New Delhi, the capital of India, is a bustling metropolis that has an amazing mix of modernisation and carefully preserved antiquity. Sprawled over the west bank of the river Yamuna, it is one of the fastest growing cities in India. New Delhi was built by a British architect Edward Lutyens in 1912 as the new capital of the British Raj. The Victorian architecture now intermingles with the city's high rise buildings. Concrete flyovers built to ease the growing traffic are interspersed with well laid gardens, Moghul tombs, forts and monuments.

History
5000 year old Delhi has seen the rise and fall of the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughals, and the British, it has seen emperors appear and disappear, it is thus a city of great character, mystery and ruins with a history that begins with the creation of Indraprastha by the Pandavas and the transformation of this barren gift of the Kauravas into an idyllic haven.

A glorious chapter of Delhi's history was added with the discovery of an Asokan inscription near Srinivaspuri. Among the other dynasties that laid claim to Delhi were the Tornor Rajputs (9th or 10th century) and the Chauhan Rajputs (12th century). During the British rule for about 200 years, when the country came under a unified control, Calcutta became the capital but only to move back to Delhi in 1911. Since then Delhi has retained its position as the seat of governance. Designed by British architect Edwin Lutyens, Delhi was meant to house government buildings and the residences of the Viceroy and other British officials, the glory and beauty of these awesome structures is visible across certain areas in Delhi.

What to see
Delhi has two sides to it, the clean green broad road, big squared, spacious New Delhi and the dingy, dirty, tiny-laned Old Delhi. Both have stories to tell and sights to see. Old Delhi is 6 km away from the city centre. But no matter where you go, try the food at all the restaurants, it’s awesome.

Humayun's Tomb
A hot favourite for most tourists, and locals, is this tomb, built by emperor Humayun's wife. It is regarded as an example of the early Mughal architecture and took eight years to complete. Check the location out, the tomb has been placed bang in the centre of a well planned garden, a combination of high arched entrances topped by a bulbous dome in white marble and red sandstone brings out the beauty in this structure against the setting sun. For those of you who cannot visit the Taj Mahal, check this tomb out in details, it is believed to be the prototype of the famed Taj Mahal of Delhi. Begai Begum, The emperor's wife, has been buried here. Visiting hours are 10 am-5 pm, Mondays closed.

Jama Masjid
This is one structure that will take you to Old Delhi, where the aromas of the glorious Muslim food will prevent you from concentrating on anything else, but this architectural masterpiece deserves more than just a view. Its believed as many as 25,000 people can fit into its courtyard! Three great gateways, four towers and two minarets constructed of strips of red sandstone and white marble are important parts of the mosque. Come Friday and the place takes on a new charm with thousands of Muslims offering prayers here. Another charm of this masjid is that you can climb all the way to the top of the towers. Do that, and take a peek at Delhi, the street life down below and the awesome metal works you can buy around the masjid. It lies just opposite the Red Fort make sure you check that out too.

Red Fort
If you’ve heard of the red fort, you have to have heard of the meena bazzar that lies just outside the red fort. It’s hard to decide which ones better known than the other! One of the impressive sights in Delhi, this Mughal construction in red (its called the red fort remember) sandstone is located along the river Yamuna, its shape an irregular octagon. The heart of the Fort, Naubhat Khana was where musicians and dancers entertained the emperor. Huge halls, palatial apartments and luxuriously designed gardens form parts of this wonderful structure. Can you picture it, wouldn’t it be quite a spectacle. The main entrance is the Lahori Gate, a former royal market. There are a lot of interesting buildings inside the Fort too like the Rang Mahal (the water cooled apartments for the royal ladies (or the Diwan-E-Aam for public audiences. There is also a Red Fort Museum. Just outside the fort is the famous Meena Bazaar where exotic arts, artifacts, jewellery and carpets are sold. The fort is open 10.00 am-5 pm; closed on Mondays

Old Fort
Popularly known as the Purana Quila, this wondrous structure owes its existence to two emperors: Sher Shah Suri and Humayun. Its ramparts cover a perimeter of nearly 2 km and there are three main gates, on the north, south and west, the last one functioning as the present entrance. The fort is open 10 am-5 pm; Mondays closed.

Jantar Mantar
This is probably the most often photographed spot in Delhi, what with its reddish-pink buildings that were constructed way back in 1725 by Jaipur Maharaja Jai Singh It’s, these were used as observatories. An interesting part is the huge sundial known as the Prince of Dials. Various other instruments plot the course of heavenly bodies and predict eclipses. A fun place to visit, and a must for kids to know about. It is open 10 am-5 pm, Mondays closed.

Qutub Minar
It is better known as the most celebrated examples of Islamic architecture in India, but we suggest you go here as it is known as the seventh wonder of Hindustan. The 234-foot-high tower, with 376 steps, is the tallest stone tower in India, and would you believe it right through this length it has intricate carvings, verses and beautiful calligraphy work inscribed over it, with six lines in Sanskrit! Its believed that Qutb-u'd-Din Aibak laid the foundation and raised the first storey of the Qutab Minar in AD 1199, to this were then added three (some say four) more storeys with terracotta balconies by his successor and son-in-law Shamsu'd-Din Iltutmish. Unfortunately, climbing up the tower is now no longer possible, but a visit here is a must. According to legend, if you stand with your back to the pillar and can reach around and touch your fingers, any wish you make will come true! But the catch is well, it is not possible! The complex is open 6 am to 6 pm, all days except Mondays. There is a special night-view for an hour from 7 pm on all working days.

India Gate
The best part about going to India gate is the drive through the l-a-r-g-e six lane, bump-less, pothole-less roads. Keep driving straight from Rashtrapati Bhavan and you will reach India Gate. A war memorial in honour of the soldiers who died during the World War-I, this magnificent 42 meter high structure has been designed by Lutyens. The eternal flame (amar jawan jyoti) is placed here. Should you want to a break in your sight seeing tour, this is a good place to do it as you will see from the lawns that are dotted with families picnicking. India Gate is a place to simply have fun.

Rashtrapati Bhavan
The ultimate in architectural splendour and landscaped beauty is this imposing structure with all its pillars and porticos. This is the official residence of the president of India. Designed by Sir Edwin L. Lutyens and completed in 1929, this palatial building on Raisina Hill was formerly the Viceroy's House. Built on 330 acres of land, it comprises 340 rooms; no it does not translate to an acre a room, as a lot of the space is used up by gardens like the mughal garden. This and the changing of the guard are the high points of a visit to Rashtrapathi Bhavan; you do need permission to enter parts of the complex though. Parts of the building are open 9.30 am to 2.30 pm on all days except Mondays.

Rajghat
Most Indian’s would have seen this awesome ghat on television during national day parades and during Beating the Retreat, but nothing comes close to experiencing it in person. This is where India’s greatest conscience-keeper, Mahatma Gandhi was laid to rest. The memorial stone of Gandhi is a square black stone, with his last words 'Hey Ram' inscribed on it. The rest is for you to see and experience. The memorial is open 10 am-5 pm; Mondays are holidays. Right next to it is the Shanti Van, Jawaharlal Nehru’s memorial.

Nehru Memorial Museum and Planetarium (Teen Murti House)
This much documented structure was India’s First PM, Jawaharlal Nehru’s home that has now been converted into a museum. The place is perfect for one who wants to know about India’s freedom struggle what with exhibited photographs and newspaper clippings taking you through the struggle for independence. There’s also a planetarium in the museum grounds. Both the museum and the planetarium are open 10 am to 5 pm, all days except Mondays

National Museum
Over 20,000 pieces of rare and beautiful works of art and artifacts that tell the story of 5,000 years of Indian culture are housed in the Museum. Not to be missed are the stone and bronze sculptures and the paintings and manuscripts. The museum also has an extensive library and conducts shot and long term courses in art appreciation, conservation and history. The museum timings are 10 am-5 pm; Mondays closed.

Doll’s Museum
There are a lot of doll-houses all over India, but frankly speaking this is one of the best designed places with a great collection. It can have you spell bound for a few hours, amongst its large collection are dolls from Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Norway and the African and Middle Eastern countries. One must give their kudos to well-known cartoonist K. Shankar Pillai for this museum. The museum is open 10 am-5 pm; Mondays are holidays.

CraftMuseum,
An open air museum with rustic village atmosphere with Indian craftsmen at work. A small counter sells items made on the spot.

Gandhi Smriti Museum
History lives here, for this is where Gandhi spent the last few months of his life. Rare photographs, articles used by him during his lifetime and even the room he lived in have been maintained in the same way since. Musuem timings are 10 am-5 pm, all days except Mondays.

Lotus temple
This is one sight you may see from the window of some high rise building. It is a pleasure to watch it from the distance. And close up holds you spell bound. The spectacular and colourful sight, its no wonder that 4 million people come here annually, which incidentally is more visitors than the Taj Mahal gets. It is the main temple of the Bahai's in Delhi, located in Kalkaji south Delhi. Shaped like a half opened lotus flower, this temple is made of marble, cement, dolomite and sand. People of all faiths are welcome here as the founding principle of the Bahai faith is the unity of mankind. This temple is interesting from an architectural point of view as it brings together ancient Indian construction methods with the most advanced Western engineering principles and design. Do walk into the meditation space in this temple. Experience peace profound wash over you. The temple is open 9.00 am-7 pm, all days.

Birla Mandir
Also known as Laxminarayana Temple, it is dedicated to Lord Narayan (Vishnu) and his consort Lakshmi. There are other small shrines dedicated to Shiva, Ganesha and Hanuman. Beautifully detailed relief carvings are the high point of this temple for which 101 skilled artisans from Benares were commissioned. It is open all days.

Akshardham

Built under the anchor of the Bochasanvasi Aksharpurushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), it is a modern-day marvel that stands testimony to India’s unique religious and cultural beliefs. A 100-acre complex on the banks of the Yamuna, there is a stunning array of 20,000 statues, floral motifs, arches and beautifully carved pillars. It is believed that the construction of the temple cost a whopping Rs. 2 billion. It is open till 8 pm all days, except Mondays.

Getaways
Surajkund,
Eight kms from Delhi gets its name from the 10 century sun pool. Ruins around the pool and un-polluted nature make it a quiet getaway. Many crafts people here sell their goods at a reasonable price and the place becomes active during the annual Surajkund Crafts Mela in February. Three hotels run by Haryana tourism here offer boating and horse riding.

Sultanpur at 42 kms on Delhi Jaipur highway has Sultanpur bird sanctuary that is home to many migratory birds during winter. Regular and Tented accommodation is available here.

Sarsika
Located in Alwar district of Rajasthan has a wild life sanctuary that has tigers and many herbivores that can be spotted at close ranges. There is Kankwadi Fort offering a good scenic view. It is 51 kms from Delhi. Accommodation is available at Sarsika Palace and Tiger Den.

Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary
is a bird’s paradise that comes alive in the months of November-December when flocks of migratory birds arrive here. Sultanpur is 50 km from Delhi and the Haryana Tourism Development Board (HTDC) runs a tourist lodge here.

Some 70 km from Delhi, Tilayar Lake is the evergreen family recreation spot with a little bit of everything thrown in for all age groups: boating, restaurants, bar, children's park and a mini zoo. You can also sample a heritage resort at Neemrana, 122 km from Delhi, the site of a glorious fort built in 1464 by Prithviraj Chauhan’s dynasty. It is situated on a majestic plateau concealed in a horseshoe formation of the Aravalli ranges, and is considered the oldest fold mountains in the world. The beginnings of this rugged architectural jewel which rises to nine levels date back to 1464 AD, making it India’s oldest heritage resort. Delhi is close enough to Delhi, Mathura, Vrindavan and Jaipur to make an overnight or an exhausting day trip.

Dining Out

Food and Delhi go just as much hand in hand as politics and Delhi do, people in Delhi love to eat; it’s no wonder then that new restaurants are mushrooming here everyday. It’s really difficult to capture the best places here, but let us try to tell you our favourites.

Head to Bukhara at the Maurya Sheraton for the tenderest Tandoori Lamb Raan you have ever had. The place is expensive and a little touristy and you might only have foreigners for company but the raan here completely melt in the mouth. Try your hand at the Naan they make, they are remarkably big, and often you wish you had come up with friends to share the dish. It has legends spun around its famous dal. More affordable is Punjabi By Nature (11 Basant Lok, Vasant Vihar and Gurgaon).

Try out the Great kebab factory at The Radisson; you will be treated like a king here. Kebabs and Biryani are a must eat when you are here, try digging into the Colonel’s kebab’s in defense colony it’s owned by an ex army man, and has the best meat delicacies this side of Delhi has to offer. There’s also Al kausar's kakori kebabs that are just out of this world, this one’s at vasant vihar.

Since we are in the area, let us take you too Stone-Located above Moet's this is one place you can lounge in. It’s perfect for a laid back afternoon or evening. Very Mediterranean in design with its low seating, roomy in design and lots of candles all over the place

Delhi's only Kashmiri restaurant Chor Bazaar is also one of its most beautiful, an art deco enclave with a tile floor, a spiral staircase leading nowhere, lamps in pinks and yellows, and a mixture of antique furniture and mirrors from various chor (thieves') bazaars. The bar is all dark wood and stained glass, and the salad bar is a 1927 Fiat roadster. Kashmiri food uses milder spices than many Indian cuisines, exemplified by mutton yakhni (simmered in a sauce of yogurt, cardamom, and aniseed), mutton mirchi korma (in a gravy of cardamom and cloves), and haaq, Kashmiri spinach cooked in its own juice. Try a tarami platter to sample several dishes, and punctuate your meal with kahwah, frDelhint Kashmiri tea.

And if you miss your favourite breakfast menu of idli, dosa, samosa and hot sambhar head straight to Sagar (Defence Colony) and Saravana Bhavan (Connaught Place and Karol Bagh), they are famous for their crisp masala dosas and wholesome thalis are both value for money.

Other restaurants that are a must visit to get the true flavour of Delhi are Nirulas (pizzas and hot chocolate fudge are eternal favourites), Bengal Sweet Corner and Nathu Sweets that dot the city (for chaat, gol gappas, and sweets galore), and Roshan di Hatti (Ajmal Khan Road) for the world's best kulfis.

If you have faith in your digestive system, then the streets of Old Delhi await you. Parathas fried in desi ghee, sweetened lassi, juicy jalebis, Karachi halwas. There’s also the legendary Karim's (Matiya Mahal, opposite Bombay Orient Hotel, Tel: 23269800) that dishes out raan and all those awesome swimming with calories meat gravy dishes like the rogan josh and chaap, and paya and more? And then there is the paratha walli galli in old Delhi, where you get everything in meats but the lane is famous for its parathas.

Nightlife
OliveBar & Kitchen
Huge haveli turned restaurant with a buzz, has beautiful ambience in three different fine dining options.
Haveli N 6-8 One Style Mile, Kalka Dass Marg, Mehrauli.

Shalom med Lounge Bar
Mediterranean launge bar with Lebanese, Mediterranean, Spanish and Indian menu. Scintillating music keeps the mood through the evening. N-18, N Block Market, Greater Kailash – I.

QBA, restaurant and Bar
The city's favoured party zone has a split level restaurant with a comfortable lounge and plenty of dark corners for privacy. Lunch: 12 noon to 3.00 pm, Dinner: 7.00 pm to midnight, Lounge: open 12 noon to midnight. E-42/43, Connaught place. TGI Friday's, Thank goodness its Friday's, America's first casual dining chain has its outlets in Vasant Vihar, Connaught Place, and Gurgaon. Serves over 80 food items from Far East to all American with chicken and chicken, seafood specialties. Friday's bar menu includes frozen drinks, ice cream drinks and variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic Smoothies and Flings. Open: 12 noon and 11:00 p.m.

Shopping
There is no art or craft that Delhi can claim to be its own, and yet it is flooded with everything from all over the country, the excuse we can give is perhaps, being the Rajdhani, it has to showcase what the country can offer right. Decided where you want to shop, based on your budget. For branded, up market stuff, head for the grand showrooms in Connaught Place (Sundays closed), South Extension (Mondays off), and Greater Kailash 1 and 2 (Tuesdays off). For designer wear, hit the Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road or HauzKhasVillage complex.

Hauz Khas
is one of the many villages subsumed by the southward growth of Delhi. In the early 1980s, it began its transformation into a chic shopping area when socialite and designer Bina Ramani opened her boutique here. Several other designer outlets followed suit, and today, Hauz Khas is a patchwork of traditional Indian homes, glass showrooms and polished display windows. New Delhi's glitterati come here to buy clothes and object d'art and to eat at one of the many gourmet restaurants that have come up here, it’s a must visit.

Lajpat Nagar market
is another must have to go too place for real cheap but good clothes. It has a magnetic pull on you making you want to go back here for more. The place literally grows on you, once you get used to the crowd. It’s a favourite haunt of college students looking for fashionable clothes at cheap prices. It's a good idea to browse through the shops and enquire about prices before you actually purchase anything. Chances are the same article you have chosen is selling for even less just a few yards away. The Sarojini Nagar market is close by and the stock is largely similar. While Lajpat Nagar has a lot of ethnic wear, the market at Sarojini Nagar deals only in western clothes. Sizes are no problem since the export-surplus stock consists mostly of larger sizes.

Santushi shopping complex
run by the Air Force Wives Welfare Association is a must go, It is located off the Race Course Road roundabout. Like any other Forces complex, its neat, clean, greens, with handsome men in uniform going about their duties, tipping their cap in a sign of respect, its one place to go too for feel good feeling. But coming back to the shopper’s paradise here, it’s got pebbled paths that lead up to about 30-odd stores, beautifully laid out on a rolling garden. A number of the city's top designers have an outlet here. The Anokhi - selling Rajasthani fabrics, dresses, crockery, home linen and lengths of saris - will be of interest to foreign tourists. The hugely-popular Basil &Thyme restaurant is also located here.

If you are in Delhi and have not visited Chandni Chowk, you’ve not seen Delhi; at least that’s what every one will be told. Travelling here can be an exhausting experience. The lanes are almost too narrow for comfort and are lined with stalls that sell everything under the sun! and that’s no understatement. You can buy shawls, silks, perfumes, brassware, colored glass, furniture, beads and bangles. The Kinari Bazaar nearby specializes in the rich silver and gold embroidery work known as zardosi. The richly-embroidered fabrics can be used to make gowns, skirts, blouses, bags and even shoes. And you can get the palm of your hands beautiful done up with the mehendi walli's that sit around the chowk. If you want a tattoo done, so make sure you bargain well.

And then there is Khan market one of the more up market and expensive places to shop in Delhi. It is located in the city center, surrounded by residential complexes and the greenery of LodhiGardens. The market here is very popular with the diplomatic community, yes the prices are also those that cater to these guys, but it of course has the best tailors Delhi can offer. Several shops have a range of excellent materials and will have a tailor on hand to make a suit, dress or shirt, usually within a period of one week. As one would expect this place is dotted with Barista’s, cafe, cake shops, quick bite places and more.

For arts and artifacts, it’s got to be Dilli Haat, spread over a 6-acre area; this is the first permanent fairground in the country showcasing the arts, crafts, handlooms and food of different states. Usually, visits here last from anything two hours to the whole day; it’s an experience, complete with dining from all states of India. Note of caution though, most places here do not accept credit cards, it is after all an upgraded variance of India's traditional haat (marketplace), beautifully laid out and well maintained. The stalls are let out to for a maximum of 15 days only, allowing variety to the goods you can get here. A suggestion, if you se something you like buy it, do not wait for the next time. Vegetable dyed, block-printed and tie-and-dyed fabrics, folk art wall hangings, pottery, imitation jewelry, bamboo work, brassware, furniture and durries (lightweight carpets) are just some of the things you'll get here at any time.

Connaught Place
Popularly known as C.P. has elite shopping in clothes, handicrafts, books and jewellery, as well as colourful merchandise being sold on pavements.

Another good place to shop is the Baba Kharak Singh Marg near Connaught Place. The street is lined with emporiums run by state governments. Be prepared to set aside at least a day for exploring the choice of handicrafts offered by each of them. Recommended buys are blankets and shawls from Himachal Pradesh emporium; Tamil Nadu emporium for sandalwood and stone sculptures; Uttar Pradesh for stone-inlay as well as copper/brass work and leather goods; Kashmir for carpets; Orissa for Ikat fabrics and traditional paintings; Rajasthan and Gujarat for textiles, pottery and embroideries. Emporiums are open 10 am-6 pm, with a lunch break from 1 pm-2 pm. If short on time, then the Central Cottage Industries (Jawahar Vyapar Bhavan, Janpath) is a one-stop shop that sells the best of things from every corner of India. For bargain buying, the Tibetan Market on Janpath is stuffed with antiques and silver jewellery. The famed Ajmal Khan Road in Karol Bagh sells everything, from clothes to mobile phones, electronic goods to crockery, but buy your stuff here after having thoroughly checked it out, they might also go to the extent of showing you one piece and packing in another, this is experience talking, so take care.

Visiting
Being a land locked space and its distance from the sea the temperatures here are rather extremes. The summers in Delhi are very hot and winters very cold. The temperature range varies from 45 degrees in summers to 1 degree in winters, yes it is very cold. Summer in Delhi, from April to July, is merciless and exhausts one with its dry heat. November to March is lovely with the added splendour of the festivals, starting with Diwali and ending with Holi.

The best season to tour Delhi is during the spring seasons of February to April and August to November. But should you want to check out the lovely blossoms and colours of Delhi come here in February and March.

How to get there
Air
Delhi is a major gateway to the country and well-connected by air to all metros and as well to most cities with an airport. The Indira Gandhi International Airport is also busy with flights taking off to various corners of the globe.
Rail
The headquarters of the Northern Railway Delhi is the most well connected railhead in the country. Its four stations’ New Delhi, Old Delhi, Delhi Cantonment and Hazrat Nizamuddin are serviced by trains to all corners of India. All the Rajdhani’s no matter which part of the country they originate from come here. The luxury trains Palace on Wheels and Royal Orient, which, chug off from Delhi, offer unforgettable experiences.

Road
Delhi probably has the best roads India has to offer, but that’s only in proper New Delhi, so do not let that carry you away. The rest of the drive, from where you are coming in from may not be a song. The capital is well connected by road to almost all parts of India.