Delhi

Delhi is the city of the future with its feet firmly planted in the past. Strolling around Delhi you can lose yourself in medieval bazaars and ancient palaces before reconnecting with the modern world over a frothy cappuccino in one of the city’s trendy cafés. At one time Old Delhi was the centre of power for the Mughal Empire and later the English built New Delhi to be their capital in the region. Delhi’s diversity reflects a country which is home to followers of every major religion and two thousand distinct ethnic groups.

The city of Delhi is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a host of other spectacular sights including the Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb and the globally renowned Red Fort. The Red Fort is the jewel in Delhi’s crown and was brought to its current state of construction by the Mughal emperors most notably by the man responsible for the Taj Mahal; Shah Jahan.

Shah Jahan built the city of Shahjahanabad (literally “the abode of Shah Jahan”) to the north of the existing settlement in the mid 17th century. The city of Shahjahanabad is largely composed of what is now known as Old Delhi.

Old Delhi is unlike any other city in the world. Experienced travellers might compare it to the busiest parts of the souks of North Africa, or the bustling night time cities of Bangkok or Hong Kong. The cultural diversity is reminiscent of London but the temperature is more suited to Texas. Modern Delhi mixes the best of adventure travel with the best of India to create a truly unique destination.

The Highlights of Delhi

Delhi is swamped with interesting and intriguing sights which means that deciding what to see can be a nightmare. To help we have compiled a list of some of the best places to go in Delhi.

The Lotus Temple - Delhi’s Bahá'í House of Worship is a masterpiece of design and a defining point in religious architecture. The simple design elegantly follows the structures of the Bahá'í faith but rather than a traditional dome the temple takes the form of a lotus flower. Set in beautiful gardens the Lotus Temple is one of Delhi’s, if not Asia’s, must-see destinations.

Gali Paranthe Wali - for an authentic taste of Delhi you can’t do better than the street of fried bread. The Gali Paranthe Wali is a narrow street off the Chandni Chowk which has been the home to a gastronomic culture which stretches back to 1870. Many Indian celebrities have dined here including Indira Ghandi. The Gali Paranthe Wali is not Delhi’s most glamorous venue but one of the best loved.

Jama Masjid - Delhi’s principle mosque was built by Shah Jahan in 1656. The mosque sits next to Delhi’s main street the Chandni Chowk and can hold 25,000 worshippers at any one time. One of Delhi’s many fine examples of Mughal architecture the mosque is an awe inspiring and humbling sight.