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Delhi > Top 10 Destinations
Parliament House
When you think of the Parliament House, the seat of Indian democracy, the first image that comes to the mind is that of a majestic circular building with its landmark colonnaded verandah. Hard to imagine, then, that the building was originally planned to be a triangular structure.
Commissioned much later after the layout of New Delhi was planned, the Parliament House (then called Council House) got a secondary location compared to the Government House and Secretariat. However, with increasing Indian participation in government, a bigger accommodation was required for the Council Chamber.
The original three-pronged building would have housed the Council of State (now Rajya Sabha), the Legislative Assembly (Lok Sabha) and the Chamber of Princes (later Library hall). Edwin Lutyens, however, imagined a Coliseum like structure and finally, it a circular building was finalised.
The foundation stone was laid on February 12, 1921 by The Duke of Connaught and the building was unveiled on January 18, 1927 by the then Governor-General of India, Lord Irwin. The Parliament House covers nearly six acres and has a massive diameter of 560 feet.
The centre of the building is the Central Hall and radiating from this centre were placed the three semi-circular Chambers, surrounded by garden courts. The three Chambers are connected by a four-storeyed circular structure with a colonnaded verandah on the outside, with 144 pillars, each 27 feet high.
The dome of the central chamber, however, is too small when compared to those of the Rashtrapati Bhavan or even the Secretariat. This was a result of cost cutting and the building of an extra floor on the circumference made the dome even less visible.
Though less pampered than the Government House and Secretariat, it was the Council House (Parliament House) that would become the most important building of independent India.
It was the Central Chamber of the Council House where the official transfer of power took place in 1947 and Jawaharlal Nehru made his famous ‘tryst with destiny’ speech. The Central Chamber still holds the joint sessions of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The Chamber of Princes also housed the Supreme Court of India for a decade after independence.
Agra
Well, ‘The Taj’ has distinctions much beyond just these!
Therefore, ‘The Taj’,surely, deserves your visit once and more!!!
come, walk along the pathway beside the reflecting pool with fountains upto the mausoleum crafted in soft & pure marble and jewelled with semi precious stones, where in the serenity of paradise rests the Queen in peace with her King. Come to unfold the pages from the past to churn the charm out of its mystique and enrich your imagination about this marvel of an epic in stone, The Taj!
The grace of perfection of proportions and grandeur of geometrical patterns of well appointed gardens enhancing the poise of the whole complex together add magnificence to the delicacy of this mance of love, dedication and purity, ‘The Taj’!
Come take a dip into the saga of ‘The Taj’, culled out from no fiction but facts and unfurl a saga, which is set out of nothing but pure love!
Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder! Probably for Taj Mahal, the axiom is just the other way round.The Taj is the beauty personified! The Taj displays its different moods through its varied shades. The Taj has as many shades as any kind of beauty can ever have! The Taj is pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening, golden when the moon shines and the intermediary variants during different hours of the day and during different seasons in a year.
Picturesque descriptions by the historians contemporary to the period of its making, the facts revealed by the scholars & archaeologists of today and the panoramic montage of the reasons behind its making are sketched with every step you would walk towards the mausoleum the next time you visit The Taj!
A look this time at the Taj will keep you indulged with thoughts superimposing your sight and would make you feel the presence of Shah Jahan, the Maker and Mumtaz Mahal, the Reason, as though walking along with you.
Whence its breathtaking splendour makes you wonder breathlessly and you tend to pause for a while but to continue staring at ‘The Taj’, you would sense them standing beside you!
Lotus Temple
’Lotus Temple’ is the ‘Bahai House of Worship’ and also called as ‘Bahai Temple’. It is located on the ‘Baharpur Hills’ near ‘Kalkaji’ in South Delhi. It is one of the most picturesque temples of India which ranks seventh in the world in the chain of Bahai Temples. ‘Fariborz Sahba’, an Iranian architect designed it in a shape of half opened lotus. Lotus is Indian national flower as well as a symbol of ‘Peace and Serenity’ as per ‘Hinduism’. The fantabulous structure of temple has 27 self-supporting clad petals arranged in group of three to form nice faces. Temple has nine doors that lead to central hall and has nine ponds also encircling the temple. As per Bahai faith, number nine is considered sacred because there are nine major religions in the world.
Temple has been built on a raised platform giving it a magnificent marble structure. Due to its magnificence it is also called as ‘Taj of Modern India’. Following the Bahai faith, temple is open for all the religions. Meditations are practiced in the central hall in peaceful manner. Visitors are required to put their shoes out and meditate in silence. Actually, Bahai people follow the philosophy of religion free world therefore any particular religious rituals or presentations are strictly prohibited.
Temple has been situated in the mid of 26 acre land complex of lush green park. The beauty of lush Green Park and temple architecture attracts huge public every day. It is one of the most visited sites in Delhi tourism. It reminds of ‘Opera House’ situated in ‘Sydney’ because of petal similarities.
Timing: 9 AM – 6PM (All days except Monday), Nearest Metro Station: Kalkaji, Entry Fee: No Fee
India Gate
The towering archway of India Gate at the center of New Delhi is a war memorial, built in memory of the Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army in World War I. At night it glows warmly under floodlights, and the gardens that line its boulevard are a popular place to enjoy a warm summer's evening.
- Location: Rajpath, near Connaught Place, New Delhi.
- Entry Cost: Free.
- Opening Hours: Always open.
Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar (Yantra - instruments, mantra - formulae) was constrcted in 1724. Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur who built this observatory went on to build other observatories in Ujjain , Varanasi and Mathura. Jai Singh had found the existing astronomical instruments too small to take correct measurements and so he built these larger and more accurate instruments.
Jantar Mantar The instruments at Jantar Mantar are fascinating for their ingenuity, but
accurate observations can no longer be made from here because of the tall buildings around.
Raj Ghat
8. Gandhi Smriti and Raj Ghat
A visit to Gandhi Smriti will show you the exact spot where Mahatma Gandhi, affectionately referred to as the Father of the Nation, was assassinated on January 30, 1948. He lived in the house for 144 days up until the time of his death. The room that he slept in, kept exactly how he left it, and the prayer ground where he held a mass congregation every evening are both open to the public. Plenty of photos, sculptures, paintings, and inscriptions are also on display. You can also visit his memorial at Raj Ghat.
- Location: 5 Tees January Marg, central New Delhi.
- Entry Cost: Free.
- Opening Hours: From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday.
Qutab Minar
Qutab Minar, the tallest brick minaret in the world, is an incredible example of early Indo–Islamic architecture. It was built in 1206, but the reason remains a mystery. Some believe that it was made to signify victory and the beginning of Muslim rule in India, while others say it was used to call the faithful to prayer. The tower has five distinct stories, and is covered with intricate carvings and verses from the holy Quran. There are also a number of other historic monuments on the site.
- Location: Mehrauli, south New Delhi.
- Entry Cost: Foreigners, 250 rupees. Indians, 10 rupees. Free for children under 15 years.
- Opening Hours: Sunrise until sunset, daily.
Lodi Gardens
Lodi Gardens, located in the city of Delhi in India, is a historical landmark and park extending over an area of 90 acres. It boasts of elaborate architectural works of the fifteenth century Sayyid and Lodi dynasties. The Lodi Gardens, containing the tombs of Mohammed Shah and Sikander Lodi, Sheesh Gumbad and the Bara Gumbad, is currently under protection of the Archeological Survey of India.
Mohammed Shah’s (the last Sayyid dynasty ruler) tomb was one of the earliest ones to be built in the Lodi Gardens as Ala-ud-din Alam Shah built it in 1444, to pay tribute to the king. The tomb of Sikander Lodi was built in 1517, by Ibrahim Lodi, Sikander Lodi’s son and the Sultan of Delhi of the Lodi Dynasty. Ibrahim Lodi’s defeat to Babur in 1526, in the First battle of Panipat laid the foundation for the Mughal Empire. The garden then underwent many renovations and improvements under different Mughal emperors, depending on the purpose they used it for. The fact that not much architectural work survives at present from the Sayyid and Lodi dynasties increases the historical importance of the Lodi Gardens along with its need for preservation.
Jama Masjid
Jama Masjid is another marvelous treasure of the Old City, and is the largest mosque in India. Its courtyard can hold an incredible 25,000 devotees. The mosque took 13 years to build, and was completed in 1650. A strenuous climb to the top of its southern tower will reward you with a stunning view across the rooftops of Delhi. Be sure to dress appropriately when visiting the mosque or you won't be allowed in. This means covering your head, legs and shoulders. Attire is available there.
Location: Opposite Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi. Near the Red Fort.
Entry Cost: Free, but a camera fee of 300 rupees applies.
Opening Hours: Daily, except when prayers are being held from 12.15 p.m. to 1.45 p.m. It closes just before sunset.
Red Fort
Delhi's most famous monument, the Red Fort, stands as a powerful reminder of the Mughal emperors who ruled India. Its walls, which stretch for over two kilometers (1.2 miles), were built in 1638 to keep out invaders. However, they failed to stop the fort being captured by the Sikhs and the British. To take your imagination back to the ancient era, a one hour sound and light show of the fort's history is held each evening.
Location: Opposite Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi.
Entry Cost: Foreigners, 250 rupees. Indians, 10 rupees. Free for children under 15 years.
Opening Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Mondays.
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