Delhi

Introducing Delhi
Delhi, the capital of India proudly preserves many heritages right from the early medieval period. Infact, Delhi is witness to every scar that India was inflicted with and every victory that India achieved through great sacrifices right from the historical period to the present. If some monuments remind the rule of the mighty Mughals and Lodhis, others speak of the rich legacy that the British had left behind. But Delhi has never shown any complacency in upgrading her tourist attractions.

Constantly adding new feathers to her cap, many modern attractions also adorn the landscape of Delhi. New Delhi is also striving hard to bring her infrastructure to world class levels. In short, India's capital New Delhi is a symbol of strength and pride for her people. Visiting Delhi is a dream for every Indian and the first choice of most foreign tourists coming to India.

Climate
Summers in Delhi are from April to June. Monsoon generally sets in from July and may last till September. Winters are from November to February. Temperatures may rise to a high of 45 degrees in summer and drop to a low of about 5 degrees in winter. Monsoon rains are not very heavy and Delhiites eagerly await the rainy season to bring some respite from the sweltering heat.

Best Time to Visit
September-November and February-April
How to Reach
By Air : Flights are available to Delhi from all major destinations of India and many international destinations. The Indira Gandhi International Airport of Delhi is located on the outskirts of the capital to its south.

By Rail : National capital Delhi is well connected to almost all Indian states by railways. There are three important railway stations in Delhi-New Delhi Railway Station, Old Delhi Railway Station and Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway station. For a comfortable journey to the capital from major Indian cities, fully air conditioned Rajdhani and Shatabdi express trains are great choices.

By Bus : Delhi is well connected by road to all major destinations in North India. There are Inter State Bus Terminuses (ISBT) at Kashmiri Gate, Sarai Kale-Khan and Anand Vihar areas of the city. Buses in the air conditioned, deluxe and ordinary categories regularly operate between Delhi and most other destinations of Northern India.

Places Where You Can Stay
Delhi is full of hotels, guest houses and lodges in various categories. Infact, hotels in the budget category could be found in every nook and corner of the city. Hotels occupying the top slot in luxury category are Oberoi Grand, Maurya Sheraton and Taj Mahal. In the mid range category, Nirula's, Shanti Palace, Bill Palace and Hotel Broadway are good options.

Forts and Monuments in Delhi
An ancient city, having a history dating back to thousand years, Delhi abounds with several imposing forts and monuments erected by various rulers over the centuries. Even today after several years of their construction, the forts and monuments of Delhi will surely hold your attention at once with their excellent architecture and grandeur. Some of the important forts and monuments of Delhi include Red Fort, Old Fort, Humayun's Tomb, Qutab Minar, Jama Masjid, Hazrat Nizammudin Auliya Dargah, Safdarjung Tomb and Jantar Mantar. Apart from the old monuments, Delhi is home to a number of impressive modern structures like Rashtrapati Bhavan, Indian Gate, Akshardham Temple and Lotus Temple.

Tourist Attractions in Delhi
India Gate : Located at the heart of Delhi, the names of all the soldiers who laid down their lives during the Afghan war are inscribed here. In a broad sense, India Gate pays homage to all Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives to uphold the honour of the motherland. The lush green lawns on both sides of this mammoth gate are filled with people in the evening.

The Red Fort : The Red Fort in old Delhi is a magnificent example of the Mughal architectural style. The fort was constructed by Shahjahan in the 17th century when he decided to shift his capital from Agra to Delhi. The beautiful interiors of the fort including intricate carvings throws a lot of light on the luxurious living style of Mughal rulers.

Rashtrapati Bhawan : The official residence of President of India is a superb example of British architectural style during colonial period. There is a slight ascent of Rajpath from India Gate leading to Rashtrapati Bhavan. The gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan, particularly Mughal gardens ranks among the best gardens in India.

Raj Ghat : Raj Ghat is the place where the samadhi of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi is situated. Located in a sprawling well maintained campus, people in large numbers come to Raj Ghat to pay respect to the Mahatma. The place has a very serene ambience.

Shanti Vana : Adjacent to Raj Ghat is Shanti Vana, the place where India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was cremated. The samadhi is surrounded by beautiful parks and lush green trees that visiting foreign dignitaries plant while visiting the place. Shanti Vana literally means forest of peace.

Qutab Minar : Qutab Minar is located at Mehrauli in southern Delhi. A fine example of early medieval period architecture, Qutab Minar was built by Qutub-ud-din-Aibak of the Slave dynasty in 13th century. Built of red sand stone, the Minar rises to a height of 72.5 metres from the ground. There are intricate carvings and verses from the holy Koran inscribed on the walls of the Minar.

Bahai Temple : Among the newly built attractions adorning Delhi's landscape is the magnificent Bahai Temple, more popularly called Lotus Temple. Built with meticulous care in the shape of a lotus, the temple is a great example of modern architecture. A deep serenity pervades the entire place. There are well laid out gardens on all sides of the temple.

Laxminarayan Temple : The Laxminarayana Temple, popularly called the Birla Mandir, was built in the year 1938 by the Birla family. The architecture of the temple is impressive and it is visited by tourists in large numbers. Dedicated to Lord Krishna, the temple adorns an entirely new look on Janmashtami day.

Excursions near Delhi
Agra : At a distance of 203 kms from Delhi, Agra is famous for that great symbol of love in white marbles-Taj Mahal. The Taj is a monument whose beauty and grandeur could not be matched by any other monument in the world. Infact, the monuments of Agra reflect the splendor of the great Mughal architectural style.

Mathura : Mathura falls on the way to Agra from Delhi. The birth place of Lord Krishna, Mathura is full of big and small temples dedicated to the Lord. Sacred to the Hindus, Mathura is a popular excursion destination from Delhi.

Bharatpur : Bharatpur is popular for Keoladeo bird sanctuary. More than 400 species of birds can be spotted in the sanctuary. A number of migratory birds also come to the place during winters. The sanctuary is located at a distance of 180 kms from Delhi.

Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary : Sultanpur may not be as popular as Bharatpur, yet the wildlife sanctuary at a distance of 46 kms from Delhi is emerging as a popular excursion place near Delhi. Hundreds of species of migratory birds venture into Sultanpur during winter from places as far away as Siberia and Europe. To attract tourists in large numbers, guest houses, restaurants, cottages, bars, hide outs and watch towers have also been built.

Kurukshetra : Located in Haryana at a distance of 157 kms from Delhi, Kurukshetra is the place where the famous battle of Mahabharata is believed to have taken place. The Brahma Sarovar and Narkatari temple of the place are associated with ancient times. A place that figures prominently in Hindu scriptures, Kurukshetra draws tourists in large numbers.

Hot Air Ballooning in Delhi
Like a child's fantasy come true, Hot Air Ballooning in national capital Delhi is a delightful experience. A big balloon remains attached with loosely hung basket which can carry three to four persons. When the balloonists is alone in the balloon, he may rise to an altitude of around 20,000 ft, while those who ride in groups may reach to a height between 1000 ft to 2000 ft.

Be it the imposing Qutub Minar or the magnificent Red Fort, Jama Masjid, India Gate or the picturesque Rashtrapati Bhawan, hot air Ballooning in Delhi provides you a spectacular birds eye view. You can even travel short distances between Delhi and other nearby towns in these hot air balloons. In Delhi, the Ballooning Club of India organizes International Balloon festival and demonstration flights every year.

Shopping in Delhi
Shopping in Delhi is a unique experience. On the one hand, there are gorgeous shopping malls and branded showrooms in various places of the capital frequented by the rich and fashionable. There is the famous Chor Bazar in old Delhi where duplicates of branded items could be brought for a paltry sum after a hard bargain. Although there are a few local handicraft items of Delhi, there are no specific items exclusive to Delhi. Infact, if tourists have the time, energy and will for an extensive search, items belonging to every Indian state could be found in the markets and government emporiums of Delhi.

Some of the popular market places of the capital are Janpath, Chandni Chowk, Sarojini Nagar Market, Karol Bagh, Lajpat Nagar and Kamala Nagar markets.

Delhi Vacation Tour Packages

	Highlight of Northern India (09 Days) Highlights : City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, Amber Palace, Ranthambore National Park, Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Ganges, Ghats.

	Trail To The Taj Mahal (16 Days) Features : Mehangarh Fort, Jagdish Temple at Ranakpur, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore National Park, Bharatpur National Park, Red Fort, Taj Mahal.

	Taj, Tigers & Temples (08 Days) Highlights : Taj Mahal, Red Fort, City Palace, Amber Palace, Elephant Ride, Hawa Mahal, Ranthambore National Park, Bharatpur National Park,

	Golden Triangle and Beyond Tours (08 Days) Highlights : Taj Mahal, Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Lakshmi Narayan Temple, India Gate, Qutab Minar, Bahai Temple, Crafts Museum, Samode Palace, City Palace, Amber Fort in the Aravali Hills, Chokhi Dhani, Folk Dancers, Acrobats, Snake Charmers, Puppeteers, Fatehpur Sikri

	Golden Triangle (05 Days) Highlights : Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat, Humayun's Tomb, Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Amber Fort, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, Birla Mandir, Jai Singh's Observatory

	The Golden Triangle (07 Days) Highlights : Old Fort, Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat, Humayun's Tomb, Safdarjang Tomb, Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Amber Fort with Elephant, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, Birla Mandir, Jai Singh's Observatory

	Palace on Wheels (08 Days) Highlights : Exotic camel safaris, Rajasthani music and dance, Keoladeo Ghana National Park

	Northern India Travel Packages (11 Days) Highlights : Amber Fort, Elephant’s, Royal Palace Museum, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Taj Mahal, Khajuraho Temples, Ghats, Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid, Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb.

Grand North India Tour (15 Days ) Highlights : Red Fort, Jama Masjid Mosque, Raj Ghat, Ashoka Pillar, Chandni Chowk Bazaar, India Gate, President's House, Emperor Humayun's Tomb, Qutab Minar, Sikandra, Agra Fort, Pavilions, Gardens, Mosques, Taj Mahal, Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, Pushkar Fair, Meherangarh Fort, Camel Ride, Jain Temples, Kumbhalgarh National Park, City Palace on lake Pichola, Jagdish Temple, Sahelion-Ki-Bari, Fateh Sagar Lake, Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir, Gateway Of India, Gandhi Memorial, Hanging Garden , Prince Of Whales Museum, Dhobhi Ghat, Elephanta Island, Cave Temple, Kamla Nehru Park.

	Himalaya & Rajasthan Explorer (06 Weeks) Highlights : Rhinos, Tigers, Royal Chitwan National Park, Rat Temples, Rock-Hewn Caves, Taj Mahal, Amber Fort, Meharangarth Fort, Lake Pichola, Caves of Ellora and Ajanta, Western Ghats.

	Ganges, Corbett And Taj (14 Days) Highlights : Temple, Ghats, Corbett National Park, Tiger, Elephant, Kaladunghi Foothills, Taj Mahal, Bharatpur National Park.

	Land of The Tiger (16 Days) Highlights : Ancient Forts, Temples, Villages, bird sanctuary, Fatehpur Sikri, Red Fort, Taj Mahal, Khana National Park, Caves.

	Wildlife Holiday Packages in India (15 Days) Highlights : Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid, Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, Sariska National Park, Amber Fort, Royal Palace museum, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, Ranthambore National Park, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Taj Mahal, Corbett Tiger Reserve.

Gather Together at Pushkar Fair(15 Days) Highlights : Raj Ghat, Jama Masjid, Qutub Minar, Laxmi Narayan Hindu Temple, Bahai Temple, India Gate, Agra Fort, Taj Mahal, Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, City Palace Museum, Pushkar Fair, Havelis, Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum, Ranakpur Jain Temple, Lake Pichola, Jagdish Temple, Saheliyon- Ki -Bari, Fateh Sagar Lake, Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal, Lake Palace.

	Tryst with the wild (17 Days) Highlights : Sariska Tiger, Bharatpur Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Taj Mahal, Bandhavgarh National Park, Kanha National Park.

	Call of The Wild - Crossing The Golden Triangle (13 Days) Highlights : Amber fort, Jaigarh fort, Sanganer, Bagru, Chambal, Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary, Ranthambore National Park, Jungle Safari, Bharatpur Sanctuary, Taj Mahal.

	Mountains, Temples & Hillstations (15 Days) Highlights : Golden Temple, McLeod Ganj, Tibetan library, Himalaya, Andretta Village, Tibetan Monasteries, Mundi, The Mall, Christ Church, Scandal Corner, Viceregal Lodge, Sikandra, Itimad-ud-Daulah, Taj Mahal.

	Flavours of India (16 Days) Highlights : Kashmiri Wazwan at the famous Chor Bazaar, Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Amber Fort, Eklingi & Nagda Temple, Jain Temple, Khatakali Dance, Synagogue, Chinese fishing nets, St Francis church, Dutch Palace, Backwaters, Marari Beach.

Best Places of India (31 Days) Highlights : Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid, Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, Sikandra, Mathura, Amber Fort, Royal Palace Museum, Jantar Mantar & Hawa Mahal, Ana Sagar, Dargah, Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra, Akbar’s Palace, Nasiyan (Red) Temple, Sahelion Ki Bari, Jagdish Temple, Bharatiya Lok Mandal, Fateh Sagar Lake, Valluvar Kottam, Snake Park, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Marina Beach, Kanchipuram, Shore Temple, Bas Relief, Krishna Mandappam, Thanjavur Palace, Rock Fort Temple, Sri Ranganathaswami Temple, Meenakshi Temple, Tirumalai Nayak Palace, Lake Periyar, Chamundi hills, Srirangapatna, Vidhan Soudha, Lal Baugh, Bull Temple, Dhobi Ghat, Mani Bhawan, Gateway of India.

	The Festive Kingdoms (17 Days) Highlights : Chandni-Chowk, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House, Qutub Minar, Red Fort, Jumma Masjid, Taj Mahal, River Yamuna, Kali’s Temple, City Palace, Great Thar Desert, Nathmalji-ki-haveli, Patwon-ki-haveli, Salim Singh-ki-haveli, Sand Dunes, Raan of Kutch, Kutch Museum, Swaminarayan Temple, Marine Drive, Chowpatty Beach.

	Delhi to Kathmandu (15 Days) Highlights : Red Fort, Taj Mahal, City Palace, Amber Fort, Ganges, Ghats, Elephant Safaris, Annapurnas, Sarankot, Marsyangdi, Trisuli River Valleys, Pashupatinath, Bodnath.