DELHI

India is a land of varied culture, traditions and geographical features and the capital of this enchanting land is Delhi. The city consists of two distinct parts, namely the Old Delhi and New Delhi. Inhabited by the people from far and near areas of the country, the city is often referred to as the heart of India. Over the centuries this charming city has equally attracted the emperors, conquerors and the poor. In fact, Delhi is not just a city, but it is a book which narrates the history of the country. History says, that the city was built and destroyed seven times and has been witness to many important events. Today functioning as the seat of administration, the city was ruled by many dynasties. The architectural monuments of the city tell the saga of a bygone era. Standing as the testimony to the grandeur of the past, these monuments attract tourists from all over the world. Not only the monuments, but modern structures, parks, gardens and other attractions equally interest the tourists.

Red Fort
It is from the ramparts of this majestic building that the Indian Prime Minister addresses the nation every August 15th or Indian Independence Day. Built during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (1628-58), this magnificent fort, made of red sandstone, was the seat of governance of the Emperor. Within the fort is the Diwan-e-Khas or Hall of Special Audience and Diwan-e-Am or Hall of the People, where the Emperor held court and dispensed justice. The fort contains a museum of arms and weaponry. There is a sound and light show in the evening that depicts the history of the fort and the medieval rulers of Delhi.

Lotus Temple
Lotus Temple, a beautiful white marble building and a place of worship for Bahai's are two temples worth visiting for those in search of spiritual rejuvenation.

Qutab Minar
Sultan Qutub-ud-din Aibak began the construction of this 72.5 m high victory pillar in 1199 A.D. and it was completed by his son-in-law Sultan Iltutmish. This sandstone and marble structure was built over the remains of Kila Rai Pithora, the fort of Prithviraj Chauhan - the last Hindu King of Delhi.

India Gate
This 42 metre high arch is set at one end of Rajpath, a broad avenue that runs from Rashtrapati Bhavan or the President's mansion, through the green central vista of Delhi. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the chief architect of New Delhi, it is a war memorial that commemorates the soldiers who died in World War I. The names of the martyrs are inscribed on the walls of the arch. Beneath it is an eternal flame called Amar Jawan Jyoti, which glows in memory of the Unknown Soldier. The lawns around India Gate are a popular picnic spot.

Humayun's Tomb
This elegant monument was the first tomb to be set within a formal garden, in the Indian subcontinent. Commissioned by Hamida Begum, Humayun's wife, after his death in 1556, this mausoleum's symmetrical proportions and setting on a large platform influenced the design of other monuments, including the Taj mahal.

Jantar Mantar
This astronomical observatory is located near Connaught Place in the centre of Delhi. Built by the king of Jaipur, Raja Sawai Jai Singh, these large geometric structures are scientific instruments that were used to observe and measure the movements of celestial objects. The interesting shapes of these brick and plaster structures, placed within a garden, are truly worth seeing.

Bahai Temple
A newer architectural wonder in this historic city, this house of worship of the Bahai faith, is built in the shape of a lotus and commonly called the Lotus Temple. Set amidst green lawns, this white marble structure is open to all and is a perfect space for meditation, since total silence is maintained within the temple at all times.

Jama Masjid
This magnificent structure made of red sandstone and white marble is one of the largest mosques in India. Constructed towards the end of Shah Jahan's reign, it has impressive gateways with broad flights of steps and a spacious courtyard where the faithful gather to pray. A central tank and three onion shaped domes are some of the architectural features of this grand mosque. Situated in Old Delhi, it is near historic streets such as Chandni Chowk, the street of the Silversmiths.

Old Fort or Purana Qila
Completed by Sher Shah during his reign (1540-1545) this massive fort is located in South-East New Delhi. The Octagonal tower or Sher Mandal was used by Humayun as a library. It was on the steps of this library that he fell and died while trying to kneel upon hearing a Muezzin's call to prayer. The mosque of Sher Shah and the Delhi Zoological Park are also located near the fort. Numerous migratory birds from colder regions in Central Asia and Russia fly south and spend the winter in the warmer environs of Delhi Zoo.

National Museum
Located in central Delhi, this museum is the largest in India and has a collection of over 200,000 historical and cultural artifacts, spanning 5000 years of Indian culture. Specialized collections at the Museum include a pre-history and Indus Valley Civilization collection, a Jewellery Gallery, a Maritime Gallery, a collection of Arms and Armour and extensive collections of manuscripts, coins and inscriptions.

National Gallery of Modern Art
Located in central Delhi, this museum has a permanent collection of over 14,000 works of art by both modern Indian and Western artists. The museum houses significant collections of work by artists of the Bengal school, the Company school and modern Indian painters such as Abanindranath Tagore, Rabindranath Tagore, Raja Ravi Verma and Amrita Shergil.

Crafts Museum
Located near the Old Fort, this museum has a collection of over 20,000 handcrafted artifacts that represent India's Folk and Tribal Art, Courtly Crafts, and textiles. The museum crafts store is a treasure house of craft items. In the outdoor village-complex master craftsmen exhibit their artistry and sell their creations.

Dilli Haat
A pleasant open-air crafts village, built to resemble a traditional market, this venue in South Delhi has shops where master craftsmen sell their own handcrafted textiles and artifacts. Food stalls tempt your palate with cuisine from every state of India.

Lodi Gardens
Located in South Delhi, this pleasant garden contains the tombs of the Lodi Sultans of Delhi. A venue for fitness walkers, its green lawns are also a popular picnic spot. The National Bonsai Park is also situated in these Gardens.

Garden of the Five Senses
A new addition to Delhi's public spaces, this garden features spaces where colours, fragrances, textures and forms intermingle to create a unique experience. Over 200 varieties of plants, many murals and sculptures, wind chimes, an amphitheatre, food and shopping courts, and a Solar Energy Park combine to make this a garden like no other.

Climate

Delhi is most comfortable between October and February with daytime temperatures of around 71.5 degree F (22 degree C) and cool evenings. December and January are decidedly chilly with night time lows of 39 degree F (4 degree C). The city has a fleeting, but beautiful flowering splendor during the spring months of February and March, when parks brim over with flowers.

The summer months of May and June are scorching hot, with the mercury soaring to a high of 114 degree F (46 degree C). Delhi does not have much of a rainy season compared to the other parts of the country. The monsoon or what there is of it in the city lasts from July to September.

Best time to visit : November to March