|
Red Fort
Red Fort is laid outalong the river
Yamuna as an irregular octagon , surrounded by a wall of about 2.4 km in
circumference and is built of red sandstone. The Mughal king Shah Jahan
transfered the capital from Agra to Delhi and
the
Fort was completed in 1648. The fort has two main entrances , the Delhi Gate and
the Lahori Gate which faces the famed Chandni Chowk market. The Fort has Diwan-e-am,
and Diwan-e-Khas where the king would grant audience to the public and would
grant audience to important people respectively . Besides this is the Rang
Mahal, the water cooled Apartment for the royal ladies. In the basement of the
fort is a market where traditional Indian goods can be purchased at nominal
rates . Another attraction is Light and Sound show held in the evenings.
Qutub Minar
This magnificent structure in the southern part of the captal was built by a
Muslim King , Qutub-ud-din Aibak in 1199 A.D. A part of it which he could not
finish was completed by another Muslim King Iltutmish. Minar is 72.5 m high and
has as its base a mosque. In front of the imposing structer is an Iron Pillar
believed to have been built in the 5th century A.D. which has not caught rust
ever since it was built.
India Gate
Straight down the road from Rashtrapati Bhavan is India Gate which is primarily
a memorial to unknown soldier. Designed by Lutyens , the 42 meter high structure
is a war memorial in honour of soldiers who died during the first World War.
The structure has an eternal flame (Amar Jawan Jyoti) to honour the memory of
the unknown soldiers.
Old Fort
The ruins of this fort are located on a small hill which once stood on the bank
of the river Yamuna.Legend has it that the fort marked the site of Indraprastha
,the magnificent capital of the Pandavas, though the construction was carried
out by Sher Shah Suri any time between 1538 to 1545 A. D. The structure houses a
mosque which has a double storeyed octagonal tower. It is said that the Mughal
King Humayun fell from the tower accidently and died. At the foot of the hill is
the lake where the Delhi Tourism has arrangements for boating and also organises
a Sound and Light Show.
Bahai Temple
Is a very recent architectural marval of the Bahai faith and is visible from
several spots in south delhi. Located in Kalkaji in the south of Delhi. It is
Lotus shaped and has rightly been given the name.It is made up of marble,cement
dolomite, and sand. TIMINGS: Summer- 9:00 a.m - 7:00 p.m. Winter- 9:30
a.m - 5:30 p.m. Monday closed
Humayun's Tomb
This tomb, which as built by emperor Humanyun's wife, took eight years to
complete. The emperor's wife Begai Begum was buried in the tomb and the
structure is first of its kind built in the center of a well - planned garden.
The combination of white marble and red sand stone was a great influence on
later Mughal architecture. It is generally regarded as a prototype of the famed
Taj Mahal of Agra.
Jantar Mantar
Within the Connaught Place are is the Jantar Mantar observatory built by the
Rajput King of Jaipur, Sawai Jai Singh in 1724. It was believed to have been
built with masonary instruments for observing the movements of the stars and the
planets.
Safdarjung Tomb
The garden tomb
was built in 1753-54 soon after Safdarjung died. It is a red and a brown
sandstone with double storeyed towers in the corners and is one of the last
example of Mughal architecture.
|