Top Ten Tourist Places in Delhi

There is history in the air, and it is palpable the moment you land in Delhi. Apart from monuments, there are markets, charming gallis and swanky shopping centers.

1.    For me, Delhi is synonymous with the Parliament House designed by British architect Herbert Baker. You can visit the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha only after obtaining permits, but even standing afar and taking in the majesty of this building is good enough for me! There is also the Parliament Museum, a must-visit if you love history like me.

Parliament House (Photo Courtesy: http://www.thehindu.com)

2.    Another spot that any tourist must visit is the Raj Ghat. It was here that the Mahatma was buried after he was assassinated in 1948. It is indeed a serene place to stand and pay tributes to the great soul. I am moved to tears each time I come here.

Raj Ghat (Photo Courtesy: http://traveltrance.com)

3.    The next stop is the Red Fort, located opposite Chandni Chowk in old Delhi, which stands testimony to the greatness of Mughal architecture. It is where Pt Nehru made the ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech as freedom dawned on our nation. It is also where the Prime Minister of India makes his address to the nation every Independence Day.

Red Fort (Photo Courtesy: http://www.mapsofindia.com)

4.    The Rashtrapati Bhavan, home of the President of India, was designed by architect Edwin Lutyens. To say it is a mansion would be an understatement; there are 340 rooms over four floors in this palatial structure. The Mughal Gardens are open to the public every February. You would need to obtain permission to take a tour of the palace.

Rashtrapati Bhavan (Photo Courtesy: http://www.indiansecretsrevealed.com)

5.    Don’t miss the Jama Masjid, the biggest mosque in the country. It is quite close to the Red Fort, and is open on all days, except when prayers are held. The architecture and the scale will have you spell-bound.

Jama Masjid (Photo Courtesy: http://commons.wikimedia.org)

6.    If you are in old Delhi, you can’t ignore the Chandni Chowk. There are pedestrians, jostling rickshaw and cycle wallahs crowding the gallis, but the energy of the place is infectious.

Chandni Chowk    (Photo Courtesy: http://www.theindianexplorer.com)

7.    While still in the Chandi Chowk area, you certainly must not miss the Paranthe Wali Gali – the narrow lane where you get some of the best parathas in the world!

Paranthe Wali Gali (Photo Courtesy: http://www.wooplr.com)

8.    Connaught Place, built in 1931, is a shopping hub, and no visit to Delhi is complete without visiting it. There are also plenty of eat-out places here to suit different pockets.

Connaught Place (Photo Courtesy: http://akankshasinha.wordpress.com)

9.    Dilli Haat mimics the concept of the traditional village haat or market, and I love shopping here; the range is incredible.

Dilli Haat (Photo Courtesy: http://guidepal.com)

10.    Lotus Temple is the Baha’ii House of Worship and was built to resemble a lotus – a symbol common to all regions. This serene place is a great one to meditate.

Lotus Temple (Photo Courtesy: http://www.allindiadaily.com)

Before you book your tickets on one of the flights to Delhi, keep in mind that the best time to visit India’s national capital is September-November and February-March. Every day, there are Delhi flights taking off from all major airports in India and the world, so connectivity is not an issue when it comes to visiting the city at all.

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A Day at Sultanpur National Park

Sultanpur National Park, located in Sultanpur, Haryana is a recently developing tourist attraction. Earlier known as Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, it contained some of the rarest species of birds in their natural habitat. In fact, a large number of migratory birds are seen here in winter, during which massive crowds come for bird watching. It is located 15 kilometers from Gurgaon and 40 kilometers from Delhi, making it a convenient weekend getaway. 

Sultan National Park (Photo Courtesy: hoparoundindia)

Covering an area of 359 acres, the park has a good mixture of pond area and terrestrial landscape for birds and animals. It takes around an hour and a half or two to cover the entire national park by foot. Apart from providing home to birds and animals, it also has education centres like The Education and Interpretation Center where extensive research and studies take place. It is a wonderful place to spend a few hours watching exquisite species of birds and animals interact with nature. 

Sarus Crane At Sultanpur National Park (Photo Courtesy: touristlink)

Spotted Owl at Sultanpur National Park (Photo Courtesy: flickr.com)

Approximately 250 species of birds are found here, 100 of them being resident while others are migratory, flying from international destinations like Siberia and Afghanistan. Popularity of the birds are determined by the weather. The common resident birds are  Little Egret, Paddy field Pipit, Eurasian Thick-knee Painted Stork, Purple Sunbird, Little Cormorant, Indian Roller, White Ibis and Common Hoopoe. It is a mesmerizing sight to see such exotic birds in their diverse groups, flying beautifully across the horizon. Neelgai or Blue Bull and Black Buck are even more common varieties, seen perched on the branches of trees within the park.

Birding at the Sultanpur national park (Photo Courtesy: Tanveer Singh)

Every winter, almost a hundred varieties of birds migrate from different parts of the country and the world to spend the cold months in Sultanpur National Park. Some of them are Spotted Sand Piper, Siberian Cranes, Rosy pelican, Greater Flamingo, Northern Pintail, Common Teal, Black winged Stilt, Yellow Wagtail, Blue throat, Common Greenshank, Eurasian Wigeon and Black tailed Godwit. The national park comes alive with a spectrum of colourful birds in the coldest months of the year, drawing tourists from far and wide.

Nilgai at Sultanpur National park,Gurgaon (Photo Courtesy: gurvinder Bhullar)

Summer months are warmer with many a Koel and a Cuckoo bird singing on a tree, chirping in happiness. The animals, though much smaller in number, are seen running around and scampering among the bushes. Indian Porcupine, Wild Dog, Striped Hyena Four Horned Antelope, Wild Cat and Hedgehogs are some common animals found in the national park.

Clearly, winters are the best time for bird watchers to visit the national park. December and January are the busiest months. The easiest way to get to Sultanpur National Park is through Delhi. Delhi flights are plenty in number and are affordable from cities within the country like Pune, Hyderabad, Noida, Kolkata and Indore.

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Best Seafood Restaurants in Delhi

Proudly known as the capital of India, Delhi is the second most populous metropolis in the country, second only to Bombay or Mumbai. Historically also a very important city of India, particularly during the rule of the Mughals, Delhi hosts some of the most amazing architectural marvels, including the Qutb Minar, Red Fort, the Lotus temple, India Gate, Humayun’s tomb and more. Delhi is the hub for some of the most lucrative jobs in the country as well, and sees people flocking in from all parts of the country and the world.

Considering the fantastic culture it has to offer, it is no wonder that Delhi is among the most populated cities of the country. It is well known, that with great culture, comes great food! Mughlai food is a popular cuisine here, as is tandoori food. Another popular food culture here is that of street food.

Delhi hosts some very good restaurants that offer all kinds of cuisine, right from north India’s famous aloo parathas to some of the most authentic foreign cuisines. But what comes as a real surprise is how good some of the seafood restaurants in this city are. If in Delhi, step away from the usual haunts and pop into a seafood restaurant. Some of the popular seafood restaurants include:

- Shack, in Defense colony
- West view - The Grill Room in ITC Maurya
- Ganesh Restaurants or Ganesh Machiwalla in Biden Pura
- FIO Country Kitchen and Bar in Saket
- Brown Sahib in Saket
- Life Caffe in Connaught Place
- 1 Boulevard in Saket
- Set’z in Vasant Kunj
- Zambar in Vasant Kunj
- Oh! Calcutta in Nehru Place

hether the type of cuisine is European, Indian or anything else, the seafood here is always well cooked, well spiced and at the end of the day, simply mind blowing.

Make sure to visit the capital for a treat to the taste buds. The seafood restaurants here can give seafood restaurants world over a run for their money. Get on any of the Delhi flights to enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of the city

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Charming Old City Delhi!!

Delhi is culture rich and offers a multitude of things to do. There is something for everyone, right from historical monuments to market places to events such as plays and concerts. Let's start with the historical monuments in Delhi, most being architectural marvels or simply an astounding proof of the might of kings of old. Visit India Gate, Qutab Minar, Fatehpur Sikri, Red Fort, Lotus Temple, Jama Masjid and Humayun's Tomb, to name a few. Experience India in the days of British Raj, walk through the doors of the Imperial hotel. It's a great way to bond with your cameras! 

India Gate (Photo Courtesy: WikiMedia Commons)

Qutab Minar (Photo Courtesy: WikiMedia Commons)

Fatehpur Sikri (Photo Courtesy: WikiMedia Commons)                                                                                                            

Red Fort (Photo Courtesy: WikiMedia Commons)   

Lotus Temple (Photo Courtesy: WikiMedia Commons)    

Jama Masjid  (Photo Courtesy: WikiMedia Commons)    

Humayun's Tomb  (Photo Courtesy: WikiMedia Commons)   

Imperial hotel  (Photo Courtesy: WikiMedia Commons)   

Of course you'd also have heard of the great shopping opportunities in Delhi. If you want to add some classy yet low cost clothes to your wardrobe, Delhi is the right place. Janpath near Connaught place, Khan market, and of course, you're in luck if the Dilli Haat is on when you're in Delhi, where you can experience cultures from across the country. Don't forget to let your feet walk you to the famous Chandni Chowk, Chawri bazaar and Sarojini nagar for one of the best shopping experiences ever. While you're at it, check out Khari Baoli, which is reputed to be Asia's biggest spice market.

Shoppers Paradise, Janpath Near Connaught place Delhi (Photo Courtesy: gallery.biorust.com)   

 Chandni Chowk Delhi (Photo Courtesy: ilovedelhi.in)   

The Famous Spice Market in Khari Baoli (Photo Courtesy:WikiPedia)

Chawri Bazaar Delhi (Photo Courtesy: kunzum.com) 

Delhi also happens to be the perfect destination if you want to tantalize those taste buds. Tangy chaats, rich paneer dishes, succulent and savoury meats, Delhi's got it all. 

Teej on Display at Dilli Haat Photo Courtesy:stylecraze.com)

Folk Dance Going on at Dill Haat (Photo Courtesy: sheshachaturvedi.blogspot.com)

A Still of Cultural Curry , Dilli Haat (Photo Courtesy: outlookindia)

Yes, India's capital is host to all of these awesome things and needless to say, Delhi lets you live the true Indian experience. A must go. When you're on a Delhi Flight and just about to land, look outside. As a first view of the Capital, you’ll see spread down below, a massive carpet of twinkling lights, organised as the skeleton of a leaf. 

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