Are You Planning A Trip To Delhi?

The capital city of Delhi is rightly known as the microcosm of India, with the old and the new parts of the city co-existing and intermingling. New Delhi with its tree-lined avenues, political establishments and swanky eateries is a marked contrast to the Old Delhi of bustling street bazaars and Mughal-era relics – yet both parts of the city are equally interesting. The city is geographically divided and each area has its own charm and quirks. Depending on your tastes, venture into one or more of these parts that make up Delhi. The well-laid out metro makes it very easy to get around the city quickly.  

Enjoy the hustle-bustle at Connaught Place | Photo Credit: rajkumar1220 / flickr

Central Delhi

At the heart of the city lies Connaught Place, the colonial shopping arcade filled with shops, restaurants and pubs. Laid out in two concentric circles, it is divided into blocks and there is everything from high street brands to bazaar-style shops – a veritable shopper’s delight. A 2-minute walk from Connaught Place is Janpath – a street flea market where you can find some great bargains on clothes and curios. Nearby, Karol Bagh houses a busy cloth market. For some excellent Delhi food, like the famous chaat, head to Bengali Market. Other places of interest close by include Birla Mandir and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. New Delhi Railway Station is just 2 kilometres from Connaught Place and the metro station here is called Rajiv Chowk.

Hotel picks: The Lalit is perfect for a luxurious stay; The Royal Plaza is a good mid-range hotel and for the budget travellers we recommend Hotel Yuvraj Deluxe.

Marvel at the beauty of Humayun’s Tomb

South Delhi

The posh residential areas of South Delhi include areas such as Defence Colony, Vasant Kunj, Kalkaji and Sarita Vihar. One of the attractions here is Hauz Khas, the medieval part of the city, today home to chic boutiques, popular restaurants, an arts village, gardens and the ruins of an ancient madrassa along with the large water tank from which the area derives its name. The shopping haven of Greater Kailash is close by as is the open-air market Dilli Haat. Other attractions include the Qutab Minar, Humayun’s Tomb and the Lotus Temple.

Hotel picks: Hilton Garden Inn in Saket, Hotel Park Residency at Green Park and Emblem–A Boutique Hotel at New Friends Colony are some of the recommended hotels in this area.  

Enjoy the delicious street food in Chandni Chowk. Photo Credit: Prateek Rungta / flickr

North Delhi

North Delhi includes Sadar Bazaar, Kotwali and Civil Lines area. This area is also known as Old Delhi and the famous Red Fort and Jama Masjid are located here. Chandni Chowk, near Old Delhi Railway Station is a major attraction for its markets, cheap shopping and excellent street food. It is regarded as one of the oldest markets in Delhi. Other landmarks in this area are Ashoka’s Pillar and Shahjahanabad Gardens.

Hotel picks: Depending on your budget, we recommend, the colonial Maidens Hotel, Delhi Bed and Breakfast Home Stay (both at Civil Lines) or Hotel Tara Palace at Chandni Chowk.

Visit Akshardham Temple-one of the largest temples in the world

East Delhi

The major areas in East Delhi are Gandhi Nagar, Preet Vihar and Vivek Vihar. One of the biggest attractions in this part of Delhi is the imposing Akshardham Temple. The elaborately sculpted and carved red sandstone temple is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan. Entry is free and you’ll need at least a couple of hours to explore the temple premises. Other visitor attractions include Sanjay Lake, the Shiv Mandir at Preet Vihar and the Yamuna Sports Complex. The markets of Gandhi Nagar and Laxmi Nagar are also worth a visit.

Hotel picks: Stay at The Hilton–Mayur Vihar, The Lemon Tree Hotel at Kaushambi or Ginger Hotel in Vivek Vihar.

Shop to your heart's content at the many malls in Rajouri Garden. Photo Credit: Varun Shiv Kapur / flickr

West Delhi

West Delhi is divided into Patel Nagar, Rajouri Garden, East Sagarpur and Punjabi Bagh. Dwarka is the hub of West Delhi, a short distance from the commercial suburb of Gurgaon and about 10 kilometres from the airport. If you’re in Delhi on a business trip, this is the area to stay in. It’s well-connected to the rest of the city.

Hotel picks: Try The Hilton–Janakpuri, Radisson Blu at Dwarka or Bharat Continental at Rajinder Nagar. 

Book your flight plus hotel combo for Delhi on MakeMyTrip and save even more!

Enrique Iglesias: Yet Another Reason to Visit Delhi

Date: 19.10.2012                                                          

Venue: Huda Grounds, Leisure Valley

City: Gurgaon

Time: 6:00 P.M. onwards

The countdown to the big night has already begun! India is all geared up to witness Latin pop sensation Enrique Iglesias set the stage ablaze as he comes to the capital for his live performance. The Gurgaon concert, to be held at Huda Grounds- Sector 29 is a part of Enrique’s three-day tour to India, of which Pune and Bangalore too are a part.

Enrique Iglesias, who soared his way up the Billboard charts with timeless hits like Bailamos, Rhythm Divine and Escape has made his presence felt in the hearts of music fans across the globe; be it pop culture, Latin music, R&B or rock, Enrique has carved a niche for himself across all genres. So much so that he is hailed as the ‘King of Latin Pop’.

The chart-topping singer has hinted that he likes Bollywood music, and is open to collaborate with Indian artists as well. That said, be sure to expect some killer surprises from the Spanish singer!

Although Enrique Iglesias has toured India previously in the year 2004, he had performed only in Bangalore and Mumbai, and this time the artist has a gig in the National Capital Region (read: NCR) lined up as well.

Needless to say, the event is a rage already and thousands of youngsters and the young at heart from across the country (and also from neighbouring countries!) are busy packing their bags to fly in to Delhi to witness Enrique’s magic in person.

If you wish to be a part of this epic event, you can book tickets at major online event booking portals; the tickets are priced between Rs. 2,500 and Rs. 15,000. Hassled about travel bookings? MakeMyTrip offers flights, trains, buses and holiday packages to Delhi. Who knows, you may just end up planning a holiday of a lifetime as Enrique Iglesias takes your breath away!

Delhi's Secrets

Delhi or Dilli or Dihli isn’t merely what we see on postcards and in books. The city - a miscellany of seven cities that were raised and razed over centuries on Delhi’s soil - is dotted with fascinating fables, some secrets and many, many more sites where these legends shaped up. Presenting some tales from Delhi’s kitty, with nothing to hide...

Chor Minar
In the days of Alauddin Khillji (1290-1320 AD), burglary meant hardcore business, especially in ‘Dilli’! Because once you were caught, you were sent off to ‘Chor Minar’ or the Tower of Thieves. This small monument had not dungeons or gallows, but horrifyingly more. The thieves were hanged, and later beheaded. The heads were pierced through a spear and put up on public display through one of the 225 holes on the Chor Minar. A deadly silent ‘do not steal’ warning by the authorities!

Some chronicles report that Khilji also filled the vents of Chor Minar and some other buildings with speared heads of an army of 8000 Mongols (baffling space management, isn’t it?), who attacked the mighty Khilji dynasty. 

Today, the Chor Minar stands peacefully, with its gory past either faded or forgotten, in Hauz Khas Enclave. On your way to Qutub Minar (from the Yusuf Sarai side) on the Aurbindo Marg, turn left just before the IIT crossing. Plan to visit it before the sun sets, and take a walk inside the tower with your camera. And yes, don’t steal anything!

Khuni DarwazaKhooni Darwaza
The Khiljis probably got gore in legacy from the Suris, and passed them to Mughals in the centuries to come. At least this is what the Khooni Darwaza suggests. Standing humbly between the modern constructions on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Khooni Darwaza isn’t a gate but an arch outside Feroz Shah Kotla, where the mighty Sher Shah Suri built it in his brief reign from 1540-1545. Some bloody memoirs from Khooni Darwaza:

When Jehangir took the reigns of Mughal sultanate from his father Akbar, he knew he wasn’t approved of by Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khana, one of Akbar’s Navratnas (nine jewels). To thwart a potential mutiny or probably in a fit of anger, Jehangir executed the two sons of Abdul Rahim and put their corpses on display at Khooni Darwaza.

Years later, Jehangir’s grandson Aurangzeb repeated history albeit with a more fierce attack. After seizing the throne from his father Shah Jehan, he killed his blood brother Dara Shikoh and put his head on display at Khooni Darwaza (but not before presenting it to his father in the dungeons).

In 1857, Major William Hodson stripped and shot two sons and a grandson of Bahadur Shah Zafar beneath the arch of Khooni Darwaza. This unassuming arched-gate has some more stories to tell. To make the best visit to Khooni Darwaza, read some more or - easier - take a history buff along.

 

Khan-e-Khana’s Tomb
We’ve all come across ‘Rahim ke Dohe’ as we grew up. The full name of Rahim is Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khana. Rings a bell? He is the Navratan whose sons Jehangir beheaded, as you just read.

Now, the story of Abdul Rahim is with its own twists and turns so tighten your seatbelts! Rahim was the son of Bairam Khan, a tutor and advisor of the young King Akbar. As Akbar grew up to become a worthy king, he resented Bairam Khan’s influence in sultanate matters and ordered him to head to Mecca for Haj. A voyage on which Akbar got him executed (in Gujarat), married his wife and step-fathered his son Abdul Rahim Khan.

Bestowed upon the title of ‘Mirza Khan’ by Akbar, Rahim wrote various Hindi couplets (dohas), two books on astrology and translated Babar’s memoirs. So on his death, Rahim was immortalised by a grand red sandstone tomb, bedecked with jewels which were of course, stripped off.

This monument of the famous Rahim (who also happens to be of Lord Krishna’s lineage) stands worn out, rather humbly in Nizamuddin’s east residential area, not far away from Humayun’s Tomb.

The rustic yet majestic tomb of Adham Khan stands in Mehrauli, DelhiTomb of Adham Khan (Mehrauli)
Adham Khan was the son of Maham Anga, Akbar’s foster mother. While he was dear to Akbar, he had his wrath on murdering Akbar’s prime minister, Ataga Khan. He was thrown down from ramparts of Agra Fort twice and later buried in his own ‘Tomb of Adham Khan’ which Akbar built for him in 1561. Another reminder of Mughal barbarism and gallantry, Adham Khan’s Tomb, stands tall in Mehrauli Village, not far from the bus terminal.

This tomb has a maze on its upper corridor along the dome and it isn’t tough to get lost, which is why it’s called Bhool-Bhulaiyan. Get down at Qutub Minar Metro Station to arrive here. This ASI protected monument is now sadly closed to visitors, albeit with opportunity for some nice photography in its periphery. Some archaeologists and historians claim a tunnel runs from Adham Khan’s Tomb to - hold your breath - Agra!

Gandhak ki BaoliGandhak ki Baoli (Mehrauli)
The medieval royals had no hydraulic installations, or even electricity, but all the land and labour to make good use of. This gave birth to baolis or step-wells. Gandhak ki Baoli was built in Mehrauli under the reign of Iltutmish, presumably to keep the villages in Mehrauli hydrated. Five storeys deep, it gets its names from the strong smell (gandh) of sulphur that came from its water, that is, when it wasn’t dry.

Turn into the narrow lane leading to the bazaars of Mehrauli and you will find this step-well. It is at a walking distance from Adham Khan’s Tomb. Wear robust walking shoes and eyewear for a pleasant visit to Gandhak ki Baoli, a lovely spot to think, write, read or simply sit and brood.

Go explore these fading sites with their forgotten stories.

[Images courtesy: Wikipedia]

By Abhishek Mishra