06.DELHI
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Delhi, capital city of the Federal Republic of India. It is one of India's fastest growing cities situated on the banks of the river Yamuna. The city has two distinct parts, Old Delhi & New Delhi. Delhi is the second most widely used entry point into the country, being on the route of most major airlines. It is well linked by rail, air and road to all parts of the country. Mughal emperor Shahjahan built the city, now known as
"Old Delhi", to serve as the capital of the Mughal Empire. Delhi has been the capital of several ancient Indian empires and a major city along the old trade routes between northwest India and the Indo-Gangetic Plains. It is the site of many ancient and medieval monuments, archaeological sites and remains. |
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| Places of Interest: |
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| Qutub Minar : |
| Qutab Minar is a soaring, 73 m-high tower of victory, built in 1193 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak immediately after the defeat of Delhi's last Hindu kingdom. Some believe it was erected as a tower of victory to signify the beginning of the Muslim rule in India. Others say it served as a minaret to the muezzins to call the faithful to prayer. At the foot of the tower is the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, the first mosque to be built in India. |
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| Humayan’s Tomb : |
| Humayan’s Tomb is the first mature example of Mughal architecture in India. Humayun's Tomb was built by the emperor's grieving widow, Haji Begum, in 1565 AD. Humayun's Tomb shows a marked shift from the Persian tradition of using coloured tiles for ornamentation. Humayun's tomb is a complex of buildings of Mughal architecture located in Nizamuddin east, New Delhi. |
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| Red Fort : |
| The Red Fort was constructed by the Emperor Shah Jahan in 1639 AD. The fort is so called because of the stones that are used in the construction. The fort lies along the Yamuna River. With a circumference of almost one and a half miles, the fort is an irregular octagon and has two entrances, the Lahore and Delhi Gates. Other building of interest in the Red Fort complex are the Musamman Burg (Octagonal tower), Khwabgah (bedroom) and the Hammam (royal baths). |
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| Purana Quila : |
| The fort is said to be constructed on the historic site of Indraprastha (900BC) by Humayun and Sher Shah. Covering a circuit of about a mile, the walls of the fort have three gates and are surrounded by a mat fed by the river Yamuna. The notable buildings that have survived in the fort are the Sher Mandal and the Quila-I-kholina Mosque. Sher Mandal is a two storeyed octagonal tower which was used by Humayun as his library. The mosque, built around 1541-42, is a landmark in Indo Islamic architecture. |
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| Jama Masjid : |
| Jama Masjid is the Largest Mosque in India. It was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to complement his palace at the Red Fort. The Jama Masjid has 3 gateways. 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 devotees wash before attending prayers. Jama Masjid is a place of great religious significance as it houses a hair from the beard of the Prophet and also a chapter of the Holy Quran written by him. |
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| Jantar Mantar : |
| A unique structure raised in 1724, now lies in the heart of Delhi's commercial centre near Connaught place. This is the Jantar Mantar, one of several astronomical observatories raised by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur. The various abstract structures within the Jantar Mantar are, in fact, instruments that were used for keeping track of celestial bodies. The Jantar Mantar of Delhi is only one of the five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh II, the other four being located at Jaipur, Varanasi, Ujjain and Mathura. |
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| India Gate : |
| Situated on the Rajpath in New Delhi, the India Gate was originally called the All India War Memorial, is a monument built by Edwin Lutyens to commemorate the Indian soldiers who died in World War I and the Afghan Wars. Situated on the Rajpath in New Delhi, The names of the soldiers who died in these wars are inscribed on the walls. Inscribed on top of India Gate in capital letters is the line “To the dead of the Indian armies who fell honoured in France and Flanders Mesopotamia and Persia East Africa Gallipoli and elsewhere in the near and the far-east and in sacred memory also of those whose names are recorded and who fell in India or the north-west frontier and during the Third Afghan War". The India Gate today also houses the Indian Army's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Amar Jawan Jyoti. |
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| Raj Ghat : |
| Raj Ghat is a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi – Father of our nation. It is the last resting place of Gandhi. Gandhi’s body was burried here on 31st January 1948. The memorial stone is a simple square platform made of black stone. The last words uttered by Mahatma "Hey Ram" are inscribed near the black platform. An eternal flame keeps burning in a copper urn in the Raj Ghat. A commemorative ceremony takes place every Friday. |
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| Prayers are held in remembrance of Mahatma on the Birth (2nd October) and Death (30th January) Anniversaries. 30th January is remembered as Martyr's Day. |
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| Rashtrapathi Bhavan : |
| Rashtrapati Bhavan (Sanskrit for ''President House / Presidential Palace'') is the official residence of the President of India, located in New Delhi. Until 1950 it was known as "Viceroy's House" and served as the residence of the Governor-General of India. The building is a blend of Indian Architecture and Western Style. |
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