Delhi has always been an enigma for historians and authors. The city has served as the capital of six dynasties in recorded history and it is believed that it existed in similar capacity many centuries before the arrival of the Turks as well. The area now called Old Delhi is one of the major tourist points of all Delhi tours.
Sightseeing in Delhi is as much about exploring old Delhi as visiting the other relatively modern attractions of the city.d
The Delhi of which we read of in the history books was given shape by the Muslim rulers who started to reside in India after the decisive second battle of Terrain which paved the way for permanent Islamic rule in India lead by Muhammad Ghori. The Slave dynasty that followed him made Delhi their headquarters and during this period, lasting almost a century, many famous landmarks of Old Delhi were constructed, including the Qutb Minar , and other structures in Mehrauli. The Delhi tours invariably include the magnificent historic monuments built by these dynasties. These buildings, many of which are now in ruins, are among the major tourist attractions in Delhi. Tourists who travel to Delhi find it strange that a modern city serving as the capital of the world’s largest democracy can include so many medieval buildings standing in stark contrast to the modern plazas and shopping malls. That has been the enigma about Delhi. The city seems to move ahead in time, while reminders of the bygone years lay scattered around its route.
Among the tourist attractions in Delhi, the most famous is undoubtedly the
Red Fort. The symbol of independent India, the fort is the venue of the prime minister’s address to the nation on 15th August, the Indian Independence Day. The
highlight of Delhi tours, this massive fort was the centre of attraction in Shahjahanabad, as Delhi was known as during the reign of the mughuls. The magnificent red sandstone structure has witnessed some of the most decisive and dramatic moments of Indian history. The fierce battle between Indian soldiers and the British Army during the 1857 rebellion changed the course of Indian history. The fort was extensively damaged during the entire episode. Today tourists can walk on the streets of the fort, imagining what it might have felt like several centuries ago. Walking through the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk, the historically inclined tourist cannot help wondering if the ancestors of today’s shopkeepers sold things to the royalty.
The Jama Masjid used to be the principal mosque in Shahjahanabad. It is one of the largest and most important mosques in India, and even today holds the same important as it used to during the heydays of Mughul rule. A walk from Jama Masjid towards the fort via
Chandni Chowk is one of the most interesting and enriching experiences of Delhi tours and tells you about the resplendent
glory of old Delhi at its best.
Old Delhi includes roughly the area covered by Shahjahanabad. The places in the area still bear the names of the famous gates of the city. Tourists who travel to Delhi should not miss the splendid monuments at Mehrauli, the most famous of which is the Qutb Minar. The entire complex is a spectacular conglomeration of buildings of Indo-Islamic style. The Old Fort built by Humayun, the Firuz Shah Kotla, Humayun’s tomb, and Tughlaqabad are some of the best known buildings that made up medieval Old Delhi.
Of course, Delhi Tours include the modern buildings as well. Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial in Rajghat and the India Gate are the most prominent among these. The other modern tourist attractions in Delhi include the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Raj Path, Parliament house, Lotus temple, Akshardham, and LakmiNarayan Temple.
Despite all the signs of modernity, the city smells of history at every nook and corner. People who travel to Delhi and pass the various monuments, unknowingly witness the uncountable moments that shaped the destiny of modern India.
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