Central Delhi Sights and Activities

Rajpath:
Created in colonial style by famous British architect Edwin Lutyens, Rajpath can be stated as the state's central avenue that houses the creme-de-la-creme of the country. The most awaited annual military parade on Republic Day takes place here, which is attended by the luminaries of the country. It is here that the the Rashtrapati Bhavan or the President's House is situated, atop the Raisena Hill. Close to the building is the beautifully laid out Mughal Gardens which are open for viewing during the blooming season in February.

Rajpath is a high security zone of Delhi, as it is flanked by the Secretariat buildings called the North and the South Blocks, the Vijay Chowk where the ceremonial Beating Retreat takes place to conclude the Republic Day celebrations. India Gate, which is one of the signature monuments of the state, is situated to the east of Rajpath. It is a war memorial built to honor the soldiers who died in World War I and the 1919 Afghan War.BR>

Humayun's Tomb:
Humayun, son of the first Mughal emperor Babur, could see his reigns over Delhi just for an year, before he died. His Persian wife, Haji Begum built the Humayun Tomb in the mid-16th century on the banks of river Yamuna. The architectural styles of the tomb were later used in other Mughal monuments too like the char-bagh, high plinths at the entrances, bulbous domes and exquisite carvings. Haji Begum's tomb is also placed within the monument in the black and yellow hued marble tomb.

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Purana Qila:The empowering fort located at the site of ancient city Indraprastha, mentioned in Mahabharata, has seen many emperors administering their kingdoms from here. It was Sher Shah Suri, who after defeating Mughal emperor Humayun completed this mighty fort in his seven year reign ending in 1545 AD. The structure of the fort boasts of being impermeable with its 2km long walls and gigantic double storied gates.

Sher Mandal, to the south of the fort, acted as a library from where emperor Humayun fell and took his last breadth. Also, the fort houses a mosque inside the structure which is known as Quila-i-Kuhran Mosque or the Mosque of Sher Shah. Relics and remains of empires, found in and around are carefully preserved within the fort museum.

Safdarjungs' Tomb:
The Navab of Avadh built this tomb for his Father Safdarjung in the mid 18th century. Safdarjung was came from the Persian province in 1722 and ruled over the state of Awadh. Before getting the title of 'Safdarjung' he was known as Muhommad Muqim. The tomb is at the centre of the four buildings connected by water channels with octagonal towers and a decorated gateway. It is one of the last pieces of Mughal architecture.

Nizam-ud-Din's Shrine: Hazrat Nizam-ud-Din Chishti was a great Sufi saint, who is worshiped by both Hindus and Muslims with same devotion. He died at the age of 92 in 1325 and was cremated in a marble tomb at Nizam-ud Din's shrine. The shrine also includes tombs of Shah Jahan's daughter Jahan Ara and renowned Urdu poet Amir Khusro.

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Gurudwara Bangla Sahib: Gurudwara Bangala Sahib, situated near Cannaught Place Market, is a place of religious as well as historical importance for the Sikhs. It was the site where eight Sikh Guru Harkishan Dev Ji stayed, when he came to Delhi in 1664. The striking features of the gurudwara are its golden dome and central pool known to have healing properties. The central prayer hall echoes the calming prayer songs called gurbaanis and shabads, dedicated to the Lord, which simply give an 'out of this world' experience.

Crafts Museum:
Get a sneak peak into some of the most beautiful Indian handicrafts and how they are made, at the Crafts Museum located in Pragati Maidan area. The museum was established in 1956 and today it has more than 20,000 exclusive crafts on display. The exhibits include tribal objects, folk art, woodcarvings, embroidered garments, accessories, paintings and paper mache items along with other attractive stuff, beautifully displayed in mud huts and galleries.

Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum:
The residence of former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi, at Safdarjung Road was converted into a memorial museum after her death. The museum beautifully preserves and showcases important belongings of the lady who served the nation all her life. You can have a look at the sari she was wearing when she was assassinated by her own bodyguards. There are also newspaper articles, rare photographs and letters placed on exhibit here.

National Museum of Natural History:
A relatively small museum that takes you back to Earth's history through its collection of flora and fauna. It is situated in FICCI Auditorium building at Barakhamba Road in New Delhi, and is a must visit for all the nature lovers. The museum was an initiation of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to promote and educate people about environment and its protection. The main attraction of the place is the 160 million year old fossils of an Indian sauropod. The museum remains closed on Saturday.