India
is an exotic subcontinent with almost everything to offer to its tourists –
right from lofty mountains, mysterious jungles to tranquil seas and colorful
cities. Being a history enthusiast, I decided to opt for the capital city of
India, which is popular for its wide array of historical monuments as well as
interesting heritage. New Delhi is a beautiful combination of the modern and
the ancient and I was amazed at every step by the kind of diversity it offers.
The one day I spent in New Delhi was memorable in every sense of the word.
A look at the lofty Qutab Minar
I
decided to start off with this well known historical landmark in South Delhi. Touted
as the tallest brick minaret in the world, the Qutab Minar has five stories,
each of which is covered with beautiful carvings of the scriptures from the
Koran. There are various other monuments in the same site – some intact and
some degenerated. I also saw the famous Ashokan pillar here – the wrought iron
marvel. There are many fascinating stories revolving around this minaret and
the other monuments around which I heard from the guides walking around with
various groups of tourists here.
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| Qutab Minar |
A visit to the serene Lotus
Temple
Also located in South Delhi, I ventured into
the Lotus Temple, the more popular name for the original Bahai Temple. I looked
in amazement at the beautiful structure, shaped in the form of a lotus. This
temple proclaims a faith whereby all the religions and people are treated as
one. I went in and experienced the feeling of serenity that seemed to seep into
every brick and mortar of this temple. After coming out of the temple, I looked
around at the well maintained gardens and pond surrounding the temple and
couldn’t help but admire the beauty of it all.
The historical Red Fort
Visiting
the Red Fort in Old Delhi was a must for me – particularly for the rich
historical background of this place. This beautiful Mughal monument, built
entirely of red sandstone bricks, was originally built to keep out invaders. I
walked into the sprawling compound of the Red Fort and took in the view of the
numerous historical buildings, museums here. There were also numerous souvenir
shops where tourists thronged in order to buy souvenirs for their journey back
home. I indulged myself too.
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| Red Fort |
The colorful Chandni Chowk
Situated
right opposite the Red Fort is the hustling bustling market of Chandni Chowk.
One of the greatest attractions of Old Delhi, this is the place where I
experienced the true soul of this city. I walked through the narrow lanes of
this bazaar and took in the sights and sounds of the authentic Delhi. This
place is also the eater’s paradise. I ventured through the famous Paraanthewali
Gully and dug into scrumptious fare of stuffed flatbreads. I also tried the
other various arrays of street food and kebabs. Taking in the sights of colorful
clothes, jewelry on display and sniffing the aroma of various gastronomic
delights, I ventured out of Chandni Chowk.
The peace at the Garden of Five
Senses
After
the loudness of Chandni Chowk, I decided I needed some peace and opted for the
Garden of Five Senses, popular for providing welcome escape from the city’s
loud and brash ways. This garden is a comparatively new addition to the city.
As I walked through the beautiful spiral pathways, crossing waterfalls,
landscaped gardens and rock sculptures, I was filled with a sense of serenity.
The air here vibrated with the soothing sounds of wind chimes and ceramic
bells. I also came across the amphitheater where I sat through a live music
performance. I was thoroughly refreshed and ready for my last visit of the day
– the iconic India Gate.
The memorable India Gate
This
place is basically a war memorial for Indian soldiers and a regal one at that.
I could see this was a popular picnic spots with families thronging this place
in hoards. Slurping on an ice cream from the street food shops, I took in the
view of the beautiful lawns, the people and the glow of the floodlights over
this monument. This was a fitting end to my highly enjoyable tour of the city.
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About
The Author:
Bob loves to travel and blog. He always plans his trips to be
fun and exciting. Like everyone else, he also likes to save money while booking the flights, find hotels, and try to find
fun activities wherever he goes.
Visit him at http://travelingtripster.com/ where he jots down some of his stories, to know more about him and read in-depth travel articles.
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