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Delhi is one of the oldest living cities in the world with almost 20,000 ancient monuments. And it is not a single city but a culmination of eight cities that got established here from 900 BC to 1930 Ad with the British declaring New Deli as the capital of Imperial India. Standing as a witness to this interesting bygone era are the various monuments of Delhi. From the Old Fort to the Tughlaqabad area to the various tombs in the city area of New Delhi, to the British era with monuments like the Parliament House, President’s House, the India Gate etc each one represents a separate period in the history of Delhi. The monuments of Delhi successfully represent the development of several architectural styles in the country.
One common thing in all the monuments of Delhi is their architectural excellence. Be it the Red Fort built by Shah Jahan or the Parliament House designed by Edwin Lutyens, each and every monument has an architectural beauty that leaves the visitor mesmerized.
A historical city full of grand landmarks from days gone by, New Delhi’s most notable structures are as follows:
Red Fort
So called because of the red stone with which it is built, the Red Fort is among the magnificent palaces in the world. With a circumference of over 2.2 kilometers, it was laid out by the banks of the Yamuna river in the 17th century by the Mughal emperor Shajahan. He built it with the ambition of concentrating the Mughal power in one monument.
The fort is a delight to one’s imagination. It sports all the obvious trappings befitting a vital centre of Mughal governance: halls of public and private audiences, domed and arched marble palaces, plush private apartments, a mosque, and elaborately designed gardens. Even today, the Fort remains an impressive testimony to Mughal grandeur.
A must see!
There is a Light and Sound Show every evening.
Summer timing : Hindi – 7 pm to 8 pm, English – 8 pm to 9 pm
Winter timing : Hindi – 6 pm to 7 pm, English – 7 pm to 8 pm
India Gate
This majestic structure, 42 metres high,set at the end of Rajpath was built as a memorial to commemorate the 70,000 Indian soldiers killed in World War 1. Designed and built by Sir Edwin Lutyens, it was originally called All India War Memorial. On the walls of the structure are inscribed the names of all the soldiers. Built from sandstone, the arch also houses the Eternal Flame, Amar Jawan Jyoti, a gesture in memory of the Indian soldiers who laid their lives in the 1971 India’s war with Pakistan.
It is a popular picnic spot during the winters and equally popular as a relaxation area during the summer evenings.
Rashtrapati Bhawan
Built atop an elevated land known as the Raisina Hill, Rashtrapati Bhavan is the official residence of the President of India . Until 1950 it was known as “Viceroy’s House” and served as the residence of the Viceroy of India. The building was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the chief architect of New Delhi and is at the heart of an area known as Lutyens’ Delhi. It is the largest residence of any Head of the State in the world.
Completed in 1929 at a cost of 12,53,000 pound sterling, it covers an area of 4.5 acres of land and has 340 rooms, 37 salons, 74 lobbies and loggias, 18 staircases and 37 fountains.
The garden at the back of the building is known as Mughul gardens and spreads over 130 hectares. It is also famous as the ‘Butterfly Garden’ for the numerous butterflies that visit the varied flowers. The garden is open to the public in February.
Visitors can also see the change of guard ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on every Saturday between 10.35 am to 11.00 am in winter and 8.30 am to 9.15 am in summer.
Teen Murti Bhavan
The Teen Murti Bhavan housed the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. Robert Tor Russel, the architect of Connaught Place, and the Eastern and Western Courts on Janpath, designed it. The Building was originally the residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in India. However, after independence the house was taken over as the residence of Jawaharlal Nehru. And on his death, it was converted into a national memorial comprising a library and a museum. The library here is among the finest ones for information on modern Indian history. The building gets its name after the Teen Murti (three statues) Memorial, which stands on its extensive grounds. This memorial was built in memory of the Indian soldiers who perished in World War I.
Rajghat
Raj Ghat is Mahatma Gandhi’s final resting place. The shrine itself is very simple: a raised square platform made of black marble and covered in flowers, with a perpetual flame burning at one end of it. His last words- ‘Hey Ram’ is inscribed on it.
Near Rajghat is the Gandhi memorial Museum. it comprises of five pavilions consisting of sculpture, photographs and paintings of Gandhiji, history of Satyagraha movement, along with the philosophy of ‘ahimsa’ (non-violence). There is a lot to see, a room dedicated to his last day showing both the clothes he was wearing (still bloodstained) and one of the bullets that killed him. It also has his few belongings and photos.
Qutub Minar
The highest stone tower in India, the Qutub Minar was built by Qutbuddin Aibak, the viceroy of Mohammed Ghori in 1192.
The origins of Qutab Minar are shrouded in controversy. Some believe it was erected as a tower of victory to signify the beginning of the Muslim rule in India. And it laid the foundations of the Delhi Sultanate. Others say it served as a minaret to the muezzins to call the faithful to prayer. No one can, however, dispute that the tower is not only one of the finest monuments in India, but also in the world.
The Minaret of Jam, the second-tallest brick minaret in the world, in Afghanistan, inspired the Qutub Minar.
The Minar is a five-storey building with a height of 72.5 metres. The entry to Qutub Minar has been closed, after the tower became infamous for the several suicides that were committed here.
Iron Pillar
Situated in the Qutub Minar complex, the famous Iron Pillar belongs to 4th century. The 7.2 metre high pillar, is a proof of India’s advanced knowledge of metallurgy 2000 years ago. The iron pillar at Delhi has attracted the attention of archaeologists and corrosion technologists as it has withstood corrosion.
Purana Quila
In 1538, the Mughal emperor Humayun laid the foundations of his city named Dinpanah, or the Refuge of the Faithful. The inner citadel of this city is today called Purana Qila or the Old Fort. Some say it is so old that You Can Feel Drops of Time Dripping From Its Walls! Excavations carried out in the Old Fort area came up with 1000 BC dated pieces of painted gray ware that were said to be connected with Mahabharata.
Old Fort of Delhi is believed to be situated on the same site where the city of Indraprastha once stood. As per the great Indian epic Mahabharta, Indraprastha was the capital city of the Pandavas.
The area of the fort is about a mile, has three gates and is surrounded by a moat.
The other attractions of the Old Fort of Delhi include the mosque built by Sher Shah in 1541, a lake with boating facilities and Zoological Park situated nearby. The Fort in the evening has a sound and light show that showcases 5000 years of history of the city of Delhi.
Jantar Mantar
At first sight, the Jantar Mantar appears like a gallery of modern art. It is, however an astronomical observatory This unique structure was raised by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur in the year 1724.
Jantar Mantar is not only a timekeeper of heavenly bodies, it also foretells about the technological advancements during the Rajput era.
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
Humayun’s Tomb
The first significant model of Mughal architecture in India, Humayun’s tomb was added to Unesco’s World Heritage List in 1993. Built by Haji Begum, the widow of Humanyun, the second Mughal Emperor, the mausoleum is known to the precursor of world famous Taj Mahal.
As soon as one enters the massive double-storeyed gateway, the majesty of the building becomes self-evident. High arches and a double dome adorn the tomb and big walls surround a square garden which is divided into four large squares separated by causeways and water channels.
The complex of Humayun’s Tomb contains many small monuments. Chief among them are black-and-yellow marble tomb of Humayun’s wife and the tomb of Humayun’s barber.
Jama Masjid
Work on the Jama Masjid mosque began in 1650 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Every Friday, the emperor and his retinue would travel in state from the fort to the mosque to attend the congressional prayers.
Jama Masjid is the largest mosque in India was built in 1656 by Shahjahan to complement his palace at the Red Fort. More than 5,000 workers toiled for six years to complete the mosque.
The mosque has three gateways, four towers and two minarets. It is constructed with alternate use of vertical strips of red sandstone and white marble. The white marble has been used extensively in the three domes and has been inlaid with stripes of black. The structure was situated on a high platform so that its magnificent facade would be visible from all the neighboring areas
Safdarjung’s Tomb
Representing the last phase of the Mughal style of architecture, Safdarjang’s Tomb stands in the centre of an extensive garden, which spreads over an area of 300 sq m. The garden of Safdarjung’s tomb is laid down on the pattern of the Mughal Charbagh style.
The Mughal ‘Chaharbagh’ style garden has an enclosure raising to two levels, which is entered through an enormous entrance. The central chamber of the tomb stands surrounded by eight rooms all around. The corner apartments of the Delhi Safdarjung Tomb are octagonal, while the rest are rectangular in shape. There is also a dome of the tomb that rises from a sixteen-sided base.
The two graves inside the Tomb of Safdarjang, Delhi belong to Safdarjung and most probably his wife. This tomb was erected roughly on the pattern of Humayun’s tomb.
Lakshmi Narayan Mandir
Built in 1938, the temple is an ideal introduction to some of the gods of the India pantheon. The temple contains a large number of idols and visitors can also watch priests performing ritualistic prayers.
The Laxmi Naryan temple is one of the first major Hindu places of worship that allowed the lower caste people, the Harijans, inside a religious building. In fact, Mahatma Gandhi made entry of Harijans as one of the conditions for inaugurating the temple.
Laxmi Narayan Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the preserver and his consort, Goddess Lakshmi. The architecture of the Temple looks imbibed from the Orissan Style. The temple has tall spires and it looks magnificent raised in red sandstone.
Apart from the idol of presiding deity, the temple has remarkable idols of Goddess Durga, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman. Geeta Bhawan is a huge hall that is embellished with striking paintings, derived from the scenes of Indian mythology.
Lotus Temple
Architecturally one of the most splendid temples of India, Delhi Lotus Temple is called so because it is built in the shape of a Lotus flower and is often compared to Sydney Opera House. The temple got completed in the year 1986 and rises to a height of more than 40 m.
Twenty-seven giant lotus petals of white marble spring out from nine pools and walkways of the temple.
The view of the temple is very spectacular just before dusk when the temple is flood lit.
Akshardham Temple:
Designed in accordance with ancient Vedic text, the temple which was built in 2005, features a blend of architectural styles from across India.
It is constructed entirely from pink sandstone and Italian Carrara marble, and has no support from steel or concrete. The monument also consists of 234 ornately carved pillars, nine domes, and 20,000 statues of Hindu gods and religious people.
Chandni Chowk
Located opposite the Red Fort, Chandni Chowk is the centre of all commercial activity in Old Delhi and has been market place right from the times of Mughals.. The narrow lanes have kept alive the traditional workmanship, which make Delhi famous. This wide street facing the Lal Quila (Red Fort), stretches from the Digamber Jain Temple at one end to the Fatehpuri Mosque at the other. It is easy to get lost in the maze of tiny lanes and streets that surround Chandni Chowk. It is said that it was once lined with beautiful fountains. However, with time, it grew as crowded as it is today.
These tiny streets are a hub of frantic commercial activity during business hours. Business is still carried out in the old ways here; some of the streets are too narrow for any kind of vehicle to get in. Handed down from father to son, many of these businesses are now being managed by the 4th or 5th generations.
Every street has a story to tell and every lane offers an interesting mix of old and new – from wholesalers’ of Fabric, Books, Electronics Components, Spices, Dry Fruits and Medicines to regular shops offering Clothes, Electronics, Traditional Delicacies and Sweets. Chandni Chowk can be quite an intimidating experience for a first timer. The smells here as well are something you will remember for quite a while.
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Built on ancient volcanic formations, Lakshadweep, formerly the Laccadives, is a group of coral islands scattered on the clear blue waters of the Arabian Sea, off the western coast of India. One of the worlds most spectacular tropical island systems it has thirty- two km or 20 miles of land spread over 36 islands surrounded by 4200 km or 2600 miles of lagoon rich in marine wealth. The precious heritage of ecology and culture is supported by an extremely fragile ecosystem. Lakshadweep is India’s only coral “atolls” or island of coral that encircles a lagoon partially or completely and geologically a part of the same chain as the Maldives.
