Lying on the west of the
Yamuna River,
Delhi, the very cosmopolitan capital of
India, is the second largest metropolitan city after Mumbai. During ancient and medieval times,
Delhi was the political and financial center in
India and its current capital status is a natural extension from history into the present times. Sightseeing highlights and historic monuments
In contrast to all other cities in India, Delhi stands out due to its wide roads, tree-lined boulevards and majestic monuments. The Rashtrapati Bhavan, a 340-room palace houses the president of India and is the biggest residence of any president the world over. An imposing structure built in red sandstone, the Red Fort is the location for a light-and-sound show narrating the history of Delhi six nights a week (approximately US$6 for the entertainment). India Gate at the end of eastern end of Rajpath is a stone arch 138 feet high with names of about 85,000 Indian soldiers who gave their lives in the World War 1, the North West Frontier struggles and the 1919 Afghan War. Below the arch is the memorial to the unknown Indian soldier whose name is lost in the pages of history.
Delhi boasts of many other interesting monuments and landmark structures like the 235-foot-high Qutab Minar that was built by Qutbuddin in 1166 and is the tallest stone tower in India. It is a breathtaking sight at night under its spotlight. Humayun's Tomb built by his wife Haji Begum in mid-sixteenth century with its magnificent Mughal architecture is believed to be the precursor to the world-famous Taj Mahal at Agra.
The Old Fort, Purana Quilla, which was the administration center for several emperors during the Mughal period was also the seat of the legendary ruler Prithviraj Chauhan. It is believed that Indraprastha, the capital of Pandavas from the mythological Mahabharata, was located at the place where the Old Fort stands now.
History enthusiasts should not miss the National Museum on Janpath with its treasure of India's glorious past right from the 2nd century BC. The museum has a display of the excavation items from the ancient Indus valley civilization, the bronze and stone sculptures of the Chola period, an exquisite collection of miniature paintings which is the largest in the world, the relics of Buddha from Piprahwa, interesting tribal art, and ancient jewelry collection. In addition to these Indian treasures, the museum also showcases Maritime Heritage and Pre-Columbian art. The Central Asian Antiquities Gallery houses Auriel Stein's finds along the ancient Silk Route.
As a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, you might want to visit Raj Ghat, the place of his cremation on the banks of the Yamuna river. Across Raj Ghat is the National Gandhi Museum (aka Gandhi Memorial Museum) and Gandhi Darshan.
Shopping, nightlife and Bollywood celebrities
For those interested in catching a glimpse of the hustle and bustle of the city life, I recommend a visit to the Connaught Place, the most popular shopping and business center in Delhi. It has the offices of all the major banks, airlines and craft emporia of all the states of India. They say that there is nothing that you cannot buy in "CP," as it is popularly known.
The bazaars of Chandni Chowk are congested with shops of varying sizes and several small but famous eateries. A visit here gives a feel of the lives of the busy tradesmen and shoppers of the city. Dilli Haat is an open-air market place with shops and stalls of spicy street food from all regions of India.
Though replete with history and politics, Delhi has its own share of elite clubs, entertainment, nightlife and watering holes. Shalom is a lounge bar at Greater Kailash I, where you can relax with a genuine hookah. Djinns at the Hyatt Regency on Ring Road has a disco and nightclub for the young and hip. At the India habitat center on Lodhi Road, you can enjoy fine performances by Indian classical maestros; for dance and music performances go to the India International Centre located on Max Mueller Marg.
In modern times, Delhi has extended its central place in politics to become a social and cultural center of India. Theatre, music, dance, art and fashion shows, rock concerts and celebrity book launches fill up the calendar of events throughout the year in this bustling city. Bollywood celebrities often come to Delhi from Mumbai as even they do not miss out on these glitterati-crowded events. Who knows - on your trip to Delhi, you just might catch a glimpse of one of India's rising stars!
