New Delhi
Modern Delhi is a fascinating potpourri of Hindu and Islamic-influenced structures juxtaposed with British Colonial mansions and Western-style skyscrapers.
Visitors to this cultural melting pot likely will be awestruck by the size of the city, which seems to stretch out to both horizons. However, they find that Delhi is not nearly as daunting as it first seems once they understand that it's divided into different sectors, each one boasting its own personality.
To the north, Old Delhi is noteworthy for its monuments to India's Moghul Era, including the red sandstone Lal Qila (the Red Fort), whose Lahore Gate is the site of the city's most heartfelt Independence Day celebrations; Jami Masjid (1656), India's largest mosque and the combined effort of more than 5000 workers; and the unforgettable Chandni Chowk, the old city's famous bazaar, still abuzz with the daily rigors of market life, from astrologers and street-side artists to merchants and auto-rickshaws.
The British constructed Central New Delhi with its planned (almost geometric) layout in the waning years of Imperialism, just prior to the onset of World War I. New Delhi's Connaught Place, once the commercial heart of the British Raj, is today a busy tourist area that bears little resemblance to the thatched-roof colonial district it once was.
Connaught is also home to a wide variety of international restaurants, most of them geared toward the town's Western visitors.
South of the modern megalopolis are the ruins of some of Delhi's ancient incarnations, including a series of old city walls, Hindu temples, mosques and mausoleums. Also awaiting discovery are unique places like Qutab Minar, a 12th-century Muslim tower in Dhillika that rises five stories and is crowned by the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque; the black marble Raj Ghat, the capital city's memorial to Mahatma Gandhi; and the ancient Spice Market, located along Khari Baoli, which tempts passersby with enchanting aromas and exotic herbs. Those wishing to explore beyond Delhi's boundaries should consider a day trip to Agra, site of the magical Taj Mahal.
