Delhi

A visitor to Delhi would find this large bustling metropolis teeming with people, heavy traffic on broad roads, busy markets and shopping malls. For a complete experience, one needs to go through its many layers. Delhi is a cosmopolitan with many traditional and modern aspects coexisting without a murmur.
A sight-seeing tour of historical monuments and memorials in the city is much better than a history lesson for learning about Mughal and British architecture and prominent Indian leaders. Walk through the lanes in Old Delhi and be transported to the past with traditional whole sale markets, eateries and buildings. On the fun side there are many amusement parks with rides and multicuisine restaurants, large parks with rolling hills and beautifully landscaped gardens that make excellent picnic spots. For shopaholics there are markets in Connaught Place, Dilli Haat, Janpath and the state emporiums.
Being the national capital, Delhi enjoys the privilege of excellent connectivity by roads, railways and air to all parts of the country and cities abroad. The Delhi Metro is widely used for travel within the city and is a great choice for looking around the city while skipping road traffic and hot weather.
Travel within the city takes a lot of time, so it would be better to factor this in while planning sightseeing. Delhi is also the major base camp from where tourists usually take off for other heritage cities like Jaipur, Agra or head towards the hill stations of Simla and Nainital.
Best Time to Visit: Pleasant months for sightseeing are February, March and September through mid-December.

Languages Spoken: Hindi is the principal spoken language, though signboards would mostly be in English or Bilingual

Climate: Scorching summer, sultry monsoon months and cold foggy winters
Heritage sites and Memorials: Red Fort, Humayun’s tomb, Qutub Minar, Rajpath, Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate, Jantar Mantar, Purana Qila, Tughlaqabad Fort, Raj Ghat, Shakti Sthal, Vijay Ghat
Knowledge centres: Gandhi Smriti, International Doll’s Museum, National Museum, National Science Centre, National Railway Museum, Teen Murti Bhavan, Nehru planetarium, Tibet House, National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum
Fun places and Picnic spots: FunТnТFood Village, Splash Water park, Adventure Island, Entertainment City, Lodhi Gardens, Nehru Park, Buddha Jayanti Gardens, Dilli Haat, Swarn Jayanti park, Millenium Park
Holy Places: Lotus Temple, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Gurudwara Sis Ganj, Jama Masjid, Chhattarpur Mandir, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Cathedral Church of Redemption, St. Peter’s Cathedral, ISKCON, Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple, Sai Baba Temple

Battlefields of Delhi

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The Bhairav temple had that the mighty pandavas had gone to their heavenly abode after renouncing the kingdom for which they had fought a battle. It has also seen the gradual deprecation within the kingdom that continued upto the reign of Janmejay. The question about the ultimate fate of descendants of Yudhisthira always remains unanswered to me.

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Jammu to Delhi

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The road till Pathankot which is almost totally in the state of J&K is good, the quality of tarmac is good not excellent with only a few potholes and very little traffic. It is easy to touch 100kmph. The route however has a number of township astride the National Highway, which acts as bottlenecks to the smooth flow of traffic, there are street vendors, local traffic crossing across and my ever favourite тАШthe cattleтАЩ.

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рдШреБрдордХреНрдХрдбрд╝ рдХреА рджрд┐рд▓реНрд▓реА : рд╣рд╡реЗрд▓реА рдорд┐рд░реНреЫрд╛ реЪрд╛рд▓рд┐рдм

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реЪрд╛рд▓рд┐рдм рдХреЗ рд░рд╣рддреЗ рдЗрд╕ рд╣рд╡реЗрд▓реА рдХреА рдЕрд╕рд▓ рдкреИрдорд╛рдЗрд╢ рддрдХрд░реАрдмрди 400 рд╕реНрдХреНрд╡рд╛рдпрд░ рдпрд╛рд░реНрдбреНрд╕ (square yards) рдереА. рдирд╛рдЬрд╛рдпрдЬ рдХрдмреНрдЬреЛрдВ рдХреА рд╡рдЬрд╣ рд╕реЗ рдЗрд╕ рд╣рд╡реЗрд▓реА рдХреЗ рдЕрдВрджрд░ рдФрд░ рдЪрд╛рд░реЛрдВ рдУрд░ рджреБрдХрд╛рдиреЛрдВ рдФрд░ рджреВрд╕рд░реЗ рдХрд╛рд░реЛрдмрд╛рд░реА рдЗрд╕реНрддреЗрдорд╛рд▓ рдХреЗ рдЪрд▓рддреЗ рд╣рд╡реЗрд▓реА рдиреЗ рдЕрдкрдирд╛ рд╡реЫреВрдж рд▓рдЧрднрдЧ рдЦреЛ-рд╕рд╛ рджрд┐рдпрд╛. рд╕рд╛рд▓ 1999 рдореЗрдВ рджрд┐рд▓реНрд▓реА рд╕рд░рдХрд╛рд░ рдиреЗ рдЗрд╕ рд╣рд╡реЗрд▓реА рдХреЗ рдХреБрдЫ рд╣рд┐рд╕реНрд╕реЗ рдХреЛ рдирд╛реЫрд╛рдпреЫ рдХрдмреНрдЬреЛрдВ рд╕реЗ рдЫреБреЬрд╛рдХрд░ рдЗрд╕реЗ рдлрд┐рд░ рд╕реЗ рдкреБрд░рд╛рдиреЗ рд░рдВрдЧ-рд░реВрдк рдореЗрдВ рд▓рд╛рдиреЗ рдХреА рдХреЛрд╢рд┐рд╢ рдХреА. рдФрд░ рдЗрд╕ рддрд░рд╣ реЪрд╛рд▓рд┐рдм рдХреА рд╣рд╡реЗрд▓реА “реЪрд╛рд▓рд┐рдм рд╕реНрдорд╛рд░рдХ” рдХреЗ рддреМрд░ рдкрд░ рд╡реЫреВрдж рдореЗрдВ рдЖрдпреА.

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My day in Rashtrapati Bhawan

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This is the location where all the functions (IndiaтАЩs prestigious award given to its citizen) take place. This place is called the Darbar Hall, the celebration hall of the Rastrapati Bhawan. The hall was situated just below the Gombuz (Doom), which we see from the long distance.

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Delhi тАУ Sangla … journey through the verdant valleys of Himachal

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As we go further, this road climbs higher till it reaches sheer cliffs of stark, unadorned rock where the road is but a scooped out C-shaped tunnel embedded in the vertical cliff side. While we enjoy the drive along the banks of the Sutlej in all its moods, I am almost willing the road to start climbing to this, one of the most celebrated and recognised sections of this route. And when we do hit that stretch, we are all spellbound! Such is the precarious nature of the road that there are precipitous drops on the only open side and encased in solid rock on the other three sides.

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рдШреБрдордХреНрдХрдбрд╝ рдХреА рджрд┐рд▓реНрд▓реА : рдЧреБрд░реБрджреНрд╡рд╛рд░рд╛ рд╢реНрд░реА рдмрдВрдЧрд▓рд╛ рд╕рд╛рд╣рд┐рдм

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рднрд╡рди рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рд╣рд░ рдЖрдХрд░ рдкрдВрдХреНрддрд┐ рдореЗрдВ рд╣рд▓реБрд╡рд╛ рдХрд╛ рдкреНрд░рд╢рд╛рджрд╛ рд▓рд┐рдпрд╛. рдкреНрд░рд╛рдВрдЧрдг рдореЗрдВ рдХреБрдЫ рджреЗрд░ рд╢рд╛рдВрддрдЪрд┐рддреНрдд рд╣реЛрдХрд░ рдмреИрдареЗ рд░рд╣рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рдж рдкреНрд░рд╢рд╛рджрд╛ рдЧреНрд░рд╣рдг рдХрд┐рдпрд╛. рдЧреБрд░реБрджреНрд╡рд╛рд░реЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рдорд┐рд▓рдиреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓реЗ рдкреНрд░рд╢рд╛рдж рд░реВрдкреА рд╣рд▓реБрд╡реЗ рдХреА рд╡рд┐рд╢реЗрд╖рддрд╛ рд╣реИ рдХрд┐ рдпрд╣ рд╢реБрджреНрдз рджреЗрд╢реА рдШреА рд╕реЗ рдмрдирд╛ рд╣реЛрддрд╛ рд╣реИ рдФрд░ рдкреВрд░реА рддрд░рд╣ рд╕реЗ рдШреА рдореЗрдВ рддрд░ рд╣реЛрддрд╛ рд╣реИ. рд╣рд╛рде рдореЗрдВ рдкреНрд░рд╢рд╛рджрд╛ рд▓реЗрдХрд░ рдЦрд╛рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рдмрд╛рдж рд╣рд╛рдереЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рджреЗрд╢реА рдШреА рдХреА рд╕реБрдЧрдВрдз рдФрд░ рдЪрд┐рдХрдирд╛рд╣рдЯ рдмрд╛рдиреА рд░рд╣рддреА рд╣реИ рдФрд░ рд╕реНрд╡рд╛рдж рдХреА рддреЛ рдмрд╛рдд рд╣реА рдХреНрдпрд╛┬а‘рдЧреБрд░реБ-рдкреНрд░рд╕рд╛рдж’┬ардЬреЛ рд╣реИ. рдмрдЪреНрдЪреЛрдВ рдиреЗ рднреА рдкреНрд░рд╢рд╛рджрд╛ рдЧреНрд░рд╣рдг рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рдФрд░ рдореЗрд░реА рдмрдбрд╝реА рдмреЗрдЯреА рднреВрдорд┐рдХрд╛ рдХреЛ рдЗрддрдирд╛ рдкрд╕рдВрдж рдЖрдпрд╛ рдХрд┐ рдкреНрд░рд╢рд╛рджрд╛ рдХреА рд▓рд┐рдП рджреЛрдмрд╛рд░рд╛ рд╕реЗ рд▓рд╛рдЗрди рдореЗрдВ рд▓рдЧ рдЧрдпреА. рдкреНрд░рд╢рд╛рджрд╛ рд╡рд┐рддрд░рдг рдХрд░рдиреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓реЗ рднрдЧрддрдЬреА рдиреЗ рд╕рд░ рдкрд░ рд░реБрдорд╛рд▓рд╛ рди рд╣реЛрдиреЗ рдХреА рдХрд╛рд░рдг рдереЛрдбрд╝рд╛ рдбрд╛рдВрдЯрддреЗ рд╣реБрдП рдкреНрд░рд╢рд╛рджрд╛ рджреЗрдиреЗ рд╕реЗ рдордирд╛ рдХрд░ рджрд┐рдпрд╛ рдФрд░ рд╣рдо рджреВрд░ рд╕реЗ рджреГрд╢реНрдп рджреЗрдЦрддреЗ рд░рд╣реЗ.

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рдШреБрдордХреНрдХрдбрд╝ рдХреА рджрд┐рд▓реНрд▓реА : рддреАрди рдореВрд░реНрддрд┐ рднрд╡рди

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рддрд╛рд░рд╛рдордВрдбрд▓ рдХреЗ рдмреАрдЪреЛ-рдмреАрдЪ рдПрдХ рд╡рд┐рд╢реЗрд╖ рдкреНрд░рдХрд╛рд░ рдХреЗ рдкреНрд░реЛрдЬреЗрдХреНрдЯрд░ рдиреЗ рдзреАрд░реЗ-рдзреАрд░реЗ рдХреНрд░рд┐рдпрд╛рд╢реАрд▓ рд╣реЛрдХрд░ рдЧреЛрд▓рд╛рдХрд╛рд░ рдЫрдд рд░реБрдкреА рдкрд░рджреЗ рдХреЛ рдЕрдкрдиреЗ рдкреНрд░рдХрд╛рд╢ рд╕реЗ рдврдХ рджрд┐рдпрд╛. рдЖрдХрд╛рд╢рдЧрдВрдЧрд╛, рддрд╛рд░рд╛рдордВрдбрд▓, рдЧреНрд░рд╣-рдирдХреНрд╖рддреНрд░ рдЖрджрд┐ рдмреНрд░рд╣реНрдорд╛рдВрдбреАрдп рдЖрдХреГрддрд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдиреЗ рдкреНрд░рдХрдЯ рд╣реЛрдХрд░ рддрд╛рд░рд╛рдордВрдбрд▓ рдХреА рдЫрдд рдХреЛ рд╡рд╛рд╕реНрддрд╡рд┐рдХ рдЖрдХрд╛рд╢ рдХреЗ рд░реВрдк рдореЗрдВ рдкрд░рд┐рд╡рд░реНрддрд┐рдд рдХрд░ рджрд┐рдпрд╛. рдмреНрд░рд╣реНрдорд╛рдВрдбреАрдп рдЦрдЧреЛрд▓ рдХреА рдХреНрд░рд┐рдпрд╛рдУрдВ рдЬреИрд╕реЗ рдмреНрд░рд╣реНрдорд╛рдгреНрдб рдХреА рдЙрддреНрдкрддреНрддрд┐, рддрд╛рд░реЛрдВ рдХреЗ рдмрдирдиреЗ рдирд╖реНрдЯ рд╣реЛрдиреЗ рдХреА рдкреНрд░рдХреНрд░рд┐рдпрд╛, рдЖрдХрд╛рд╢рдЧрдВрдЧрд╛ рдХрд╛ рдмрдирдирд╛, рдЧреНрд░рд╣ рдирдХреНрд╖рддреНрд░, рд╕реМрд░ рдкрд░рд┐рд╡рд╛рд░ рдХреЗ рдЧреНрд░рд╣реЛрдВ рдХреЗ рдЖрдкрд╕реА рд╕рдореНрдмрдиреНрдз рдФрд░ рдЙрдирдХреА рдЧрддрд┐, рднреНрд░рдордг, рдкрд░рд┐рдХреНрд░рдорд╛ рдЖрджрд┐ рдЕрдиреЗрдХ рдЬрд╛рдирдХрд╛рд░рд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдХреЛ рдмрд┐рдЦреЗрд░рддрд╛ рд╣реБрдЖ рддрд╛рд░рд╛рдордВрдбрд▓ рдХрд╛ рд╢реЛ рдкреНрд░рдЧрддрд┐ рдкрд░ рдерд╛. рдмреНрд░рд╣реНрдорд╛рдгреНрдб рдХреЗ рдирдХреНрд╖рддреНрд░, рдЖрдХрд╛рд╢рдЧрдВрдЧрд╛, рд╕реМрд░ рдкрд░рд┐рд╡рд╛рд░ рдФрд░ рдЧреНрд░рд╣реЛрдВ рдЖрджрд┐ рдХреЛ рдЕрдЪреНрдЫреА рдкреНрд░рдХрд╛рд░ рд╕реЗ рд╕рдордЭрдиреЗ рд╣реЗрддреБ рддрд╛рд░рд╛рдордВрдбрд▓ рд╡рд┐рд╢реЗрд╖ рдЙрдкрдпреЛрдЧреА рд╣реИ.

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Chokhi Dhani Sonipat : Little Rajasthan near Delhi

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We relished the Bajra ki roti in a traditional village way and went back to the dining hall, because the clock hit 8 PM and our time for dinner was 8.15. So when we reached in the diner hall, again we had got a warm welcome in Rajathani style тАЬraam room sa/shethani saтАЭтАж.

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Motorbiking from Gurgaon to Gaya (Bihar)

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The first step is always the hardest step. Thankfully one of my flatmate Vikas agreed to come with me (on his Avenger !! ) upto Agra to see the Taj and then he would return back to Gurgaon .
We didnтАЩt pick the Yamuna expressway since if you are planning to go Agra from Gurgaon, taking AH1/NH2 through the Sohna Road is always a better option. It prevents you from passing through Delhi traffic, plus no tolls to pay like that on Yamuna Expressway ( and no more tyre bursts !!). The road is pretty good upto Palwal, 50km from Gurgaon, from there AH1 meets NH2 which directly takes you to Agra. Although it was mid April, somehow it started raining around 7 AM and weather became very pleasant, what else a rider could ask for !!

We stopped for chai sutta on two occasions and reached Agra by 10 AM. After entering the Agra city , it took us around 1.5 hrs to reach the Taj because of small roads and heavy traffic although it was only 13 kms from the highway. Anyways seeing the magnificent Taj and Agra fort was quite refreshing. Now my roomy Vikas had to go back to Gurgaon and I had to cover the rest part of my journey alone. I was up for it.

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BahaтАЩi House of Worship тАУ The Lotus Temple

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The figure of тАЬ9 тАЬ seems to have some significant meaning as we could see the temple surrounded by nine pools and there were nine archways into the temple. Another interesting thing is that a simple nine-pointed star is generally used by the BahaтАЩis as a symbol of their faith. At the Information center, we were told that тАЬnineтАЭ is chosen because it is the highest single-digit number and in many countries symbolises comprehensiveness, oneness and unity.

The most astounding thing is that this beautiful edifice has no pillars or beams. The petals are made of white concrete and are covered by marble (the same quality of marble as used in the Parthenon, mined in Greece, cut and polished in Italy and 10,000 pieces were brought to the site and assembled as a jig saw puzzle).

The volunteers at the entrance tell the visitors to maintain absolute silence in the temple, though every one is free to meditate or pray as per oneтАЩs religious practices.

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In the mystic alleys of Delhi – the Dargah of Amir Khusrau

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I learnt about Amir Khusrau when I was very young.

During my childhood, we used to live in Old Delhi and our house was almost sandwiched between an ancient mosque and a тАЬmazaarтАЭ (Mausoleum). At the Mazaar, every Thursday, a few of the good musicians assembled and played devotional music, which I came to know later on was called тАЬSufiyana KalaamтАЭ and it was performed as homage to the father of тАЬQawwalisтАЭ, Hazrat Amir Khusrau and his Master, Hazrat Nizammudin Aulia.

Since I was fond of music, I found this kind of music very fascinating and depending on the homework prescribed by my school teachers, I used to attend the Thursday тАЬQawwaliтАЭ session sometime. Seeing my enthusiasm, one Muslim gentleman, fondly called тАЬHaji jiтАЭ, who lived in our neighborhood, told me a few interesting facts about Amir Khusrau.

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Nainital to Kausani and back to Delhi by road

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Though the entire Kumaon region is divinely beautiful, Kausani & Gwaldam are the authentic highlights due to its spectacular landscape with 300 km panoramic view of the range of HimalayaтАЩs few of the very high peaks at hand shaking distance. The Nanda Devi and Trisul are the main attractions that attract tourists from far and near to glance the breathtaking scenic splendor at dawn which is unparallel. Mahatma Gandhi has rightly called the place the тАШSwitzerland of IndiaтАЩ. Located amidst dense Pine forest atop a ridge at an altitude of 1900 m, Kausani is a cool and tranquil place with limited tourist turnout hence still raw, retaining the natural essence.

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