Links to Websites of Major Airlines

Aerofloat                      -     http://www.aeroflot.org/

Air France                    -     http://www.airfrance.com/

Air India                       -     http://www.airindia.com/

Air Lanka                     -     http://www.srilankan.lk/

Air Canada                   -     http://www.aircanada.ca/

All Nippon airways        -     http://svc.ana.co.jp/eng/index.html

Austrian Airlines          -     http://www.aua.com/

Biman Bangladesh Air  -     http://www.bangladeshonline.com/biman/

British Airways             -     http://www.britishairways.com/

Cathay Pacific               -     http://www.cathaypacific.com/

China Airlines               -     http://www.china-airlines.com/us/index.htm

EL AL Israel Airlines    -     http://www.elal.co.il/

Ethiopian Airlines         -     http://www.toursundtravel.de/ethiopian-airlines.htm

Emirates                       -     http://www.emirates.com/

Gulf air                         -     http://www.gulfairco.com/

IndiGo                          -     http://www.goindigo.in/

Japan Airlines             -     http://www.jal.co.jp/e/index.html

Jet Airways                  -     http://www.jetairways.com/

KLM Royal                 -     http://www.klm.nl/

Korean Air                  -     http://www.koreanair.com/

Kuwait Airways           -     http://www.travelfirst.com/sub/kuwaitair.html

Lufthansa                    -     http://www.lufthansa.com/

Malaysia Airlines        -     http://www.malaysiaairlines.com.my/

North West Airlines    -     http://www.nwa.com/

Qantas Airways Ltd    -     http://www.qantas.com/

Qatar Airways Ltd.     -     http://qatarairways.com/

Royal Jordanian          -     http://www.rja.com.jo/

Saudi Arabia Airlines  -     http://www.saudiairlines.com/

Scandinavian Airlines  -     http://www.flysas.com/

Singapore Airlines       -     http://www.singaporeair.com/

South African Airways -     http://www.flysaa.com/

Swiss Air                      -     http://www.swissair.com/

Tarom Romania           -     http://tarom.digiro.net/

Thai Airways                -     http://www.thaiair.com/

United Airlines             -     http://www.ual.com/

Yemen Airways            -     http://home.earthlink.net/~yemenair/

  

Chitrakoot - A Personal Account - Pics

Best Hotels in Delhi

 

***** : 5 Star Hotel / ****+ : 4 Star Plus Hotel / **** : 4 Star Hotel

****- : 4 Star Minus Hotel / ***+ : 3 Star Plus Hotel / *** : 3 Star Hotel

***- : 3 Star Minus Hotel

 

Almondz (***-) - West Delhi

4/3, East Patel Nagar, New Delhi 110008

Ph : +91 11 45580000 (100 Lines)
 
info@almondzhotel.com

 

Atrium (*****) - NCR - Faridabad 

Shooting Range Road, Faridabad – 121 001, India

Ph: +91 129 4090700

Fax: +91 129 4090755

atrium@atrium-hotels.com

 

Aura (***) - Central Delhi

31, Arakashan Road, Paharganj, New Delhi - 110055, India

Ph : +91 11 43080550 / 51

Fax: +91 11 43850959

info@AuraNewDelhi.com

 

Claridges, New Delhi (*****) - Central Delhi

12 Aurangzeb Road, New Delhi - 110011, India

Ph: +91 11 3955 5000

Fax: +91 11 2301 0625

tcnd@claridges.com

 

Claridges, Surajkund (*****) - NCR - Faridabad

Shooting Range Road, Faridabad – 121 001, India

Ph : +91 129 4190 000

Fax : +91 129 4190 001

tcsk@claridges.com

 

Diplomat (****+) - South Delhi 


9, Sardar Patel Marg, Diplomatic Encl., Chankayapuri, Delhi - 110021

Ph : +91 11 23010204 / +91 11 46050200

Fax : +91 11 23018605

reservations@thehoteldiplomat.com / diplomat@nda.vsnl.net.in

 

GTC (***) - South Delhi

E – 514, Greater Kailash, Part II, New Delhi – 110 048

Ph : +91 11 4051 8400 (12 Lines)

Fax : +91 11 4051 8491

gtc@hotelgtc.com

 

Hotel Te (***) - South Delhi 

A-3, Pamposh Enclave, GK-1, New Delhi 110048, India

Ph : +91 11 40765525 / 26 / 27 / 28

Fax : +91 11 40765529

guest.experience@tenewdelhi.com / sales@tenewdelhi.com

 

Hyatt Regency (*****) - South Delhi

Bhikaiji Cama Place, Ring Road, New Delhi, India 110607

Ph : +91 11 2679 1234

Fax : +91 11 2679 1122

delhi.regency@hyatt.com

 

Intercontinental (*****) - South Delhi 

Nehru Place, New Delhi - 110019, India

Ph : +91 11 41223344

Fax : +91 11 26224288

 

Oberoi (*****) - South Delhi

Dr. Zakir Hussain Marg, New Delhi - 110003, India

Ph : +91 11 2436 3030

Fax : +91 11 2436 0484

reservations@oberoigroup.com

 

Parkland, Defence Colony (***-) - South Delhi 

E-19, Defence Colony, New Delhi - 110024

Ph : +91 11 42277777

Fax: +91 11 42277700

 

Parkland Exotica (***-) - South Delhi

Chhattarpur Mandir Road, Satbari, Next To IIPM, New Delhi - 74

Ph : +91 11 40797979

Fax : +91 11 40797900

banquetsales@hotelparkland.in / exotica@hotelparkland.in

 

Parkland, Green Park (***-) - South Delhi 

A-4, Green Park, New Delhi – 110016

Ph : +91 11 46099999

Fax : +91 11 46099900

 

Parkland, Kalkaji (***-) - South Delhi

CC-30,31, Nehru Enclave, Opposite Nehru place, New Delhi-110019

Ph : +91 11 40688888

Fax : +91 11 40688800

 

Parkland, Prashant Vihar (***-) - North Delhi 

D-14, Prashant Vihar, Near PVR Cinema, New Delhi , Delhi 110085

 

Parkland Retreat (***-) - South Delhi

Main Chattarpur Mandir Road, Satbari, New Delhi - 110074

Ph : +91 11 47999000

Fax : +91 11 47999100

gmsales@hotelparkland.in


 
Parkland, Safdarjung Enclave (***-) -South Delhi 

A-2/5, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi – 110029

Ph : +91 11 46033333

Fax : +91 11 46033300

 

Radisson (*****) - South Delhi

Mahipalpur, National Highway-8, New Delhi 110037, India

Ph : + 91 11 2677 9191

Fax: + 91 11 2677 9090

businesscentre@radissondel.com

 

Ramada Plaza (****+) - Central Delhi 

19 Ashoka Road, New Delhi - 110001, India

Ph : +91 114355 5555

Fax : +91 114355 5566

info@ramadaplazadelhi.com


 
 Shangri - La's Eros Hotel (*****) - Central Delhi

19 Ashoka Road, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110 001, India

Ph : +91 11 4119 1919

Fax : +91 11 4119 1988

slnd@shangri-la.com

 

Shanti Home (***) - West Delhi 

A-1/300, Janakpuri, New Delhi - 110058, India

Ph : +91 11 41573366 / 77

Fax : +91 11 25619418

contact@shantihome.com

 

Taj Mahal Hotel (*****) - Central Delhi

1, Mansingh Road, New Delhi - 110 011, India

Ph : +91 11 23026162

Fax : +91 11 23026070

Email: mahal.delhi@tajhotels.com

 

The Connaught (****) - Central Delhi 

37, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Marg, Next to Shivaji Stadium,N. Delhi-01

Ph : +91 11 23364225 / +91 11 23742842

Fax : +91 11 23340757

enquiries@hotelconnaught.com

 

The Corus (***) - Central Delhi

B-49, Inner Circle, Connaught Place, New Delhi - 110001

Ph: +91 11 43652222

Fax:+91 11 43652244

resv@hotelcorus.com / thecorus@rediffmail.com

 

The Hans (****) - Central Delhi 

15 Barakhamba Road, Connaught Place, New Delhi-01 

Ph : +91 11 66150000

Fax : +91 11 66150000

info@hanshotels.com

 

The Imperial (*****) - South Delhi 

Janpath, New Delhi. 110001 India

Ph : +91 11 23341234 / 41501234

Fax : +91 11 23342255

luxury@theimperialindia.com

 

The LaLiT (*****) - Central Delhi 

Barakhamba Avenue, Connaught Place, New Delhi-110001

Ph : +91 11 4444 7777

Fax : +91 11 4444 1234

delfront@thelalit.com

 

The Leela Kempinski (*****) - NCR - Gurgaon

Ambience Island, National Highway - 8, Gurgaon -122 002

Ph : +91 12 44771234

Fax : +91 12 44771235

reservations.gurgaon-delhi@theleela.com

 

The Leela Palace Kempinski (*****) - South Delhi 

Chanakyapuri, Diplomatic Enclave, New Delhi – 110 023

Ph : +91 11 39331234

Fax : +91 11 39331235

reservations.newdelhi@theleela.com

 

The Manor (***+) - South Delhi 

77, Friends Colony (West), New Delhi 110065

Ph: +91 11 43235151 / 26925151 / 26927510

Fax : +91 11 26922299

manor@oldworldhospitality.com






 
The Parkland, Kailash Colony (***-) - South Delhi 

A-56, Kailash Colony, New Delhi - 110048

Ph : +91 11 46688888

Fax : +91 11 46688800

Mathura - Places of Tourist Interest

Sri Krishna Janmabhumi – The birth place of Lord Krishna

Dwarkadheesh Temple – The main temple of the town, built in 1814, is decorated lavishly during the major Hindu festivals of Holi, Janamashtami, and Diwali.

Vishram Ghat          : It is widely believed to be the sacred spot where Lord Krishna rested after slaying the tyrant king Kansa, an extremely powerful man, who was also his maternal uncle.

Gita Mandir             : This temple is well known for the carvings and paintings on its walls, and is located on the outskirts of the city.

Govt. Museum           : The museum houses rare items from the Gupta and the Kushan period, and this huge collection is known to be one of the finest of its kind in India.

Govinda Dev Temple : This magnificent temple, displaying all the splendours of the architectural prowess of medieval India, was built by Raja Man singh of Jaipur in 1590. With the walls having an average thickness of 10 ft., the temple, which currently has only three stories, was originally a seven – storey high structure. The upper stories were destroyed during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

Shahji Temple    : This magnificent structure, famous all over for its splendid architecture and artwork, was constructed in the year 1860. The structure boasts of twelve single piece spiral columns, made up of marble, which are approximately 15 feet high. Another famous trait of this temple is the Basanti Kamra, which is situated in the eastern wing of this temple, and houses spectacular ancient chandeliers and rare paintings.

Rangji Temple : This temple was constructed in 1851, and is considered to be the longest temple of Vrindavan. The temple follows South Indian architectural pattern, with the only exception being the main gate, which follows the Rajput style. The outer wall measures 773 Ft. and the complex encompasses a water tank, a garden and, the actual temple. A prominent feature of the temple is the "Dhwaja Stambha", about 50 ft. tall, and believed to be gold plated.

Madan Mohan Temple : This temple is situated near the Kali ghat. The original Image of Madan Mohan (another name for Lord Krishna) was removed to Karauli during the reign of Aurangzeb .

Krishna Balram Mandir (Iskcon Vrindavan) : ISKCON is an International spiritual organisation with more than 400 centers around the world. Thousands of pilgrims and International tourists visit this centre at Vrindavan, which prides itself as a beautiful temple of Lord Krishna .

Radha Ballabh Temple : This temple was built in 1626, and is of special architectural value as it counts as a remnant of ancient Hindu architecture. The temple was demolished in the 17th century and of the huge structure that existed originally, only the plinth remains.

Gopi Nath Temple : This temple, which closely resembles the Madan Mohan mandir in style and dimensions, was built by a Rajput family of Jaipur.

Glass Temple    : The amazing artwork is next to none in leaving visitors speechless.

Nidhi Van         : It is also known as Radha's Kridasthali, (the playground of Radha, Krishna's consort).

Banke Bihari   : It is one of the oldest temples in the region, and was rebuilt in 1921 by disciples of Haridas Swami.

GOVERDHAN     :     This little hamlet lies about 26 Kms. from Mathura, along the road to Deeg. It is named after the Goverdhan Hillock, which Lord Krishna balanced on his little finger to save the people of brijbhoomi from incessant rain, which fell for seven days, and would have otherwise destroyed the people of Brij. The hillock is about 7 Miles in length. The temple of Har Dev Ji in Goverdhan town is believed to be more than 400 Yrs old. An artificial lake, Mansi Ganga, was constructed here by Raja Man Singh of Jaipur.


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Places near Delhi - Mathura - Vrindavan

Mathura, a major city in North-western U.P., is located at a distance of 145 Kms. From Delhi and at a distance of just 58 kms. from Agra, a major tourist hot-spot. Mathura forms a major part of the legendary region of Brajbhoomi, the place associated with the birth and life of Lord Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The region covers a huge area of approximately 3800 Sq. Kms., and, is naturally divided into two divisions by River Yamuna. The western part of this region consists of, in addition to Mathura, places like Vrindavan, Govardhan, Kusum Sarovar, Barsana, and Nandgaon. The eastern part consists of Gokul, Mahavan, Baldeo, Math, and Bajna.

From Delhi, Kotban, near Hodel, is the nearest part of Brajbhoomi, while Runakuta is the farthest part. Runakuta is well known for its association with the legendary poet Surdas.

Mathura, along with Vrindavan, is a major place of pilgrimage in northern India. The town of Vrindavan, just 15 kms. from Mathura, is such an integral part of the pilgrimage that Mathura – Vrindavan is the normal nomenclature used by the people instead of taking the names separately. Both Mathura and Vrindavan, are known for the numerous temples scattered all over, as well as other places of religious significance.

To Know more about Mathura - Vrindavan, Read on .................
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Agra - Other Tourist Places

Fatehpur Sikri    -    The Mughal Emperor Akbar built the city of Fatehpūr Sikrī about 35 kms from Agra, and moved his capital there. The place is named in honour of the victory of the first Mughal Emperor Babar over Rana Sanga at a place called Sikrī, which lies about 40 km from Agra. Akbar wanted to make Fatehpūr Sikrī his headquarters, and built a majestic fort with the same idea. However, due to shortage of water, he had to move his headquarters back to the Agra Fort.

Buland Darwāza     -     The 'lofty gateway' was built by the great Mughal emperor, Akbar in 1601 CE. at Fatehpūr Sikrī. Akbar built the Buland Darwāza to commemorate his victory over Gujarat. The Buland Darwāza is approached by 52 steps. The Buland Darwāza is 53.63 m high and 35 meters wide. The Buland Darwāza is made of red sandstone, decorated by carvings and black and white marble inlays. An inscription on the central face of the Buland Darwāza demonstrates Akbar's religious broadmindedness, it is a message from Jesus advising his followers not to consider this world as their permanent home.

Tomb of Akbar the Great at Sikandra    -    The last resting place of the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great, is on the Delhi-Agra Highway, only 13 kilometres from the Agra Fort. Akbar's tomb reflects the completeness of his personality. The vast, beautifully carved, red-ochre sandstone tomb with deers, rabbits and langoors is set amidst a lush garden. Akbar himself planned his own tomb and selected a suitable site for it. To construct a tomb in one's lifetime was a Turkish custom which the Mughals followed religiously. Akbar's son Jahāngīr completed construction of this pyramidal tomb in 1613. The names of the Gods of ninety-nine religious sects have been inscribed on the tomb.

Mankameshwar Temple   -  It is one of four ancient temples dedicated to Lord Shiva located on the four corners of Agra City. It is located near the Jāma Masjid and is about 2.5 kilometers from the Tāj Mahal and less than 1 km from Agra Fort. Being located in the old city, the temple is surrounded by markets, many of which date back to the Mughal Era.

Guru ka Tal   -   It was originally a reservoir meant to collect and conserve rainwater built in Agra, near Sikandra, during Jahāngīr's reign, next to the Tomb of I'tibār Khān Khwājasara in 1610. In 1970s, a gurdwāra was erected here. Gurū kā Tal is a holy place of worship for the Sikhs. Four of the ten Sikh Gurus are said to have paid it a visit. Enjoying both historical and religious importance, this gurdwāra attracts a large number of devotees and tourists. Boasting elaborate stone carvings and 8 towers of the twelve original towers. It is located by national (Delhi-Agra) highway-2.

Jāma Masjid    -   It is a large mosque attributed to Shah Jahan's daughter, Princess Jahanara Begum, built in 1648, notable for its unusual dome and absence of minarets. The inscription at its entrance shows that it costed Rs 5 Lakhs at that time for its completion.

Ram Bagh    -   The oldest Mughal garden in India, the Rām Bāgh was built by the Emperor Bābar in 1528 on the bank of the Yamuna. It lies about 2.34 km north of the Tāj Mahal. The pavilions in this garden are designed so that the wind from the Yamuna, combined with the greenery, keeps them cool even during the peak of summer. The original name of the gardens was Ārām Bāgh, or 'Garden of Relaxation', and this was where the Mughal emperor Bābar used to spend his leisure time and where he eventually died. His body was kept here for sometime before sending it to Kabul.

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Places to visit in Delhi - Jama Masjid

Jama Masjid, located in Old Delhi, near Red Fort, is one of the biggest, grandest, and most well - known mosques in India. It was originally named “Masjid-i Jahān-Numā”, which literally means 'World-reflecting Mosque'. The mosque is another remnant of the golden period of architecture in India, the period when the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal, had overseen construction of some of the most beautiful masterpieces of the Mughal Architecture. The construction of the mosque started in 1650 on the orders of Shah Jahan, and was completed in the year 1656 AD.

This huge mosque, which was a very important part of the mughal capital Shahjahanabad, can accommodate upto twenty-five thousand worshippers at a time. It took more than 5000 workers to complete the construction of this mosque. The construction plan of Jama Masjid is very similar to the Jama Masjid at Fatehpur Sikri, near Agra, but the Jama Masjid at Delhi is bigger and is structurally more prominent because of the high ground on which it was built.

The courtyard of the mosque can be reached from the east, north and south by three flights of steps, all built of red sandstone. The roof of the mosque has three domes whose topmost parts are covered with gold. The domes are flanked on either side by two lofty minarets, which rise to a height of 130 feet (41 m) high, and contain 130 steps. These minarets are longitudinally striped with white marble and red sandstone. There are four small minarets located at the back of the mosque, which are crowned exactly like the minarets in the front portion.

The mosque also houses several relics in a closet in the north gate, including an antique copy of the Qur'an written on deer skin.

Places to visit in Delhi - Tughlaqabad Fort

Tughlaqabad Fort Ruins, located in South Delhi, and stretching across 6.5 km, are wonderful remnants of the Delhi Sultanate of the 14^th century. These are ruins of the fort built by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty, which ruled Delhi for almost all of 14^th century. This fort was built in 1321, but was abandoned in 1327, quite a small period for a forts' prominence.

Ghazi Malik, a slave of the Khilji rulers of the Khilji dynasty, once suggested to the king that a fort built here would be impregnable. However, the khilji king took it lightly and even made fun of him.

A few years later, Ghazi Malik usurped the throne from the Khilji king, and gave himself the title of Ghias-ud-din Tughlaq, and laid the foundations of the Tughlaq dynasty, also known as the slave dynasty, in 1321 AD. As soon as he became the king, he ordered the construction of this fort city, which he believed to be impregnable, but intended it to be beautiful at the same time.

Connected to the southern outpost of the fortification by an elevated causeway is the 'Mausoleum of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq'. This causeway was built over an artificial lake, which no longer exists today, and instead, the Mehrauli- Badarpur road runs below it. The entrance has a high gateway made up of red sandstone as well as a flight of steps.

The mausoleum is in the shape of a single-domed square tomb (about 8 m x8 m) with sloping walls, which are crowned by parapets. While the walls of the forts are made up of granite, the walls of the mausoleum are formed of smooth red sandstone and are inlaid with inscribed panels and arch borders formed of marble. The edifice is topped by an elegant dome resting on an octagonal drum that is covered with white slabs of marble.

The mausoleum houses the graves of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq, his wife, and his son, Muhammad bin Tughluq, who was his successor as well. In the north-western section of the enclosure wall, with its pillared corridors, is another octagonal tomb, constructed in style similar to the rest of the mausoleum, but with a smaller marble dome and with inscribed marble and sandstone slabs over its arched doors. According to an inscription over its southern entrance, this smaller tomb houses the grave of Zafar Khan, which had been at the site prior to the construction of the outpost. Ghiyas-ud-din had himself made arrangements for the amalgamation of this grave into the design of the mausoleum.

Tughluqabad Fort consisted of massive stone fortifications that surrounded the city. The walls of the city are between 10 and 15 meters high, and are topped by battlement parapets and are provided additional strength by circular bastions of up to two stories height. These features were quite prominent in most structures of the slave dynasty. It is believed that the city had as many as 52 gates, but, there are only 13 remaining today. The fortified city contained seven rainwater tanks as well to provide continuous water supply to all the inhabitants.

The fortified city can be divided into three parts; the city area, with houses built along a rectangular grid located between its gates, which is the widest; the citadel with a tower at its highest point known as Bijai-Mandal, which also has the remains of several halls; and, the adjacent palace area, which contained the royal residences. A long underground passage below the tower still remains.

Today, even though the fort city looks majestic and worth exploring, most of the city is inaccessible due to dense thorny vegetation, which has come up due to the neglect shown by the authorities. Further, a large part of the former city area has been occupied by illegal settlements, especially in the vicinity of its lakes, which is slowly, but surely, eating away the fort.

At the same time while visiting the Tughluqabad fort, one can easily decipher the remains of the Fortress of Adilabad in the south-east direction, which was built years later, but in a similar style.

Places to visit in Delhi - Humayun's Tomb

Humayun’s tomb is located in Nizamuddin East area of South Delhi. It is the first garden tomb to be built on the Indian Subcontinent.
The tomb is a complex consisting of various structures. It started out as a tomb for the second Mughal Emperor Humayun, and was built on the orders of his wife Hamida Banu Begum, the construction started in 1562 and was finally completed in 1571.
The main tomb was placed in the centre of a 30 acre Charbagh Garden, a Persian style quadrilateral garden. Several structure were added to the complex during the Mughal era. The complex now has graves of Hamida Banu Begum, Dara Shikoh, Jahandar Shah, Farrukhsiyar, Rafi – Ul – Daryat, Alamgir II, which were all later Mughals.
The complex is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Another important structure that one can find in the near vicinity is the Nizamuddin Dargah, mausoleum of sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya, who was highly revered by the Mughals.

Places to visit in Delhi - Safdarjung's Tomb

Safdarjung’s Tomb is a marble mausoleum built in 1754, and is located in the present day South Delhi. It was built as the final resting place for Safdarjung, a powerful PM of Muhammad Shah, a weak Mughal Emperor from 1719 to 1748.
The central tomb has a huge dome, a characteristic of Mughal Architecture. It has 4 water canals running from 4 tanks at the 4 corners of the toms, and leading to 4 different buildings.
The top storey of the structure now houses the offices of the Architectural Survey of India.

Places to visit in Delhi - Lodhi Gardens

Lodhi Gardens is a 90 acre park in South Delhi. It is also the site for certain historical structures. Mohammed Shah’s tomb is the oldest structure at the site, and is believed to be built in 1444. Another famous structure is the tomb of Sikander Lodhi, which was built by his son Ibrahim Lodhi, the last sultan from the Lodhi Dynasty. Other structures at the site are Sheesh Gumbad and Bara Gumbad.

The gardens at the site were originally landscaped by Lady Willingdon, the wife of the then Governor – General of India, in 1936, and were inaugurated on 09th Apr. 1936. The gardens were later re-landscaped in 1968 by J A Stein along with Garrett Eckbo.

Places to visit in Delhi - Old Fort

Purana Qila (Old Fort) was originally named Dina – Panah by Mughal Emperor Humayun, who founded it as the 6th great city of Delhi. Historical records suggest the same; however, people believe that the fort had been built by the Pandavas, the clan of great warriors from Mahabharata saga. They believe it to the site of ancient city of Indraprastha, the first city of Delhi, founded by the Pandavas around 1000 BC. Even the excavations at the site by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), at the site had unearthed artefacts dating back to 1000 BC, adding to the belief.

The present structure has walls, which rise to a height of 18 metres and run for 1.5 kms. The fort has 3 arched gateways, namely, Bada Darwaza, Humayun Gate, and Talaqi Gate (Forbidden Gate).

The fort was taken over by Sher Shah Suri when he defeated Humayun. He added several structures to the fort and renamed it Shergarh. The fort still has some of those structures remaining like the Qila – I – Kuna mosque, built by him in 1541, and, the Sher Mandal, the place where Humayun died after slipping from the stairs.

At the back of the complex lies Bhairava Mandir, which is believed to be from the age of the Pandavas. The lake outside the fort is famous among people looking to spend some leisurely hours paddle – boating.

The National Zoological Gardens of India are situated just a stone’s throw away.

Places to visit in Delhi - Qutab Minar

Qutab Minar is the World’s Tallest Brick Minaret, and is located in Mehrauli area of South Delhi. The minaret is surrounded by ruins of ancient Hindu Temples, a centuries old Mosque, and incomplete minaret, and several other structures. All these are collectively known as the Qutab Complex. The Qutab Complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Qutab Complex is, officially, the most visited monument in India, and has more international and domestic visitors than even the world – famous Taj Mahal.

The construction of this minaret began in 1193 on the orders of Qutab – Ud – Din Aibak. However, the present day structure was completed by Firoz Shah Tughlaq in 1386 when he built the two top storeys in white marble. The site initially had 27 ancient Hindu and Jain temples, which were destroyed and the debris were used to build the Qutab Minar.

The minaret has 379 steps to the top. The base diameter is 14.3 metres and the top diameter is 2.75 metres. The minaret is built in red sandstone except for the top two storeys, which were constructed in white marble. The five storey structure has a total height of 72.5 metre.

The complex has the Quwwat – Ul – Islam mosque; the mysterious Iron Pillar in the open Courtyard, which has not rusted even though it was built in 402 AD; the Alai Minar, an incomplete minaret, which would have been twice the size of Qutab Minar had it been completed; and tombs of Iltutmish, Alauddin Khilji and Balban. Throughout the complex, there are engravings with readings from Quran.

Places to visit in Delhi - Red Fort

Red Fort, which became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007, is located in the walled city (Old Delhi). The fort, originally known as “Qila – I – Mubarak” (Blessed Fort), was built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan. Its construction began in 1638 and finished in 1648. The Red Sandstone building has classic Mughal Architecture. This largest and most visited monument of Old Delhi was built as the centre of Shahjahan’s later capital “Shahjahanabad”, which was the 7^th city to be built on Delhi site. At that time, the fort used to lie along the River Yamuna, which used to feed the moats all around the walls, and was adjacent to Salimgarh Fort at its North-Eastern corner.

Important structures inside the red fort are Diwan – I – Aam (Public Courtyard), Nahr – I – Behisht (Stream of Paradise), Zenana (Woman’s Quarters), which has Mumtaj Mahal (now a museum) and Rang Mahal, Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque), Hayat Baksh Bagh (Life-Bestowing Garden).

The status of the monument in Indian History can be gauged from the fact that the Prime Minister of India unveils flag and delivers speech to the nation every Independence Day (15^th August) from the top of the fort. To learn more about the historical significance of the fort, one must attend the Sound and Light show held every evening in the complex.

 

Places to visit in Delhi - Rashtrapati Bhawan

Rashtrapati Bhawan is the official residence of the President of India, and is located at almost the Center of Delhi. It is widely regarded as the largest residence of any head of state in the world. This magnificent structure has 340 decorated rooms with a total floor area of 200000 Sq. Ft. and 700 million bricks and 3.5 million cubic feet of stones were used in its construction. The most amazing aspect is that in spite of its size, steel is almost absent from the construction.

It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens as a residence for the Governor General of India for the British Government, and was called the “Viceroy’s House”, up until 1950 when India declared itself a republic and the first President of India took over the residence.

The Rashtrapati Bhawan has two wings, one for the President, and the other for the guests. However, as a tradition, Presidents stay in the guest wing, and the guests are entertained in the original ‘President’s wing’. It started when the last governor – general of India, Late C. Rajagopalachari, decided to stay in the guest wing due to its simplicity and smaller size, two things that he liked in life. When the first President of India took over, he simply followed him and stayed in the guest wing.

In this building, the most prominent feature is the Dome of the building, which is so enormous that it is almost twice the height of the rest of the building. The designer, Sir Edwin Lutyens, had said that he based it on the Pantheon of Rome, but, architectural experts believe it to resemble the Great Stupa at Sanchi more.

At the centre of the building, just underneath the dome, is the Durbar Hall, the biggest hall of the building, and the place where most of the ceremonies take place.

The estate gardens, called Mughal Gardens, display numerous types of flowers, and are widely accepted as one of the best gardens in the country. These are open to public in the month of February every year, when the flowers are blooming at their best.

 

Places to visit in Delhi - India Gate

India Gate is one of the largest, and the most renowned, War Memorial in India, and is located at the center of Delhi. This 42 metres tall structure, originally named “All India War Memorial”, was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, as an effort by the government to commemorate 90000 soldiers of the British Indian Army, who died in the World War. Their names are engraved on the surface of the India Gate, and are grouped together according to the division the soldiers belonged to.

Under the arch of the structure is a shrine, which was unveiled on the 26^th of January, 1972 by the then Prime Minister, Late Smt. Indira Gandhi, as a memorial to the Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the 1971 Indo – Pak war. The shrine is a black marble cenotaph with a rifle standing on its barrel, crested by a “soldier’s helmet”. Each face of the cenotaph has “Amar Jawan” (Immortal Warrior) inscribed in gold. This cenotaph, in turn, is placed on an edifice, with four perpetually burning torches at its four corners.

Since the unveiling of the shrine in 1972, names of Param Vir Chakra (Highest Gallantry Medal in India) winners are also inscribed, as and when anyone is decorated with it. Also, each 26^th January (India’s Republic Day), the Prime Minister - in - office pays homage to the soldiers along with the Chiefs of Staff of Armed Forces.

The structure is surrounded by lush green lawns, which are amongst the most visited lawns in the Delhi, especially when the weather is good.