Go2Holiday: 2010

Title: Family Holidays In Delhi
Link:http://www.go2holiday.com/family-holidays-in-delhi/

Delhi is the capital of India. It is located in the noth india, international metropolis of Delhi and serves as the seat of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of New Delhi.

The city was initially planned by Edwin Lutyens, a leading 20th century British architect. The city is well known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards and houses numerous national institutions and landmarks. The total area of Delhi is 42.7 km2.

New Delhi is an international metropolis with excellent tourist spots and having recreational facilities. One of the remarkable features of New Delhi is the extent of greenery all over. New Delhi is also a one of the dream city for visitors looking for various items of handicrafts, not only the rich artistic crafts of its own craftsmen but also of craftsmen from all over the country. New Delhi offers a multitude of interesting places and attractions to the visitor, so much so that it becomes difficult to decide from where to begin exploring the city.

Laid out by British architect Edwin Lutyens, the Indian capital is a striking modern metropolis. A gracious contrast to Old Delhi’s winding streets, the grand avenues and stately buildings of New Delhi are rich with history and culture, from Gandhi’s Delhi home (and the site of his assassination) to the tomb of Humayun, a complex of Mughal buildings reminiscent of the Taj Mahal. Chaotic traffic is best left to the locals. Negotiate a good price for taxis or travel on the new Delhi Metro. There are several places to explore, see and visit in New Delhi.

Places to see In delhi

Red Fort or Lal Quila

The Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, laid down the foundation of Red Fort in 1639 and got it done in 1648. Red Fort is built with red stone and that is how the fort got its name as Red Fort. The total area of the fort is about 2.41 km and the shape of the fort is octagonal. A wide moat that was originally connected with theYamuna River surrounds the fort. Lahori Gate is the main entrance to the Lal Quila. Some of the main buildings in the fort are: Naubat Khana (music house), the Hamam (the bathroom set), Moti Masjid (pearl mosque), Diwan-i-Am (hall of public audience), Diwan-i-Khas (hall of selective audience), Mumtaz Mahal (one of the main palaces). After India got its independence, the Prime Minister of India hoisted the National Flag at the Red Fort every year on 15th of August. The Red Fort is the center of attraction that offers diversity to its visitors. It is a place must see by all tourists visiting Delhi.

Qutub Minar Qutub Minar is named after Qutab-ud-din Aibak. He is the first Muslim ruler of the South Asia. This world heritage site is the tallest brick tower in the world, built in 1193 AD. It is one of the first achievements of the Indo-Islamic architecture. Qutub Minar is located in Mehrauli, South of Delhi. This tower is 72.5 meters tall with 399 steps towards the top and is covered with engraved verses from the Quran. The top floor is 2.75 meters wide and the base is 14.3 meters wide. He ruled initially from Lahore and later moved the capital to Delhi; while visiting this Minar, do not miss the nearby Iron Pillar. Your trip to Qutub Minar will be one of the fascinating trip.You will immensely enjoy the tour of this world heritage site monument. Jantar Mantar Jantar Mantaris a masterpiece of Indian architecture which shows the scientific acumen of ancient India and a complex of astronomical instruments of stone and marble built in 1710 A.D by Sawai Jia Singh II of Jaipur around 3 centuries ago and is situated in the heart of Delhi that Parliament Street, close to Connaught Place. There is also a similar structure in Jaipur as well. It has always been an attraction for the architects, scientists and historians from all over the world. This is one of the popular tourist site to explore place. This structure consists of fourteen geometric devices used for forecasting weather changes, measuring time, finding extraterrestrial altitude and predicting behavior of planets

Lotus Temple
This is remarkable architectures of Bahai faith of Worship. It is located at Kalkaji in South Delhi. The shape of temple is in the form of lotus, due to it’s shape the temple is called Lotus Temple. Lotus is a symbol of purity, peace, immortality and love, due to all these specialty of Lotus flower makes the flower an important icon in Indian culture and society. Lotus Temple was opened to public in December 1986. This temple is so popular that it is one of the most visited places in the world. Atmosphere inside the temple is quiet and serene. ISKCON Temple
Temples in Delhi are renowned both for its historic connection as well as religious fervor. The interior walls have been decorated with aesthetic works of Russian artists representing the different phases of life of various deities like Sita-Ram and Radha-Krishan. The main attractions are its temple museum and the central prayer hall. The birth of Lord Krishna is known as the festival of Janmashtmi, which is falls in the month of August or September. The festival of Janmashtmi is celebrated in the ISKCON temple premises on a large scale, during which the enthusiasm of the devotees and in the temple are religious activities at their highest level. On Janmashtmi thousands of devotees visit the temple and the atmosphere of joyous celebration is truly exhilarating.
India Gate You have to visit India Gate, the famous landmark of New Delhi, India. It is one of the largest war memorials in India and commemorates the members of the former British Indian Army who laid their lives fighting for the Indian Empire in World War I and the Afghan Wars. The foundation stone for India Gate was laid in 1921 by the Duke of Connaught and was completed in 1931. This enormous structure was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. After India’s independence, India Gate became the site of the Indian Army’s tomb of the unknown soldier, known as the Amar Jawan Jyoti. The 42 meter high archway is made of red stone and has the name “INDIA” written on both sides. More than 70,000 names of soldiers are also inscribed on the arch. The archway is located on the Rajpath in New Delhi. This monument is surrounded by lawns, children’s park and a boat club. Locals and tourists gather near the India Gate and spend their evenings in leisure.
Akshardham Temple
This 100 acres of sprawling Hindu temple is visited by thousands of people every day. Within this temple, under the central dome, the statue of Bhagwan Swaminarayan is erected, which is 11-foot high. This statue is surrounded by other similar statues of the gurus of the sect. This is a popular tourist spot. The temple was inaugurated in 2005. You can enjoy programmes in the IMAX theater as well as the musical fountain along with Swaminarayan temple in this Akshardham complex in Delhi.
Near By Delhi
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary Located at the distance of 180 kms from New Delhi Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is suitable for outing at the weekends. If you love adventure Bharatpur, the pride of Rajasthan, is the perfect place to go if you love to watch exotic birds frolicking away in their natural habitat. The sanctuary boasts of the title of a World Heritage
Site. Dehradun Dehradun, being the capital city of Uttaranchal, is visited by many people.Dehradun, also known as the Doon Valley, is situated in the state of Uttaranchal. Lying at the foothills of the Shivalik ranges in India, the city is said to have been founded by Guru Dronacharya (as per the Hindu Epic of Mahabharata). Delhi to Dehradun is 245 km and takes about 6 hrs by road.
Mussoorie Mussoorie, ‘Queen of Hills’, is a scenic town situated in Uttaranchal – at a distance of mere 35 km from the capital city of Dehradun and 290 km from delhi by road. The pine-covered slopes of the hill resort, combined with the exquisite views of the surrounding snow-clad mountains, make it one of the popular weekend getaways. Mussoorie is one the beautiful hill stations in India and the most frequently visited.
Dhanaulti Dhanaulti is 325 km from Delhi (an 8-9 hour drive) and 25 km from Mussoorie.Situated amidst misty and dreamy surroundings, in the Garhwal Hiils, is the pictorial town of Dhanaulti. The lush greenery, comprising of soaring tress of deodar, rhododendron and oak, makes the hill station look like a painting created by Almighty himself. Dhanaulti Hills is one of those places with beauty that remains etched in your memory forever.
Haridwar One of the few places in India that seem to be infused with the holy spirit, Haridwar lies at the foot of the Himalayas. It stands sprawled over the west bank of Ganges, in which one dip is said to wash away all the sins of a person. Delhi to Haridwaris 220 km and takes about 6 hrs by road.
Rishikesh Located amidst the reaches of the lower Himalayas, Rishikesh is a small town that enchants its visitors. It is located hardly 25 km from the holy city of Haridwar and is regarded as the Gateway to the Char Dhams.Rishikesh is easily accessible by bus from Delhi. It is 6 hours (250 kms) journey.
Corbett National Park Corbett is situated about 290 km northeast of Delhi, in Uttaranchal province. Jim Corbett National Park is one of the most popular protected areas of India. Located in the state of Uttaranchal, at the foothills of Himalayas, the national park has its inception dating back to the year 1936.
Nainital Nainital : (Uttaranchal)-320 kms North-East of Delhi. Nainital, the beloved of the British, is blessed with scenic natural splendor. Nainital – the mere mention of the name brings the thought of cool breezes, mesmerizing locales, snow-capped mountains and serene lakes. Nestled amidst the hills in Uttaranchal, the hill station has an altitude of around 1900m.
Shimla Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, is one of the most popular hill stations in India. Perched at an altitude of approximately 2100 m above sea level, at the foothills of Shivalik, this quaint little town boasts of striking beauty.
How to reach delhi
AIR : Delhi is well connected with domestic and international flights, to all the major cities within and outside India. Almost all the major airlines have their flights operating from Indira Gandhi International Airport of New Delhi. As mentioned, Delhi is connected to all the major cities in the world through Airways. Regular flights are available to almost all the European capitals and cities of prominence. Delhi is also well connected to the rest of India with domestic flights. Delhi has two airports to cater the needs of commuters, Indira Gandhi International Airport and Palam Domestic Airport.
RAIL : Delhi is connected to all the major cities of India through broad gauge as well as meter gauge railway tracks. Direct trains are available to Delhi from nearly all the major tourist points. Make it a point to book tickets in advance, as there is heavy rush round the year.
Road :Being the capital city of India, Delhi is connected to the rest of India through well-maintained, 8/6-laned expressways. Various State transportation corporation buses ply to and from the city. The major service providers are Himachal, Utter Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan Roadways corporations. Besides Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) also ply inter-state buses. Moreover DTC also has a biweekly service to Pakistan. This bus connects Delhi with its sister city Lahore.
Local transport :Buses One of the cheapest modes of transport in Delhi consists of the local buses. Taxis are easily available in Delhi for hiring purposes. Auto Rickshaws fall in between taxis and buses. Radio Cabs facility is also available in delhi now.

Delhi Metro The local transportation of Delhi boasts of the relatively introduced Delhi Metro. Metro has still not reached all the parts of Delhi but it is under construction and some of the routes have been completed and are already operational. The fare of Metro is quite reasonable and the journey amounts to a pleasurable experience.
Facts about delhi
Area: 1,483 sq km Population : 9.4 million Main Languages : Hindi, Urdu, English & Punjabi Telephone area code : 011 Best time to visit : October to March Weather : Summers are hot with the temperature rising up to 45 oC and the winters are also quite cold with temperature dropping as low as 5 oC.
Image Gallery
[Show as slideshow]
[View with PicLens]