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Travel in India
Delhi
RED FORT
Red Fort could perhaps be singled out as yet another monument, which
should not escape the tourist's eyes. Known as lal qila (lal means red and
qila means fort). It is laid out along the river Yamuna as an irregular
octagon. It is surrounded by a wall of about 2.4 Kilometers in circumference
and is built of Red Sandstone. The Mughal King Shah Jahan transferred his
capital from Agra to Delhi and the fort was completed in 1648, nine years
after the king shifted to this city. The fort has two main entrances, the
Delhi Gate and the Lahori Gate, which faces the famed Chandni Chowk
market.Shah Jahan, incidentally was also the king who built the Taj Mahal of Agra.
The fort has the Diwan-e-am, where the king would grant audience to the
public to listen to their problems. The other feature is the Diwan-e-Khas
(khas means special) where the king would grant audience to important
people. Besides this, is the Rang Mahal, the water-cooled apartment for the
royal ladies. In the basement of the fort is a market where several
traditional Indian goods can be purchased at nominal rates. Another
attraction is the Light and Sound Show held in the evenings.
LOTUS TEMPLE
Lotus Temple is a very recent architectural marvel of the Bahai faith and is
visible from several spots in south Delhi. Located in Kalkaji in the south of
Delhi, it is lotus shaped and has rightly been given the name. It is made of
marble, cement, dolomite and sand. It is open to all faiths and is an ideal
place for meditation and obtaining peace and tranquility.HUMAYUNS TOMB
This tomb, which was built by emperor Humayun's wife, took eight years to
complete and is regarded as an example of the early Mughal architecture.
The emperor's wife, Begai Begum, was buried in the tomb and the structure
is the first of its kind built in the centre of a well-planned garden. The
combination of white marble and red sandstone was a great influence on
later Mughal architecture. It is generally regarded as a prototype of the
famed Taj Mahal of Agra.
JANTAR MANTAR
The late Mughal ruler Muhammad Shah enabled the raja of Jaipur, Sawai jai
Singh Kachhwala, to build an astronomical observatory in Delhi. The raja
used the structure to update existing astronomical tables and almanac. The
main structures are large scale, sophisticated scientific instruments
constructed in brick and plaster, and consist of extruded, interlocked
shapes extremely unusual to the architecture of the period.
JAMA MASJID
Opp Red Fort (1 km west) between 1650 to 1656, based on the plan and
design of Ostad Khalil, the then great sculpture, Emperor Shahjahan built
Juma Masjid at the cost of Rs 10 crore- it may be said as the replica of
Moti Masjid in Agra. It is called Masjid-e-Jahanuma. It is the heartbeat gate
was meant for Royal Family and Shahjahan used to come on every Friday
and on every festival by walk from the fort.
The north and south gates were meant for common people. Alike Bho Jhala
hill top on a high dais at the head of the highest peak there were 2 minars
of 40 m high. Buy ticket Rs 5, get up flights of 122 steps and view around
from the South Minar. The premises of the South Minar is 1076 sq ft wide.
2,5000 devotees at a time may sit together for namaz.OLD FORT
It is 4 km away from Connaught Circus to the S-East of India Gate, the
foundation of this Fort was started by Humayun in 1530 but remained
incomplete as he was defeated by Afghan hero Sher-Shah-Suri in 1541. It
is located in the pre-historical Indraprastha (as is surveyed and proved in
1955 findings) of the Mahabharata and completed by Sher Shah as the 6th
city or Killa or the Fort. Later it was named Shergarh.
On the 3 sides by Jamuna. From 3rd BC to pre-Mughal period, there was
fort in Indraprastha. Humayun built a new one. Old Indraprastha became
Dinpanaha. The Fort was encircled with high walls having 3 main entrances.
Entering through the Zoo Garden or the Talaki Entrance of north, you will
see the octogonal peaks made of sand stones on Sher Manzil. After the
death of Sher-Shah-Suri in 1548, Humayun recaptured Delhi in 1555
defeating Sher Shah' son Islam Shah. Humayun also destroyed Shergarh.
However, Sher Manjil founded by Sher Shah became Humayun's library.