With its more than 300 thousand inhabitants, New Delhi is the second largest city in India and it shows in its overcrowded streets of people, cows, cars, bicycles and countless sellers that turn this into, also, one of the noisiest in the whole country. These characteristics, added to the sites of interest such as the Red Fort or the Lotus Temple make it a place to visit and if you can start with it, much better.
Being the Indian capital make it the gateway for most travelers. The city is a fairly marked mixture of wealth and poverty. As you walk through its streets, you will find the richest areas dominated by diplomatic offices and large companies and the poorest areas where street vendors intermingle with the animals that live in the streets without asphalting.
While the city of Delhi has a history dating back more than 3000 years , New Delhi was established on December 15, 1911 after planning by British architects Sir Herbert Baker and Sir Edwin Lutyens; At that time he had already taken the quality of capital to Calcutta, although it was just named New Delhi in 1927. This city is the main landing destination of the visitors who are coming from the international and domestic flights.
Delhi or "Dili" as pronounced by its inhabitants has two monuments declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Qutub Minar and Humayun's tomb, although there is much more to visit, such as the Lotus Temple, the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial, the Red Fort and a number of areas for which it is better to opt for Delhi tours organized by Delhi Tourism.
With its 72.5 meters and a base of 14.3 meters it is the highest minaret in the world and therefore considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1993. It is located in the center of the Qutub complex. Its construction began in 1193 but it was only finished in 1368.
In 1993, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site because it was considered one of the first examples of Mongolian architecture. It is not only the tomb of Emperor Humayun, but a whole complex that includes different constructions, mosques and tombs. When you will see it, you will believe, you are in a miniature replica of the Taj Mahal, but its great similarity is due to the fact that this tomb is the precursor of the most famous in all of India.
The Raj Gath or Gandhi Memorial is where the flame is lit in honor of the spiritual and political leader of India. Despite what many believe the site is not a grave although it seems and is surrounded by one of the largest and greenest parks in all of Delhi. It is full of Indian and foreign tourists but a walk through its internal streets is still peaceful and relaxing.
The "Bahai's House of Worship" is a church for all religions. The travelers' attention is drawn to the lotus flower form that this temple has at the end of an extensive park, but what really matters is the intention of this building that was inaugurated in 1986 is that all meet to pray at God regardless of religion. Admission is free and is entered in small groups.
The Red Fort is known by that name since its color is given by the sandstone with which it was built. It is an immense construction that covers 49.18 hectares and its entire wall measures more than 6.5 kilometers reaching 33 meters in the highest area and 16 in the lowest. Inside it houses a number of buildings such as the imperial palaces, the offices of Shah Jahan or a replica of the throne of Solomon.
It is the most recommended site to have an approach to the Hindu religion and especially the god Vishnu. In its 7.5 hectares you can contemplate fountains, an immense garden and prayer chapels.
Also known as Birla House is the place where Mahatma Gandhi lived the last 144 days of his life before being killed on January 30, 1948. The site, where peace and silence reigns, recreates each of the moments of life of the Indian leader and what most impacts is the drawing of the last steps Gandhi took until he reached the place where he was killed.
While you can eat anywhere in the capital of India, there are three options that are recommended, both for the quality of their dishes, for the strange or for the views offered by the city.
Actually it is a hotel, but its two floors of restaurant, its good service and excellent quality food make it a place to visit. It is located at 4775 Main Bazaar and if you like spicy the Chicken Kebab option you will love it.
It is located in the heart of Main Bazaar. From its roof you can eat at the same time you can see people circulating and selling through its streets. It is recommended to go to dinner and order a Banana Lassi for dessert.
It is actually a kind of fried Arabic bread stuffed with things like cheese, potato or vegetables, but the peculiarity is not in the food but in the area: you will have to leave New Delhi to enter Old Delhi and visit the restaurants where Indira Gandhi and Nehru used to eat. Cars or tuk-tuk do not reach that area because it is almost impossible to travel through its streets so it is recommended to enter on foot.
1 Opinion
