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Red
Fort
built on the banks of river Yamuna by Shah Jahan
at the peak of Mughal power is a marvelous
example of the architectural works undertaken by
the Emperor. The fort is 3 kms in perimeter with
the height of the wall varying from 18 to 30
meters at places. When the Red fort was being
built Yamuna used to flow on its one sides and
there were deep moats on the other. Today Yamuna
flows almost a kilometer away from the fort. In
the evening, the Delhi Tourism organizes a light
and sound show which narrates the history of
Delhi in the context of the Red Fort. The main
fort gate, called the Lahore gate, has special
significance as on 15 August, the independence
day, the prime minister unfurls the national
flag and addresses the nation from its ramparts.
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Jama
Masjid,
built by Shahjahan, is the largest mosques in
India . Completed in 1658, this Mosque has three
gateways, four angle towers and two 40 m high
minarets with alternating vertical strips of red
sand stone and white marble. The courtyard can
hold 25,000 people. One can limb the southern
minaret to get a breathtaking birds eye view of
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Purana
Quila (Old Fort)
It is believed that the Pandavas had built
their capital, Indraprastha at the place where
the old fort stands today. This fort, now in
ruins, was the seat for administration for
many emperors. The legendary Prithviraj
Chauhan ruled from here till he was defeated
by Abdali in the battle of Panipat. A light
and sound show is held by the Department of
Delhi Tourism every evening.
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Huamayun’s
Tomb, built
by the wife of Humayun, Haji Begum in the mid
16th century, this red sand stone octagonal
structure is considered to be the predecessor
of Taj Mahal. The tomb, one of the best
example of Mughal architecture is spellbinding
beautiful. The construction is ornamented with
black and white marble geometical patterns and
high arches. A massive 42.5 meters high white
marble dome surmounted with a spire is the
highlight of the tomb. The tomb is surrounded
by a four quartered garden concept which
become the typical pattern of a Mugal gardens.
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Nizam-Ud-Din
Shrine, The
tomb of the famous sufi saint Nizam-ud-din
Auliya is built on the way to the Humayun's
tomb. Inside the premises of the shrine is a
tank which is surrounded by many other tombs.
It is said that there was a controversy
between the rulers of Tughlakabad and the
saint over building of this tank. The saint
had prophesized that the city of Tughlakabad
would never flourish and so it did happen. The
shrine also has the tomb of Amir Khusro, the
famous poet and the grave of Jahanara, the
daughter of Shah Jahan. It is worth visiting
the shrine at around sunset on Thursdays, as
it is a popular time for worship, and qawwali
singers start performing after the evening
prayers.
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Safdarjang
Tomb
built in 1753-54 by the Nawab of Avadh for his
father, Safdarjang, is one of the finest
examples of Mughal architecture in the period
when the empire began to collapse. The tomb
stands on a high terrace and is surrounded by
a sprawling garden enclosed within high walls.
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Hauz
Khas complex,
found to the west of the Delhi fortress
Tughluqabad, is named for the "Special
tank" of water that it contains. It is
attributed to the Khalji Sultan Ala al-din
(r.1296-1316), a sultan with an interest in
monumental architecture and whose projects
include the ambitious enlargement of the
Quwwatu'l Islam Mosque. The complex also
includes a large madrasa, and the tomb of
Firuz Shah Taghlaq, which was a later
addition. The village complex around it houses
upmarket boutiques and restaurants today.
There is a light and sound show in the
evenings.
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Tughlaqabad,
the third city of Delhi was built by
Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq. The massively strong
walls with 13 gateways protected the city and
the fort. Outside the south wall of the city
is an artificial lake with the king’s tomb
in the centre.
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Qutab
Minar was
built in 1193 by Qutbuddin either as a victory
tower or as a minaret to the adjacent mosque.
From a base of 15 m it tapers to 3 m at a
height of 73 m. One of the finest Islamic
structures ever raised, It is still the
highest stone tower in India. Its interiors
are profusely decorated with calligraphy,
though the dome has collapsed. It has a slight
tilt and it is no longer possible to climb the
tower.
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Boalis
(the step wells) are
ancient water reservoirs built by various
dynasties that ruled Delhi. Today were
engineering marvels and remarkable art forms
that today lie in ruins. The step-well
consists of two parts: a vertical shaft from
which water is drawn and the surrounding
inclined subterranean passageways, chambers
and steps which provide access to the well.
The galleries and chambers surrounding these
wells were often carved profusely with
elaborate detail and became cool, quiet
retreats during the hot summers. The galleries
and chambers in some of the baolis
went eight levels below the ground level and
provided the much needed relief from the north
Indian summers.
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Jantar
Mantar
Few minutes walk from Connaught Place is a
strange collection of solomon coloured
structures. These were built by Maharaja Jai
Singh and is actually an observatory. Though
not as large as its compatriot in Jaipur
Jantar Mantar at Delhi also an attraction for
the tourists. The astonishing part of these
observatories is that they can calculate many
astronomical movements very accurately.
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Rashtrapati
Bhavan is
the official residence of the President of the
country. Designed by Lutyens, it was the
official residence of the Viceroy when the
British ruled India. With 340 rooms and an
area of about 330 acres. It is an imposing
structure and a tourist's delight. The pillars
and the porticos are an architect's marvel and
so are the Durbar Hall and the Ashoka Hall
within the complex. Although special
permission has to be obtained to visit the
complex, the Mughal Gardens within the complex
are a treat for the eyes and are open to the
public during certain periods of the year.
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Rajpath
is
the wide avenue that leads from the
Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate. It is lined
on either side by well manicured lawns with
water canals running through them. Beyond
these lie the buildings that house the various
government offices and ministries. On 26
January, the Republic Day Parade routed on
Rajpath showcases the strides made by India
since independence.
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India
Gate Straight
down the road from Rashtrapati Bhavan along a
magnificent view and totally unhampered drive
is India Gate which is primarily a memorial to
the unknown soldier. Designed by Lutyens, the
42 metre high structure is a war memorial in
honour of the soldiers who died during the
second world war. The imposing structure from
where stretch massive lush green lawns has an
eternal flame (amar jawan jyoti) to honour the
memory of the unknown soldiers.
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Parliament
House,
close to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, is a
marvellous piece of architecture which can be
admired only from outside on account of
security restrictions. It is a domed circular
structure almost a kilometer in circumference,
and was designed by the famed architect
Lutyens. It is the seat of the Indian
Parliament and during the sessions of
Parliament there is a flurry of activity in
and around the structure.
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Government
Buildings along
on either side of Rajpth and around it follow
a similar architectural design and impart an
imperial glory to the entire region.
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Raj
Ghat, is
the memorial and final resting place of
Mahatma Ghandi, Father of the Nation. It is
located in a peaceful and beautifully
landscaped green area. The shrine itself is
very simple: a raised square platform made of
black marble which is always covered in
flowers, with a perpetual flame burning at one
end of it. The area also has the cenotaphs of
various personalities. The most visited are
Shanti Vana (Nehru) and Shakti Sthal (Indira
Gandhi.)
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Lakshmi
Narayan or Birla Temple
was built in 1938 by G. D. Birla, patriarch of
a leading industrialist family. Located near
Connaught Place, the temple is dedicated to
Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and good
fortune.
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Bahai’s
Lotus Temple / The Bahai Temple - Completed
in 1986, the Bahai Temple is set amidst pools
and gardens. Adherents of any faith are free
to visit the temple and pray or meditate
silently according to their own religion. The
structure is in lotus shape and hence the name
the lotus temple. The view of the temple is
very spectacular just before dusk when the
temple is flood lit.
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Isckon
Temple, completed
in 1998, is a complex of temples. Built on a
hilly place by the Hare-Rama Hare- Krishna
cult followers, this temple is dedicated to
the Lord Krishna. It is elegantly built and is
one of the largest temple complexes in India .
Currently the main attraction of the temple
are the Robot who enact and preach the Gita.
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Chattarpur
Temple
complex is located beyond the Qutab Minar in
Mehrauli. Dedicated to Goddess Durga, it is
built in the South Indian style. It is built
over a very large area amidst beautiful lawns
and gardens.
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Bangla
Sahib Gurudwara
The magnificent and spacious bungalow in Delhi
owned by Raja Jai Singh Amber (Jaipur) who
commanded great respect and honour in the
court of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb now enjoys
the status of a holy shrine of the Sikhs. The
eighth Guru Sri Harkishan had stayed here for
a few months as guest of Raja Jai Singh. Since
then it has become a place of pilgrimage for
both Hindus and Sikhs.
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Sisgunj
Gurudwara in
Chandini Chowk has beautiful golden domes. It
commemorates the site of the ninth guru of the
Sikhs, Guru Teg Bahadur's martyrdom; the Guru
was beheaded by Aurangzeb 1675. The gurudwara
has been extended from time to time and it is
tough to tell apart the original structure
anymore.
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