Delhi, one of India's fastest growing cities, has spread
far beyond the "seven cities" created between the 13th
and the 17th centuries. It has sprawled over the west
bank of the Yamuna and now straddles the river. Remnants
of the past survive cheek -by-jowl with skyscrapers, residential
colonies and bustling commercial complexes. Delhi has
some of the finest museums in the country. Its
boutiques and shopping arcades offer access to
a wealth of traditional and contemporary crafts from all
over the country. It has speciality restaurants to please
the gourmet, open parks and gardens ablaze with flowers,
and in the winter months particularly, a variety of cultural
events. Its many-layered existence is tantalizing and
can entice the curious traveller into a fascinating journey
of discovery.
Thehistory of this centre of power dates to the first
millennium BC. In 1955excavations within the Purana Qila
revealed that the area was inhabited morethan 3000 years
ago. This was Indraprastha, a site associated with the
epicMahabharata. A clearer picture emerges at the end
of the 10th century. The TomarRajputs built Lal Kot, the
core of the first of Delhi's seven cities. Later,another
Rajput king, Prithviraj Chauhan — hero of ballads and
legends —extended it to create the Qila Rai Pitbora.
In 1206, Qutb ud din Aibak, aslave of Mohammad of Ghor
crowned himself the Sultan of Delhi and occupied theRajput
fort. He commemorated his victory by building the Quwwat
ul Islammosque. It is the earliest extant mosque in
India and within its courtyard stands the 4th-century
standard of Lord Vishnu, the famous, uncorroded Iron
Pillar. Nearby, he raised the towering minaret, the
QutbMinar, one of Delhi's landmarks. Other architectural
gems within this complex include the tomb of Illtutmish
and the Alai Darwaza.
Around 1311, Allaudin Khilji established Siri, the second
city and dug a vast reservoir at Hauz Khas. Very little
remains of Siri, but Hauz Khas was extensively renovated
a few decades later. Now, ethnic boutiques and cafes dot
the Hauz Khas village and the location is as attractive
as the exclusive goods on sale. The great fort
of Tughlaqabad wasraised in 1321 as a protection against
Mongol raids and became Delhi's third city. The fort
and tomb are characteristic of robust Tughlaq
architecture. Delhi's fourth city,Jahanpanah has practically
disappeared but its fifth, Firoz Shah Kotla rises offBahadur
Shah Zafar Marg and is well known for its Ashokan pillar
which the Sultan brought fromMathura. Timur devastated
Delhi in 1398 and as a result the 15th century
saw little growth. The tombs of the Lodi kings date
to this era and are within the landscaped Lodi Gardens,
one of Delhi's most beautiful gardens.
In 1526, Babur founded the Mughal empire
in India. The impressive PuranaQila, Delhi's
sixth city, is a combined effort of his son Humayun
and the Afghan Sher Shah Suri who temporarily deposed
him. The fort contains a fine mosque and what was possibly
a library. Nearby are the Zoo, the Crafts Museum,
where craftsmen work in a simulated rural setting, andPragati
Maidan, the exhibition grounds. The magnificent tomb
of Humayun, which is a precursor to the Taj
Mahal is 2 km from here.
In Apiil 1639 the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan
laid the foundation of Shahjahanabad, Delhi's
seventh city, and it epitomised the grandeur of his
empire. This walled city has since been continuously
inhabited. It is one of the most densely populated localities
in the world and it retains a unique vitality and charm.
The Red Fort, Shah Jahan's sandstone citadel
encompasses grand audience halls — where the legendary
Peacock Throne once stood — and marble palaces ornamented
with exquisite pietra dura. Opposite the Red Fort
is the Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque.
For the intrepid traveller there is rnore... Chandni
Chowk, the moonlit square, is adjacent to the mosque,
and leads to the heart of the walled city. This was
once a tree-lined bazaar with a canal flowing through
its centre. Today, it is one of the largest trading
centres in northern India - thriving, congested and
chaotic. Chandni Chowk is replete with historical landmarks
and each of its bylanes leads into a world of spices
or silver or perfumes or textiles.....
New Delhi was built in 1911. It was tobe
"conceived with spaciousness and care so that the new
creation would be in every way worthy of this ancient
and beautiful city". Lutyens and Baker planned a city
with wide, tree-lined avenues. The 340-roomed Viceregal
Lodge, now the Rashtrapati Bhawan, was raised
on Raisina Hill. Nearby are India Gate, a World War
I memorial. Parliament House, the prestigious
National Museum and the National Gallery of
Modern Art. On Republic Day, Rajpath witnesses a
display of pageantry.
The classy commercial centre of Connaught Place
was planned as part of New Delhi. Alongwith stalls on
Janpath, and emporia on Baba Kharak Singh
Marg, it is a shopper's paradise. Rather characteristically,
an 18th century masonry observatory, the Jantar Mantar,
lies in the midst of this commercial area.
But there is still more to Delhi... Art galleries and
theatres and a variety of museums... memorials to leaders...
Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Bahai temples- folk
dancers, discotheques, urban villages- even birdwatching
along the ridge. Come discover a country through a city,
ADDED ATTRACTIONS (Rates on request)
- Visit to Village Bistro, Hauz Khas for a cultural
extravaganza, followed by dinner at an authentic village
complex, comprising shops and restaurants.
- Meeting with astrologer, who can forecast what
your future could be. With near-to-accurate predictions,
these astrologers can answer your many questions of
anxiety.
- Sound and light show at the Red Fort narrating the
rich history of the Red Fort and the ruling dynasties
of Delhi until the independence of India.
ACCESSIBILITY : As a major entry point for
India many major international flights go through New
Delhi. It is also extensively connected by air,
road and rail with the rest of the country.
BEST SEASON : October to March
WHAT TO WEAR : Cottons in summer, wollens in
winter. |
