Delhi

SIGHT - SEEING PLACES

Delhi has a lot of sight seeing simply there are so many monuments and tombs that bear testimony to its history that are not even included in the lists of sights to see as furnished by most travel guides and tour operators, there are some principal sights that no one should miss.

From Mughal India, the chief attraction is the Red Fort, a huge settlement ing arcade. The earlier seat of the Mughals was the Purana Quila, the old fort which still houses the library where Humayun once spent many hours for studying, and which now faces the Zoo and the Pragati Maidan exhibition grounds. Close by his Humayun's Tomb, a sandstone foreunner of the Taj Mahal that was built by his grieving window. In old Delhi is Jama Masjid. One of the largest mosques, a handsome structure that is still a house worship for devout Muslims.

Following the footsteps of the Mughals came the British, and their legacy is the elegant city of New Delhi with its wide avenues and colonial bungalows. At the centre of their city is India Gate, a memorial raised in honor of the Indian soldiers who were martyred during the Afghan War. Directly opposite it is Rashtrapati Bhawan, once the imperial residence of the British viceroys, it is now the official residence of the President of the Indian republic. To one side is Parliament House, a circular building that is a symbol of Indian democracy. The Connaught place shopping centre, now prime commercial space, is also a British legacy.

But Delhi's history goes back thousands of years, and their settlements ruins that testify to this historic past. The Qutab Minar is an 11th century victory tower that rises to a height of 73m. By its side is the Quwwat-ul-Islammosque, believed to be the earliest extant mosque in India.

Other Links