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Delhi is one of the greatest cities of the world. This ancient land has a
tradition that recedes into the legendary age of the Mahabharata Epic
almost 3,000 years back. Here the culture rose to high point long before
modern civilisation made its way. Delhi strategically lies between the
Aravalli Hills and the River Jumna. Because of a huge migration rate,
Delhi has a cosmopolitan setting. The heritage of this city is really
huge that ranges from grand Mughal forts to the towering temples
portraying exquisite architecture. The grand colonial buildings made in
European style can be found dotting the Central Delhi territory.
Monuments of Delhi are known for their grand architecture and
magnificent carvings. It was after the augmentation of the Delhi
Sultanate, this city developed as a major cultural, commercial and
political hub of India. There are several ancient and medieval monuments
as well as archaeological sites in Delhi.
Delhi has a number of famous forts, mosques and other historical monuments, which clearly depict the rich history of India. Delhi houses the majestic Red Fort, Humayun`s Tomb and Qutub Minar that have been declared as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Purana Quila
is one of the ancient monuments of Delhi. It is believed that the
`Pandavas` had built their capital, Indraprastha at this place of the
old fort. This fort, now in ruins, was the seat for administration for
many emperors. It is also said that the legendary Prithviraj Chauhan
ruled from here. It is also described as a fine instance of medieval
military architecture. Another most popular site of Delhi is Qutub Minar.
It was built by a Muslim king, Qutub-ud-din in 1199 AD. A part of this
highest tower monument of the country was completed by Iltutmish,
another Muslim king. It is located in the southern part of Delhi. Its
height is around 72.5 meter and there is a mosque at its base. India Gate
is one of the most impressive structures of India. It was designed by
Lutyens. This 42 meter high structure is a war memorial in honour of the
soldiers who died during the Second World War. The impressive structure
from where stretch massive lush green lawns have an everlasting flame
(Amar Jawan Jyoti) to honour the memory of the unknown soldiers. Lotus
Temple is another magnificent site of Delhi. Completed in the year 1986,
this temple is set between pools and gardens and is shaped like a
lotus.
Rashtrapati Bhavan
was inaugurated in the year 1931. It was constructed with a blend of
the Indian and Western styles. The Rashtrapati Bhavan was designed by
Edwin Lutyens and was originally called the Viceroy`s House. Humayun`s
Tomb, one of the most significant heritages of Delhi, was built by the
wife of Humayun, Haji Begum. This red sand stone structure customized a
standard for the later monuments of the Mughal era like the Taj Mahal.
The structure is one of the best examples of Mughal Architecture. It was
designed by a Persian architect named Mirak Mirza Ghiyas. The
construction of this structure was begun in the year 1562 and completed
in 1565. Safdarjung`s Tomb was constructed by the Nawab of Avadh. He
built this for his father. The structure is one of the finest examples
of architecture of its time and tells a saga of the last leftovers of a
dying empire. Jama Masjid
is also known as `Masjid-i-Jahan Numa`. It is one of the principal and
largest mosques of Old Delhi and was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah
Jahan. Completed in the year 1658 this Mosque has three gateways, four
viewpoint towers and two 40 m high minarets.
Jantar Mantar
is one of the popular monuments of Delhi. Set within the garden of
stately palms, it was built by Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur in the year
1724. This unique structure lies in the heart of the city. Red Fort
is popularly known as Lal Quila. It is one of the major attractions of
Delhi. In the year 1639, the decision of constructing this fort was
taken when Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan planned to shift his capital from
Agra to Delhi. It stands strong on the banks of the river Yamuna as an
irregular octagon. The fort has two main entrances, the Delhi Gate and
the Lahori Gate, which faces the famed Chandni Chowk market. Moreover,
`Salimgarh Fort` (built in the year 1546), `Nizamuddin Dargah`, `St.
James` Church` (one of the church of the country), `National Museum`
(India`s largest museum), `Gurdwara Bangla Sahib`, `Akshardham Temple`,
etc. are some of the other significant monuments of Delhi.
These popular monuments of Delhi hold special architectural and
historical significance and they also make Delhi one of the most desired
tourist destinations of the world.
