DELHI

Pulsating with all the hustle bustle of a national capital, Delhi is an eclectic miniature of all that is India & much more. Whether you are walking the swanky neon lit streets of Connaught Place or finding your way amidst the narrow by lanes of Old Delhi, you'll come across people from diverse regional & religional backgrounds, lending their unique colours to the multi ethnic cultural fabric of the city.

Being the preferred capital of a large numbers of rulers in its golden past, Delhi is a city steeped in history. The city has undergone seven incarnations since its inception. From the "Indraprastha" in the times of the epic Mahabharata to the "New Delhi" of the British, the names might have changed but the spirit of the city has endured. The 1300 monuments that dot the landscape of Delhi have lived on to portray vividly the saga of the 7 cities of Delhi for generations to come.

While the Red Fort, Old Fort & Humayun's Tomb mirror the grandeur of the Mughal period, the ruins of Lodhi Gardens & Qutub Minar reflects the era of the slave Dynasty. The colonnaded corridors of Parliament house & the magnificent arch that is India Gate (built in the memory of soldiers who lost their lives in WWI) evoke vignettes of the British Raj in one's heart. The pulse of the city is however, its kaleidoscopic bazaars, always abuzz with activity.

Apart from upmarket shopping areas like Connaught Place & South Extension, there are places like Janpath & Sarojini Nagar, which go easy on your wallet and are perfect for buying casuals & knick-knacks Chandni Chowk & Dariba in old Delhi are the places to visit if you are on the lookout for some exquisite jewellery or antiques. The best of Indian handicrafts is showcased at the state emporia at Baba Kharak Singh Marg, the craft bazaar & the Dilli Haat.

For the spiritually inclined, Delhi offers a host of options. The grand Laxmi Narayan Temple & the ancient temple of Yogmaya in Mehrauli are the most famous temples in Delhi. The golden domed Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is an integral part of the lives of the Sikh community in Delhi. Over twenty thousand devotees throng the Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in the city every Friday for offering their weekly prayers. The pristine (built by the followers of the Bahai faith) Bahai Temple (also known as lotus temple) is a feast for both the eyes & the soul.