Delhi is usually called the heart of the nation. It is the capital of INDIA...
This city is a perfect blend of modernization and old architectures. During the time of Mahabharatha, this city was called the capital of Pandavas, "Indraprashtha". However during the tenure of Shah Jahan, this city was called Shahjahanabad, popularly known as OLD DELHI now. This city represents two sides of a coin, OLD DELHI and NEW DELHI. Old Delhi represent the traditional architectures and monuments whereas New Delhi represents the urban culture.
People who live in Delhi are called, Delhites...I am a Delhite and I love being called so 😊😊😊😊
This city has a variety of options for shopping, food and entertainment. For shopping and Movie animals, this city have a number of local markets, malls and entertainment complexes. Other options for entertainment includes discs, cinema halls and cafes. Connaught Place, Lajpat Nagar, South Extension, Sarojani Nagar, Hauz Khas, GK-II and Chandni Chowk are some of the best places for shopping and tafri.
Wide options for eating out in the city are there as the capital city houses numerous eating outlets and restaurants serving yummy and traditional cuisines.
Delhi have better roads, flyovers and excellent metro lines making life easier for people to ride smoothly in and around the city.
Delhi is rightfully said "Delhi hai dilwalo ki" as people of different cultures and religions live happily here sharing their vast culture, tradition and modern lifestyle with each other.
It is a city that has absorbed all the people from different states that come here in need of jobs. Delhi feeds everybody....
Delhi is well connected with the neighbouring regions and other major cities of India through all modes of transport such as airways, railways and roadways. However the traffic is very bad in Delhi due to increased population and the number of vehicles. It is a nightmare to travel during the peak hours on Delhi roads. And during rainy season it is better to work from home instead of wasting 4-5 hours in travelling within Delhi and to NCR (Gurugram and Noida) as majority of the offices are located in these areas.
The key languages that are spoken are Hindi, Urdu, English and Punjabi. The climate is extreme in Delhi....extreme hot in summers and extreme cold in winters.
Best places to visit in Delhi:
1. The RED FORT
Red Fort which is a proof of flourishing Mughal Empire in Delhi is the best and a must see place in the capital city. It is made up of red sandstone and is a blend of Indian, European and Persian architecture. It contains the Diwan-e-Aam, the Diwan-e-Khas, the Moti Masjid and the Hayat Baksh Bagh among other interesting architectural elements.
Once you are free after exploring the monument, you can go shopping, or on an eating spree at Chandni Chowk market. Try the paranthas at the Paranthe Wali Gali. You will love them!
2. QUTUB MINAR
Qutub Minar, a 240 feet high tower is one of the most famous landmarks in India. It is the highest brick minaret in the world. It was built by Qutab-ud-din Aibak, his successor, Iltutmush, added three more storeys, and in 1368, Firoz Shah Tughlak constructed the fifth and the last storey.
3. HUMAYUN'S TOMB
It should be best visited in the late afternoon if you wish to get some beautiful shots of the building. It is such a delight to your eyes!!
4. INDIA GATE
The India gate was structured and designed by Edwin Lutyens in 1921.The foundation stone was laid by His Royal Highness - The Duke of Connaught. It salutes the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during World War I. The Amar Jawan Jyoti was added later and was dedicated to soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971. A flame burns day and night in the memory of those soldiers.
It is a major tourist spot in Delhi and a common picnic site for tourists and residents. It is surrounded by green lawns and a pond for boating. At night, India Gate is fully lit up making the fountains and the nearby area a beautiful sight for all.
5. CONNAUGHT PLACE
Various places to visit in CP includes the following:
Indian Coffee House
Odeon Paan
Oxford Bookstore
State Emporiums
Kwality Restaurant
Embassy Restaurant
Janpath
Khadi Gram Udyog
Bangla Sahib Gurudwara
Jantar Mantar
Shankar Market
CP is a very good place to visit with friends and family. You can see a lot of fashion and nice crowd in this place.
6. DELHI HAAT
Delhi Hatt locally known as Dilli Hatt was established to encourage arts and crafts in India. It is an open craft and food bazaar. One can enjoy shopping several ethnic and classy products like ornaments, kurtis, sarees, dhotis, vases etc. It also consists of stalls from different states of India, you can enjoy the dishes from different states and have snacks served at reasonable rates under single roof.
Its best to visit this place in the evening as it is fully covered with the shinning lights and it feels so lively to enjoy this sight with your family and friends. It feels splendid to see the diversified Indian culture.
7. LOTUS TEMPLE
Lotus Temple has won numerous architectural awards and been featured in hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles.
Come with your family and sit there, it is very relaxing. Outside Lotus Temple, the life is full of chaos and people are running here and there for the survival. But the moment you enter this place,
it feels that you are in a different world free from all the tension and anxieties. This place is very beautiful and relaxing.
8. RAJ GHAT
Raj Ghat is the memorial of our Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. He was cremated at this place following his assassination in 1948. The memorial is made up of black marble and a flame constantly burns at the end of the platform hereby paying tribute to Gandhi ji.
I have been to this place only once when I was in school. We were required to remove our shoes at the entrance of Raj Ghat. By seeing the memorial I recollected all the things that we studied about Gandhi ji, the messenger of peace and non violence. Also I felt very patriotic at the very feeling of being there.
Neighbouring are the memorials of some great leaders of India like Nehru ji.
9. AKSHARDHAAM
Akshardham temple is a traditional mandir dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan. It is a big and beautifully constructed modern Hindu temple complex. It became one of the popular tourist attractions of Delhi since 12 years. The temple reflects the beauty and spirituality of India’s ancient tradition, art, culture, and architecture.
10. HAUZ KHAAS COMPLEX
There is a lake in which you can see water animals and birds swimming across the lake and making the atmosphere lively. It is a nice place to hangout with friends and family as it has greenery and many eating outlets, stores, cafes and restaurants within the complex.
There are many other places to visit in Delhi, however I have pointed only 10. The other places include Garden of Senses, Iskcon Temple, Jantar Mantar, Jama Masjid, Tomb of Safdarjang etc.
This blog was all about understanding Delhi and travelling to places in Delhi.
The other blog to come will have some information on the foods in Delhi...Stay Tuned to nihu-thoughts.blogspot.com
