Purana Quila: In 1538, the Mughal emperor Humayun laid the foundations of his city named Dinpanah, or the Refuge of the Faithful. The inner citadel of this city is today called Purana Qila or the Old Fort. Old Fort Said to be built on the site of Indraprastha, the capital of Pandavas mentioned in Mahabharata, the great Indian epic, Old Fort or Purana Qila has been the seat for administration for many emperors. Now in ruins, this citadel has had the glory of being the seat of legendary ruler Prithviraj Chauhan. Sher Shah Suri built it after he demolished the Humayun’s city, Dinpanah. There are bastions on the corners and the western wall of the fort. The 2-km long ramparts boast of three double-storeyed main gates sporting ‘chhatris’ on top. They can be found in the north, south and west. The northern one is called the ‘Talaqi-Darwaza’ (the Forbidden Gate) and has a carving of marble lions engaged in combat with a man in its front. One can still see the remnants of the colored tiles used to ornament its exteriors originally.
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Indraprashtha: According to the Mahabharata, Indraprashtha was the most flourishing city, capital of the Pandavas, with gigantic forts and magnificent palaces. Excavations at the Purana Quila, identified as the site of Indraprashtha, has yielded proof of the site having remained under continuous occupation up to 1000 BC. The Mauryas, Sungas, Kushans, Guptas, Rajputs, and Mughals held it under their sway, however no evidence has yet been unearthed. With the decline of Buddhism, Delhi fell into oblivion and for centuries remained an inconsequential adjunct of great contemporary cities like Mathura and Kannauj.
Water Sports: A multi-sports and leisure complex has been created by Delhi Tourism at Bhalswa Lake, situated at Delhi’s north-eastern edge. This offers facilities for boating in pedal boats, kayaks, canoes and speed boats. Keen anglers can also indulge in fishing. Hovercraft and water scooters are also available here. Pedal boats at reasonable rates are available at the Hari Nagar, India Gate, and Purana Quila and Naini lakes. Special training programmes in kayaking and canoeing are organized at all the lakes.
The Delhi Flower Show: One of the major national festivals, Republic day is celebrated on 26th January and is a day of great importance and significance. It was on this day in the year 1950 that the constitution came into force and India became a sovereign and a Republican state. 26th January is considered a national holiday and is celebrated as the Republic of India ever since. Republic Day Parade is the main attraction of this event. Indian Holiday offers to give you online information on Republic Day Parade in Delhi, India.
India’s greatest flower exhibition, Delhi flower show is
Delhi Tourism has provided paddleboats on various bodies of water in the heart of the city. These include the lakes near India Gate, Purana Qila- Prasad Nagar Lake and Naini Lake in Model Town. A variety of fiberglass boats has been acquired by the Corporation and can be hired at reasonable rates.
National Zoological Park: National Zoological Park or the zoo of Delhi is one of the finest zoos in Asia and is situated close to Purana Qila or Old Fort. It sprawls across 214 acres and was established in 1959. It aims to provide natural habitat to more than 2,000 animals and birds species that have been brought here from all the continents such as Africa, America, Australia and even Asia. An idyllic picnic spot in winters, the serenity of the greens here is pleasing and offers a delightful respite from the humdrum of the city. The winding pathways lead to