Delhi, one of India's fastest growing cities, has spread far beyond the "seven cities" created between the 13th and
the 17th centuries. It has sprawled over the west bank of the Yamuna and now
straddles the river. Remnants of the past survive cheek -by-jowl with
skyscrapers, residential colonies and bustling commercial complexes. Delhi has
some of the finest museums in the country. Its boutiques and shopping arcades
offer access to a wealth of traditional and contemporary crafts from all over
the country. It has speciality restaurants to please the gourmet, open parks and
gardens ablaze with flowers, and in the winter months particularly, a variety of
cultural events. Its many-layered existence is tantalizing and can entice the
curious
traveller into a fascinating journey of discovery. New Delhi was built in 1911.
It was tobe "conceived with spaciousness and care so that the new creation would
be in every way worthy of this ancient and beautiful city". Lutyens and Baker
planned a city with wide, tree-lined avenues. The 340-roomed Viceregal Lodge,
now the Rashtrapati Bhawan, was raised on Raisina Hill. Nearby are India Gate, a
World War I memorial. Parliament House, the prestigious National
Museum and the National Gallery of Modern Art. On Republic Day, Rajpath
witnesses a display of pageantry.
Old Delhi
In the Old Delhi, you can visit Feroz Shah Kotla, Shahjahanabad's Red 
Fort,
Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk and the Raj Ghat. Built by Shah Jahan, Chandni Chowk
is the hub of social, cultural and religious life of the Capital.
Nightlife
Apart from historic forts and temples, Delhi has a very interesting nightlife,
which offers fun and entertainment such as dance clubs, bars, parties,
festivals, shows, restaurants, live music bands and plenty of other activities.
Delhi has witnessed tumultuous times, different rulers and dynasties but
surprisingly its charm and magnificence is still protected.
Some Major Attractions in Delhi
Rajghat
4 km away from Janpath to the N-East of Feroz Shah near Delhi Gate at Rin g Rd
on the bank of Jamuna situated Rajghat. Jawaharlal Nehru Rd also ends opp.
Rajghat. On 31st Jan. 1948, Mahatma Gandhi's last rites was performed here. The
memorial stone of Gandhi is square in shape made of black stone. His last ward-
'Hey Ram' is inscribed on it. Ordinary people, VIPs, foreign tourists all come
here at Rajghat to pay their homage to him.
Red Fort
Another marvel of architecture is the Red Fort and it could perhaps be singled
out as yet another monument, which should not escape the tourist's eyes. Known
as lal qila (lal means red and qila means fort). It is laid out along the river
Yamuna as an irregular octagon. It is surrounded by a wall of about 2.4
Kilometers in circumference and is built of Red Sandstone. The Mughal King Shah
Jahan transferred his capital from Agra to Delhi and the fort was completed in
1648, nine years after the king shifted to this city. The fort has two main
entrances, the Delhi Gate and the Lahori Gate, which faces the famed Chandni
Chowk market.
Lotus Temple
Is a very recent architectural marvel of the Bahai faith and is visible from
several spots in south Delhi. Located in Kalkaji in the south of Delhi, it is
lotus shaped and has rightly been given the name. It is made of marble, cement,
dolomite and sand. It is open to all faiths and is an ideal place for meditation
and obtaining peace and tranquility.
Akshardham Temple 
The temple is built on the lines of the Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar
(Gujarat). The temple complex promises a unique view of the Hindu religion and
Indian culture. Lying in the wide-open 100 acres of land, amidst luxuriant lawns
adorned with water fountains and carved pavilions, the temple complex stand
imposingly on the banks of the serene River Yamuna. A huge amount of 2 billions
have been spent to raise this grand place of worship. The main monument is about
141-ft high and houses a striking statue of Lord Swaminarayan.
Qutub Minar
The tallest stone tower of India - Qutub Minar is one of the most visited spots
in Delhi. B uilt in 1199 by Qutub-ud-Din, the Qutub Minar is the first Islamic
structure built in India. The construction of this historical tower was
commenced by Qutub-ud-Din-Aibak and completed by his successor and son in law
Iltutmish. Qutub Minar is one of the finest Islamic structures ever raised in
India
India Gate 
This massive archway was designed and built by Lutyens, and originally known as
All India War Memorial in memory of the 90,000 Indian soldiers who died in the
campaigns of World War I, the North-West Frontier operations of the same time
and the 1919 Afghan Fiasco. The names of all the soldiers are inscribed on the
walls of the gate.