New Delhi

New Delhi

NEW DELHI

AREA: 1,483 SQ. KM
POPULATION: 13, 80 MILLION
CAPITAL: DELHI
PRINCIPAL LANGUAGES: HINDI, PUNJABI, URDU & ENGLISH

HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY

Delhi finds prominent reference right from the times of the epic Mahabharata. Its control passed from one ruler/dynasty to another, beginning with the Mauryas, Pallavas, Guptas of Central India, and then to the Turk and Afghan during the 13th to 15th centuries, and finally to the Mughals in the 16th century. In the latter half of the 18th century and early 19th century, the British rule was established in Delhi. In 1911, Delhi became the centre of all activities after the capital was shifted from Kolkata. It was made a Union Territory in 1956. Lying in the northern part of the country, Delhi is surrounded by Haryana on all sides except the east, where it borders with Uttar Pradesh. In 1991, the national capital territory Act was passed by the parliament and a system of diarchy was introduced under which, the elected Government was given wide powers; except law and order which remained with the central Government. The actual enforcement of the legislation came in 1993.

PLACES TO SEE

QUTUB MINAR: Nestling in the southern quarters of lush Delhi, the 237.8 ft stately tower is an exquisite example of Indo-Islamic Afghan architecture. This ornate tower is now an eminent member of the World Heritage Site community, and leans about 60 cm off the vertical, but otherwise has survived the ravages of time impressively

RED FORT: The largest of Old Delhi’s monuments is Lal Quila or Red Fort whose thick red sandstone walls, bulging with turrets and bastions, have withstood the vagaries of time and nature. The Lal Quila rises above a wide dry moat in the northeast corner of the original city of Shahjahanabad. Its walls extend from two kilometers and vary in height from 18 metres on the river side to 33 metres on the city side.Mughal Emperor Shahjahan started construction of the massive fort in 1638 and work was completed in 1648. The fort contains all the expected trappings of the centre of Mughal government: halls of public and private audience, domed and arched marble palaces, plush private apartments, a mosque and elaborately designed gardens. Even today, the fort remains an impressive testimony to Mughal grandeur.

JUMA MASJID: The famous Juma Masjid is situated opposite to the red fort in old Delhi. The Mogul emperor Shahjahan, who also built famous Taj Mahal, has built this mosque in sixteenth century. This mosque is 200 feet long, 220 feet wide and 135 feet high. It is built from white and the red marble. Its top summit is made up of black marble. There is one large platform here to size of around 5000 square feet, which is made from one single stone. The Muslims come here five times a day for their namaz. It took 14 years to build this mosque.

RAJ GHAT: Raj Ghat is the last resting place of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. The place is not far away from the banks of River Yamuna. Mahatma Gandhi was cremated here on 31st January 1948 following his assassination on 30th January 1948 by Nathuram Godse. The memorial stone is a simple square platform made of black stone. The last words uttered by Mahatma “Hey Ram” are inscribed near the black platform. An eternal flame keeps burning in a copper urn in the Raj Ghat.

LOTUS TEMPLE: This lotus shaped temple and has rightly been given the name. It is made of marble, cement, dolomite and sand. It is open to all faiths and is an ideal place for meditation and obtaining peace and tranquility. It is a very recent architectural marvel of the Bahai faith. The Bahai Faith is the youngest of the world’s independent religions. Its founder, Bahá’u'lláh (1817-1892), is regarded by Baháis as the most recent in the line of Messengers of God that stretches back beyond recorded time and that includes Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Zoroaster, Christ and Muhammad. The central theme of Bahá’u'lláh’s message is that humanity is one single race and that the day has come for its unification in one global society. God, Bahá’u'lláh said, has set in motion historical forces that are breaking down traditional barriers of race, class, creed, and nation and that will, in time, give birth to a universal civilization. The principal challenge facing the peoples of the earth is to accept the fact of their oneness and to assist the processes of unification.

AKSHARDHAM: Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi epitomizes 10,000 years of Indian culture in all its breathtaking grandeur, beauty, wisdom and bliss. It brilliantly showcases the essence of India’s ancient architecture, traditions and timeless spiritual messages. The Akshardham experience is an enlightening journey through India’s glorious art, values and contributions for the progress, happiness and harmony of mankind. Akshardham means the eternal, divine abode of the supreme God, the abode of eternal values and virtues of Akshar as defined in the Vedas and Upanishads where divine bhakti, purity and peace forever pervades.

INDIA GATE: is constructed as a memorial and was built in the memory of 90,00 soldiers who laid down their lives during world war I. Located at Rajpath, India Gate is 42 m high and is popular relaxation area during the summer evenings. India Gate also act as popular pinic spot during winter. Also known as the All India War Memorial, India Gate was designed and constructed by Lutyens. He was the who is considered the chief proclaimer in designing the New Delhi plans.

RASHTRAPATI BHAWAN: was formerly known as ‘Viceroy’s House’ and was occupied by the Governor-General of India, until independence. Also known as President’s House, the building holds a prominent position in New Delhi. Designed by the British architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens, this classical building uses colors and details peculiar to Indian architecture. It was completed by 1929 and was officially inaugurated in 1931. It was in 1950 that President started living in this ceremonial building and the ‘Viceroy’s House’ was renamed as ‘Rashtrapati Bhavan.’ It has 340 decorated rooms and a floor area of 200,000 square feet.

PARLIAMENT HOUSE: It is here that bills are passed. It is here that India is shaped and reshaped and foreign relations are talked about. It is here that pains are addressed and measures are taken to achieve a mutual goal. It is here that trespassers are really prosecued – the Parliament House or Sansad Bhawan, as it is commonly known. Although it is large and imposing in its demeanour, the Sansad building stands almost hidden and virtually unnoticed at the end of Sansad Marg (Parliament Street), just north of Rajpath. Despite the humoungous plans for the capital by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the Parliament House was actually an afterthought. The Montague-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 paved way for a large legislative assembly and, no doubt, a building was needed where legislations would be passed with the thump of the gavel or the noise of ‘ayes’ and ‘nays’. Thus came into being the Parliament House.

CONNAUGHT PLACE: built in 1931, is one of Delhi’s most popular shopping centres. There is nothing that one cannot buy here. It also has several eating-houses. The state emporia buildings are also located in this area so are the head offices of major banks, airlines and other such things of importance to the tourist. The complex, popularly referred to as CP, is an important meeting point for all sections of people and is something. Even tourists don’t miss it for nothing else then for its architecture and the humdrum of everyday life.