 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 specialty 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 traveler into a fascinating journey of discovery.
 The
history of this center of power dates to the first millennium BC. In
1955 excavations within the Purana Qila revealed that the area was
inhabited more than 3000 years ago. This was Indraprastha, a site
associated with the epic Mahabharata. Nearby, he raised the towering minaret, the
Qutb
Minar, one
of Delhi's landmarks. Other architectural gems within this complex include the
tomb of Ill tutmish and the Alai Darwaza.
The classy commercial center of Connaught Place was planned as part of
New Delhi. Along-with 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 bird watching along the
ridge. Come discover a country through a city,
ADDED ATTRACTIONS
- Visit to Village Bistro, Hauz Khas for a cultural extravaganza, followed by dinner at an authentic village complex, comprising shops and restaurants.
- 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 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,
woolens in winter. |
