Sightseeing in New Delhi

Red Fort

Layered as it is with a rich history right from the Mughals to the British Raj and through 20^th century India, New Delhi offers the most copious sightseeing in the country – more than a thousand monuments await you.  The most awe-inspiring of them is the 17^th century Mughal palace-city, the Red Fort or Lal Qila, built by Emperor Shahjehan when he shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi.  Named for the red sand stone that was used in its construction, the compound is fenced in by a 2.5 kilometer wall, and in its heyday was home to more than 3,000 people.   

Walk through the Chatta Chowk, earlier a bazaar for the ladies of the harem and now a touristy market where hawkers sell souvenirs and bags.  Other highlights include the Diwan-i-Aam where the Emperor granted audiences to his subjects while seated on an ornately carved throne, the Diwan-i-Khas where he conferred with his inner circle, and the Naqqar Khana were the courtiers listened to performances by royal musicians.  Ask (and tip) your hotel to arrange an English-speaking guide for all visits to Delhi’s monuments – local guides parrot the history from memory, and in all likelihood, will be stumped when you ask questions.  

Humayun’s Tomb

This is the predecessor of sorts to the Taj Mahal.  It has the same aching backdrop of lost love – it was paid for by the wife of the second Mughal Emperor Humayun – and a visit to the Taj will give you a sense of how the more flamboyant Agra monument was inspired by the Tomb in its design.  It lacks the Taj’s intricate detailing, but is impressive nonetheless with its masterful use of red sandstone and pure white marble.  Beautifully restored gardens and walkways wind through the compound, and as a result of recent renovation, the stone channels and fountains, previously dry for centuries have begun to flow with water.  

Jama Masjid

Another resplendent example of Mughal architecture is the Jama Masjid, Asia’s largest mosque.  It was commissioned by Shahjehan in 1656 and was completed over a span of 6 years.  On festivals like Id, the place teems with 25,000 worshippers who spill out into the massive courtyard.  Entrance isn’t permitted during prayer hours.  Make time for a climb up the minaret for fantastic views of New Delhi from your vantage point in the Old town.   

Qutub Complex

Built by Qutub-ud-din Aibak, the first in a line of Delhi sultans predating the Mughals who ruled for over four centuries, the complex encompasses the Qutub Minar, a remarkably preserved 239 foot column. The surrounding buildings are equally noteworthy, especially for their unique amalgamation of Islamic and Hindu architectural details.  A fine example is the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque whose pillars are embellished with Hindu motifs. 

Taj Mahal

Nothing prepares you for your first glimpse of India’s most fabled monument, just a 4 hour train ride from New Delhi.  No pictures or reproductions do it justice – not the massive proportions, the perfect symmetry, nor the sheer luminescence that make it worthy of being one of the Seven Wonders of the World.  What looks like pristine white marble in pictures is actually different shades of marble, slate, and sandstone bathed in intricately carved floral bouquets that are inlaid with turquoise, malachite, coral, and other stones.  The Taj changes color with the movement of the sun, and the best times to visit are early in the morning or late in the evening when the rays of the sun bathe the mausoleum in a surreal glow.  For yet another view of the Taj, head to the Agra Fort and the Mussaman Burj from where the Emperor Shahjehan, imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb, spent his last days gazing out at the Taj in his dying days, or so the romantics believe.  The cynical version is that he overdosed on opium.  Whichever category you fall into, the Emperor’s bedroom window throws up the most spectacular mirage like view of the Taj, almost floating ethereally in the distance.