History of Delhi

Delhi is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. It contains the famous 'seven cities', a collection of fort based settlements surviving from the city's turbulent history of invasion and regeneration. Delhi is a fusion of medieval citadels, capitals of past dynasties, and now of course modernity and all its sprawling shininess. Having been the capital of several empires in ancient India, Delhi was a major city in the old trade routes from northwest India to the Gangetic Plains. Many ancient monuments, archaeological sites and remains of national importance have been erected in its history.

The Mughals built a section of the city (now known as Old City or Old Delhi) that served as the capital of the Mughal Empire for a long period. Old Delhi was the capital of Shahjahanabad (Delhi's seventh city), and Red Fort, the seat of Mughal power in those days, is an immaculately preserved imperial citadel. The alleys leading off Old Delhi's main thoroughfare, Chandni Chowk, are a classic example of India's bustling market areas. In Old Delhi diverse religious activity and commerce live side by side.

New Delhi built by the British in the early 20th century, is home to a number of architectural relics from imperial times, as well as the nation's parliament. New Delhi also serves as the main business district of the city. Its central area, Connaught Place, is the place to go for shopping, restaurants, travel and banking, with a vast underground bazaar - Palika Bazar, for electronic goods and cultural knick knacks.

New Delhi was declared the capital of India after India gained independence from British rule in 1947. As the seat of the Government of India, New Delhi houses important offices of the federal government, including the Parliament of India. Delhi has grown up to be a cosmopolitan city owing to the immigration of people from across the country.

Monuments & Parks

Qutub Minar

In 1193, Qutb-ud-din raised the Qutab Minar, the 234-step tower; either as a victory tower or as a minaret to the adjacent mosque. From a base of 14.32 mtrs it tapers to 2.75 mtrs at a height of 72.5 mtrs. It is still the highest stone tower in India, one of the finest Islamic structures ever raised and Delhi's recognised landmark. It was completed by the Sultan's successor and son-in-law, Iltutmish. The tomb of Iltutmish, which he himself built in 1235, is located nearby. Its interiors are profusely decorated with calligraphy but the dome has collapsed.
Qutub Minar is the tallest brick minaret in the world, and an important example of Indo-Islamic Architecture. The tower is in the Qutub complex at Mehrauli in South Delhi. The Qutub Minar and its monuments are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Driving Time from CP: 40 minutes
Gift Shops: Many are scattered around nearby. The further afield you go the better the deals you are likely to get.
Nearby Attractions: Chatarpur Temples
Queues: Queues are not an issue at this attraction.
Guides: There are no staff on hand to talk to you about the minarets history so a guide would be useful for those wanting to learn more.
Eating nearby: Garden of Five Senses - a range of cuisine.

Purana Quila

Purana Quila, literally 'old fort' stands on an ancient mound. Excavations near its eastern wall reveal that the site has been continuously occupied since 1000 BC. It is also believed to be the place where Indraprastha, the Pandava capital mentioned in the epic Mahabharata, once stood. Purana Qila and its environs flourished as the sixth city of Delhi. It was here that Humayun, the second Mughal emperor began to construct his city Dinpanah (Asylum of Faith), four years after his father Babur established the Mughal dynasty in 1526. However, Humayun's reign was short-lived, and in 1540 he was dispossessed of his fledgling empire by the Afghan chieftain, Sher Shah Suri who ruled from 1540 to 1545. When Sher Shah took possession of the citadel, he strengthened its fortifications, added several new structures and renamed it Shergarh. After his death, his successors were defeated by Humayun who recaptured his domains in 1555. Today, of the many palaces, barracks and houses that once existed, only Sher Shah's mosque and the building said to be Humayun's library remain. The Yamuna once flowed on the fort's eastern side and formed a natural moat.

Red Fort (Lal Quila)

The Red Fort also known as Lal Qil'ah, or Lal Qila, was built by the Emperor Shah Jahan as his royal palace and is located in Old Delhi. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.
Built in red sandstone this imposing fort is 3 kms in perimeter with the height of the wall varying from 18 to 30 meters at places. When the Red Fort was being built, the Yamuna river used to flow on one side and there were deep moats on the other. Today, the Yamuna flows almost a kilometer away from the fort and the moats have dried up. In the evening Delhi Tourism organizes a light and sound show which narrates the history of Delhi in context of the Red Fort.
Lahore Gate, the main entrance, has some emotions and sentiments attached with the Indian Independence Movement as the tricolour flutters on the top of this gate. On 15th August every year the Indian Prime minister addresses the nation from here. As soon as one enters the fort from the Lahore gate, there is a small bazaar where all kinds of items are available. This shopping arcade was known as the Meena Bazaar and was open only to women on Thursdays during the Mughal era.

The arcade leads to the Naubat Khana or the drum house where the musicians used to play drums on the arrival of emperors or princes. Just above the Naubat Khana is the Indian War Memorial Museum which has a rich collection of armours, guns, swords and other items related to war.


Driving Time from CP: 25 minutes
Gift Shops:Situated on the entrance to Lahore Gate; they are overpriced and similar merchandise can be found elsewhere for considerably less.
Best time to visit: 11 AM to 4:00 PM
Queues: Seldom significant queues.
Guides: While much history and detail can be found from plaques and 'in-house' guides, taking your own personal guide (there are hundreds vying for your custom outside Lahore Gate) is recommended to learn the most about The Red Fort.
Eating nearby: Karim's - One of the oldest eateries in Delhi, it offers authentic Muglai cuisine. The Chicken Tikka & Raan is especially recommended.

Jama Masjid

The Masjid-i-Jahan Numa commonly known as the Jama Masjid of Delhi is the principal mosque of Old Delhi in India. Commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal, and completed in the year 1656 AD, it is one of the largest and best-known mosques in India.
Masjid-i-Jahan Numa means "the mosque commanding a view of the world", and the name Jama Masjid is a reference to the weekly congregation observed on Friday (yaum al-jum`a) at the mosque. The courtyard of the mosque can hold up to twenty-five thousand worshippers. The mosque also houses several relics in a closet in the north gate, including a copy of the Qur'an written on deerskin.

It is best to visit this site in the early morning when the light is the most glorious and the crowds smaller.

Old Delhi - Chandini Chowk & Kinari Bazar
Want to know what a time machine would be like? Get on the Delhi Metro - one of the swankiest in the world - at the impeccably clean Rajiv Chowk station in Connaught Place and take the ride to Chandni Chowk. The moment you get out of the spick and span Chandni Chowk station you will be transported to another bygone era and the chaos of Old Delhi. See the Red Fort built by the Emperor Shah Jahan as his royal palace and Jama Masjid mosque early in the morning, when they are most glorious. Then give yourself the rest of the morning to take in the uninterrupted life of the walled city of Emperor Shah Jahan, also known as Old Delhi. The streets around the Kinari Bazaar are an oasis of calm, with colorfully painted mansions (above) and temples belonging to the Jain faith. It was once filled with mansions of nobles and members of the royal court, along with elegant mosques and gardens. Today it is extremely crowded, but it is still the symbolic heart of metropolitan Delhi.

Every street is a world unto its own, devoted to auto parts or wedding cards or freshly roasted spices. One of the liveliest is Kinari Bazaar, a crafters’ paradise bursting with haberdasheries, gold & silver jewelry shops, bead shops and vendors of bright red wedding turbans, alongside crumbling ancient mansions over a hundred years old. This is also a portrait of the head-load economy of old India, with porters ferrying everything from saris to shoes to fruits & vegetables on their heads. The city-state of Delhi has been a seat of power for more than a thousand years, and remains a survivor of conquest and contrast. Here, cycle rickshaws fight for space (above left) with auto rickshaws and pedestrians alike in the narrow streets of Old Delhi.

Humayun's Tomb

Delhi is a city of ruins and none is more elegantly preserved than Humayun’s Tomb, a precursor to the Taj Mahal and an early example of Mughal architecture. Built as Mughal Emperor Humayun's tomb. It is located in Nizamuddin East, New Delhi. It encompasses the main tomb of the Emperor Humayun as well as numerous others. The complex is a World Heritage Site and the first example of ground breaking Mughal design & architecture in India.

Built in the 1560s by Haji Begum the wife of Humayun, the second Mughal emperor; the domed mausoleum has an elaborate garden, potted with red sandstone tombs, gates and a mosque. Savor it at the golden end of the day.
Driving Time from CP: 20 minutes
Gift Shops: None
Queues: Queues seldom an issue.
Guides: A good guide could provide you with a wealth of information as you tour the many different buildings.
Eating nearby: Karim's - this is the sister to the main Red Fort branch - Authentic Muglai cuisine.
Nearby Attractions: Nizamuddin Auliya's Mazar

Safdarjung's Tomb

Safdarjung's Tomb is a garden tomb in a marble mausoleum in Delhi. It was built in 1754 in the style of late Mughal architecture. The top story of the edifice houses the Archaeological Survey of India. The garden, in the style evolved by the Mughal Empire that is now known as the Mughal Gardens style known as a charbagh, is entered through an ornate gate. Its facade is decorated with elaborate plaster carvings.

Jantar Mantar

A few minutes walk from Connaught Place, the foremost shopping centre of New Delhi, Jantar Mantar was built as an observatory by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur, from 1724 onwards, and is one of five built by him, as Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah gave him the task of revising the calendar and astronomical tables. The astonishing part of these observatories is that they can calculate many astronomical movements very accurately. It consists of 13 architectural astronomy instruments.

Though not as large as its compatriot in Jaipur, Jantar Mantar at Delhi is also an attraction for the tourists.

Lodi Gardens

The city’s pièce de résistance, also its green lung, is this free, quiet sanctuary for parakeets and lovers. A tai chi class is offered on the plaza of the Bara Gumbad mosque (left). Early mornings are for yogis saluting the sun, influential bureaucrats on power walks and chipmunks and doves drinking from the same puddle. The Lodhi Gardens are also a place for meditation. Here a man meditates on the steps of the Sheesh Gumbad Tomb (right). There are few sights more soothing than catching an advanced yoga practitioner holding a pose in the city’s lush gardens with the spooky, 15th-century domed tombs of the Lodi sultans looming in the background. Residents from the well-to-do neighborhoods nearby go here to picnic or jog it all off, while young couples still head here to coo discreetly, keeping alive the park’s historic function as a romantic hideaway safe from conservative parents’ horrified eyes. There are also 100-plus species of trees and the tombs dating back to the 1400s.

Pigeons, parrots and chipmunks mingle together at the Lodhi Gardens (left). Probably the most beautiful park in India with several ancient monuments, a man-made lake, jogging & walking trails and a greenhouse. This gorgeous park has somehow managed to retain its beauty throughout Delhi's growth and sprawl. After the morning walk; for breakfast and a morning paper, hop across to ChokoLa, a lovely cafe located at closeby Khan Market. Or drive down to Defence Colony for a South Indian breakfast of Idli, Vada & fresh ground coffee at Sagar. Not a place to be missed by anyone visiting Delhi!

Other Places of Tourist Interest

India Gate & Rajpath
Flanked by ornamental ponds and lawns, Rajpath is host to the Republic Day Parade. The two secretariat buildings and Rashtrapati Bhawan on the Raisina hills are located on the two sides of this immensely broad road. India Gate is located towards the eastern end of Rajpath.

India Gate is a war memorial commemorating the Indian dead of the First World War. India Gate today also houses the Indian Army's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and theeternal flame or Amar Jawan Jyoti.

It is a 42m high stone arch of triumph and bears the names of the 90,000 Indian Army Soldiers who died in the campaigns of World War I, the North-West Frontiers Operations and the 1919 Afghan War are inscribed on the walls. Below the arch is the memorial to the unknown soldier. It was completed in 1931.

Rashtrapati Bhawan

Rashtrapati Bhavan ('President's House or Presidential Palace) is the official residence of the President of India, located in New Delhi. Until 1950 it was known as "Viceroy's House" and served as the residence of the Governor-General of India. It is at the heart of an area known as Lutyens' Delhi.

Rashtrapati Bhawan is the highlight of Lutyens New Delhi and was completed in 1929 at a cost of 12,53,000. The palace has 340 rooms. At one time, 2,000 people were required to look after the building and serve the Viceroy's household. It has an impressive garden called the Mughal Gardens, which is open to the public for a short while in February when the flowers are in full bloom.

Raj Ghat

Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi is a simple black marble platform that marks the spot of his cremation on 31 January 1948. It is left open to the sky while an eternal flame burns perpetually at one end. It is located on the banks of the river Yamuna in Delhi, India. A stone footpath flanked by lawns leads to the walled enclosure that houses the memorial. Two museums dedicated to Gandhi are located nearby. The memorial has the epitaph Hé Ram, (literally 'O Ram', but also translated to 'O God'), believed to be the last words uttered by Gandhi. It has become customary for foreign dignitaries visiting India to pay their respects to Gandhi at the Raj Ghat by laying flowers or wreaths on the platform. As a sign of respect, visitors are required to remove footwear before approaching the memorial. A commemorative ceremony is held every Friday, to mark the day Gandhi died. Prayer sessions are held at the Raj Ghat on Gandhi's birth and death anniversary.

Bahá'i Temple

The architecturally acclaimed expressionist style Lotus Temple was built in 1986 as a Bahá'í House of Worship. The concrete structure is modelled on the Lotus Flower and has a potential capacity of 2,500. Shoes cannot be worn inside the building and such is the flow of visitors you can't simply kick your trainers to the floor and pick them up again when you leave. There's a 'bowling alley' system of tickets-for-shoes, but in a quirky twist (perhaps so as not to ruin the aesthetics outside the temple) the storage room is three quarters subterraneous, so you have to give - and recollect - your shoes by leaning down to a man five foot beneath you. It is set amongst pools and gardens. Adherents of any faith are free to visit the temple and pray or meditate silently according to their own religion.

The Lotus Temple provides one of the rare exceptions with its remarkable fusion of ancient concept, modem engineering skill, and architectural inspiration, making it the focus of attention amongst engineers and architects the world over. In the absence of sophisticated equipment, the extremely complex design called for the highest order of engineering ingenuity to be implemented by means of traditional workmanship.

Driving Time from CP: 45 minutes
Gift Shops: None
Queues: This is a very popular site and while there is seldom a significant waiting time to get inside the peaceful, quite inspiring interior of the temple, it is best appreciated during quieter periods.
Guides: There is a Information Centre that will tell you all you will ever need to know about Bahá'í.
Eating nearby: No restaurants or cafés in the immediate vicinity.

For more information on Delhi Sightseeing

Delhi City Guide