List of tourist attractions in Delhi

Government buildings
  • Sansad Bhavan or the Parliament of India is a circular building designed by the British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker in 1912–1913. Construction began in 1921, and in 1927 the building was opened as the home of the Council of State, the Central Legislative Assembly, and the Chamber of Princes.
  • Rashtrapati Bhavan Built with a mix of European and Mughal/Indian styles, Rashtrapati Bhavan was originally built for the Governor General of India. Inaugurated in 1931 as the Viceregal Lodge, the name was changed in 1959 after India became a republic. Now it is the Presidential Palace of India.
  • The India Gate located astride the Rajpath is a war memorial to 70,000 soldiers of the Indian Army who lost their lives in the First World War.[1]
  • The [[National War Memorial (India)|National War Memorial'

Connaught Place

Connaught Place also known as CP is a business and commercial centre with hotels, shopping complexes, and offices. Tourist attractions include Hanuman Mandir, an ancient temple with a mention in Guinness Book of Record, Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory from the 18th century, Maharaja Agrasen ki Baoli and State Emporiums which houses a collection of ethnic specialities of the states.

Connaught Place is divided into two circles, called the inner and outer Connaught circle. Janpath, an open-air shopping complex, lies on the road connecting the inner and outer circle with Palika Bazaar, a landmark market in the underground maze below Connaught Place.

Historic Sites
Qutb Minar
  • The Qutub Minar is located in Qutb complex, Mehrauli in South Delhi. It was built by Qutub-ud-din Aibak of the Slave Dynasty, founder of the Delhi Sultanate, started construction of the Qutub Minar's first storey around 1192. In 1220, Aibak's successor and son-in-law Iltutmish completed a further three storeys. In 1369, a lightning strike destroyed the top storey. Firoz Shah Tughlaq replaced the damaged storey and added one more. It is a fluted red sandstone tower, which tapers up to a height of 72.5 meters and is covered with intricate carvings and verses from the Qur' an.
  • Lodhi Gardens, earlier called Lady Willingdon Park is a 15th and 16th-century park with numerous monuments scattered among its lawns, flowers, shady trees and ponds. Notable monuments are Tomb of Sikandar Lodi, Bara Gumbad and Shisha Gumbad.
  • When Ghazi Malik founded the Tughlaq Dynasty in 1321, he built the strongest fort in Delhi at Tughlaqabad, completed with great speed within four years of his rule.
  • Salimgarh Fort, which is now part of the Red Fort complex, was constructed on an island of the Yamuna River in 1546 by the Suri Dynasty.
  • The Purana Quila (Old Fort) is a very good example of Mughal military architecture. Built by Pandavas, renovated by Humayun, with later modifications by Sher Shah Suri, the Purana Quila is a monument that is different from the well-planned, carefully decorated, and palatial forts of the later Mughal rulers. It does not have a complex of palaces, administrative, and recreational buildings as is generally found in the forts built later on but rather has plain design and sturdy strong walls that were meant to defend it from attacks.
  • Chandni Chowk, a main marketplace in Delhi, keeps alive the city's living legacy of Shahjahanabad. It is a very famous place in Delhi it is famous for its Jalebi and Parathas. Chandni Chowk remains Asia's largest wholesale market. Created by Shah Jahan, legend has it that Shah Jahan planned Chandni Chowk so that his daughter could shop for all that she wanted.[2] Handicrafts once patronized by the Mughals continue to flourish there. Within the vicinity are the Laal Quila (The Red Fort), Fatehpuri Mosque and Jama Masjid along with Sis Ganj Gurudwara, Gauri Shankar Mandir, Jain Mandir and a lot of small temples, the place is witnesses of genuine cultural harmony.
  • The Safdarjung's Tomb is a garden tomb in a marble mausoleum.
  • Humayun's tomb is the tomb of the Mughal emperor Humayun that was commissioned by Humayun's wife and chief consort, Empress Bega Begum in 1569.[3] It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Red Fort is a historic fort in Delhi where every year on the Independence day of India (15 August), the Prime Minister hoists the Indian "tricolour flag" at the main gate of the fort and delivers a nationally broadcast speech from its ramparts.[4]
  • The Jantar Mantar consists of 13 architectural astronomy instruments, built by Maharaja Jai Singh II.

Places of worship
  • Ancy-
Akshardham Temple, Delhi
  • Akshardham Temple it is the third largest Hindu temple in the world. It was built in 2005. In the sprawling 100-acre (0.40 km2) land rests an intricately carved monument, high-technology exhibitions, a musical fountain, a food court and gardens.
  • The Laxminarayan Temple is built in honour of Lakshmi (Hindu goddess of wealth), and her consort Narayana (Vishnu, Preserver in the Trimurti) by B. R. Birla from 1933 and 1939, when it was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi. The side temples are dedicated to Shiva, Krishna and Buddha. The temple spread over 7.5 acres, is adorned with many shrines, fountains, and a large garden, and also houses Geeta Bhawan for discourses. The temple is one of the major attractions of Delhi and attracts thousands of devotees on the Hindu festivals of Janmashtami and Holi.
Cathedral Church of Redemption
  • Cathedral Church of Redemption, also known as Viceroy Church. Located east of Parliament House and Rashtrapati Bhavan, which was used by then viceroy of British India. The Church derives its name from Palladio's Church of Il Redentore in Venice as well as Lutyens St Jude's Church, Hampstead Garden Suburb. The Cathedral was built in eight years and was completed in the year 1935. Cathedral was designed by Henry Medd. Cathedral was built in such a manner that even in the extreme summers it remains cool and serene. The Cathedral Church of the Redemption serves locals and foreigners. It is visited by tens of thousands of visitors each day.
  • Gurudwara Bangla Sahib:
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

One of the most prominent and largest Gurdwaras in Delhi, Gurdwara Bangla Sahib is the most visited one in Delhi. Millions visit this Gurdwara from all over the world and of all religions to offer their prayers at this elegant yet historical Gurdwara in Delhi. The Gurdwara marks the place where the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Harkrishan lived his last breath serving the helpless population ravaged by smallpox and cholera epidemic.[5] The Gurdwara offers free food (langar) to all visitors and devotees throughout the day.

  • ISKCON Temple also popularly called as the Hare Krishna temple is a famous Vaishnava temple with deities of Sri Radha Krishna. Located in South Delhi, the construction of the temple began in 1991 and was completed in 1998 under the planning of internationally renowned architect Achyut Kanvinde.
    Panoramic view of ISKCON Temple

The temple primarily built with red stone is recognized for its unique architecture which blends the traditional Vedic with contemporary style. The complex also houses a one of a kind in the country Robtic show which explains the message of Bhagavad Gita. Another highlight of the temple is beautifully drawn paintings of the Lord done by the foreign devotees. Apart from these, the temple acts as a sturdy base for those wish to study the Vedic scriptures, Yoga and provides a facility for practising Bhakti Yoga as given by Srila Prabhupada. The temple also serves the devotees pure vegetarian food at its 'Govindas' restaurant. The temple is easy to approach as it well connected by buses and Metro trains. .[6]

Jama Masjid
  • The Masjid-i-Jahan Numa, commonly known as Jama Masjid, is the principal mosque of Old Delhi. Commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and completed in the year 1656, it is one of the largest and best-known mosques in India. It can accommodate around 25,000 people at once.
  • The Lotus Temple is an exceptionally beautiful structure, built as a Baháʼí House of Worship, situated in South Delhi and looks like a white lotus. It was built by the community of the Baháʼí Faith.
Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir
  • Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir is the oldest and best-known Jain temple in Delhi originally built-in 1658. This temple is located just opposite the massive Red Fort at the intersection of Netaji Subhas Marg and Chandni Chowk. The Temple is an impressive structure made up red stone giving the name Lal Mandir.
  • Chhatarpur Temple is located at Chhatarpur, is the second-largest temple complex in India, and is dedicated to Goddess, Katyayani
  • St. James' Church is one of the oldest churches in Delhi.
  • Kalka Ji Mandir is a famous Hindu mandir or temple, This temple is situated on Kalkaji Mandir (Delhi Metro station) in the southern part of Delhi, India, in Kalkaji, a locality that has derived its name from this famous temple and is located opposite Nehru Place business centre.
  • Nizamuddin Dargah is the Mausoleum of the famous Sufi Saint Nizamuddin Auliya, Delhi.
  • Matka Peer Dargah is the Mausoleum of the famous Sufi Saint Sheikh Abu Bakar Tusi, Delhi.

Museums

Other attractions
  • On the banks of the Yamuna River, which flows past Delhi, there is Raj Ghat, the final resting place of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation. It has become an essential point of call for all visiting dignitaries. Two museums dedicated to Gandhi are situated nearby.
  • Delhi is a food lovers paradise, from street food to the Paranthe Wali Gali of old Delhi selling everything from paranthas to nihari, to the modern-day but local cafes that have sprung up, to the Mughlai and North Indian restaurants- Delhi food is its heart and soul. And it requires a huge appetite to sample it all.[8]
  • Lying close to the Raj Ghat, the Shanti Van (literally, the forest of peace) is the place where India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was cremated. The area is now a beautiful park adorned by trees planted by visiting dignitaries and heads of state.
  • Ahinsa Sthal is a Jain temple located in Mehrauli. This temple is famous for its magnificent 13  ft. 6-inch statue of Mahavira carved from single granite rock.

Parks and Gardens
  • Garden of Five Senses is a park with numerous modern art and sculpture pieces spread over 20 acres near Saket in south Delhi.
  • Aastha Kunj
  • The National Zoological Park is a 176-acre (71 ha) zoo near the Old Fort in Delhi, India. The zoo is home to about 1350 animals representing almost 130 species of animals and birds from around the world.

See also

Outline of Tourism in India

References
  1. Metcalf, Thomas R. (31 March 2014). "WW I: India's Great War Dulce Et Decorum Est India Gate, our WW-I cenotaph, now stands for an abstracted ideal". Outlook (31 March 2014). Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  2. Blake, Stephen P. (1998). "Contributors to the urban Landscape: Women builders in Safavid Isfahan and Mughal Shahjahanabad". Women in the medieval Islamic world: Power, patronage, and piety. New York: St. Martin’s Press. p. 420. ISBN 0312224516.
  3. Schimmel, Annemarie; Burzine K. Waghmar (2004). The Empire of the Great Mughals: History, Art and Culture. Reaktion Books. pp. 149.
  4. "Singh becomes third PM to hoist flag at Red Fort for 9th time". Business Standard. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  5. "Bangla Sahib Gurdwara Sikh shrine dedicated to Harkrishan Sahib the eighth Sikh Guru". Banglasahib.org. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  6. "Delhi Tour Packages". Tourism-delhi.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  7. "Dr. Zakir Hussain Museum, Delhi". Kahajaun. 2 January 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  8. Delhi, Explore 7 places in Delhi

Further reading
  • Dehlvi, Sadia (2012). The Sufi Courtyard: Dargahs of Delhi. Harper Collins. ISBN 978-9350290958.
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