Delhi is a destination of every traveller’s dream. Its mystical presence makes it a favourite destination for both domestic as well as international tourists. Delhi has witnessed rise and fall of many great empires, glimpse of which is still present in its monuments and streets that have been walked and inhabited by great warriors since decades.
Dotted with many mesmerising architectures, Delhi is a dream destination of history and architecture lovers. Its historical splendour is accompanied by modern facilities and comfort of latest facilities, transportation and commutation facilities. This makes Delhi a destination worth visiting by all, irrespective of age and interest.
Attractive sightseeing places, grand monuments, museums, ancient religious shrines, entertainment parks, popular shopping streets, mouth-watering cuisines and eatery choices keep every tourist engaged in a pleasing way. Its’ well connectivity to the rest of country and world also makes Delhi one of the most visited tourist destinations. No matter when you are visiting or what is the purpose of your visit, a Delhi tour is sure to leave you hypnotized with its charm that is beyond any match.
History of Delhi
Delhi history is an aspect that makes the city irresistible. History peeks out from every corner of the city. It can be seen in the historical buildings and its ages-old culture and traditions. History of Delhi goes beyond the modern historical data. The city has been mentioned in various epics and religious texts as well. From epic Mahabharata where it has been mentioned as Indraprastha to colonial era, it has an in-depth history that can be explored on a Delhi tour.
Delhi has seen many dynasties and reigns, influence of which can be seen in various architectures and culture. It was under the Tomara rulers. It was then captured by Afghan invader Muhammad Ghori from Rajput kingdom in 1192. Later it was ruled by Khiljis, Tughlaqs, Lodi dynasty, Mughals and then by British.
From 1911, when the capital of British India was shifted from Kolkata to Delhi, it served as a centre of power for colonial India. It also played an important role in the freedom struggle of Indian against the British rule. Eventually, after India’s independence in 1947 it was officially declared as the capital of free India. Since then, it has witnessed many important events of free India as well.
Places to visit in Delhi
Structures such as Purana Quila, Red Fort, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Sansad Bhavan, Jantar Mantar, Qutub Complex with Qutub Minar and Iron Pillar present not only architectural excellence but also a glimpse into the historical events that impacted past of the city as well as the country.
These are only a few of the popular places to visit in Delhi. In fact, brilliantly created structure of Qutub Minar, Red Fort and Humayun's Tomb are also listed in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Other sightseeing places in Delhi include Bara Gumbad, Sikandar Lodi's tomb, Sheesh Gumbad, Lodhi Gardens, Safdarjung's Tomb, Shanti Vana and Raj Ghat.
New Delhi is home to many prominent religious shrines belonging to different religions, each with great historical importance as well as religious significance and captivating architecture. Some of these are Lotus Temple, Akshardham Temple, Laxminarayan Temple, Cathedral Church of Redemption, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, ISKCON Temple, hanuman Mandir, Masjid-i-Jahan Numa which is also known as Jama Masjid, Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir, Maharaja Agrasen ki Baoli, St. James' Church, Kalka Ji Mandir, Nizamuddin Dargah, and Ahinsa Sthal.
Museums like National Museum and National Rail Museum are worth exploring while places like National Zoological Park presents a refreshing setting to spend some time amid nature.
Geography of Delhi/ Location of Delhi
With a major part lying on the western side of River Yamuna, Delhi is located in Northern India. It shares borders with states of India namely Haryana which falls to its north, west and south and Uttar Pradesh (UP) that lies on its eastern side. It is around 213 to 305 m above the sea level.
How to reach Delhi
Being the capital of India, Delhi is well connected to every part of the country and the world. It is connected by all means of transportation varying from roadway, railways to airways.
There are multiple number of domestic as well as international flights to and from Delhi airport, making it utmost easy for travellers to reach Delhi. Similarly, there are trains to Delhi from all the major cities and towns in the country. There are three main railway stations in Delhi, namely Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, New Delhi Railway Station and Old Delhi Railway Station.
Well laid out road network and highways connect the city by road as well. There are three main bus stands in the city which are ISBT (Inter State Bus Terminus) at the Kashmiri Gate, Anand Vihar Bus Terminus and Sarai Kale-Khan Bus Terminus. Apart from buses, tourists can also reach the city via private cars and taxis from surrounding areas.
