New Delhi

General Information

New Delhi is the national capital of India and should not be confused with the greater metropolis of Delhi. The foundation of New Delhi was laid down on December 12, 1911 during Delhi Durbar held by King George V and it was formally declared as the new capital of India (older one being Calcutta) on February 13, 1911 by Lord Irwin. The city has wide, tree-lined boulevards and is host to 145 foreign missions. In the year 2010, The World Cities Study Group at Lougbhborough University rated New Delhi as an "Alpha Word City". Two British architects, Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker designed the main monuments of New Delhi city. Delhi is considered to be a 5000 years old city and was earlier known as Indraprastha.

Tourist attractions in New Delhi

India Gate : It is a huge archway which is a memorial built in the memory of 90,000 Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives during World War I and Third Indo-Afghan War. There are beautiful water channels at India Gate where you can enjoy pleasure boat rides. It is a popular picnic and weekend hangout destination for the tourists.

Jantar Mantar : It is an observatory with huge astronomical instruments that was built in the year 1724 by Sawai Raja Jai Singh II. The 70 feet high, 114 feet long and 10 feet thick Samrat Yantra is a huge sundial and the most prominent instrument of the observatory.

Qutab Minar : The 72.5 m high Qutab Minar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is a 1600 year old Iron Pillar in Qutab Minar complex which was erected by Emperor Chandragupta II which is still rust free till date.

Lotus Temple : This Bahai House of Worship is shaped like a blooming white lotus and has 27 petals. There is a milky blue pond around it and lush green parks which are well landscaped.

Humayun's Tomb : This UNESCO World Heritage Site is situated near Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station in South Delhi. It was built in 1562 by Humayun's wife in the memory of his bereaved husband. It is considered to be the prototype of Agra's famed Taj Mahal and is characterized by its Charbagh Garden and eponymous tomb of Humayun in the center.

Other major attractions of New Delhi and Delhi are:

• National Museum
• President House
• Akshardham Mandir
• Red Fort
• Parliament House
• Chandni Chowk
• Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
• The Sacred Heart Cathedral
• Vishwa Shanti Stupa
• Garden of Five Senses
• Delhi Haat
• Connaught Place
• Jama Masjid
• Laxmi Narayan (Birla) Mandir

Getting There

By Air : Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport is considered to be one of the best airports in the world and boasts of its new and swanky Terminal 3 from where you can get flights for almost any destination in the world. Palam Airport is a domestic airport which is used by low cost airlines like IndiGo and GoAir.

By Train : There are34 main railway stations in Delhi viz. New Delhi Railway Station, Old Delhi Railway Station and Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station from where superfast Shatbadi and Rajdhani trains run for all major destinations in India. Luxury Train Place on Wheels runs for Rajasthan and Agra from Delhi Cantt. Railway Station. One more railway station was opened at Anand Vihar in 2009 which is gradually taking over all East India bound services.

Delhi Metro : is a new age urban system of mass transit which runs Red Line, Yellow Line, Blue Line, Green Line, Violet Line and Airport Express Line services that connect all major city destinations. It is an efficient, fast and convenient mode of public transport in the city.

By Road : Maharana Pratap Inter State Bus Terminus at Kashmiri Gate and Veer Hakeekat Rai Interstate Bus Terminus at Sarai Kale Khan are the main bust terminuses of Delhi from where air conditioned buses run for other neighboring city destinations. Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) also runs an efficient CNG bus service which is the largest of its kind in the world. Hop On, Hop Off (HoHo) is a tourist bus service run by Delhi Tourism through which you can see all major attractions of the city during a day long trip.