The commercial and business hub of India, Delhi has been witness to a tumultuous history of uprising and falling of many empires. This hustling and bustling metropolitan city comprises of seven cities that were built by different emperors from time to time. It is perhaps the only city in the world that presents so many contrasts at once - there is the old-age charm and ruins of Old Delhi and there are strong and mighty giant buildings of New Delhi, there are the chic, fashionable belles of South Delhi and there are India lasses dressed in traditional and ethnic dresses, there are sparkling cars firing through wide roads and there are cycle-rickshaws in the streets of more congested areas.
Air : International sector is well connected with every part of the world as well as India through air, road or rail. The most important airport is the Indira Gandhi International Airport near Palam. All major carriers operate their domestic flights from the domestic terminal. The international terminal links Delhi to all other international cities. The other airbase in Delhi is in Safdarjung which is used mainly by various flying clubs and helicopters.
Rail : Delhi is very well connected by rail with all parts of India. Though Delhi has five railway stations, the New Delhi Station and the Old Delhi station are the major ones. Some major trains like the Mumbai-Rajdhani-Nizamuddin operates from Nizamuddin railway station which is in south Delhi. The other two stations in Delhi are Sarai Rohilla and Railway Cantonment stations.
Bus : Delhi is well connected with bus services of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and state roadways of the neighbouring states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to all important cities and destinations in North India. National Highways passing through Delhi play a major role in communication and trade, thus making Delhi an important commercial hub. Communication through the national highways support the economy of the capital which further benefits the nation as well.
Red Fort : The Indian name for the Red Fort, Delhi is Lal Quila. The Red Fort, Delhi is one of the most stunning examples of the Mughal architecture. The fort is popularly known as the palace of Emperor Shah Jahan. The Red Fort reminds us of the rich characteristics of the Mughal architecture.
Qutab Minar : Qutub Minar, Delhi is the highest stone tower of India. It represents the Indo-islamic architectural excellence. This historical masterpiece was constructed in 1199 by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak to represent it as the victory tower of the Muslims. The monument took 2 decades to complete. The monument in 72.5 m high and has 379 steps to cover from the bottom till the top. The Qutub Minar, Delhi is made up of red sandstone and buff sandstone.
Jantar Mantar : The Jantar Mantar, Delhi has various abstract structures which are the instruments to locate the movements of the celestial bodies. There are several other places of worship in Delhi like the Bahai Temple, The jama Masjid and the ISKON temple.
Mughal Gardens : Mughal gardens is one of the historical gardens of Delhi and is famous for its magestic< style of design, which is a blend of Moghul and British garden styles. Situated within Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official residence of the President of India, it is known for a wide varieties of roses in the country, some of which are rare and extinct.. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutynes for Lady Harding, the garden occupies an area of 13 acres and is divided into three sections (rectangular, long and circular gardens).
Old Fort : The old fort, one of the most visited historical monuments in Delhi, is said to be occupied since 1000 B.C. Legend has it that this is the very place where Indraprastha, the Pandava capital mentioned in the epic Mahabharata, once stood. The Mughal Emperor, Humayun, built the city of Dinapanah in the 16th century, which took about five years to complete. The Old Fort was initially constructed as a citadel in this city and was completed by Sher Shar Suri an afghan ruler who deposed Humayun.He also added other buildings including the magnificent monque-Qila Kuhna, built in about 1540.
Rajghat : Rajghat is a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi,the father of the nation.located near the banks of river Yamuna, . It is a black marble platform that marks the spot of Gandhi's cremation on 31 January, 1948. At one end of the Samadhi, meaning mausoleums, a flame burns eternally inside a copper urn. A stone footpath flanked by lawns leads to the walled enclosure that houses the memorial. Two museums dedicated to Gandhi are located near by. The memorial has the epitaph He Ram, (literally 'O' Ram', but also translated to 'O God'), the last words uttered by Gandhi.
Akshardham : Akshardham is the latest addition in the list of famous monuments and temples in Delhi. Officially opened to the public since 6 november 2005, the temple figures in the Guiniess Book of World Records as the largest Hindu temple in the world. The breathtaking structure, the detailed lay out of the complex, the garden concept, the rich and ornate carvings and the use of modern technology- all of this combines beautifully to make the temple visit an unforgettable experience.
India Gate : INDIA GATE - "All India War Memorial" India Gate is a tribute to all those brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice for the country. Constructed in the memory of 90,000 soldiers who laid down their lives during world war I, another additional 13,516 names engraved on the arch and foundations form a separate memorial to the British and Indian soldiers killed on the North-West Frontier in the Afghan War of 1919. There is also Amar Jawan Jyoti, a Memorial built in the memory of soldiers who perished in the Indo-Pakistan War of December 1971. It is in the form of a flame that burns day and night under the arch. Also known as the All India War Memorial, the stately India Gate is situated at the east end of the broad Janpath that leads to the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
From medieval period, Delhi has always been the most important trading center in Northern India. Many of its localities, like Sheikh Sarai and Yusuf Sarai, derive their names from the ancient trading towns of Delhi. Today, instead of market towns, there are number of shopping complexes, hubs, whole sale markets scattered all over the Delhi city.
Shopping is always on top of the itinerary chart for any tourist visiting Delhi. There are whole shebang of items of tourist choice, such as jewelry, carpets, handicrafts, precious stones, silks and silver ware - all synonymous with India. Connaught Place, Karol Bagh and Chandni Chowk are the principle shopping areas. Baba Kharak Singh Marg, near Parliament Street is dotted with multiple emporiums, offering the famous handicraft artifacts of different states of India. under one roof at government-controlled prices.
The distinct feature of Delhi market is that every shopping hub has its own ambience and specialty. Haus Khas Village, Connaught Place and Chandni Chowk have distinct features and have their own special attractions, yet each of them showcases an appearance of this historical city. To know the real culture and traditions of city, the best way is to stroll or wander around through its market places, for it is here that contemporary culture is most visible to the visitors.
Delhi's restaurant scene is improving at very fast pace. Numerous restaurants open up every month. These days even fantastic Italian or Thai restaurants have started, much to the relief of the big diplomatic crowd. Besides, Delhi's vendor stalls offer all sorts of food, ranging from deep-fried poppadums to fresh fruits. Of course, there is always a local restaurant where one can try the curries or thalis. Also, it won't cost you an arm and a leg to eat at these "local" restaurants. Furthermore, be aware that generally, food is cooked and served with a profusion of spices, something that might be par for the course for the locals but might be bothersome (that's putting it mildly) to an outsider. The same goes for meat at the vendor stalls: some people can fall sick by simply looking at it, while others can eat to their heart's content. It is quite common for both locals and travellers, to eat at hotels. Unlike in the West, hotels in India/Delhi often feature above-average food; one reason for this might be the need to maintain a reputation among the steady stream of foreign and richer Indians staying there.
In Delhi particularly in the South Delhi ask any body who is not aware about Rajinder da Dhaba near Kamal Cinema, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi. So are the traditional resturant chains like Haldiram's, Nathu's, Bikaneriwala, Evergreen at Green Park, Bengal Sweets at South Ex-I, Mc Donalds, Nirulas, Domino's, Sagar Ratna, Karim's etc.
Particularly in Delhi one can be assured for the quality of foods, they are much better in quality than any part of the country. One must try the chole kulche from some famous out lets. One must not say no to Papri Chat, Tikkis, Raj Kachori, Kulfi Faluda etc. they are really mouth watering.
The capital city of India, Delhi is dotted with several sources of entertainment. The entertainment in New Delhi is such that would make your travel to Delhi an unforgettable one. There are a number of tourist attractions in Delhi such as the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Humayun’s Tomb, India Gate, Hazrat Nizamuddin's Tomb, the Parliament House, Qutab Minar, etc. Experience the various sources of entertainment in New Delhi, while you explore the various tourist attractions in the city.
There are multifarious ways by which you can be entertained in New Delhi. While looking around the city and its various tourist attractions, you can eat out in a restaurant. There are numerous exquisite restaurants in the city, catering delicacies that would certainly satiate your gastronomical desires.