Delhi Sight Seeing Tour Package

Delhi Sight Seeing

-: MUGHAL GARDENS :-

Mughal gardens is one of the historical gardens of Delhi and is famous for its magestic< style of design, which is a blend of Moghul and British garden styles. Situated within Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official residence of the President of India, it is known for a wide varieties of roses in the country, some of which are rare and extinct.. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutynes for Lady Harding, the garden occupies an area of 13 acres and is divided into three sections ( rectangular, long and circular gardens). The chequered flowerbeds lend an enchanting look to this wonderfully landscaped garden. T he garden is beautified with Mughal style canals, fountains and terraces. The garden is a treat to eyes as it showcases the nature at its best.. The garden have variety of trees and flowers like ro ses, marigold, bougainvillea, sweet william, viscaria etc among many others.

These gardens also houses artificial ponds where you will have the opportunity to watch fishes. In addition, the garden also endorses romantically designed fountains with multicolored lights that form the major attractions. Mughal Garden has 4 waterways with lotus-shaped red sandstone made fountain at their intersection. Moreover, the colorful flowers add up to the pleasure of your eyes. At Mughal Garden in Delhi, you can relax yourself amidst the nature's majestic beauty and silence. Mughal Garden serves as the perfect destination for picnic in the spring. Mughal Garden is open for public visit only in the months of February and March when the flowers are in their full bloom.

The old fort, one of the most visited historical monuments in Delhi, is said to be occupied since 1000 B.C. Legend has it that this is the very place where Indraprastha, the Pandava capital mentioned in the epic Mahabharata, once stood. The Mughal Emperor, Humayun, built the city of Dinapanah in the 16th century, which took about five years to complete. The Old Fort was initially constructed as a citadel in this city and was completed by Sher Shar Suri an afghan ruler who deposed Humayun.He also added other buildings including the magnificent monque-Qila Kuhna, built in about 1540.

There are three Gates to this fort. The entrance is through the Bara Darwaza,the south Gate is called the Humayun Darwaza and the third gate is the Talaqi Darwaza, The use of both Marble and red stone provides a rather unique look to the structure.The inner west wall of the Masjid has five arched openings which are richly ornamented in white and black marbles. The architecture is a sheer blend of Hindu, Muslim and Afghani art of that period. It stands on a mound and a lake exists at the foot, where arrangements for boat ride has been made for the visitors. Sound and light shows are also hosted in the site. The old fort is located near other landmarks like Delhi Zoo and Humayun’s tomb. Sher Mandal is one of the several towers inside the fort.Some Mughal documents have revealed that it was while descending its stairs that Humayun slipped, fell and received injuries which subsequently led to his death.

Old fort is a must visit for those interested in ancient monuments and exquisite artistic sense.

The Jantar Mantar is a collection of architectural astronomical instruments, built by Maharaja Jai Singh II at his then new capital of Jaipur between 1727 and 1734. Showcasing the scientific and astronomical knowledge of ancient India, the observatory consists of fourteen major geometric devices for measuring time, predicting eclipses, tracking stars in their orbits, ascertaining the declinations of planets, and determining the celestial altitudes and related ephemeredes. Built of local stone and marble, each is a fixed and 'focused' tool. The Samrat Jantar, the largest instrument, is 90 feet (27 m) high, its shadow carefully plotted to tell the time of day. The Jantar Mantar was declared a national monument in 1948.

A keen follower of astrological science, Maharaja Jai Singh was dissatisfied with the methods used by pundits during those times and he took it upon himself to find an accurate and reliable means of measurement, a desire which ultimately led to the inventions of these instruments. Apart from Delhi, he built observatories at Jaipur, Ujjain, Benares and Mathura. It took almost seven years before the whole structure was fully operational because he wanted to be fully satisfied with the accuracy of the instruments

The name is derived from yantra, instrument, and mantra, for formula or in this context calculation. Therefore jantar mantar means literally 'calculation instrument'. Situated at the heart of Delhi, Connaught Place,the observatory Today has become a popular tourist attraction. It has always attracted architects, historians and scientists from all over the world. Students of astrology still use it for their research work.

Some of the major instruments at Jantar Mantar are:

• The Samrat Yantra 'Prince of Dials' (the largest device)

• The Ram Yantra - two circular buildings

• The Jai Prakash

• The Misra Yantra (north-west to the Samrat Yantra)

Rajghat is a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi,the father of the nation.located near the banks of river Yamuna, . It is a black marble platform that marks the spot of Gandhi's cremation on 31 January, 1948. At one end of the Samadhi, meaning mausoleums, a flame burns eternally inside a copper urn. A stone footpath flanked by lawns leads to the walled enclosure that houses the memorial. Two museums dedicated to Gandhi are located near by. The memorial has the epitaph He Ram, (literally 'O' Ram', but also translated to 'O God'), the last words uttered by Gandhi.

foreign dignitaries visiting India pay their respects to Gandhi at the Raj Ghat by laying flowers or wreaths on the platform. A commemorative ceremony takes place every Friday. Prayers are held in remembrance of Mahatma on the Birth (2nd October) and Death (30th January) Anniversaries. 30th January is remembered as Martyr's Day.

The surrounding areas houses the samadhis of other famous Indian Politicians, freedom fighters and dignitaries like Jawahar Lal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. Jawaharlal Nehru's samadhi is to the north of the Raj Ghat and is known as the Shantivan or Shanti Vana meaning the forest of peace. Surrounded by greenery and several exotic shrubs and trees, the vicinity has a peacefull charm to it.

Akshardham is the latest addition in the list of famous monuments and temples in Delhi. Officially opened to the public since 6 november 2005, the temple figures in the Guiniess Book of World Records as the largest Hindu temple in the world. The breathtaking structure, the detailed lay out of the complex, the garden concept, the rich and ornate carvings and the use of modern technology- all of this combines beautifully to make the temple visit an unforgettable experience.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual head of the BSAP inspired and supervised the temple which took 3,000 volunteers and 7,000 artisans to complete. Located adjacent to the upcoming 2010 commonwealth games site, the Akshardham is believed to attract more than 65% of people visiting Delhi.

The large central monument in the temple is richly carved with images of deities, musicians and dancers. The structure is crafted entirely of stone, with no use of cement and the murtis or idols inside are made up of five metals in accordance with the ancient Hindu tradition. The temple is dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan along with other Hindu Gods like Ram, Sita, Vishnu, Krishna and Shiva. Other attractions in the complex include:

Garden of India whose lush green field is filled with bronze sculptures of India’s cultural and Historical Legends including Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose, Shivaji amongst others.

a theatre-housing Delhi's first and only large format screen, measuring 85-foot (26 m) by 65-foot (20 m), a Musical fountain, India's largest step well, where shows representing the circle of life is played to the audience. a Boat ride in peacock shaped boat which takes visitors on a journey through 10,000 years of Indian history.

INDIA GATE - "All India War Memorial"

India Gate is a tribute to all those brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice for the country. Constructed in the memory of 90,000 soldiers who laid down their lives during world war I, another additional 13,516 names engraved on the arch and foundations form a separate memorial to the British and Indian soldiers killed on the North-West Frontier in the Afghan War of 1919. There is also Amar Jawan Jyoti, a Memorial built in the memory of soldiers who perished in the Indo-Pakistan War of December 1971. It is in the form of a flame that burns day and night under the arch. Also known as the All India War Memorial, the stately India Gate is situated at the east end of the broad Janpath that leads to the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

India Gate was designed and constructed by Lutyens. India Gate is 42 m high and is popular relaxation area and a picnic spot. Infact, it seems like all of Delhi had thronged the place during winter afternoons and summer evenings. The air is thick with chatter, laughter and the cries of assorted vendors peddling their wares. You can snack on anything from fruit chaat (fruit salad with hot, spicy dressing), through bhelpuri (a snack of puffed rice, spices and hot, sweet and sour chutney), chana jor garam (spicy chickpeas), dal ka pakodas (fried lentil-flour dumplings), potato chips to ice cream, candy floss and aerated drinks. A perfect place to relax and loll in the manicured garden surrounding the structure. Visitors can also enjoy the boat rides or go for horse riding.