Delhi

Mehrauli
Even as history played itself out in newer locations with younger dynasties, the settlement around the Qutub played the role of ' Old Delhi'. When Feroze Shah Tughlaq built his new city of Kotla Mehrauli and during the Mughal and British times it was one of the favourite summer retreat. Just 150 years old Mehrauli houses Dargahs, Qutub Minar and many more places.

Tughlaquabad
Strictly speaking the least 'beautiful' of the remains Delhi has on offer, the Tughlaquabad Fort is nevertheless the most evocative place in Delhi. The vast stone scape hugging a rocky spread, all rubbles and no sandstone is very helpful to the imagination. The fort was built ensuring safety against Mongol attack, always a threat in the 13-14th century. The fort introduces a unique legacy that Ghiyasuddin, erstwhile general of Multan, brought him to Delhi.

Hauz Khas
Another Tughlaq Complex and another unmissable absence-of Delhi's definitive red stone. The absence narrates much about patron Feroze Shah Tughlaq. What we call Hauz Khas today is pleasant Enclave of pillared Verandahs that once served as madrasas and the Tomb of Feroze Shah Kotla himself arranged in L shaped original water tank made by Allauddin Khilji in 1300 for his new settlement of Siri. The place is headily accentuated by infinite greenery spectacularly framed by the doorways of ancient building.

Lodi Gardens
With the Lodi Dynasty and most Mughal Kings shifting their capital to Agra began a more intermittent phase in the life of Delhi as imperium. The buildings that stand in the Lodi Gardens today are a joy to see after the austerity and impressiveness of Mughal times. They dot the landscape for like small, self contained elegant gems. Landscaped in 1968 by famous Joeseph Allen Stein, is more of a joggers delight and picnickers heaven. Inside the garden is a Tomb of Muhammad Shah, last of Sayyid rulers. Besides these there are monuments as Bada Gumbad and shiish Gumbad and Sikandara Lodhi Tomb.

Purana Qila
The foundation of Purana Quila was laid by Sher Shah Suri, Humayun did this sandstone rolling with a citadel called as Dinpanah. Inside the Quila is a beautiful two storeyed Library called as Sher Mandal. Sher Shah' s Quila Mosque is worth noting made up of marble and red standstone.

Humayun's Tomb
We know of the Mughals that they loved gardens and umpire under them stabilized, and grew to the unprecedented extent that the culture of their time was dictated by Persian Mores. You can find all these features in Humayun's Tomb. Humayun's Tomb is the first of famous garden tombs of Mughals, the first tomb of Delhi to be placed on an imposingly high platform, and a forerunner of the classic onion shaped dome which got more and more shapely as the Mughal era went by. This satisfying building was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the buildings and its water channels and gardens have recently been restored.

Red Fort
The Red Fort or the Lal Quila makes your senses reel under the cumulative impact of marble pietra dura work, gilded pillars, delicate carving on every possible surface, and then the realisation that much of it was inlaid with gems, the ceiling coated with silver. But amidst these you cannot miss that these 'places' look less like palaces and more like open halls with pillars. The major places to see here Diwan-i-am, Diwani-i- Khas, and Shah Burj. There are exclusive little Moti Masjid and ASI Museum.

New Delhi
Britain's imperial presence in a city planned to showcase the unique virtues of British rule seem like a continue of pretty much 800 years of Delhi architecture? And yet, take another look at erstwhile Viceroy's House and Secretarial building . This is the face of New Delhi that has Rashtrapati Bhavan and Mughal Gardens, king Way, India Gate and ritzy malls.

Essential Facts

• The nearest airport is Indira Gandhi International Airport while New Delhi Railway Station being a grand railway station. Besides these Delhi is served by Old Delhi, New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin , Sarai Rohilla and Delhi Cantonment Stations which boast the best connections with other metros. Delhi is served by NH2 from Kolkatta.
• Visit Delhi between October to November and February to March.
• Tourist Office : Delhi Tourism Development Corporation, Coffee House, Baba Kharak Singh Marg.