The cultural and political capital of the largest democracy in the world, Delhi steeped in history drew the Mongols, Turks, Persians, Afghans and the British who all contributed to its glorious but turbulent history. Much of New Delhi was planned by Sir Edwin Lutyens, who laid out a grandiose central administrative area as a testament to British imperial pretensions like Rajpath (Kingsway), the India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan (Viceregal Palace) etc.

SUGGESTED PLACES TO VISIT

Red Fort
One of the most spectacular pieces of Mughal Architecture is the Red Fort. Built by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan between 1638 and 1648, the Red Fort has walls extending up to 2 kms in length with the height varying from 18 metres on the river side to 33 metres on the city side. This fort is now symbolic of India’s independence. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime Minister of India, unfurled the Indian tricolours on the ramparts of this magnificent fort on 15 August 1947 marking the end of the British colonial rule. During most evenings there is a splendid ‘son et lumiere’ performance.

Juma Masjid Mosque
The great mosque of Old Delhi is the largest in India and the final architectural extravagance of Shajahan built in between 1650 and 1656 at the cost of Rs 10 crores. It has three great gateways, four angle towers and two minarets standing 40 m high and is constructed of alternating vertical strips of red sandstone and white marble.

Raj Ghat
On the banks of the river Yamuna, a simple square platform of black marble marks the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated following his assassination in 1948. The Raj Ghat area is now a beautiful park and a Gandhi Memorial Museum where a macabre relic of the pistol is kept with which Gandhi was assassinated.

see Delhi Agra Jaipur Stop over