DELHI :
is a city that defies a one-line description as the capital of India or as the
capital of the world's largest democracy. Actually, Delhi is India in miniature.
Delhi is 32,87,263 sq. km of India's fantastic variety compressed into 1483 sq.
km Over the millennia, it has wooed rulers, attracted plunderers, and tried historians
with so many details. Today, even as it preserves an enviable heritage, Delhi
is a true cosmopolitan city always on the move.
Delhi remains the centre
of power. Once it was a city of royal power. Then it became the seat of colonial
power. Later it was the seat of bureaucratic power. The seat of political power
it has always been. Today it is emerging as an important centre for corporate
power too. However, the most fascinating aspect of this city is its cosmopolitan
nature.
Delhi is an international metropolis with excellent tourist
spots, recreational facilities, and a history that goes back to antiquity. A remarkable
feature of the city is the extent of greenery all over. Delhi is also a dream
city for vistors looking for items of handicrafts, not only the rich artistic
crafts of its own craftsmen but also of craftsmen from all over the country.
Delhi offers a multitude of interesting places and attractions to the visitor,
so much so that it becomes difficult to decide from where to begin exploring the
city. In Old Delhi, you'll come across many mosques, forts, and other monuments
that depict India's Muslim history. The important places in Old Delhi includes
the
Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Delhi Gate, and
Raj Ghat
and
Shanti Vana, the last two being modern structures constructed after
India's Independence in 1947. New Delhi, on the other hand, is a modern city designed
by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. It is a spacious, open city that houses many
government buildings and embassies, besides places of historical interest. Notable
attractions in New Delhi include the
Rashtrapati Bhawan,
India Gate,
Laxminarayan Temple,
Humayun's Tomb,
Purana Quila,
Tughlaqabad,
Qutab Minar, and
Bahai Temple.
Many wildlife sanctuaries,
heritage sites, hill stations, and quaint little towns surround Delhi. Haryana,
which encloses Delhi on three sides, is ideal for quick getaways as most of its
tourist spots are quite close. The Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary and Tilayar, Surajkund,
and Badhkal lakes are only a few of the plethora of attractions that Haryana has
to offer. Move over to the nearby places of Rajasthan like Neemrana and Kesroli
and you are sure to have a wonderful time amidst nature-if only for a weekend.
Escape to the Mud Fort at Kuchesar in Uttar Pradesh and let the cool air and scenic
beauty revive your spirit.
