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Sightseeing


Sightseeing

Delhi is the main international gateway for a number of tourist destinations in northern India, but most will spend at least a couple of days in the capital before moving on to the romantic forts and temples of Rajasthan or the hillstations and trekking circuits of the Himalayan foothills. Two popular tourist itineraries are the Golden Triangle, including Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, and the Delhi-Agra-Khajuraho-Varanasi-Delhi trail.

The capital city itself has plenty of spectacular sights to occupy a day or two, but poses a number of difficulties in getting to see them. Delhi is a vast, sprawling city, and getting around the sights can be a time-consuming, wearying process, especially with its chaotic, clogged transport systems, summer temperatures of 40ºC (104ºF) and above, and some of the worst pollution levels on record. It is well worth spending the extra Rupees to hire a car and driver for a day or two, or to join an organised tour.

The seventeenth-century city of Shahjahanabad - more commonly known as Old Delhi - is a seething conglomeration of noise, smells and crumbling shopfronts, as well as a dense showcase of Indo-Islamic architecture. The crowded alleyways and opulent bazaars of Chandni Chowk are dotted with mosques, temples and gurdwaras, and within the original city walls stand the formidable edifices of Lal Qila (Red Fort) and Jama Masjid.

The lofty architectural legacy of the colonial era makes the city centre hub of New Delhi's Connaught Place a pleasant change from the narrow, crowded chowks of Old Delhi. Here, Delhiites dress up (in jeans) to eat at Pizza Hut and Pizza Express which, along with the shops and offices, are housed in splendid colonnaded buildings. A rare thing in India, the shops here display genuine branded goods, while international newspapers and magazines are laid out for sale on the broad pavements. The whole circle is divided into blocks labelled A-N by seven radial roads and encircled by the ring road of Connaught Circus. The most central of the markets, Palika Bazaar, is located underneath the park at the centre of Connaught Place.

The oldest settlements of Delhi are, in fact, not in Old Delhi, but in South Delhi. Heading south of Connaught Place, the sights and sounds of the city mingle with a more rural cityscape where early Muslim kingdoms were built on the foundations of earlier settlements including the Qutb Minar complex, and the developments of Siri, Tughluqabad, Jahanpanah, Firozabad and Shergarh. Humayun's Tomb, the elegant Lodi Gardens and the Sufi Hazrat Nizamuddin shrine are all within easy reach of each other.

Public transport remains an enterprise for those on a spartan budget and with plenty of time on their hands; most visitors stick to taxis and auto-rickshaws, which are still cheap, and infinitely more convenient. For this reason, there are no transport details for the attractions.

Tourist Information

Government of India Tourist Office

88 Janpath

Tel: (011) 332 0005. Fax: (011) 332 0109.

E-mail: newdelhi@tourisminindia.com

Web site: www.tourisminindia.com

Opening hours: 1000-1700 Mon-Fri, 1000-1400 Sat.




Copyright © 2001 Columbus Publishing
    
GENERAL
City Overview
City Statistics
Cost of Living
 
GETTING THERE
Air
Road
Rail
 
GETTING AROUND
Getting Around
 
BUSINESS
Business
 
SIGHTSEEING
Sightseeing
Key Attractions
Further Distractions
Tours of the City
Excursions
 
ENTERTAINMENT
Nightlife
Sport
Shopping
Culture
Special Events