Delhi, located on the banks of River Yamuna in North India, is an ancient city - continuously inhabited since at least the sixth century BC, according to archaeological evidence. Through the centuries, it has been a major political, cultural and commercial centre. Its many monuments and archaeological sites bear testimony to its varied and chequred past.

Delhi was declared the capital and seat of government of free India in 1947, and houses offices of the federal government, including the Parliament of India. Today, Delhi is a cosmopolitan metropolis, the result of migration over decades, rapid development and urbanisation.
 

Fast Facts:

Location
Delhi is located at 28°61′N, 77°23′E, in northern India, on the banks of River Yamuna. It borders the states of Uttar Pradesh on the east and Haryana on the west, north and south. Delhi lies almost entirely in the Gangetic plains.

Population
13,782,000 (Census 2001)

Area
1,483 km² (573 sq mi)

Elevation
239 m (784 ft)

Languages Spoken
Hindi, Urdu, English, Punjabi

Currency
Indian Rupee (INR, Rs)

Electrical Plugs
230-240V 50Hz
 
Time Zones
GMT/UTC +5.5

Dialling Code
+91 011

Weights & Measures
Metric

Political Status
Delhi has the political status of a federally-administered union territory known as the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT), which in itself is part of National Capital Region. A constitutional amendment in 1991 gave Delhi a special status among the Union Territories; Delhi has its own legislative assembly with limited powers.

Weather in October-November
Mean daily maximum temperature: 25.7 to 31.1 oC (78 to 88 oF)
Mean daily minimum temperature: 14.6 to 17.2 oC (58 to 63 oF)
October and November are the pleasantest months in Delhi – the weather is warm, stable, and without rains.

Climate
Delhi has a semi-arid climate with high variation between summer and winter temperatures. Extreme temperatures range from −0.6 °C (30.9 °F) to 47 °C (117 °F). The average annual rainfall is approximately 714 mm (28.1 inches), most of which falls during the monsoons in July and August.

History

Architectural evidence suggests that the Delhi area was inhabited since early times –stone-age tools have been found in some sites as well as signs of late Harappan settlements. It is believed that Delhi was the site of the legendary city of Indraprastha, built by the Pandavs, the protagonists of the epic Mahabharat, as their capital in 1450 BC. It is said to have been located where the Old Fort (Purana Qila) now stands – a village called Indrapat existed here till recently.

How Delhi (also called Dilli) acquired its name is a debatable point. Some believed that is named after Raja Dillu who founded a township here in 1000 BC. Others claim that the name is derived from the word Dillika or from Dehli, which means gateway.

Delhi is believed to one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of the world and contains the remnants of seven successive cities:

Lal Kot/Qila Rai Pithora: The remnants of this first city are located around present-day Mehrauli and the Qutab Minar. Lal Kot was the capital city built by the Rajput Tomar king Anangpal Tomar in red stone (therefore called Lal Kot or red fort) in 1020 AD. The Chauhan Rajput kings of Ajmer conquered Lal Kot in 1180 and Prithvi Raj Chauhan, the last Hindu ruler of Delhi, enlarged and renamed the city Qila Rai Pithora. At this point in time, it is said that there were as many as 27 Hindu and Jain temples that existed within the fortified city. The Chauhan Rajputs’ reign ended in AD 1192, when Mohammad Ghori defeated and killed Prithviraj Chauhan.

One of the most impressive ancient landmarks of this city was the iron pillar (now located within the precincts of the Qutab Minar). This iron pillar –7 m high with a diameter of 40 cm at the base and 30 cm at the top – speaks of the exceptional metallurgical skills of its makers and has remained un-rusted over the centuries. The inscriptions on the pillar indicate that it was not a creation of the Tomars but was transplanted here. It was erected by a king named Chandra -- who may have been Chandragupta Maurya II (375-415 AD) - at Vishnupada Hill. It is not clear where Vishnupada Hill was located, though the fact that the pillar was carried to Lal Kot from there suggests that it was close by.

Mehrauli: Mohammad Ghori, before returning to Ghor, made his slave Qutubuddin Aibak his viceroy in India. In 1193, Qutubuddin Aibak captured Delhi, which was still in the hands of the Chauhans. After the death of Mohammad Ghori in 1206, Qutubuddin declared himself as the first sultan of Delhi. Delhi thus became the capital of Mamluk or the Slave dynasty, the first dynasty of Muslim sultans to rule over northern India. Qutubuddin then established Mehrauli – cannibalising the Hindu temples to do so. One of the structures that he built was the 72.5 m tall Qutab Minar. However, he could only complete the basement. His successor, Iltutmush, added three more storeys, and in 1368, Firoz Shah Tughluq constructed the fifth and the last storey. Around Qutab Minar are several ruins from the 11th and 12th centuries, including the mausoleum of Saint Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, Shamsi Talab, a mosque and tombs of several rulers. The Slave dynasty reigned until 1290 and Razia Sultan, Qutubuddin’s grand daughter, is well remembered as one of India’s first empresses.

Siri: The third city was built by Alauddin Khilji in 1303. The Slave dynasty at Delhi was succeeded by the Khiljis of whom Alauddin Khilji is best known as his conquests extended into south India. The architectural remains of this city can be found in present-day Hauz Khas, where stretches of thick stone walls of the ancient Siri Fort can be seen. A large reservoir called Hauz Khas was built here by Alauddin to provide the city with water and a madrasa (college) was created here by later Khilji rulers. The most distinguishing features of Khilji architecture are the Saljuqian influences: craftsmen from the Saljuqian dynasty in west Asia, suffering from Mongol invasions, took refuge in the Delhi court and contributed to its architecture.

Tughluqabad: The Khiljis were followed by the Tughluqs when Giasuddin Tughluq overthrew his master and became Sultan himself in 1320. Giasuddin completed the construction of the fortified city of Tughluqabad (the fourth city) in two years, during his short four-year reign. Tughluqabad lies beyond the present-day Okhla. The outer wall of Tughluqabad is 6.5 km in length, inside which were two more walled areas. It is said that the well-know sufi saint Nizamuddin Aulia cursed Giasuddin saying that his city would be inhabited either by Gujjars or lie barren – which is exactly what happened after 1327 when his son shifted his capital from Tughluqabad. Giasuddin Tughluq was succeeded by his son Muhammad bin Tughluq (1325-1351), by all accounts an eccentric and unpredictable ruler. In 1326-27, he constructed what is often called Delhi’s fifth city, Jahanpanah. This he did by linking the walls of Lal Kot and Siri and enclosing a vast area within. Very little of this city remains today, though the walls can be seen in some places along Press Enclave.

Kotla Firoz Shah: Firoz Shah Tughluq (1351-1394) succeeded his cousin Muhammad bin Tughluq. Firoz Shah was genuinely interested in architecture and had two Ashokan pillars transported to Delhi from areas close by. He built a large madrasa at Hauz Khas and restored the Qutab Minar, Suraj Kund and Muhammad Ghori’s tomb. In fact, Firoz Shah’s own tomb also lies in Hauz Khas. He also built Delhi’s fifth city: Firozabad or Kotla Firoz Shah along river Yamuna. The city’s high walls enclosed his palace (atop which one of the Ashokan pillars was placed), other palaces, pillared halls, mosques, a pigeon tower and a water tank. Political instability followed Firoz Shah’s death in 1394, culminating in Taimur Lang, a Turk from Samarkhand, invading India. He captured Firozabad, plundered the cities of Delhi before returning to Samarkhand with his loot. Today, Delhi’s cricket stadium stands where Firoz Shah’s city once stood.

The Tughluq dynasty was followed by the Sayyeds and the Lodhis, who were more concerned with bringing some semblance of stability to their kingdoms rather than patronising the arts. The only reminders of these dynasties are tombs built in honour of their rulers, the most well-known of which is the Lodhi Tomb located within Lodhi Gardens.

Purana Qila: The construction of what is known as the Purana Qila today was started by the second Mughal ruler Humayun. He planned to build his capital Dinpanah here. His plans, however, went awry as Sher Shah Suri captured Delhi in 1540 and ousted Humayun. Sher Shah, an Afghan nobleman, is best remembered in India for his administrative reforms and restoration of the Grand Trunk road linking Dhaka with Lahore –which he achieved during his short five-year reign. Sher Shah destroyed Dinpanah and built his own capital – Shergah - instead, using a mixed Mughal-Hindu-Afghan ornate architectural style. Humayun won back Delhi after Sher Shah’s death (1545) in 1555 and completed parts of Purana Qila left unfinished by Sher Shah. It is said that Humayun used the octagonal red sandstone tower known as Sher Mandal as his observatory and library, and probably met his death when he fell down the steps to Sher Mandal. It is also believed that the subsequent Mughals therefore thought this fort unlucky and proceeded to build another fort, the Lal Qila, as their main palace in Delhi.

Today, Purana Qila (Delhi’s sixth city) is a huge tourist attraction – a sound and light show is held here every evening and it houses the Delhi Zoo, an ornamental garden, a boating club as well as many historically important structures.

Shahjahanabad: Humayun was succeeded by Akbar, believed to be the greatest Mughal emperor of India. It was Akbar’s son, Shah Jahan, who was responsible for having created one of the world’s most beautiful buildings – the Taj Mahal. Delhi’s seventh city, Shahjahanabad, too was built by Shah Jahan from 1638 to 1649, soon after his decision to shift his court from Agra to Delhi. Architecturally, the two most important buildings of that period are the Red Fort and the Jama Masjid – both Shah Jahan’s creations.

The massive red sandstone fort was build on the banks of the River Yamuna (now the waters have receded to a distance of half a mile or so) and is surrounded by a wall of about 2.4 km in circumference. Among the main buildings within the fort were the Diwan-i-Am (court hall), Diwan-i-Khas (king`s private meeting hall), Mumtaz Mahal, Rang Mahal, Moti Mahal and Moti Masjid.

Today the Red Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a popular tourist destination.

Shahjahanabad remained the capital of the Mughals till 1857, when after the First War of Indian Independence, the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled to Rangoon and the British began to control Delhi. The capital of British India was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911.

The British undertook to create new quarters to house government buildings and parts of the old city were pulled down to build New Delhi. British architect Edwin Lutyens was entrusted with this task.

Delhi was declared the capital of independent India in 1947.

Culture

The culture of Delhi, the political capital of India, is a dynamic amalgam of the traditional and the modern. Historically, Delhi has played host to a range of outsiders: from early Muslim invaders to the Mughals to the British. It has assimilated these cultures within it while retaining its own identity. As a result, today it is fast growing cosmopolitan metropolis with deep cultural and traditional roots. Conclaves of traditional values and beliefs are juxtaposed against modern lifestyles; burqas and saris are seen alongside the ubiquitous jeans and the latest haute couture; elegant Mughal architecture stands in contrast to towering steel and glass structures; chic designer ware vies for attention with centuries-old arts and crafts; the rickshaw travels the same road as the latest Mercedes; sprawling multi-product malls coexist with 200-year-old speciality shops; the Metro rail speeds past urban villages; stately colonial buildings and crowded modern housing exist side by side; the contrasts are many and varied. The city is a stimulating and exciting mix that continues to change and evolve.

Diversity
Delhi is home to a population that is ethnically, linguistically and religiously diverse, and represents - at a micro level – the entire country in all its diversity and unity.

Post-partition Punjabis from Pakistan settled here, after the Bangladesh war people from East Pakistan made this their home, Tibetans have found refuge here as have people from the neighbouring states and countries, looking for opportunities to better their lives. Though Punjabis dominate Delhi, ethnic pockets such as Chittaranjan Park, stronghold of Bengalis, or R.K. Puram, largely populated by people of South Indian origin, form the backbone of the city’s cultural diversity.

Traditional fairs and festivals such as Phoolwalo-ki-Sair that has, for centuries, celebrated communal harmony, are still organised. Regional festivals such as Chhath Puja of Bihar and Durga Puja of Bengal are also observed with great enthusiasm as are Eid-ul-Fitr and Christmas. Since Delhi shares its borders with Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, its people and lifestyles is often influenced greatly by these regions.

Diverse religious beliefs coexists peaceably in Delhi and find expression in different ways: the call of the muezzin from its various masjids or the melody of Sufu qawaalis from the Nizamuddin dargah; the sounds of Gurbani (the verses from the Granth Sahib) and prabhat pheris from its various gurdwaras; kirtans, bhajans and aartis from the various temples and Sunday mass at its churches. Jains and Buddhists also have their own shrines in the city as do the Tibetans and the Baha’is.

Work Culture
As the political centre of the country, Delhi is home to a large number of government officials, politicians and diplomats. The city’s entrepreneurial spirit finds expression in the numerous global and Indian corporates, business houses as well as traders and entrepreneurs. The city has a large population of young professionals who work at its various commercial and business houses. The city’s suburbs, Gurgaon and Noida, are centres of IT and BPO/KPO businesses where expatriates from several nations work. The city’s writers, journalists, painters, artistes specialising in the performing arts take forward the intellectual tradition of excellence set into motion by Delhi greats of yester years such as Ghalib and Zauq.

Delhi has several premier educational and training institutes such as the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, to name just a few. Young people from all over India come to Delhi to further their academic pursuits.

Entertainment
In terms of nightlife, Delhi has a huge variety of clubs, pubs and discotheques, many of them located in Delhi’s world-class hotels. A range of restaurants from the most economical to the upmarket offers cuisine from every part of the country and every corner of the world.

The malls are a relatively new inclusion in Delhi’s culture – and the shops with every global brand, multiplex cinemas and eateries within these are usually crowded with people out to have a good time.

The Arts
Delhi has a vibrant cultural scene, especially during the winter months. Several prestigious art galleries here display works by India artists as well artists from abroad. Venues such as the Kamani Theatre and Siri Fort showcase the performing arts – dance, music theatre, movies – Indian as well from other parts of the world. Delhi is also fast becoming India’s fashion centre and haut couture shows liven up Delhi’s life at regular intervals.

Green City
Delhi is also one of the world’s greenest capital cities; over the last 10 years, its green cover has grown 13 times to spread over an area of 330 square kilometres. Several measures such as the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as fuel for public transport have served to lower pollution levels. The city’s many magnificent gardens and parks are a source of pleasure and peace.
Delhi, on the whole, is a vibrant and happening city and offers a great deal in terms of things to do and places to visit.

Things to Do

Delhi is a vibrant mix of the ancient and the modern --with its many monuments and historical sites, its rich cultural heritage and its many venues of modern entertainment. It is a happening city that offers visitors an enriching and varied experience right through the year:
• Historical Site
• Religious Site
• Gardens

Historical Site

Lal Qila: Lal Qila or Red Fort, the creation of Shah Jahan (1592-1666), is one of the most magnificent examples of Mughal architecture in India. The building was completed in 1649 and remained the seat of the Mughal Empire till 1857. It is shaped like an irregular octagon, has a circumference of almost 1.5 miles, and has two entrances - the Lahori (which led to Lahore) and Delhi (which led to the old cities of Delhi) Gates. The art work in the Fort is a synthesis of Persian, European and Indian art that resulted in the development of unique Shahjahani style which is rich in form, expression and colour.
lal qila photo

Purana Qila: The construction of what is known as the Purana Qila today was started by the second Mughal ruler Humayun. He planned to build his capital Dinpanah here. His plans, however, went awry as Sher Shah Suri captured Delhi in 1540 and ousted Humayun. Sher Shah destroyed Dinpanah and built his own capital – Shergah -- instead, using a mixed Mughal-Hindu-Afghan ornate architectural style. Humayun won back Delhi after Sher Shah`s death (1545) in 1555 and completed parts of Purana Qila left unfinished by Sher Shah.
Purana Qila is one Delhi`s oldest and most impressive structures.

Humayun`s Tomb: Humayun`s Tomb is one of the serenest places in Delhi, despite the fact that it lies beside to busy Mathura Road and the Nizamuddin Railway station. The tomb is particularly significant as it was the first garden tomb to be built in the Indian subcontinent and inspired several architectural innovations culminating in the construction of Taj Mahal, built 60 years later. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993.

Qutab Minar: The Qutab Minar is India`s tallest tower, and represents a fusion of Indo-Islamic architectural styles. The complex, which apart from the Minar contains several ruins from the 11th and 12th centuries, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993.

The construction of the Qutab Minar was initiated by Delhi`s first Muslim ruler, Qutubuddin Aibak of the Slave dynasty (1192-1210).

Jantar Mantar: The Jantar Mantar, located in Connaught Place, the commercial centre of Delhi, was built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur in 1724. This is one of five astronomical observatories built by the king; the others are located in Jaipur, Varanasi, Ujjain and Mathura. Maharaja Jai Singh II was a Rajput ally of the Mughals during a time when the empire was declining.

It is said that there was a heated argument between Hindu and Muslim astronomers about certain planetary positions at the court of Muhammad Shah, the successor to Aurangzeb.

Safdarjung`s Tomb: Located near Safdarjung Airport, Delhi, Safdarjung`s Tomb was built by Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah, the son of Mirza Muqim Abul Mansur Khan popularly known as Safdarjung (1739-54) who was the governor of the province of Awadh under Mughal king Muhammad Shah (1719-48) and later became his prime minister. The memorial is a scaled down version of Humayun`s tomb, and is set in the middle of an extensive garden charbagh-style , which spreads over an area of over 300 sq m. The building contains the tomb, the courtyard and a mosque. The mausoleum, built with red sandstone and buff stone, is faced with marble.. There are two graves here, one of Safdarjung and the other presumably of his wife`s. The square central chamber of the mausoleum is surrounded by eight rooms all around. All the apartments, except the corner ones are rectangular in shape, the corner ones being octagonal. The dome of the tomb rises from a sixteen-sided base.

Raj Ghat: Located on the banks of the River Yamuna behind the Red Fort, Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, is a simple black marble platform that marks the spot where he was cremated on January 31, 1948. It is left open to the sky while an eternal flame burns perpetually at one end. The memorial has the epitaph He Ram, (literally `O` Ram`, but also translated to `O God`), believed to be the last words uttered by Gandhi. A stone footpath flanked by lawns leads to the walled enclosure that houses the memorial. Two museums dedicated to Gandhi are located near by.

Religious Side
Jama Masjid: The Jama Masjid,also known as the Masjid-i-Jahanuma, which means `mosque commanding view of the world`, is located across the road from the Red Fort. It was completed by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, in 1656 AD with the help of 5,000 craftsmen. The mosque`s floor plan is similar to the Jama Masjid in Agra, but the Delhi mosque is much more imposing and is built on slightly raised land so as to be visible to all the neighbouring areas.

Jama Masjid is built on an area of 65 m into 35 m while its courtyard covers an area of 100 sq m. As many as 25,000 devotees can pray here at one time.

Akshardham Temple: The Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi is the world`s largest most comprehensive Hindu temple, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. It is 356 ft. long, 316 ft. wide and 141 ft. high, and covers an area of 86,342 sq. ft. The hand-carved stone temple has been built without structural steel within five years by 11,000 artisans and volunteers. His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, spiritual leader of BAPS, consecrated the temple on November 6, 2005. The temple showcases the essence of India's ancient architecture, traditions and timeless spirituality.

Lotus Temple: The Bahá`í House of Worship, better known as the Lotus Temple, is an oasis of peace and serenity in an otherwise busy area of South Delhi. Called the modern-day Taj Mahal and a marvel of modern architecture and engineering, the temple was opened to public on December 24, 1986. It was designed by Fariburz Sabha, a Canadian citizen and a Bahá`í of Iranian descent, and the building cost Rs 10,000,000 to construct.

Laxminarayan Mandir: The Laxminarayan Temple, more popularly known as the Birla Temple, was built by B.D. Birla, a prominent industrialist. It was inaugurated in 1938 by Mahatma Gandhi on the condition that people of all castes and faiths be allowed to worship here.

Gurdwara Bangla Sahib: Gurdwara Bangla Sahib is the most prominent Sikh gurdwara in Delhi. The building was originally a bungalow belonging to Raja Jai Singh, an Indian ruler in the 17th century. The eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan resided here during his stay in Delhi. During that time, there was a smallpox and cholera epidemic, and Guru Har Krishan assuaged the sufferers by giving aid and fresh water from the well at this house. The water is now revered as having healing properties and is taken by Sikhs back to their homes. The Gurdwara is now a place of pilgrimage for both Sikhs and Hindus.

Nizamuddin Dargah: Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin, located across the busy Mathura Road from Humayun's Tomb, is a tribute to one of Delhi`s most venerated sufi saints, Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia. When Nizamuddin migrated here from UP in the 13th century, this area was a village called Ghayaspur –and has remained one of Delhi`s continuously inhabited areas.

Gardens
Lodhi Garden: The site of the Lodhi Gardens was once a village named Khairpur, which came up around 15th-16th century Sayyid and Lodi tombs and monuments. In 1936, it was decided to turn this area into a park and the residents of the village were moved out. However, it was only in 1968 when J.A. Stein and Garrett Eckbo re-landscaped these gardens that they acquired their present form.

Mughal Gardens: Located within the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official residence of the President of India, Mughal Garden was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. Spread over an area of 13 acres, the garden is divided into three sections (rectangular, long and circular gardens) and is a blend of the formal Mughal and British styles of gardens – there are Mughal canals, multi-level terraces and flowering shrubs along with European flowerbeds, lawns and privet hedges. W. R. Mustoe planted the shrubs, plants and trees in the garden.

The Garden of Five Senses: The Garden of Five Senses, sprawled over a 20-acre area at Said-ul-Azaib village, was developed by Delhi Tourism Transportation Development Corporation (DTDC) and inaugurated in 2003. Built as a public leisure area, the garden was conceptualised to appeal to the five senses: sight, sound, touch, smell and taste.

Excrusion
Agra
Distance from Delhi: 203 km
Travelling time: 40 minutes by air; 5 hours by road
Agra, the city of the world’s most beautiful monument to eternal love – the Taj Mahal – is also home to several other magnificent examples of Mughal architecture. The city was established by Sikandar Lodi in 1504. However, it is best remembered as the seat of the Mughal Empire from 1526 to 1658, and three Mughals ruled from here –Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jahan. It was also known as Akbarabad then.

Akbar built the Red Fort in Agra and also made the city a centre of learning, the arts, religion and commerce. He was also responsible for constructing Fatehpur Sikri near Agra in the form of a Mughal military camp in stone. Jehangir laid out the formal gardens inside the Red Fort. It was Shah Jahan who built the Taj Mahal in the memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, in 1648.

After the Mughals, Agra was controlled by the Marathas and the Jats until it became a part of the British empire in 1803.

Apart from the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri (all three UNESCO World Heritage Sites), also worth seeing in Agra are: Itmad-ud-Daulah`s Tomb, sometimes called the Baby Taj; the Jama Masjid, notable for its unusual dome and absence of minarets; Chini Ka Rauza, notable for its dome of blue glazed tiles; Ram Bagh, the oldest Mughal garden in India, built by the Emperor Babur in 1528; and Sikandra, Akbar’s tomb.

Bharatpur
Distance from Delhi: 215 km
Travelling time: 6 hours by road
Bharatpur, located in the state of Rajasthan, was established by Raja Suraj Mal in 1733. Well worth a visit here is the Keoladeo National Park, which is UNESCO World Heritage Site today. This sanctuary is visited by thousands of rare birds such as the Siberian Crane in the winter months. Other species include the ruddy shelducks, gulls, northern shovelers, northern pintails, coots, garganey, tufted ducks and common pochard.

Over 230 species of birds are known to have made it their home.

Also worth visiting is the Lohagarh Fort (iron fort) of Bharatpur, also built by Maharaja Suraj Mal. This is said to be most impregnable fort in the history of India and when, in 1805, British forces laid siege on the fort for six weeks, they had to eventually retreat after losing 3,000 soldiers. Some monuments inside the fort that are worth seeing are: Kishori Mahal, Mahal Khas and Kothi Khas.

Corbett National Park
Distance from Delhi: 296 km
Travelling time: 7 hours by road
Jim Corbett National Park covers an area of 1318.54 sq km in two districts of the state of Uttarakhand and one in Uttar Pradesh. The Park is home to a variety of flora and fauna, and is especially well-known for its tigers, leopards and elephants. Over 110 tree species, 50 mammal species, 580 bird species and 25 reptile species are found here. It is named after a famous wild-lifer, Jim Corbett, who killed several man-eating tigers and leopards in the area in the early 20th century and has penned his experiences in much-loved books such as The Man-eater of Rudraprayag. Jim Corbett National Park India was one of the nine Tiger Reserves created at the inception of Project Tiger in 1973, launched to conserve the tiger population in India.

There are several good hotels located within the park and safaris are organised every day; their timings depend on the season.

Haridwar
Distance from Delhi: 200 km
Travelling time: 6 hours by road
Haridwar, located in the state of Uttarakhand on the banks of the River Ganga, is one of the seven holiest cities of India. The name means ‘gateway to god’ and, according to Hindu mythology, this is one of the four places where amrit (the nectar of immortality) was accidentally dropped by Garud, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu. Thus this is one of the four locations where the mini Kumbh Mela is organised (in rotation with the other three locations after every three years) while the main event takes place after every 12 years at Allahabad.

The mythical spot where the amrit fell is said to be the Brahma Kund at Har-ki-Pauri, the most sacred ghat of Haridwar. And thousands of devotees and pilgrims commemorate this event by bathing in the sacred waters of the Ganga at this spot during festivals to attain liberation from the cycle of life. A spectacular Ganga aarti (prayer) is held at this ghat every evening which is well worth attending. Haridwar is also a town of spiritual learning and thousands of people flock to its various ashrams to find succour for their souls.

Other sites worth visiting in Haridwar or close by are: Chandi Devi temple, located atop a hill facing the town; Mansa Devi temple; Maya Devi temple, Daksh Mahadev temple; Jairam Ashram, etc.

Jaipur
Distance from Delhi: 258 km
Travelling time: 6 hours by road
Jaipur, the capital city of the state of Rajasthan, is also known as the Pink City after the pink stucco used in imitation of sandstone in most of its ancient buildings. The city, the former capital of the princely state of Jaipur, was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber. Jaipur is one of the most important heritage cities of India, and has been laid out according to ancient Hindu architectural theory.

The Palace complex includes within it the Hawa Mahal (palace of winds), formal gardens, and a small lake. Nahargarh Fort is located on a hill in the northwest corner of the old city and offers a spectacular view of the city. Another important building is Sawai Jai Singh`s observatory, Jantar Mantar. The Amber Palace complex overlooks the artificial lake south of the town of Amber and is well-known for its mixture of Hindu and Muslim architecture. Worth seeing at Jaigarh Fort, located on the hills above the Amber Palace, are: the huge underground water-storage tanks, a medieval canon foundry and an impressive collection of medieval cannons including the Jaivana which is reputed to be the world`s largest cannon on wheels. Jal Mahal is a Rajput style water palace and is located in the centre of the Man Sarovar lake.

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