Tourism and Attractions of Delhi

Delhi is not only the political and trading hub of India, but also one of the prominent tourist hubs of the nation. The historical city is dotted with many historic architectures, which have been attracting the tourists in hordes. Of course, the wonderful shopping, eating and entertainment options in Delhi complement its timeless heritage and facilitate to make your trip to this 1500-year-old city a memorable experience. Delhi has a number of tourist attractions which include Qutab Minar, Red Fort, Jamma Masjid, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament House, Old Fort, Humayun's Tomb, Jantar Mantar, Lodhi Gardens, India Gate, Lotus Temple, Akshardham Temple, among others. But if we have to rank among them, Qutab Minar, Red Fort and India Gate come to the top of our minds. They are reflections of the architectural styles of three distinct eras, and they represent the tourism of Delhi at its best.

Qutub Minar is one of the tallest structures of the Delhi city and reflects the grandeur of the Sultanate era. It was started by Qutab-ud-din Aibek- the founder of the Slave dynasty- and completed by his successor Illtutmish. This five-storied thirteenth century structure of 72.5 m height doesn't fail to fascinate the tourists of the twenty-first century. From the top of this tower one can get a panoramic view of the Delhi city.

Red Fort was built by the mighty Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1648. The construction of this mighty fort started in 1639, and it took nine years for Shahjahan's vision to take the shape of reality. Also known as Lal Qila, some of the important structures within this grand complex are Diwan-i-Am, Diwan-i-Khas, and the Moti Masjid. Red Fort is the symbol of the glory and grandeur of the Moghul empire. Prime Minister addresses the nation from the Red Fort, on the morning of the Independence Day.

India Gate is a 42-metre high majestic war memorial, constructed in memory of the 90,000 soldiers of the Indian Army who fought and died for the Britishers, during the First World War. There are the names of all the 90,000 soldiers written on the walls of the gate. The place is surrounded by lawns and gardens with many stalls of ice creams and spicy chaats. The night view of India Gate looks very wonderful. You can enjoy the evening here along with your children and families.

Between the time frame of these three great architectural masterpieces of the Sultanate, Moghul and colonial era respectively, a number of great monuments were constructed in Delhi, many of which have been mentioned above. LotusTemple and the Akshardham Temple are the modern masterpieces of this ancient city, which attracts tourists from all over the globe.

Some of the important places to shop in Delhi include the Janpath market and Delhi Haat. The former is located on the busy Janpath road, near Connaught Place in central Delhi, where one can get the best of casual western wear and decorative items at extremely reasonable prices through some hard bargaining, while the latter is a treasure-trove of arts and handicrafts from different states of India. At Delhi Haat, one can also taste some of the delicious cuisines from far flung corners of India.