Azad Hind Gram Tourist Complex: Azad Hind Gram Tourist Complex at Tikri Kalan is a project developed by Delhi Tourism to honour Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and to create quality leisure space and wayside amenities for the citizens. Located within two km of the Delhi Haryana border on NH-10, elaborate mosaic domes surround a museum and a memorial and are the focus of the complex which offers the facilities of extensive plazas, an amphitheatre, tourist information centre, souvenir and garden shop, food kiosks, a restaurant and convention facilities

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.

Vigyan Bhawan: Vigyan Bhavan is India’s premiere Conference Centre. Built in 1956, it offers state of the art facilities in a magnificent ambience. It has been the venue for many historically significant conferences and summits attended by distinguished world leaders and dignitaries. The Plenary Hall provides a unique experience to both, the speaker and the audience. This would be the venue for the seminal talks scheduled for day one of the conference.

Vigyan Bhavan is strategically located in one of the most beautiful locations in Delhi near the President’s Estate and India Gate. Overlooking lush green lawns, it is in the walking vicinity of Gallery of Modern Art, the National Museum and other sites of tourist interest.

The area is incredibly beautiful with wide avenues characteristic of Lutyen’s Delhi and the sprawling Nehru Park just opposite. This Park stretching over 75 acres of land has beautifully manicured lawns landscaped with rocks, monkey bridge, jogging and walking tracks, fountains, water channel, a swimming pool, a baoli and Nehru’s quotes inscribed on rocks. Classical Music Concert of Morning Ragas is organized once in a month in this park. An Artists Corner known as “Srijan” has been established where senior artists as well as budding artists create works of art work and display these in an open art gallery.

Chandni Chowk: The main street of Old Delhi is the colourful shopping bazaar known as Chandni Chowk. At the East end of the Chandni Chowk and North of the Jama Masjid, there is a Jain Temple with a small marble courtyard surrounded by a colonnade. The West end of Chandni Chowk is marked by the Fatehpuri Mosque which was erected in 1650 by one of Shah Jahan’s wives. It is the nerve centre of old Delhi, and is really a huge marketplace. Open since 1654, it begins in front of Red Fort and is one of the largest wholesale centres in Asia. Clusters of shops sell everything from electronic products, watches and clocks to traditional Indian goods and tourist trinkets. Be warned that an afternoon in Chandni Chowk is not for the faint of heart. Come prepared to be jostled around by all manner of shoppers, shopkeepers, panhandlers, rickshaw-riders and the rest of the teeming mass of bodies that crowd the area’s lanes and stores. Still, it is a vibrant part of Delhi where you can look up and sense, if only for a moment, how life must have been in Mughal times. The homes open into the narrow alleys, and you can spot old courtyards, stone doorways and filigreed windows. This is Delhi at its most chaotic – an assault on all your senses. Plan at least half a day to stroll through this perennially packed area.

Chanakyapuri (Diplomatic Enclave): This area southwest of New Delhi is where you’ll find the foreign embassies. Many are true showplaces, so take time to drive past and admire the architecture and the grounds. Most can be seen from the street. Head down Kautilya Marg and Shanti Path, past the British High Commission and U.S. Embassy, for notable examples. Nearby is the elegant Santushti Shopping Centre.

King George V Memorial: Facing the elephantine arch of India Gate is a classical version of the chhattri or cenotaph so dear to Hindu kings and the sure symbol of regality in India. Lutyens perhaps designed it as a token gesture to keep the King who wanted oriental features happy. But chances are he would still have preferred to describe it as an open cupola or a baldachino. It is made of cream and pink stone, it is set in a rectangular pool with fountains and once contained an excellent marble statue of King George V by C.S. Jagger. However thanks to Indian politicians, who frequently break out into a rash of wanting to undo history or more aptly its reminders, the statue was dispatched to Delhi’s junkyard of history – the Coronation Memorial Park beyond Kingsway camp.

The canopy of course stands unmolested and is decorated with allegorical sculpture and symbols of kingship. The nautilus shells symbolize Britain’s maritime prowess – Britain was, after all, at one time the undisputed queen of the seas. The canopy is a pleasant counterpoint to the bulk of India Gate and you can frequently spot pigeons perching on it.

Alai Minar: The ambitious rubble Alai Minar started by Alauddin Khalji but the sultan lived to see it only the height of 24.5m. It was built to match the enlarged Quwwat-ul-Islam masjid (which was also Khalji’s work). Today it is used more like an illustration, by parents, of what-happens-when-you-get-over-ambitious; viz the plans remain unfinished. Ambition has never really been encouraged as a virtue in India.

Alai Darwaza: The Alai Darwaza is a perfect specimen of architecture belonging to the period of the Delhi Sultanate. It was built in 1311, by Ala-ud-din-Khilji, of the Khilji dynasty (which ruled the Delhi Sultanate from AD 1290 to AD 1316). The Alai Darwaza was a part of Ala-ud-din-Khilji’s extension of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque. It was one of the four grand gateways; the other three could not be completed because of the death of Ala-ud-din in AD 1316.

The main structure of the Alai Darwaza consists of a single hall 34½ feet on the inside and 56½ feet on the outside. The domed ceiling rises to a height of 47 feet. The three doorways on the east, west, and south are lofty pointed arches, in the shape of a horseshoe, which rise above the flanking side bays. The entrance to the north is of an indigenous character, as its arch is semi-circular in shape. The overall outlook and proportions of the Alai Darwaza is pleasing to the eye. The recessed corner arches of the attractive horseshoe forms, supporting a simple spherical dome on top of the square chamber, are an especially happy solution to the perpetual problem of supporting a good dome. It would be well worth noting that the earlier attempts at raising the dome, particularly the tomb of Iltutmish, had been unsuccessful. The dome of the Alai Darwaza, in this respect, is a notable achievement.

The dome was constructed on highly scientific principles. A series of squinches of pointed shape, one recessed within the other, in the upper section of each angle of the hall, changes the square into an octagon, and then the octagon into the circle of the dome with an interweaving sixteen-sided shaft formed by a bracket at each end of the octagon. With use of complex geometric calculations, the load of the dome has been gracefully conveyed to the ground-from the circle to the sixteen-sided shaft, from the latter to the octagon and then onto the four walls of the square chamber.

The plinth on each side is beautifully carved with floral and geometric patterns in both white marble and red sandstone, creating a superb polychrome effect. Perforated latticework window screens (jali) are set in the recessed windows on both sides of the entrances. These marble screens set off the monotony of the vertical lines of calligraphic ornamentation. The most charming aspect of surface decoration is the lace-like interweaving of floral tendrils, repeated with a flawless symmetry on all the three entrances, elegantly designed and perfectly built.

The northern entrance is semi-circular with a shallow trefoil in its outline. The façade is elaborately ornamented in sensuous carving and patterns, characteristic of the pre-Turkish days (the first Muslim rulers of India came from Turkey). The Alai Darwaza also shows the influence of Seljuk art. The Seljuks had started fleeing Western Asia after Mongol invasions in the 12th century AD and had reached Delhi for protection. The ’spear-headed’ embellishment on the three entrances is of particular importance in this regard. In addition, the surface ornamentation has been done with an eye for lavishness and detail.

Though the Alai Darwaza stands isolated at the southern end of the Qutab complex, with the Qutab Minar behind it, it appears a fitting part of the grand structures of the Delhi Sultanate.

Rajghat: Rajghat is 4 km away from Janpath to the N-East of Feroz Shah near Delhi Gate at Ring 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. On every Friday (the day of his death) a prayer is being held. Except Monday, a regular feature of projecting Gandhi philosophy in picture, sculpture and photos from 10-00 to 17-00 is being performed at Rajghat. Besides, there is Gandhi Memorial Museum projecting his life and the philosophy of Sarvodaya Movement in film from 9-30 to 17-30 except Thursday and on Sunday at 16-00 in Hindi and 17-00 in English. Another Gandhi memorial is Gandhi Balidansthal or assassinated spot at January Marg of the city. On 30 Jan. 1948 on his way to prayer at Biral Bhawan, he was assassinated by bullets.

Vijay Ghat: This is the tomb of India’s second Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri. He died of a heart attack in 1966, on his peace mission to Tashkent in the then Soviet Russia, after the Indo – Pak war of 1965. His last rites were performed here.

Shanti Van: To the north of Rajghat is Shanti Van. India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru’s last rites were performed here on 27th May, 1964. A tomb stone has been erected on the place of the funeral. Next to Nehru’s memorial lies the tomb of his grandson, Sanjay Gandhi, who died in an air crash in 1980.

Teen Murti Bhavan: The Teen Murti Bhavan housed the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. It was designed by Robert Tor Russel, the architect of Connaught Place, and the Eastern and Western Courts on Janpath. The Bhavan was originally the residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in India. However, after independence the house was taken over as the residence of Jawaharlal Nehru. And on his death, the house was converted into a national memorial comprising a library and a museum. The library is one of the finest ones for information on modern Indian history. The house gets its name after the Teen Murti (three statues) Memorial, which stands on its extensive grounds. The memorial was built in memory of the Indian soldiers who perished in World War I. The Bhavan is closed to public on Mondays and on all public holidays.

Rashtrapati Bhavan: The house that houses the President of India and the house that boasts of having welcomed the most powerful men in history. The Rashtrapati Bhavan was designed by Edwin Lutyens and built in 1931, to be the central point of the British power in Delhi. Originally called the Viceroy’s House, the Rashtrapati Bhavan covers an area of 4.5 acres of land. It has 340 rooms, 37 salons, 74 lobbies and loggias, 18 staircases and 37 fountains.

The most magnificent room in the Rashtrapati Bhavan is the Durbar Hall, which lies directly beneath the main dome. All important Indian State and Official ceremonies are held here. To the west, is the famous and beautifully landscaped Mughal Gardens, designed after the terraced gardens the Mughals built in Kashmir. The garden is famous as the ‘Butterfly Garden’ for the numerous butterflies that visit the varied flowers. The garden is open to the public in February.

The Supreme Court of India: The apex court is one of CPWD’s most splendid architectural achievements. It came up in 1958 and is located on Tilak Marg. The Supreme Court of India functioned from the Parliament House till it moved to the present building. It has a 27.6 metre high dome and a spacious colonnaded verandah. For a peek inside, you’ll have to obtain a visitor’s pass from the front office.

Nai ki Kot -The Fortresses of Adilabad: South of Tughlaqabad and once connected to it by a causeay is the fortress of Adilabad, which was built by Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq. In plan it is a smaller version of Tughlaqabad, with the trademark sloping walls of huge stone. Inside Adilabad was the legendary Qasr-i-hazaar Saturn or the Palace of a thousand pillars, which seems to have been a really popular idea back then (see Bijai Mandal). The palace had a huge audience hall, which was built on columns of varnished wood. Towards the southern gateway you can still see a vaulted corridor which used to be flanked by guardrooms. Adilabad has all the marks of a fine Tughlaq building with that style’s typically austere walls, bare surfaces, corbelled arches and crenellation.

Outside the fortress towards the east is the Barber’s fort. It is not known whether a barber actually ever lived in the tiny fortress of Nai ka kot (barber’s fort), but it seems Ghiyas-ud-din certianly did. He used this place as a temporary residence when Tughlaqabad was coming up. It is built in the same style as Adilabad.

The Regal Building: This was one of the first buildings to come up in Connaught Place and houses a popular cinema hall. Jackals and wild pigs still roamed the area when it was being built. Initially Regal Cinema could not attract many patrons but soon it became very popular with Delhi’s rich elite. There used to be a bar in the lobby for gentlemen and a special matinee show for ladies.

Unlike any other cinema hall in Delhi, Regal has a porch which is forever plastered with colourful, sometimes lewd, film posters. The pavement has been taken over for all manner of activity. There are booksellers, ice-cream vendors, curio shops, music shops, lottery ticket booths and weighing machines – all pressed together cheek by jowl. Regal has fallen on bad times since its glorious heydays. It is a rather seedy, ill-kempt theatre that often shows semi-porn movies to titillate its essentially working class clientele.

Apart from the cinema, the building is home to shops and restaurants too. One of the earliest stores in the block was the Army and Navy Store which has now closed down. and in its place stand the Khadi Gramodyog Bhawan. But one place that’s a must is the Standard Bakery which turns out excellent softies, pastries and masala kulchas (a type of spicy bread).

Khuni Darwaza (Also Known As: Lal-Darwaza or Kabuli Darwaza): Right on the Mathura road near Maulana Azad Medical College stands a double- storeyed imposing gate, built largely with grey stone, red stone having been used in the frames of its windows. It is believed to be one of the gates of Sher Shah’s city of Delhi, although no remains of a city-wall have been traced in continuation with it. Another surviving gate of the city has been described earlier. It is also known as Lal-Darwaza and has derived the name ‘Khuni-Darwaza’ (bloody gate), from the tradition that two of Bahadur Shah’s sons were hanged here.

Tughlaqabad Fort: the Tughlaqabad fort was once a symbolic of the might of the Tughlaq dynasty. The Tughlaqabad fort was built by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty. The fort is spread over an extensive area and a piece of architectural marvel. Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq built the Tughlaqabad fort as part of Tughlaqabad, the third city of Delhi. This was the period of political unrest and there was continuous danger of Mongol attack from the North western borders of the Empire. To save the Empire and his subjects from the marauding Mongols, Ghiyas-ud-din built the Tughlaqabad fort.

Even though the fort is in a state of ruins, it bears testimony to past glory and might of the Delhi Sultanate. The massive ramparts, battlements and the mammoth stonework of Tughlaqabad fort speak highly of the architectural skills and advancement of the craftsmen. The Tughlaqabad fort served twin purpose of a defensive structure as well as the imperial capital of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq. There are a number of monuments within the precincts of this massive fort.

The Tughlaqabad fort was completed in a short period of four years (1321-25). The fort’s massive ramparts and bastions (as high as 15-30 m, built of enormous blocks of stone and walls 10 m thick in places) speak volumes about the might of the Sultanate. Within fort’s high walls, double-storied bastions and massive towers were housed magnificent palaces, grand mosques and audience halls. The city lay on the eastern outskirts of the massive fort. On the southern side of the fort is the tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, which was built by the ruler himself. The tomb is enclosed in a courtyard with fortified walls and a fine example of Indo-Islamic architecture.

Safdarjung Tomb: Situated besides the Safdarjung airport, the tomb built by the Nawab of Avadh for his father is one of the finest examples of architecture of its time. Opposite the airport is the Najaf Khan’s tomb enclosed by walls on all sides. Situated in the centre of a large garden, this mausoleum stands on a raised platform. Originally built in red sandstone, it has two inscribed marble cenotaphs belonging to Najaf Khan, who died in 1782 and his daughter Fatima, who died in 1820. The real graves are situated below in the core of the platform. Najaf Khan was related to the Persian kings and came with his sister to the court of Muhammad Shah. He later served Shah ‘Alam III.

India Gate: India Gate is the pride of Delhi. An imposing structure, the gate was built in memory to the of the 90,000 Indian soldiers who laid down their lives during World War I. Situated at the at the end of Rajpath, the India Gate is 42 meters high and is a popular as a relaxation area during the summer evenings and a popular picnic spot during winter. Initially called All India War Memorial, the gate was designed and built by Lutyens who is also credited with the designing of New Delhi, the capital of India.

Nowadays, if you drive down the smooth wide expanse of Rajpath on a midsummer night, you might be excused for assuming that a huge glittering carnival is in progress at India Gate. The entire boulevard up to the monument is lined with cars, scooters, and motorcycles and what-have-you. In fact all of Delhi seems to have converged to the emerald lawns of India Gate. The air is thick with chatter, laughter and the cries of assorted vendors peddling their wares. You can snack on anything from fruit chaat (fruit salad with hot, spicy dressing), through bhelpuri (a snack of puffed rice, spices and hot, sweet and sour chutney), chana jor garam (spicy chickpeas), dal ka pakodas (fried lentil-flour dumplings), potato chips to ice cream, candy floss and aerated drinks.