New Delhi which constitutes a major portion of the area having grown at a phenomenal pace during the last fifty years is the Indian capital. An exceedingly beautiful city with a profusion of gardens, it is also the country's most important political, commercial and cultural centre.

Along with its twin city of Delhi or Old Delhi, New Delhi offers the tourist, especially cultural tourist, a wealth of monumental attractions ancient, medieval and modern. Besides, the city's excellent tourist infrastructure the numerous modern hotels make it one of the world's most exciting convention centres. And of course, Delhi is today one of the two (with Mumbai) most important gateways to India.

ACCESS

Being the national capital and one of India's principal gateway cities, New Delhi is excellently connected by rail, air and road with various parts of the country. And, internationally it is directly airlinked to most of the world's important cities.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Monuments

Red Fort: The seat of the Mughal Empire, it is a huge fort housing within its precincts imposing palaces and impressive public buildings, such as Diwan -i-Am (hall for public audience), Diwan-i-Khas (hall for private audience); Rang Mahal (a water -cooled apartment for royal ladies); Sheesh Mahal (retiring apartments); Moti Masjid or Pearl Mosque (built of white marble). A sound-and-light show is conducted during the evenings (in Hindi and in English). Entry to the Fort is free on Sundays.

Purana Qila: It was built by Sher Shah Suri and was also the seat of the Mughals. It is also believed to be the site of Indraprastha of the Mahabharata era. Son-et-lumiere or sound-and-light show is also held here during the evenings (in Hindi and in English).

Humayun's Tomb: Humayun's widow got this sandstone mausoleum built to house the mortal remains of her dead husband. The tombs of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia, Jahanara and Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib are situated close by.

Qutub Minar: Highest ever tower to be built in India, it rises to a height of 73 metres. It is an 11th century victory tower built by the slave king Qutubuddin Aibak and later completed by his successor Iltutmish.

Jantar Mantar: It is a stone astronomical observatory commissioned by the builder of Jaipur, Sawai Jai Singh.

Feroz Shah Kotla: Extensive ruins of a lost city, Ferozabad, the fifth Delhi, founded by Feroz Shah Tughlak in 1354 AD. Little remains of the three palaces, eight mosques and hunting lodges. However, the most striking feature is the `Ashoka Pillar' - a monolithic tapering column of polished sandstone dating back to the 3rd century B.C. Hauz Khas: Named after the great reservoir (hauz) built in 1305 by Alauddin Khilji for use by the citizens of siri, there are the remains of the second Delhi.The most interesting portion is a college where the cells for the scholars were ingeniously designed to remain cool in summer and warm in winter.

Tughlakabad: Attracting the eye from a distance are the massive ramparts of Tughlakabad, the third city of Delhi. the fort has 13 gates.

Safdarjang's Tomb: Built in 1753-54 by Nawab Suja-ud-Daulah for his father, the second Nawab of Oudh and Prime Minister to Emperor Muhammad Shah. The layout is identical to the `charbagh' garden of Humayun's Tomb.

Shamsi Talab and Jahaz Mahal: A water reservoir in a terraced garden built in 1230 by Iltutmish. A chhatri or canopy is built over a faint footprint said to be that of the Prophet. In the Shamsi Talab is the Jahaz Mahal, probably built in the Lodi period (1451-1526), which may have served as a pleasure resort. Every year the Mahal is the venue of the Phool walon-ki-Sair or Sair-i-Gulfaroshan.

India Gate: This modern memorial arch was built in homage to the 90,000 Indian soldiers who died in World War I and whose names are inscribed on it. Also referred to, in history, as an All India War Memorial, an eternal flame has been lit, the Amar Jawan Jyoti, to honour the Unknown soldier.

Buildings

Parliament House: An impressive circular colonnaded building 171 metres in diameter, it houses the Indian Parliament.

Rashtrapati Bhawan: Formerly the Viceregal Palace, Rashtrapati Bhawan is currently the residence of the President of India and is situated at the head of the architectural concept of Edwin Lutyens on Raisina Hill.

Supreme Court: Built in the imperial style, it houses the highest seat of judicial authority in the country.

Vigyan Bhawan: Raised in 1956 to hold national and international conferences, Vigyan Bhawan has been designed on the Buddhist architectural pattern, a sacred `pipal' leaf in marble.

Samadhis/Memorials

Raj Ghat: Mahatma Gandhi was cremated here in 1948. Shanti Van: Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister was cremated here in 1964.
Vijay Ghat: Lal Bahadur Shastri, the successor of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru was cremated here. Shakti Sthal: The daughter of Jawahar Lal Nehru, Mrs Indira Gandhi, and his grandson Sanjay Gandhi were cremated here. Vir Bhumi: Indira Gandhi's son, Rajiv Gandhi was cremated here. Kisan Ghat: It is a memorial to the great farmer leader Charan Singh, who was also Prime Minister briefly in 1979. Samta Sthal : This was built in the mid-1980s as a memorial to the legendary leader of the backward communities, Jagjivan Ram.

Museums

The National Museum, Bal Bhawan or National Children's Museum, National Gallery of Modern Art, Museum of Natural History, Rail Museum, Red Fort Museum of Archaeology, Shanker's International Doll Museum, Tibet House Museum, National Philatelic Museum, International Toilet Museum, National Police Museum, National Science Centre Museum, Air Force Museum, Indira Gandhi Memorial, Gandhi Museum, Crafts Museum, Archaeological Survey of India, Red Fort Museum of Arms and Weapons, Nehru Memorial Museum. Parks / Amusement parks

Pragati Maidan: It is a vast exhibition complex having many auditoria, cinema halls, shopping arcades and snack bars. Of particular note is a reconstruction of various types of village structures of the country, and crafts museum.

Appu Ghar: Raised in 1981 to commemorate the first-ever Asian Games in India, it's a modern recreational centre.

Buddha Jayanti Park, Lodi Gardens, Mughal Garden (Rashtrapati Bhawan (open to Public during February only), National Rose Garden, Nehru Park, Qudsia Gardens (Kashmere Gate), Rosallum (Hauz Khas), Roshanara Garden (Subzi Mandi), Talkatora Garden, Yamuna Waterfront (Ring Road) and Delhi Zoo.

PLACES OF WORSHIP

Lotus Temple or Bahai Temple, Ladakhi Buddha Vihar, Cathedral Church of Redemption, Vatican Embassy Chapel, Gauri Shanker Temple, Hanuman Temple, Kali Bari Mandir, Kalka Devi Temple, Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Swami Malai Mandir, Chattarpur Mandir, Jama Masjid, Fatehpuri Masjid, Sunehri Masjid, Khirki Masjid, Moth ki Masjid, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Gurudwara Rakab Ganj, Gurudwara Sisganj, Gurudwara Dumdama Sahib.

SHOPPING

From exclusive air conditioned hotel shopping arcades to bustling bazaars full of bargains, Delhi offers a wide and exotic array of bargains. Chandni Chowk, the shopping centre of Old Delhi, has preserved the traditional workmanship that makes Delhi famous. Here silver and goldsmiths fashion exquisitely intricate jewellery and polish and cut gems to a glowing splendour. Besides, there is carved ivory, gorgeous precious stones, gold embroidered silks and heady oriental perfumes. Connaught Place is the shopping centre of New Delhi. Here the shops sell textiles, leather garments, electronic goods, jewellery, brass and copper ware, pottery, antiques and many more items. The main shops of the city are Central Cottage Industries Emporium, Janpath; Gandhi Ashram House, 9A, Connaught Place; Khadi Gramodyog Bhawan, 24, Regal Building, Connaught Circus.The famous shopping areas include Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazaar, Janpath, Connaught Place, Palika Bazaar, South Extension, Lajpat Nagar, Karol Bagh.

CLOSING DAYS

Sundays: Connaught Place, Janpath, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Jor Bagh, Khan Market, Nehru Place, Sunder Nagar, Yashwant Place, Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar.

Mondays : Defence Colony, I.N.A. Market, Jangpura, Karol Bagh, Lajpat Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, South Extension.

Tuesdays: Greater Kailash, Green Park, Hauz Khas, Kalkaji, Safdarjung Enclave, Vasant Vihar, Shahdara, Yusuf Sarai.

CONFERENCE FACILITIES

Delhi has the country's best facilities for holding conventions and seminars. Its modern hotels and other venues offer all support facilities that are so important for a successful conference.

Ashok hotel has a large convention hall with a seating capacity of 2,000 and a banquet hall with a capacity of 400. There are a number of other hotels like Samrat, Centaur, Welcomgroup Maurya Sheraton, The Oberoi, Le Meridien, Intercontinental, Surya, Taj Mahal, Vasant Continental, Park, Claridges, Hyatt Regency and Taj Palace, which offer excellent conference facilities.

Apart from this, Delhi also offers other conference and exhibition venues, the largest of them being the Pragati Maidan Exhibition Complex. Spread over 100,000 square metres the Maidan has 17 exhibition halls, 3 auditoria and 3 open air theatres. the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium has a conference hall and a committee room. The Siri Fort Auditorium has a conference capacity of 2156, and the Talkatora Indoor Stadium has a capacity of 3000.

Vigyan Bhawan, which has over the years hosted very high profile conferences like CHOGM and NAM, boasts

of the latest audio-visual equipment, and simultaneous translation techniques etc, matching international standards.

EXCURSIONS

Delhi is an ideal base from where excursions to various destinations in the region may be undertaken - be it an outing for the day just beyond the confines of the city, or a longer trip lasting several days.

Agra - the city of the Taj Mahal. In addition are Agra Fort, Sikandra and Fatehpur Sikri. One may opt for a half-hour's flight, a train journey of just over two hours, or a four-and-a-half hour's road journey to reach this former Mughal capital.

Khajuraho - famous for its, superb temple architecture and sensuous sculptures, all of a thousand years old. Can be reached from Delhi (596 km) by air. from Agra, it is just an hour's flight away.

Jaipur - (258 km. from Delhi). One of the three destinations that make up the Golden Triangle (Delhi and Agra being the other two), Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan. Famed for its Amer Fort and the Hawa Mahal or palace of winds', apart from its graphic sobriquet as The Pink City.

Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary - (46 km) A water reserve with a large lake having a number of resident birds and attracting another hundred migrant species from Europe, Siberia and Central Asia.

Keoladeo Ghana National Park - Around half a million birds migrate annually to this park at Bharatpur. Migrants include rare species like the Siberian crane and a large nummber of ducks. As many as 200 species of land and water birds might be spotted in a day.

Sariska Tiger Reserve - This dry deciduous forest in the Aravalli range in Rajasthan harbours tigers, leopards, sambhar, chital, nilgai and will boar. Man-made water holes are the primary source of water, drawing the animals to them and so facilitating game viewing.

Corbett National Park - Covers an area of 525.8 sq. km in UP and comprising both grassland and thick forests. Home to a variety of animals - the elephant, sloth bear, sambar, chital, leopard and colourful species of birds, and is one of the India's finest tiger reserves.

Suraj Kund (17 km) - site of a famous sun temple and ruined amphitheater which was once used by sun worshippers. Near Surajkund Lake is a modern tourist complex with an eighteen hole golf course.

ACCOMODATION

Ashok (5-star Deluxe), 50-B, Chanakya Puri, New Delhi 110021. Phones: 26110101.  Fax: 91-11-26873216,  26876060.

ITC  Hotel  Maurya Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Diplomatic Enclave (5-star Deluxe), New Delhi 110021. Phone: 26112233. Fax: 011-26113333.

Hyatt Regency (5-star Deluxe), Bhikaji Cama Place, Ring Road, New Delhi 110066. Phone: 26791234. Fax: 91-11-26791024.

The Oberoi (5 Star Deluxe), Dr Zakir Hussain Marg, New Delhi 110003. Phone: 24363030. Fax: 011-24360484, 24364758.

Taj Palace (5-star Deluxe), 2 Sardar Patel Marg, Diplomatic Enclave, New Delhi 110021. Phone:(011) 26110202. Fax: (011) 26110808.

Grand Hyatt, Vasant Kunj Phase -II, Nelson Mandela Road, New Delhi - 110070. Phone: (91) (11) 26121234. Fax: (91) (11) 26895891.

Parkroyal (5-star Deluxe), Nehru Place, New Delhi - 110019. Phone: 26223344. Fax: 26224288.

Le Meridien (5-star Deluxe), 8, Windsor Place, Janpath, New Delhi 110001. Phone: 23710101. Fax: 23714545.

Inter Continental (5-star Deluxe), Barakhamba Avenue, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001. Phone 23320101.  Fax: 23325335.

Centaur Hotel (5-star Deluxe), Indira Gandhi International Airport, Gurgaon Road, New Delhi 110037. Phones: 25652223, 25481411. Fax: 25652256.

Taj Mahal (5-star Deluxe), No. 1, Mansingh Road, New Delhi-110011. Phone: 23026162. Fax: 2302-6070.

Vasant Continental (5-star Deluxe) Vasant Vihar, New Delhi 110057. Phone: 26148800. Telefax: 26145959.

The Surya (5-star Deluxe), Friends Colony, New Delhi 110065. Phone: 26835070. Fax: 26837758.

The Park, (5-star ), 15, Parliament  Street, New Delhi 110001. Phone: 23743000. Fax: 23744000.

Radisson, (5-star) NationalHighway No.8, Mahipalpur, Phone: (011) 26779191. Fax: (011) 26779090. e mail: raddel@del2.vsnl.net.in   New Delhi - 110037

Metropolitan Nikko, Bangla Sahib Road, New Delhi - 110001. Phone: (91) (11)2 334 2000. Fax: 2334 3000.

Marriott Welcom Hotel, Distric centre, Saket, New Delhi 110017. Phones: 2652 1122. Fax: 2652 2112.

Siddharth (5-star), 3, Rajendra Place, New Delhi 110008. Phone: 25762501. Fax: 25781016.

Samrat (5-star), Chanakya Puri, New Delhi 110021. Phone: 26110606. Fax: 26887047.

Qutab (5-star), Off Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi 110016. Phone: 26521010. Fax: 26960828, 26968287

Imperial (5-star), Janpath,  New Delhi 110001. Phone: 23341234, 23345678. Fax: 23342255.

Claridges (5-star), 12, Aurangzeb Road, New Delhi 110011. Phone: 23010211.  Fax: 011-23010625.

The Heritage Village, Manesar, Distt. Gurgaon - 122050, Haryana (Near Delhi). Phones: 91(126)-26290711-20, 9811010881. Fax: 91(124)-26290345.

Kanishka (4 -star), 19, Ashok Road, New Delhi 110001. Phone: 23344422. Fax: 011-23368242.

Ambassador (4-star), Sujan Singh Park, New Delhi 110003. Phone: 24632600. Fax: 011-24632252.

ans Plaza (4-star), 15, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi 110001. Phone: 23316861-70. Fax: 011-23314830.

Janpath (4-star), Janpath, New Delhi 110001. Phones: 23340070. Fax: 011-23347083, 23368618.

The Oberoi  Maidens (4-star), 7, Sham Nath Marg, Delhi 110054. Phone: 23975464. Fax: 23980771/23890595.

The Manor, 77, Friends Colony, New Delhi - 110065. Phones: 26925151, 26927505. Fax: 26922299.

Nirula’s (4-star), L-Block, Connaught Circus, New Delhi-110001. Phone: 23322419. Fax: 23353957.

Nirula's, C-135, Sector-11, Noida - 201 301,UP (Near Delhi). Phone: 011-8-24526512/13/14/16/17. Fax: 0118-24551069.

Nirula’s, Panipat, G T Road, Panipat-132103. Phone: 01742-2636702-05 Fax: 1742- 2642390.

Maidens Hotel, 7, Sham Nath Marg. Delhi-110054 Phone: 23975464 Fax: 011-23980771/23890595.

Crown Plaza Surya, New Friends Colony, New Delhi-110065. Phone:91-11-26835070. Fax: 91-11-26837758.

The Connaught (4-star), 37, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Marg, New Delhi - 110 001. Phone: 23364225. Fax: 23340757.

Alka(4-star), 16/90, Connaught Circus, New Delhi - 110 001. Phone: 23344328 (7 Lines). Fax: 011-23742796.

Marina (4-star), G-59, Connaught Circus, New Delhi - 110 001. Phone: 23324658.  Fax: 011-23328609.

Rajdoot (4-star), Mathura Road, New Delhi - 110 014. Phones: 24316665. Fax: 011-24317442.

Hotel Diplomat (3-star), 9, Sardar Patel Marg, Diplomatic Enclave, New Delhi 110021.Phone: (011) 23010204 . Fax: 011-23018605.

Vikram (3-star), Ring Road, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi 110024. Phone: (011) 26436451. Fax: 011-26225111.

Lodhi (3-star), Lala Lajpat Rai Marg, New Delhi 110003. Phone: 24362422 Fax: 24360883.

Broadway (3-star), 4/15A, Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi 110 002. Phone: 23273821 (5 lines). Fax: 011-23269966. 

Indraprastha, 19, Ashok Road, New Delhi 110001. Phones: 23344511. Fax: 91-11-23368153, 23368215.

New Delhi YMCA Tourist Hostel (2-star), Post Box No 612, Jai Singh Road, New Delhi 110001. Phones: 23746668, 23746031. Fax: 23746032, 23746035.

India International Centre, Lodhi Estate. Phone: 24619431.

YWCA International, Guest House, Parliament Street. Phone: 2311561, 2311970.

Youth Hostel, 5 Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri. Phone: 23016285.

YWCA, Ashok Road. Phone: 23010133.

Vishwa Yuwak Kendra, Circular Road, Chanakyapuri. Phone: 23013631; Fax: 23016604.

For further information, please contact: Government of India Tourist Office, 88 Janpath, New Delhi 110001

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