INDIA: THE NATION'S CAPITAL IN PICTURES
Five Things To Do in Delhi
When the Red Fort is Shut
INDIA: THE NATION'S CAPITAL IN PICTURES
Five Things To Do in Delhi
When the Red Fort is Shut
SUE BRATTLE
SO, WE kicked off our amazing trip to India with Delhi, on a Monday, which is the day the Red Fort is shut. I got several tantalizing glimpses of the fort, but had to make do with all the other gems that Delhi has to offer.
Allow loads of time for traffic jams because the city gets gridlocked, and remember at most places there’s one entry fee for Indians and another for foreigners so join the right queue.
RAJ GHAT: This is where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948, the day after he was assassinated. It’s off the Delhi Ring Road and near the banks of the Yamuna River.
I wanted to see something associated with Gandhi, the man who broke India free from British rule, and his memorial didn’t disappoint. It’s set in a huge park off a huge road.
Don’t expect any quiet moments of contemplation here; it was madly busy, and I suspect it always is. But I especially liked Gandhi’s quotes, carved in stone and scattered around the walkways.
QUTB MINAR: This 12th century minaret, 73 metres tall, is part of a complex that’s a UNESCO World heritage Site. It’s in New Delhi, and is so beautiful it follows you around all the time you’re there.
Its red stone against a clear blue sky were stunning, and the whole complex is a delight of gorgeous buildings. At the foot of the minaret is India’s first mosque, as the whole extravaganza was started by its first Muslim ruler.
There’s an inscription on the mosque saying it was built from 27 demolished Hindu temples, which seems petty in the extreme coming from a victorious ruler. I’d put this on a “must-see” list.
GURUDWARA BANGLA SAHIB TEMPLE: Near Connaught Place in New Delhi, it’s hard to do justice to this building’s grandeur. Having said that, everyone at this Sikh temple is friendly and helpful, despite the crowds and long queues to get in.
You have to take off your shoes and cover your head to enter, but otherwise it all seemed quite relaxed given that people were worshipping. The temple feeds thousands of people every day and Colin will be writing about the food in another blog, so I’ll just say that the kitchens and dining hall are epic.
As is the “pond” as you come out of the temple; it seems to stretch almost as far as the horizon, and the water here is said to have healing powers. I loved it all.
NEW DELHI: For a completely different Delhi, a drive around the “new town” designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Howard Baker is a must. Most of Delhi’s story is one of conquerors, and New Delhi was built by the British in the early 1900s, who made it the capital of India.
The presidential palace is here, along with magnificent government buildings and roads built to impress. The India Gate is a memorial to fallen soldiers fashioned after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and also a popular picnic site.
Connaught Place, which consists of shops and a plaza, was added late in the project, as was the Lodhi colony of bungalows, the last residential district built by the British Raj which housed government employees.
Remember, most of the buildings are closed to tourists, and the area is vast so a car or coach tour is the way to go. I don’t think a trip to Delhi is complete without a look at this seat of power.
HAUZ KHAS: And now for something completely different.. In South Delhi, surrounded by parkland, is a gentrified area of shops and restaurants which is perfect for a night out.
In Urdu, the name means “royal water tank” and the development is named after a centuries-old reservoir on the site. Some of the old buildings still stand, making a nice contrast, but really this is a place for eating and drinking and hanging out. We were shown around by our Delhi friend and former colleague Vigyan (pictured with us).
For tourists, the shops are high-quality and mostly modern, so you can find unusual souvenirs here. I suggest you make a trip here and take a break from Delhi’s overwhelming history!
MORE INFO
THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM’S Delhi page has lots of photos of attractions around the city, plus general information for visitors. READ MORE
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5 Things to Do in Delhi When the Red Fort is Shut
SUE BRATTLE
SO, WE kicked off our amazing trip to India with Delhi, on a Monday, which is the day the Red Fort is shut. I got several tantalizing glimpses of the fort, but had to make do with all the other gems that Delhi has to offer. Allow loads of time for traffic jams because the city gets gridlocked, and remember at most places there’s one entry fee for Indians and another for foreigners so join the right queue.
RAJ GHAT: This is where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948, the day after he was assassinated. It’s off the Delhi Ring Road and near the banks of the Yamuna River. I wanted to see something associated with Gandhi, the man who broke India free from British rule, and his memorial didn’t disappoint. It’s set in a huge park off a huge road. Don’t expect any quiet moments of contemplation here; it was madly busy, and I suspect it always is. But I especially liked Gandhi’s quotes, carved in stone and scattered around the walkways.
QUTB MINAR: This 12th century minaret, 73 metres tall, is part of a complex that’s a UNESCO World heritage Site. It’s in New Delhi, and is so beautiful it follows you around all the time you’re there. Its red stone against a clear blue sky were stunning, and the whole complex is a delight of gorgeous buildings.
At the foot of the minaret is India’s first mosque, as the whole extravaganza was started by its first Muslim ruler. There’s an inscription on the mosque saying it was built from 27 demolished Hindu temples, which seems petty in the extreme coming from a victorious ruler. I’d put this on a “must-see” list.
GURUDWARA BANGLA SAHIB TEMPLE: Near Connaught Place in New Delhi, it’s hard to do justice to this building’s grandeur. Having said that, everyone at this Sikh temple is friendly and helpful, despite the crowds and long queues to get in.
You have to take off your shoes and cover your head to enter, but otherwise it all seemed quite relaxed given that people were worshipping. The temple feeds thousands of people every day and Colin will be writing about the food in another blog, so I’ll just say that the kitchens and dining hall are epic.
As is the “pond” as you come out of the temple; it seems to stretch almost as far as the horizon, and the water here is said to have healing powers. I loved it all.
NEW DELHI: For a completely different Delhi, a drive around the “new town” designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Howard Baker is a must. Most of Delhi’s story is one of conquerors, and New Delhi was built by the British in the early 1900s, who made it the capital of India. The presidential palace is here, along with magnificent government buildings and roads built to impress. The India Gate is a memorial to fallen soldiers fashioned after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and also a popular picnic site.
Connaught Place, which consists of shops and a plaza, was added late in the project, as was the Lodhi colony of bungalows, the last residential district built by the British Raj which housed government employees. Remember, most of the buildings are closed to tourists, and the area is vast so a car or coach tour is the way to go. I don’t think a trip to Delhi is complete without a look at this seat of power.
HAUZ KHAS: And now for something completely different.. In South Delhi, surrounded by parkland, is a gentrified area of shops and restaurants which is perfect for a night out.
In Urdu, the name means “royal water tank” and the development is named after a centuries-old reservoir on the site. Some of the old buildings still stand, making a nice contrast, but really this is a place for eating and drinking and hanging out.
We were shown around by our Delhi friend and former colleague Vigyan (pictured with us). For tourists, the shops are high-quality and mostly modern, so you can find unusual souvenirs here. I suggest you make a trip here and take a break from Delhi’s overwhelming history!
WANT MORE? If you’ve got the energy for more sightseeing, try Humayan’s Tomb for its sheer beauty, and the enormous Jama Masjid Mosque for its giant courtyard. Personally, I’m not comfortable with the slum tours you can take. I wish we’d seen the Red Fort, though.
August 2019
MORE INFO
THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM’S Delhi page has lots of photos of attractions around the city, plus general information for visitors. READ MORE
RELATED
THE TEMPLE OF LOVE: It’s the symbol of India, it’s one of the world’s most famous buildings, and it comes with a heart-breaking love story. The Taj Mahal has it all… READ MORE
SHIMLA, QUEEN OF HILLS: Government officials once retreated to Shimla in the foothills of the Himalayas to escape India’s blazing hot summers. Now tourists make the same journey… READ MORE
RUDYARD KIPLING COUNTRY: Staying at the Oberoi Cecil in Shimla, India, means you’re never far from the story of author Rudyard Kipling, but be warned: There are monkeys, too! READ MORE
INDIA’S PINK CITY: Jaipur, the Pink City in Rajasthan, is one of the most evocative names in India and a highlight of anyone’s trip – and it’s just become a Unesco World Heritage Site… READ MORE
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TOP 10 VIRTUAL ATTRACTIONS: Many of the world’s most popular tourists sites are closed because of the coronavirus crisis, but you can still visit them virtually while you’re self-isolating. READ MORE
TEN THINGS WE LEARNED: Our up-to-the-minute guide to creating a website, one step at a time. The costs, the mistakes – it’s what we wish we’d known when we started blogging. READ MORE
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