10 SPECTACULAR PLACES IN DELHI

10 SPECTACULAR PLACES IN DELHI

LEARN MORE ABOUT 10 SPECTACULAR PLACES IN DELHI AND DISCOVER MORE THIS AMAZING PLACES IN DELHI AND EXPLORE MORE INFORMATIONS

10 SPECTACULAR PLACES IN DELHI

India is so big that it might be challenging to decide where to travel. The capital of India is home to many treasures, including Mughal architecture, marble temples, and enormous sundials. These ten locations in Delhi are recommended.

 

1- RED FORT

You simply can’t go to Delhi and not visit the Red Fort as this is a historic gem and one of the most famous landmarks in India.

Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan tried to move his capital from Agra to Delhi’s old walled city of Shahjahanabad in 1638 but was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb before he could complete the move.

Although the Mughal reign from Delhi was a short one, the legacy of this dynasty is encapsulated by the majesty of the Red Fort.

Inside are stately audience halls of which the most impressive, the Diwan-i-Khas once housed the diamond and ruby studded Peacock Throne.

Other highlights are the Pearl Mosque and grand marble palaces.

An evening sound and light show recreate the glory of Delhi’s history.

It was at the Red Fort that the British deposed the last Mughal ruler, Bahadur Shah Zafar, marking the end of the three-century-long Mughal rule.

Many years later India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru announced India’s freedom from colonial rule at this very site.

2- DELHI PARLIAMENT HOUSE

Take a drive past Parliament House. While the Red Fort represents India’s history, the contrasting modern circular structure of Parliament House is one of the places to visit in Delhi that represents the future.

There are two Houses of Parliament – the Lok Sabha (House of the People), Rajya Sabha (Upper House).

You can obtain a permit to sit in the public gallery if you have a letter of introduction from your embassy.

Looking for somewhere to travel to in the south? Here are some fantastic places to visit in South India.

3- INDIA GATE

Delhi’s version of the Arc de Triomphe comes in the form of India Gate, a majestic 4m high memorial to the 85,000 Indian soldiers killed in World War I and the Afghan war.

Taking a photo at India Gate is a mandatory Delhi sightseeing stop.

Completed in 1931, the names of the soldiers who died in these battles are inscribed on its walls.

An eternal flame underneath the gate burns in memory of the soldiers who died in the 1971 India-Pakistan War.

4- JANTAR MANTAR

Maharajah Jai Singh II of Jaipur was a keen astronomer who built the Jantar Mantar observatory in Delhi, a smaller version of the original Jantar Mantar in Jaipur.

Dissatisfied by the errors of brass and metal astronomical instruments, Delhi’s Jantar Mantar was the first of the five observatories that the Maharajah constructed.

Wander through the massive structures that were used to calculate planetary positions and to perform sacred rituals.

There is a gigantic sundial, Samrat Yantra, with two stone quadrants on either side which were used to measure time by using the sun’s shadow.

The Jai Prakash was invented by Jai Singh himself and verifies the time of the spring equinox.

5- DELHI’S NATIONAL MUSEUM

One of the best places to visit in Delhi to soak up five millennia of Indian history is at the National Museum.

Its galleries display artifacts from the Indus Valley Civilization, stone and bronze sculptures from the Chola period, the largest collection of miniature paintings in the world and crumbly manuscripts.

There’s a Buddhist Gallery, an Anthropological Gallery of tribal art, galleries devoted to decorative and applied arts, Maritime Heritage and Pre-Columbian art, and an entire gallery dedicated to Sir Aurel Stein’s discoveries along the ancient Silk Route.

6- LOTUS TEMPLE

Delhi’s answer to the Sydney Opera House comes in the form of the 27-petal white marble Bahai Temple, more commonly referred to as the Lotus Temple.

It’s one of Delhi’s more innovative structures and was designed by an Iranian architect and completed in 1986.

Recognised for its excellence in religious art and architecture by the US-based International Federation for Religious Art and Architecture, the Lotus Temple is open to all visitors and is free of charge.

Its 92-ha gardens are a green refuge from the smog of the city centre.

Originally from Persia, the Bahai sect views humanity as a single race.

There are four fifteen-minute prayer sessions each day that represent a unique combination of prayers from a number of different religions. Sessions are held at 10am, 12noon, 3pm and 5pm.

7- DILI HAAT

You can go crazy craft shopping at Dilli Haat.

Situated at a large showground on Aurobindo Marg, in the centre of the city, it’s set up like a traditional village market with stalls selling crafts from all over India.

There are carpets from Kashmir, colourful puppets from Rajasthan, bangles, jewellery, textiles and wooden souvenirs.

Traditional bands chant and bang on their drums as they weave among the shoppers, creating a festive atmosphere.

Regional festivals that portray the vast diversity of cultures within India are held throughout the year.

You can also fill your tummy with delicious cuisine from the different states at the open-air food stalls.

8- QUTUB MINAR

Visit the 72-metre soaring stone tower that was built in 1193.

There are five levels, each with its own balcony.

The tower is one of Delhi’s well-known landmarks and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Of all the places to visit in Delhi, this one is popular with lovers of history.

PLACES TO VISIT NEAR DELHI

9- TAJ MAHAL DAY TRIP

Take a day trip to visit one of the most recognised buildings in the world, the Taj Mahal, which is a 3.5-hour road trip from Delhi.

You could visit in a day but it would be better to stay overnight.

Situated on the banks of the River Yamuna, this landmark needs no introduction but these tips on how to visit the Taj Mahal are useful to read.

Built by Emperor Shah Jahan as a symbol of love for his queen, this marble architectural wonder has been admired by people around the world for centuries.

The latest addition is moonlight tours which are conducted for only a few nights each month around the full moon.

10- JAIPUR

Discover India like it is in the movies touring Rajasthan’s Golden Triangle, which consists of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.

This tourist route is famous and never fails to disappoint first-time visitors to India.

The pink city of Jaipur is delightful to explore and there are plenty of places to see in Jaipur if you have the time to stay longer.