New Delhi travel guide

Published: 29/10/2012

New Delhi, the capital of India, is comparatively a new city, only a 100 years old, founded by the British Raj in December 1911. It is planned by British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker.

New Delhi represents contemporary India with a population of approximately 23 million people. It is the 7th biggest urban agglomeration in the world. New Delhi known as Lutyen’s Delhi, is a beautiful city with wide roads, tree lined boulevards, large green spaces (parks & gardens) magnificent buildings and spacious bungalows in the Indo-Western styles, designed by Edwin Lutyens, housing the Parliament and the Presidential Palace amidst already existing Mughal monuments like the Lodi Gardens, the Safdarjung Tomb and the Ajmeri Gate.

Hotels in New Delhi - Popular Delhi hotels along with photos, rates and reviews.

This new capital of the British was laid out to the south of an already existing city of the same name. The old city was built by the Mughals and is a store house of historic tourist attractions like the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb (all three being UNESCO world Heritage Site) and many many more.

For a visitor, Delhi, both old and new, offers a picture of three millennia of civilizations through its monuments, buildings, temples, mosques, gurudwars, bazaars, lifestyles and the crowd!

New Delhi's History

Located between the Aravalli Ranges on one side and the Yamuna River on another, Delhi is said to be one of the oldest existing cities in the world. Known as Indraprastha in the mythological epic Mahabharata, Delhi is said to have been built and destroyed 11 times. Recorded history has shown countinous habitation from the time of the Mauryan Empire (3rd Century BC). Excavations reveal seven major cities in Delhi starting from Anangpal of the Tomar Dynasty who founded Lal Kot in 736AD, Quila Rai Pilthora of the Chauhans, Mehrauli of Slave dynasty Siri, Tughlakabad and Firozabad of the Tughlaks, Shergad and Shahjanbad of the Mughals and finally Lutyen’s New Delhi. Delhi has been a witness to every event from dynasties after dynasties of coronations, political games, willy betrayals, shocking debaucheries, murders, defeats, victories, fame and glory. Each one of these passing events have left behind evidences- some faded, a few quite prominent and many in ruins in the form of monuments, places of worship, forts and palaces, pillars and memorials and museums and galleries.

Today Delhi is a depository of India’s heritage and culture with art galleries and exhibitions, theatre and drama, craft expose and folk artists, film festivals and religious festivals. An onward moving happening city, Delhi has become one of the much favoured destinations of India.

Popular Tourist Attractions of New Delhi

1. Red Fort - A major attraction of Delhi, the Red Fort or Lal Kila is an edifice in red sand stone reflecting the opulence and power of the Mughal Empire. (More about Red Fort)
2. Humayun’s Tomb - Strikingly similar to the famous Taj Mahal, but in red sand stone, is the Humayun’s Tomb built by a grieving wife for her beloved, the second emperor of the Mughal Dynasty. (More about Humayun’s Tomb
3. Qutub Minar and the surrounding complex, the remnants of the Slave Dynasty, is a 72.5m minaret , an awe-inspiring monument. (More about Qutab Minar
4. Rajghat- The Samadhi of the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, on the banks of River Yamuna.
5. Chandni Chowk - Built by Emperor Shahjahan for his daughter Chandni Chowk is a three century old shopping area with a typically Indian flavour.

Getting there and around

To reach Delhi one can opt. for the air, road or rail services. Being the capital it is well connected with all the places in India as well as all the countries in the world. If you are planning to reach New Delhi by train, you have the option to choose from many hotels in New Delhi near railway station. There are also several hotels near New Delhi's airport