Qutub Minar

The tall and ever attractive monument of Delhi which can be seen from most parts of the city is called the Qutab Minar. Every body has the same question when one sees the structure for the first time. The question that is often being put up is "Why the monument is that big?" or "Was there any specific reason to build such a tall building or it was just a wish of the person who built it?" Well, the exact reason is assumed to have something related to commemorating the victory. Mughals used to build victory towers to proclaim and celebrate victories. Some say the minaret was used to offer prayer but it is so tall that you can hear the person standing on the top. Also, the minaret is not joined on to Qutuddin's mosque and the Iltutmish's mosque.
Qutab Minar is among the tallest and famous towers in the world. The minaret is 234 feet high and the highest individual tower in the world. Other towers in the world are the Great Pagoda in Pekin, China and the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy but these towers are not as high as the Qutab Minar in Delhi.

According to history books, the minar was started by Prithviraj or his uncle Vigraharaja who won Delhi from the Tomar Rajputs. However, it is assumed and historians believe that Qutubuddib and Iltutmish finished it though the minar may have been commenced by Prithviraj or Vigraharaja. The minar was completed in 1200 A.D and since then the tall structure has been there upright and ever beautiful keeping an eye to Delhi just like a sentry. When Alauddin returned from the wars in the Deccan, he had this thought in mind that he would build a victory tower somewhat similar to the Qutab Minar. The ruins of this very initiative can be seen adjacent to the Qutbuddin's mosque because Alauddin died at the very start of the construction work and no one carried on to finish the initiative taken by Alauddin.

Monuments in Delhi

Qutab Minar is another great masterpiece of Mughal architecture. It has a number of floors or storeys which has beautiful carvings like the one on the tomb of Iltutmish. There are inscriptions all round the tower and these inscriptions reveal that Iltutmish finised the tower. The structure of the wall is made as such that it widens from top to bottom, just to make the minar stronger.
Moving upstairs inside the minar will give you a wonderful experience and counting the stairs is always a fun for visitors. It has 378 steps which takes good amount of energy to reach at the top. The top of the tower gives an insight to Delhi because you get to see the bird's eye view of the city. To point a few sight seeing from the top, you will find views of the Hauz Khaz on the left and the walls of the Jahanpanah and Siri on the right. It was this very top of Qutab Minar that was used by Khilji and Tughlaq kings to watch the wild Mongol hordes when they threatened Delhi. The top also served as the watch top for Tughlaq who watched Timur's army camp on the Wellingdon Airport. Other important monuments that is visible from the top are the walls of Tughlaqabad, Humayun's Tomb, Purana Qila, Firoz Shah Kotla and Jama Masjid.

The minar did receive some damage because of earthquakes on more than a couple of occasions but was reinstated and renovated by the respective rulers. During the rule of Firoz Shah, the minar's two top floors got damaged due to earthquake but were repaired by Firoz Shah. In the year 1505, earthquake again struck and it was repaired by Sikandar Lodi. Later on in the year 1794, the minar faced another earthquake and it was Major Smith, an engineer who repaired the affected parts of the minar. He replaced Firoz Shah's pavilion with his own pavilion at the top. The pavilion was removed in the year 1848 by Lord Hardinge and now it can be seen between the Dak Bungalow and the Minar in the garden. The floors built by Firaz Shah can be distinguished easily as the pavilions was built of white marbles and are quite smooth as compared to other ones.

The minar is not that erect as it used to be because of wears and tears over the past several years. Closely looking at the mina rives you an idea that it is somewhat tilled towards one side. The minar is very sincerely looked after by the authorities much like the same as other historic monuments in the country.

Location: In Qutab Minar Complex, Mehrauli, 16 kilometers from Connaught Place.

Time to Visit: Open on all days from sunrise to sunset

Admission Fee: INR 10 for citizen/ INR 250 foreigner

Video filming charges: INR 25.

How to Reach: Tourists can either take local buses from various points within the city to reach this monument, which is located in south Delhi, or they can hire auto-rickshaws and taxis or metro rail.

Parking: Free parking area

Nearest Railway Station: Nizamuddin Railway Station

Nearest Metro Station: Kendriya Terminal

Functional Metro Station: Kendriya Terminal

Nearest International Airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport

Time required for sightseeing: Approximately 1 hour

Lotus Temple

The Lotus Temple that is located in South Delhi is also known as 'Bahai House of Worship'. This 20th century wonder made of marble, dolomite, cement and sand is dedicated in December 1986. This temple represents the Baha'i faith - founded by Baha'ullah, an independent world religion.

The Lotus Temple is in the form of a white half-opened lotus flower. This is one of the most visited structures in India. It is estimated the temple has attracted more than 50 million visitors since its inception.

Prayer sessions are conducted four times a day. Prayers of all religions are delivered during these sessions. The timings for prayer sessions are as follows:
10:00AM to 10:15AM
12:00PM to 12:15PM
3:00PM to 3:15 PM
5:00 PM to 5:15 PM

In the Information Centre of the temple, there is an exhibition showing the different aspects of Baha'i faith in the form of photographs and a 30-minute movie.

Similar in style to the Sydney Opera Hose, the Lotus Temple is located in the vast area of 26 acres of plush green land.

Entry fee : Free
Visiting hours:
Summer (Apr 1 to Sep 30): 9:00AM to 7:00 PM
Winter (Oct 1 to Mar 31)): 9:30AM to 5:30PM

From May 09 changes are done to opening time.
MONDAY to SATURDAY

8:30a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
4:00p.m. to 07:30 p.m.
(Sunday closed)

Other information for tourists:
The temple is closed every Monday.
Please remove your footwear before entering the temple premises
Please switch off your mobile phones.
Please maintain absolute silence inside the temple.

Historical Place and Tourist Place: RED FORT

The largest of Old Delhi's monuments is Lal Quila or Red Fort whose thick red sandstone walls, bulging with turrets and bastions, have withstood the vagaries of time and nature. The Lal Quila rises above a wide dry moat in the northeast corner of the original city of Shahjahanabad. Its walls extend from two kilometers and vary in height from 18 metres on the river side to 33 metres on the city side.
Mughal Emperor Shahjahan started construction of the massive fort in 1638 and work was completed in 1648. The fort contains all the expected trappings of the centre of Mughal government: halls of public and private audience, domed and arched marble palaces, plush private apartments, a mosque and elaborately designed gardens. Even today, the fort remains an impressive testimony to Mughal grandeur, despite being attacked by the Persian Emperor Nadir Shah in 1739 and by the British soldiers during the war of independence in 1857.

Mughal Emperor Shahjahan started construction of the massive fort in 1638 and work was completed in 1648. The fort contains all the expected trappings of the centre of Mughal government: halls of public and private audience, domed and arched marble palaces, plush private apartments, a mosque and elaborately designed gardens. Even today, the fort remains an impressive testimony to Mughal grandeur, despite being attacked by the Persian Emperor Nadir Shah in 1739 and by the British soldiers during the war of independence in 1857.

Entrance to the fort is through the imposing Lahore Gate, which takes its name from the fact that it faces Lahore, now in Pakistan. This gate has a special significance for India since the first war of independence and important speeches have been made here by freedom fighters and national leaders of India.

The main entrance opens on to the Chatta Chowk, a covered street flanked with arched cells that used to house Delhi's most talented jewellers, carpet makers, weavers and goldsmiths. This arcade was also known as the Meena Bazaar, the shopping centre for the ladies of the court. Just beyond the Chhata Chowk is the heart of the fort called Naubat Khana or the Drum House. The musicians used to play for the emperor from the Naubat Khana and the arrival of princes and royalty was heralded from here.

The Fort also houses the Diwan-i-Am or the Hall of Public Audiences where the Emperor would sit and hear complaints of the common folks. His alcove in the wall was marble-paneled and was set with precious stones, many of which were looted after the mutiny of 1857. The Diwan-i-Khas is the hall of private audiences where the Emperor held private meetings. This hall is made of marble and its centre-piece used to be the Peacock Throne, which was carried away to Iran by Nadir Shah in 1739. Today, the Diwan-i-Khas is only a pale shadow of its original glory, yet the famous Persian couplet inscribed on its wall remind us of its former magnificence: "If on Earth be an Eden of bliss, it is this, it is this, none but this."

The other attractions within this monument are the Royal Baths or hammams, the Shahi Burj, which used to be Shahjahan's private working area and the Moti Masjid or the Pearl Mosque, built by Aurangzeb for his personal use. The Rang Mahal or the "Palace of Colours" housed the Emperor's wives and mistresses. This palace was crowned with gilded turrets, delicately painted and decorated with an intricate mosaic of mirrors, and a ceiling overlaid with gold and silver that was reflected in a central pool in the marble floor.

Even today, the Lal Quila is an eloquent reminder of the glory of the Mughal era and its magnificence leaves many wonder-struck and breathless. It is still a calm haven of peace which helps one to break away from the frantic pace of life outside the walls of the Fort and transports the visitor to another era of time.
In front of red fort there is chandni chowk you can also visit that place for shopping. In chandni chowk there is temple of 4 religions at one place. Chandni Chowk is famous not just for its markets but also for the various places of worship that the region has. These include:
- Sri Digambar Jain lal Mandir
- Jama Masjid
- Gurudwara Shish Ganj
- Gauri Shankar Temple
- Sunehri Masjid
Chandni Chowk perhaps symbolizes the vibrant feel that characterizes India and her way of life. Besides this, it also symbolizes the unity in diversity that is present amongst Indians all around the country. It is, on a lighter note also a symbol of the versatile eating habits of the Indians, housing eateries like:
- The Ghantewala Halwai
- Natraj's Dahi Bhalle
- Kanwarji Bhagirathmal Dalbhajiwallah
- Chaatwallah
- Bikaner Sweet Shop
- Haldiram's
- Gianiji ka Falooda

About India

Namaskar,
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