mohenjodaro and Harappa and also the carved pillars and statues of the Mauryan dynasty.
Chandni Chowk	Top^
One of the main markets of Delhi, Chandni Chowk was once lined with beautiful fountains. It was the eyes and the ears of the Mughal's commercial instincts and is today one of the country's best known wholesale markets for textiles , electronic goods and watches. The entire arc was designed by Jahanara Begum, Shah Jahan's favourite daughter and was the inhabited by the well to do famlies of the time. But today the place is very crowded and congested. Chandni Chowk is located opposite the Red Fort. The Area has got the Digamber Jain Temple which houses the Birds hospital. On one end of Chandni Chowk is the Fatehpuri Mosque which was erected by the wives of Shah Jahan. Opposite the old police station or the Kotwali is the Sunheri Masjid from where Nadir Shah ordered his troops to plunder and massacre Delhi.
Lodi Gardens	Top^
The beautiful and serene Lodi Garden was designed over two dynasties by the Sayyids and Lodis in the 15-16th century. The park works as a breather from the hustle and bustle of the city, especially in the early mornings and early evenings, when fitness enthusiasts come for brisk walks or to jog through the manicured gardens against a backdrop of much-graffitied medieval monuments. During the British times the garden went under the monitoring of Lady Willingdon Park but all that stopped after India gained its Independence and the park was reverted back to being the good old Lodi garden. In 1968, the gardens were spruced and relandscaped by JA Stein and Garrett Eckbo.
Indira Memorial	Top^
The Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum is housed in the former residence of Indira Gandhi. Exhibits include photographs documenting her life from her childhood to time as Prime Minister, her personal belongings such as the sari she was wearing at the time of her assassination, news clippings and letters. An enclosed garden with mature trees and flowering plants surrounds the building. Indira Gandhi governed India for almost 20 years until her own Sikh bodyguards assassinated her in 1984 as she walked through her garden. The pathway is now a memorial with the spot where she collapsed marked with clear glass. Several rooms have been dedicated to her son Rajiv Gandhi who was assassinated in 1991. The library and living room have been kept as she left them - they are not open to the public but can be viewed through windows in the garden.
Natural History Museum	Top^
A prehistoric animal greets the visitor to the National Museum of Natural History preparing him for the collections of botanical, zoological and geological objects on view within. Some of the interesting pieces displayed are natural history specimens like stuffed animals, butterflies, birds as well as information about rare plants and endangered species. It was opened for the people on 5th June 1978. The museum was the brain child of former Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi. There is a Discovery and Activity Room for kids, where Children can participate in creative activities, such as animal modeling. It is maintained by the Ministry of Environment & Forests, with an aim to promote environmental education and create awareness among the people. The motto of National Museum of Natural History is 'Educating while entertaining'. It aims at educating people about the rich flora and fauna of the country, while keeping them entertained. The museum comprises of four theme-based galleries and a number of hands-on activity areas. The first gallery provides a basic idea about the evolution of life, along with the brief introduction of the flora and fauna, their natural habitats and the threats they are facing. The second gallery is based on our ecosystems and the dangers they face.