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Delhi is a city of dreams and splendid historical monuments where each crumbling wall has a tale to tell. Rulers have come and gone leaving behind a reflection of the past. Delhi is just not a city but it is a book-a book which narrates the history of India.

The complexities, the contradictions, the beauty and the dynamism of this city where the past coexists with the present, bear testimony to the fact that many dynasties ruled from here and contributed to its diverse cultural elements that are now absorbed into the daily life of the city enriching its character.

 

Exploring the various facets of the city can be a fascinating and rewarding experience. The charm that attracted emperors, conquerors and poor equally is still inherent despite Delhi now being cosmopolitan society. With the passing, the city has upgraded itself to global standards, providing perfect blend of both ancient and modern times.

 

Monuments of a place surely eulogize about the past grandeur. Delhi is an ancient land where the culture rose to soaring pinnacles long before modern civilization made its way into everyone’s heart. Delhi is home to multifarious cultural and heritage sites that are splendid in terms of their architectural value. Many of them have existed since the days of the Mughals and continue to radiate that same old charm that refuses to wither away.

 

Among the city’s prominent monuments is the Red Fort’s massive curtain wall and battlements, which dominate the skyline of old Delhi. Inside the fort-built by emperor Shah lahan-are a range of exquisite 17th century Mughal buildings. The flawless balance and proportion of these buildings, as the intricate decoration, is wonderful to behold and in complete contrast to the military might of the fort itself.

 

Also built by the Mughal emperor Shahjahan, the Jama Masjid is the largest mosque in India and situated opposite to the Red Fort. The mosque was built in 1656 AD; about 5,000 labourers and craftsmen toiled for six years to complete the beautiful monument.

 

In central Delhi, Humayun’s Tomb ‘was built by Mughal emperor Humayun’s widowed Queen Haji Begum in the 16th century. Set in a square enclosed garden, the finely proportioned structure in red sandstone and marble served later as a model for the Taj Mahal, which shows the Mughal architecture at its best.

 

The Qutub Minar in southern part of the city is a huge tower, was built to commemorate the Muslim conquest of Delhi, Standing 238ft (72.5m) tall, it is built of fluted red sandstone and decorated with calligraphy representing verses from the Koran.

 

SPEAKING STONES:  In the center of Delhi stands the India Gate, a majestic high arch, 138ft (42m) high, built as a memorial to the Indian soldiers killed in World War I. Beneath it burns an eternal flame.

Nearby stands the Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory with masonry instruments, built in 1724 by Jai Singh, the mathematician and astronomer king of India.

Delhi possesses a rich and varied cultural heritage spreading over millennia of history. The government of Delhi is presently undertaking several measures to protect these historic monuments, recently making the decision to restore 100 heritage structures in the city. The drive is part of the effort to showcase the Indian capital for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.