In the courtyard of the Quwwatu`l-Islam mosque stands the famous iron pillar, which bears a Sanskrit inscription in Gupta script, palaeographically assigned to the 4th century, a date confirmed by the peculiar style of its `Amalaka`-capital.

The inscription records that the pillar was set up as a standard or dhvaja of god Vishnu on the hill known as `Vishnupada`, in the memory of a mighty king, named `Chandra`, who is now regarded as identical with Chandragupta II (375-413) of the imperial Gupta dynasty. A deep hole on the top of the pillar indicates that an additional member, perhaps an image of `Garuda`, was fitted into it to answer to its description as a standard of Vishnu.

The pillar was brought from somewhere, else, as no other relics of the 4th century are found at the site. There is a strong bardic tradition that it was brought here – wherefrom, nobody knows – by Anangpal, Tomar king credited with the founding of Delhi. The base of the pillar is knobby, with small pieces of iron tying it to its foundations, and a lead sheet covers the portion concealed below the present floor-level. The total length of this slightly tapering shaft is 7.20m, of which 93cm is buried below the ground. The metal of the pillar has been found to be almost pure malleable iron. Its portion below the ground shows some signs of rusting, but at a very slow rate. The manufacture of such a massive iron pillar, which has not deteriorated much during sixteen hundred years of its existence, is a standing testimony to the metallurgical skill of ancient Indians.
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Khirkee Mosque, Delhi

About two kilometer northeast of Qutab Minar in the southern center of Khirkee Village, just off the Press Enclave. center of Khirkee Village it is one of the only two examples of closed mosque in northern India.

There are distinctive window opening with jalis or tracery known as khirkee or latticed windows. Placed on the upper level of the Khirkee Mosque`s exterior wall, these jalis were carved stone shields. The Khirkee Mosque as well as the nearby village got its name from this feature. The Khirkee Mosque of Delhi was built by Khan-i-Jahan, the prime minister of Feroz Shah Tughlaq in the late 14th century and is one of the seven mosques built by him.

Built on an elevated plinth with detritus stone, which was thickly plastered, the Khirkee Mosque is double storied and has a series of basement cells in the lower storey. All the four corners of the of Khirkee Mosque of Delhi have imposing bastions making it look like a fort. There are dwindling minarets on all the three gateways, except the west, with the eastern gate is the main entrance. Today the southern gate is open for the visitors and the devotees.

The courtyard has pillars and is divided into 25 squares with five on each side. Each square is further divided into nine smaller squares. A cluster of nine small low domes made in the Tughlaq pattern covers the following larger squares – the center square of the courtyard with two on the corners, three on each side and one in the middle. The four diagonal squares are left uncovered, through which sunlight finds its way to the inner sanctum of the mosque. The remaining squares are covered with flat roofs, the mosque is partly covered and partly uncovered. It is said that since Khan-i-Jahan used the mosque for his private worship, it was designed like this to beat the intense heat of the region.
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Kashmeri Gate, New Delhi

Kashmeri Gate and portion of the City Wall on either side of the Kashmeri Gate on the side and on the other upto and including the water Bastions at the Northern corner of the wall and also including the ditch outside the City wall where this is exposed – Kashmeri Gate

Located in North Delh or old Delhi. It has Red fort and Delhi Junction railway station in the vicinity. It was the area around the North gate of the Laal Quila, the Red Fort of Delhi, the gate was facing towards Kashmir, so it was named as Kashmere Gate. The Kashmiri Gate or double gateway was built by Shah Jahan. The royal processions of emperors and Queens used to pass through the gate on their trips to Kashmir. However, when the British came to this walled city they altered many of the structures. They used modern construction materials to strengthen the walls and gateways in order to make them immune to the attacks. In the process, they fortified Kashmiri gate in 1835 and made it a double gateway. Thus the gate has double openings, one for entrance and the other as an exit. This feature is unheard in both Indo-Islamic as well as Turko-Afghani Architecture. This gate gained strategic importance during the `Mutiny` of 1857. The British used this entrance in order to prevent the mutineers from entering the city. You can see the holes made by cannon balls used by the British to recapture the city. The ruins of Mori Gate are only visible from the gaps in the walls, which flank the road leading to the railway line. This line was the most important railway line at the time of British as it connected Calcutta to Delhi. This gate was demolished in 1867 in order to allow easy movement to traffic after the Mutiny
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Hastinapur, Delhi

Hastinapur was the capital of the Kuru dynasty of Kings. The entire epic Mahabharata have taken place in this city of Hastinapura. The first reference to Hastinapur in Hindu mythology comes as the capital of Emperor Bharata.The entire Mahabharata revolves around the family rivalry of two sets of cousins the Pandavas, or the five sons of Pandu (Yudhisthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva), and the Kauravas (descendants of Kuru), the one hundred sons of the blind Dhrtarastra, the eldest of whom was Duryodhana.Both the Kauravas and the Pandavas claimed the throne of Kuru land withi its capital at Hastinapur about fifty-five miles (ninety kilometres) northeast of modern Delhi.

The chronicle of Hastinapur unveils the saga of the tears, agony, happiness and verve of the rulers who one after the other ruled Hastinapur. Bharadwaj was appointed as the king by Bharat and then came King Hasti who established Hastinapur. After Hasti, Ajmeedh who was the son of Hasti ruled Hastinapur. The rich history of Hastinapur unfolds the fact that after Hasti, Kuru came into power and ruled Hastinapur. He died leaving his son Jahnu who later succeeded the throne. After Jahnu, Shantanu reigned. A new ruler named as Chitrangada afterwards ruled Hastinapur for quite sometime and was later replaced by his younger brother Vichitravirya. It is after Vichitravirya Hastinapur winessed a novel change and Pandu the son of Vichitravirya became the new king. Pandu died at an young age and again Hastinapur found a new ruler – Dhritarashtra. After the demise of Dhritarashtra, his son Yudhisthira ruled Hastinapur. After Yudhisthira his brother`s son Parikshit reigned. Later his son Janmejaya ruled Hastinapur for a short span. Chandra Vansh dynasty came to an end with the demise of the last king Chemak.
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• Bommasandra • History of Bangalore • Lal Bagh
• Hebbagodi • Krishnarajapura

Bangalore,the multifaceted capital city of Karnataka, dotted with modern marvels, lush boulevards, historical monuments & bustling shopping plazas, Bangalore, aptly called the Silicon Valley of India, is every tourist`s dream travel destination. It is the cultural meeting place of Kannada, Telugu and Tamil speaking people.

Bangalore, the fifth largest city in India, is the perfect blend of natural beauty and man-made marvels of architecture and technology. Blessed with a salubrious climate and dotted with beautiful parks, its tree-lined avenues, its trendy, yuppie downtown, and the software flood, Bangalore truly offers one a picture of striking contrasts.

Bangalore — located 1,000m above sea level is one of the most `happening` places in India. Bangalore, which literally means the `town of baked beans`, was founded by Kempe Gowda, a chieftain of the Vijayanagar Empire, around the 16th century. He built four towers in four directions to specify its boundaries. However, Bangalore has far exceeded these limits since.

bangalore

The size of the Nandi is overwhelming. At the back is a small Lingam shrine. Its modern Gopuram rises, gracefully and majestically. The underground “Sri-Gavi Gandadhareshwara Temple” is equally fascinating, where on every January 14th (Makara Sankranti) they say, a ray of light passes between the horn of a Nandi outside the temple and lights the idol kept inside. Three levels of excavations have been carried out in the cave. One can see the black stone Hanuman, here. On the way to the Bull Temple one comes across a temple dedicated to the Elephant God Ganesha. The Bull temple is a buzz with great activity during the Shivratri festival.

Local festival Kadalekaye Parishe (Groundnut fair) at the Bull Temple includes a groundnut eating festival. The farmers offer their first harvest collection to Nandi.

Lalbagh is regarded as one of the most richly diverse Botanical Garden in India. It was laid out by Haider Ali in 1740. Spread over 240 acres of Parkland, many of its tropical Lalbagh Botnical Gardenplants were brought here by Tipu Sultan. Later, John Cameron, the Garden`s Superintendent in the 1870s, imported several more rare species from Kew Gardens in London. Cameron was also responsible for initiating work on Lalbagh`s famous Glass House, modelled on London`s Crystal Palace and Conceived as a venue for horticultural shows. Surrounded by champaka trees and pencil cedars, the Glass House has played host to several visiting dignitaries. An Annual Flower show will be held The Entrance to the Park is marked by an equestrian statue of Chamaraja Wodeyar of Mysore. Another popular attraction is the surreal Floral Clock, surrounded by Snow White and the Seven dwarfs. This was a gift from Hindustan Machine Tools, leading Indian Manufacturers of Watches.

Vidhaan Soudha
A marvel of neo-Dravidian architecture and one of the most imposing building is, the Vidhaan Soudha houses the state legislative assembly of Karnataka and part of the Vidhaan SoudhaSecretariat. The majestic looking Vidhan Soudha is one of the most imposing building not only in Bangalore but also in India. Kengal Hanumanthaiah, Chief Minister of the then Mysore State between 1951-1956 was responsible for the concept, the structure and the setting of this magnificent building.

Supervised and executed by engineers and architects led by the then Chief Engineer, late B.R.Manickam of the Public Works Department, the Vidhana Soudha is an arresting monument.

The building project was started in 1952 and was completed in four years. Five thousand labourers, 1500 chisellers, masons and wood carvers were employed to bring the building to its present form. Built entirely from Bangalore granite in the Dravidian style, it has floral motifs on stone carvings drawn from the celebrated temple craft of South India.

Tipu`s Palace
Tipu`s PalaceThe architecture, the layout and the overall look of Tipu`s Palace shows the ethnic Mughal lifestyle. The Palace and its remains present the history of the era in which it was built. The construction of the palace of Tipu Sultan was started by Haider Ali and completed by Tipu Sultan himself. This double-storeyed ornate structure was constructed in 1781-1791 AD.

Tipu`s Palace is a two-storied ornate wooden structure with pillars, arches and balconies flanked by gardens on either sides leading to the palace. Built entirely in Teak wood, the palace is described as the “Abode of Happiness”, as proclaimed by an inscription on the wooden screen.

Apart from the palace, the remains of the Fort near the Palace are a testimony of the struggle by Tipu against the might of the British Raj in India. The eastern and western projecting balconies of the upper floor contained the seat of state from where Tipu Sultan conducted affairs of the state. The summer palace of Tipu Sultan was built in Bangalore. This palace is beautifully decorated with floral motifs on the walls and ceilings. After the death of Tipu, the British used this building as their secretariat till 1867. In the busy market place of the city are the remnants of this fort built by Tipu Sultan.it is built of teakwood.

Attara KacheriAttara Kacheri
The Attara Kacheri, is a beautiful stone structure in an intense red hue built in 19th century.This graceful, two storeyed Building with Corinthian columns, was completed in 1864 and housed the Public Offices from 1868 until 1956. These were later moved to the Vidhana Soudha, and this building became the high court. On the ceiling of its Central Hall is a Portrait of Sir Mark Cubbon, Commissioner of Mysore from 1834 to 1861. Behind the building is an equestrian statue of him by Baron Marochetti.

Bangalore Palace
Bangalore PalaceThe Bangalore Palace was modelled on Windsor Castle, completed with fortified towers and turreted parapets. It stands amid undulating lawns, partly converted into a formal garden with axial paths. It spreads over 13,700sq m. T he palace fell into disrepair after 1949 when it was at the centre of an ownership dispute between the government and the ruling wodeyars. It has since been restored to the wodeyars and is now rented out as a popular venue for functions such as weddings and music concerts and film shoots. No Kannada movie is considered complete if a scene is not shot here.

Cubbon Park
Cubbon ParkLaid out in 1864 by Richard Sankey, The chief engineer of Mysore, and named in honour of the Commissioner, Cubbon Park extends over an area of 135-ha (334 acres). Its partly formal landscaping imaginatively integrates natural rock out croppings with groves of trees and giant bamboos. The park is liberally dotted with statues, such as that of the 19th Century ruler Chamarajendra Wodeyar ( 1868 – 94 ) over looking the pond near an Octagonal, cast-iron bandstand. There are also marble statues of Queen Victoria and Edward VII. In the middle of the park a red painted, Neo-Classical building known as the Sheshadri Iyer Memorial Houses a Public Library.

Government Museum – Kasturba Gandhi Road
Government MuseumIt is one of the oldest museums in the country. Housed in a red stucco Neo-Classical Building with Corinthian Columns, it has 18 sections with a fine collection of jewellery, miniature paintings sculpture, artifacts from Mohenjodaro and 5,000 years old neolithic relics. The Venkatappa Art Gallery, named after an early 20th century artist patronized by the wodeyar rules of Mysore, forms one wing of this museum. It has water colours and paintings made in mysore style. These works still retain a greenish coating imparted by a finishing rub with jade. The Gallery also has a collection of leather puppets made of deer and fine sculptures from the satvahana, Hoysala and Vijayanagar periods.

Visveswaraiah Industrial and Technological Museum
Visveswaraiah Industrial and Technological MuseumThis Museum is a tribute to the great Sir M.Vishveshwariah, a Stateman who worked dedicatedly to bring science and technology to the common man. See an unconnected tubelight glow watch your voices as you speak, learn to make motion pictures, alarms etc. This museum has wonderful informations about the marvels of science.

Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium
Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium was founded in the year 1989. The sky theatre inside with a dome of fifteen meters in diameter.The Planetarium gives the opportunity to tourists on vacations in Bangalore to unravel the mysteries of outer space. The Planetarium aims to provide an awareness of astronomy amongst students as well as the common public. Daily two shows are held here for everyone interested in knowing the mysteries of outer space.

• Bommasandra • History of Bangalore • Lal Bagh
• Hebbagodi • Krishnarajapura

The Lal Bagh Botanical Garden is a famous Botanical Garden of India situated at Bangalore. The ruler of Mysore, Hyder Ali, established the garden.

Botanical Garden at Lal Bagh, Bangalore, KarnatakaHyder Ali started building the Garden of Lal Bagh in the year 1760 and his son Tipu Sultan completed the garden. Lal Bagh spans over an extensive area of two hundred and forty acres or 9,71,000 square meter or almost 1 square kilometer. The garden is situated on the southern side of the city of Bangalore. The Lal Bagh garden arranges numerous flower shows over the year, among which the flower show at the ceremony of the Republic Day (26th January) is most renowned. The garden contains over a thousand of species of flora. Another center of attraction of the Garden is the Glass House following the model of Crystal Palace of London. Now this Glass House is remodeled with a different layout. Hyder Ali planned the design of this famous garden and his son Tipu Sultan increased the wealth of this garden by importing several trees and plants from various foreign countries. The Garden of Lal Bagh was established on the eighteenth century and over the years it had the first lawn-clock of India and the largest collection of rare plants in the subcontinent. There are trees in the garden, which are over century old.

In the center of the Lal Bagh Garden, there is a tower erected by the founder of the Bangalore, Kempe Gowda. Hyder Ali planned to create this garden following the style of Mughal Gardens that were very popular at the contemporary time. There are some rare species of flora in the park, which were brought from Persia, Afghanistan and France. The Lal Bagh garden is tastefully designed with intricate system of irrigation, lawns, flowerbeds, lotus pools and beautiful fountains. The trees, which are aged more than hundred years, are labeled for easy identifications. The other attraction of the park that draw the attention of the crowd is the Lalbagh Rock, one of the oldest rock formation on Earth, about three thousand million years old.

The design of the Lal Bagh Garden follows the Mughal gardens, specially that stands at Sira, 120 kilometers away from Bangalore beside the national highway 4 at Tumkur district of Karnataka. Archeological Survey of India and other historical records support the fact. At that time Sira was the capital or headquarter of Mughals southern part of `Suba` in the Deccan India.

Lal Bagh Garden remains open daily from 6.00 am to 9 pm all around the year. There is no entry charge from 6 am to 9 am and 6pm to 7pm for the benefits of fitness freaks and joggers. During the other time of the day a fee of rupees ten is charged from the tourists. The school children and the disabled require no entry charge throughout the day.

Flower shows are conducted every year to make people aware of different flora and also grow the habit in them to cultivate plants. The Government of Karnataka organizes Janapada Jaatre in the park of LalBagh on the second and fourth Saturday and Sunday of every month. Janapada Jaatre is a kind of folk fare that includes folk dance, music and plays performed by the troops all over the Karnataka state. The shows mainly depict the cultural folklore of Karnataka, their traditional costumes and musical links.

LalBagh is currently under the aegis of the Directorate of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka. The Directorate is located amidst the beautiful environment of the Botanical garden. LalBagh was given the status of a Government Botanical Garden in the year 1856 and since then it has been a place of internationally famous center for the scientific study of flora and also researches for the conservation of plants. The landscape of the garden perfectly blends formal and informal styles and has the testimony of natural and artificial beauty. The garden is a lush green paradise situated at the heart of the city of Bangalore.

Bommasandra, Suburb of Bangalore, Karnataka

Bommasandra is a suburb of the city of Bangalore in the state of Karnataka in India.

The statistical figures of the 2001 India census record a population of 7570 in Bommasandra. Males make up 58% of the population and females amount to 42%. The figure is also inclusive of 15% children less than 6 years of age. Bommasandra has a mean literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national standard of 59.5%. While male literacy of 80% and female literacy of 61%.

Recently, a woodworking factory with an area of 2-lakh sq. ft has been planned in the suburb of Bommasandra. It will be India`s largest woodworking factory. The factory is being set up by Shoba Developers, the real estate company endorsed by the Muscat based NRI, P.N.C. Menon. The project, priced around Rs 25 crore, is expected to be completed within six months

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Hebbagodi

In the state of Karnataka , the experts have pointed out the existence of Hebbagodi . It is an area that lies in the suburb of the city of Bangalore .

Without knowing the demography of this Hebbagodi suburb, one would not be able to identity true features of it. The Census report of Indian that has been brought out in the year 2001 throws much light on various things related to Hebbagodi. According to the report , the total population of Hebbagodi has been measured to be 12,395. To be specific, males comprise of 60 percent , while the population of females is 40 percent. In Hebbagodi, 12 percent of the total population is below six years of age.

The literacy rate of the Hebbagodi too is significant. The average literacy rate of Hebbagodi is 78 percent. Thus it can seen that it is higher than the average literacy rate of the nation which is measured to be 59.5 percent. About male and females literacy status can be traced from it as well. For instance, male literacy rate is 84 percent, and rate of female literacy is 69 percent .
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Krishnarajapura, Karnataka

Krishnarajapura is a residential locale nestled at the Bangalore district of the state of Karnataka. A municipal council has been established so that the locale can be administered quite well.

Without discussing the demographical scenario it becomes impossible for a layman to develop familiarity with the characteristics of the concerned place and its demography. In case of Krishnarajapura the same rule is applicable. Numerous reports have been prepared after completing surveys for a prolonged period of time. In this matter, a special mentioning may be made of the Census report that has been brought out in the year 2001.

Data like literacy rate, population condition etc that are related to Krishnarajapura can be inferred if one analyses this report thoroughly. According to this report, Krishnarajapura showed a population count of 187,453. Out of it, male populace constitutes 52 %. Just like many other places females are less in number and constitutes 48 % of the total population. In Krishnarajapura, 11 % of the total population is below six years of age.

Literacy rate, a yardstick for gauging growth and development of any particular town, indicates the occurrence of growth of Krishnarajapura as well. Reason also is there. 78 % is the average rate of literacy of Krishnarajapura, which is even higher than 59.5 %, India`s average literacy rate. Not only that both males and female have placed education in their top priority list. Thus rate of male literacy constitutes 83 %. In Krishnarajapura rate of female literacy is also no less significant thereby constituting 71 %.

• Bommasandra • History of Bangalore • Lal Bagh
• Hebbagodi • Krishnarajapura

History of Bangalore starts with the Chola rule in south India. Bangalore is the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is draped over the Deccan Plateau at an altitude of 949 meters (3113 ft.) above sea level, which gives it possibly the best climate among all other cities in India.

Government House The history of Bangalore states that the city Bangalore got its name from the words “Bendha KaaLu” (which means boiled beans in the local language Kannada). King Veera Ballala of the Vijayanagara kingdom was once lost in a forest and accidentally happened to stumble upon a lonely cottage. An old woman that lived there could offer the famished king only boiled beans “Bendha kaaLu” and the place came to be known as “Bendha kaaLu ooru” (ooru in Kannada means a city). BendhakaaLooru later was renamed as BengaLooru in Kannada and Bangalore in English. However, historical evidence shows that “BengaLooru” was recorded much before King Ballala`s time in a 9th century temple message in the village of Begur in form of an inscription. Even today “BengaLooru” exists within the city limits in Kodigehalli area and is known as “HalebengaLooru” or “Old Bangalore.”

Kempe Gowda designed the present day city in the year 1537. During one of his hunting errands, which was his favourite past time, Kempe Gowda was amazed to see a hare chase his dog and thus started to call the place as “gandu bhoomi” (heroic place). Kempe Gowda I, who was in charge of Yelahanka, also built a mud fort in 1537 and with the help of King Achutaraya, built the minor towns of Balepet, Cottonpet and Chickpet, all inside the fort. Today, these little areas are the major wholesale and commercial market places in the city. Kempe Gowda`s son constructed the four watchtowers to mark the boundaries of Bangalore, which are traceable even today, and they stand almost in the heart of the present city.

The history of Bangalore states that in the year 1638, Shahajirao Bhonsle, father of Shivaji, captured the city. In 1687, Aurangzeb`s army detained Bangalore and sold it to the Wodeyars for an insignificant sum of Rs.300, 000. The Wodeyars then built the famous Lal Bagh in 1759, one of Bangalore`s most wonderfully laid out gardens. In the same year, Hyder Ali took the possession of Bangalore as a jagir from Krishnaraja Wodeyar II. He fortified the southern fort and made Bangalore an army town. When Tipu Sultan died in the 4th Mysore war in 1799, the British gave the kingdom to Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, including Bangalore, but the British inhabitant stayed in Bangalore. In the commencement of the 19th century, the General Post Office was opened and the Cantonment was made nine years later in 1809. In 1831, owning to the disaster of misrule by Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, the British took over the administration of the Mysore Kingdom.

Under the British influence, Bangalore advanced with modern facilities like the railways, telegraph, postal and police departments. In 1859, the first train was flagged out of the city and five years later in 1864, the lovely Sankey built Cubbon Park. The end of the century, the building of Attara Kacheri and the Bangalore Palace were laid down. The 20th century saw the arrival of the first motorcar in the city. In 1881, the British again returned the city to the Wodeyars. Dewans like Sir Mirza Ismail and Sir M Visveswaraya were the pioneers to help Bangalore get back its modern outlook. Since then, the city has grown in magnitudes, emerging into what one can see in the present day and know of this majestic city.

Bangalore is India`s fifth largest and the fastest growing city in Asia, also known as Garden City. Before the developments in the last few decades, Bangalore was a well laid out city with many large gardens, which provided it the name, the Garden City. The history of Bangalore thus declares the city traditionally to be a retreat for people from the surrounding south Indian regions. Even today, the history of Bangalore finds its place in several heritage buildings through its inscriptions.

The capital city of India and also the third largest in the world ranking, Delhi has a rich cultural heritage. In fact Delhi culture is a fine mingling of old and new- the Old Delhi embodies exquisite monuments, forts, museums, and the New Delhi is an emblem of architecture and palatial governmental buildings mostly of the modern times. Nowhere we can find such amalgamation of old beauties with modern tinge and Delhi culture becomes the trendsetter. So much so that Delhi culture has overpowered that of other two metros, namely Mumbai & Kolkata. Very recently Delhi has flourished as the most vivacious center of innovative arts in India with more than twenty-five art galleries, especially around Bhagwan Das Road and Mandi House. Tours, conferences, film displays and study courses on art admiration etc are often coordinated. To sum up, Delhi culture blossoms in its cultural features. Music and dance, festivals, peoples` lifestyle bears a proof of this embellishment of culture and tradition.

Festivals

The exquisite range of festivals and fairs glorifies Delhi culture. Being hometown of people of all diversified communities, Delhi culture encompasses popular festivals of India, namely, Diwali, Holi, Durga Puja, Makar Sankranti etc. Muslim festivals like Eid and “Bakrid” are being celebrated with great enthusiasm irrespective of cultural divergences. What is unique of Delhi culture is that Delhites have incorporated their own style of celebrating some Indian popular festivals. These festivals coalesce both old traditions with modern practices .The popular festival for Punjabis Lohri, feted annually on 13th January, marks the departure of chilled winter. On this day the people of Delhi set exalted balefire, along with dancing, singing, merrymaking for the whole night. On the very next day, Hindus celebrate Makar Sankranti. A Kite Flying Festival is also set up every year. On this day on the green lawns above Palika Bazaar at Connaught Place is being chosen as the venue for this festival. Flying colorful kites of course look gorgeous. The momentum is hightened when all the participants fly their kites, displaying their acquisitions. In Delhi, the Spring Festival of Hindus, namely Basant Panchami, is feted normally at the close of January or early on February, when Moghul gardens at Rashtrapati Bhavan are fully flush and are opened up for a month- long public display. Religious festivals too are equally popular, in special prayer meetings are organized in various places on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti and Mahavir Jayanti.

Delhi Tourism emphasizes the richness of Delhi culture by organizing a multiple festivals annually. It organizes the Qutub Festival, a fête of classical music and dance around Sharad Purnima in October at the Qutub Minar Complex. Thyagaraja Festival coordinated in February at the Vaikunthnath temple opposite Jawaharlal Nehru University. People observe fasts on this day and pray to Lord Shiva for his blessings. Amir Khusrau`s anniversary is famed in April and a carnival is devised in his accolade at Nizamuddin. On this function, the National Drama Festival is also adjudged where dramas are presented, generally at the Rabindra Bhawan. To celebrate the season of growing of luscious mangoes, Delhi Tourism organizes the Mango Festival in the month of July.

Music and dance

Delhi culture cannot stand apart with out its wealth of music and dance. Delhi is still under the spell of Mughal aura and it is prevalent in the rampant practice of Indian classical music and dancing styles. Whether Indian classical, Hindustani or Carnatic, or the lighter ghazals, there is no paucity of selection in New Delhi. Music connoisseurs have a variety of sounds to choose from in New Delhi. The people of Delhi are acquainted with raga, the melodic modes, and also talas the rhythmical notes of classical music. Carnatic music, an important sub division of Indian classical music genre, is completely melodious, with extemporized editions. Music is sung vocally and compositions that are prepared, are mostly written to be hummed, and even when played on instruments, they are meant to be performed in a singing style, called gayaki. The city is mushroomed by numerous auditoria and concerts are observed in great enthusiasm. Folk music too is nurtured by the various regional tribes like Gujjars, Gondas, Mundas.

Lavani is a popular folk form performed mainly by females. Dandiya is a form of dance-oriented folk music that has also been adapted for pop music worldwide. Delhi culture perfectly amalgamates dance styles of genres of both classical and desi dance forms. Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Mohiniattam stand at per with the desi styles. Bhangra is a form of dance-oriented folk music that has been deduced from the conventional accompaniment called bhangra. Jhoomer is also another dance form. Dancers create a circle with a person playing the drum in the centerfield.

Cuisine

The cosmopolitan outlook of Delhi culture is aptly reflected in the cuisine of Delhites. Punjabi cuisine and Mughlai delicacies like kababs and biryanis are popular in several parts of Delhi. The popular cuisines of Mughals are relished; tandoori chicken, seekh and boti kebab are noteworthy mainly served in the eating outlets of Delhi. Delhi cuisine also executes some scrumptious local menu like parantha, kachori and chaat. Although the Delhites are inclined to the North Indian style, foods of various types , Rajasthani, Maharashtran, Bengali, South Indian are equally savored. South Indian foodies are inclined to mouthwatering dishes namely idli, sambar and dosa. The best of continental cuisine can be located at various hotels like The Oberoi, Taj Palace,and Captains Cabin. The food stalls ar Dilli Haat, offer a delicious vent of Indian cuisines and that too at a reasonable rate. Local delicacies include Chaat and Dahi-Papri. There are several food outlets in Delhi serving international cuisine including Italian and Chinese. Delhites too had the forte for sweet dishes like Halwas, laddos, padas. The specialty is that these are prepared with ghee and cashews and nuts. Rasmalai is a type of sweet made from milk and cream is popular. One would be deprived of something awesome if he has not tasted Delhi kulfis. It is prepared from solid chunk of thickened milk, topped with saffron, cardamom and nuts, which are eaten with Falooda (rice noodles). Spicy and salty snakes are famous plaited with variety of sausages. A Delhite meal is generally rounded with paan. Paan is betel leaf, folded and filled up with areca nuts, lime, cardamom, clove, nutmeg and grated coconut.

Lifestyle

Delhi culture is represented in the way the local people lead their lives. Lifestyle, thus, provides a blue print of the cultural heritage of the capital city of India. Exburant historical trends as exemplified in the splendid monuments and forts of Mughal era; Red fort, Qutab Minar , Humayun`s tomb illustrated the architectural wonder , thereby being crowned as the World Heritage sites by the UNESCO. The Lotus Temple, Laxminarayan Temple and Akshardham are examples of modern architecture, nicely juxtaposing the old and modern cultural contrast. Being the capital of the country, New Delhi is the hub nub of govermental and political developments. It is also commercially viable place. Because of all the reasons, lots of people from all over the country throng into the city. The city has sufficed the needs of every one – deluxe hotels with ace restaurants, 24-hour coffee shops, swimming pools, business desks, shopping arcade, to middle-range hotels and guest houses, tourist lodges are ubiquitous.

The Delhites are always a step ahead in terms of commercial and educational propensity. Innumerable schools, colleges and famous educational institutes like All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi School of Economics, provide the needs of standard education of different levels. The expert craftsmen and artists have enhanced the cultural ebullience of the whole of India. Notable arts and crafts, namely, the Zardozi and Meenakari, largely have helped the Delhi`s art to capture the world market. Zardori is an embellishment created with the usage of amber ribbon, while the later is the art of ornamenting. Markets like Dilli Haat, Hauz Khas, Pragati Maidan also provide miscellanea of Indian handiworks and looms.

The adavantage of being the capital hub of India, delhi culture has improvised its rich heritage of tradition and culture with regular modern day influx. Musical rhythm, dance styles, exclusive festivals, regal cuisine are the perfect emblems of this Delhi `sanskriti` .

Jama Masjid is the Biggest Mosque in India. Its original name is Masjid-i-Jahan Numa commonly known as Jama Masjid. About 500m away from the Red Fort is the Jama masjid. It was begun by Shah Jahan in 1650 and completed six years later and the whole cost of the construction is about a million rupees. It is hard to imagine a building more suited to evoking the awe of the majesty of Allah in man. The mosque stands on a rocky elevation. Its huge gateway looks down at you like fastidious authority from an immense platform, which has steps that lead up to it.

Masjid-i-Jahan Numa means “the mosque commanding a view of the world”, and the name Jama Masjid is a reference to the weekly Congregation (worship) observed on Friday at the mosque. The courtyard of the mosque can hold up to twenty-five thousand worshippers. The mosque also houses several Relic in a closet in the north gate, including a copy of the Qur`an written on deer skin.

Site & Architecture

Jama Masjid was constructed in Sandstone and white marble, the mosque can be entered from both the directions North and the South Gates. Beyond the intimidating entrance, there is a huge courtyard measuring nearly 100msq. It is bordered by pillared corridors, which run all along the courtyard and have domed pavilions in the middle on either side. The courtyard of the mosque can be reached from the east, north and south by three flights of steps, all built of red sandstone. The northern gate of the mosque has 39 steps. The southern side of the mosque has 33 steps. The eastern gate of the mosque was the royal entrance and it has 35 steps. These steps used to house food stalls, shops and street entertainers. In the evening, the eastern side of the mosque used to be converted into a Bazaar for poultry and birds in general. Prior to the Indian rebellion of 1857, there was a Madrassah near the southern side of the mosque, which was pulled down after the mutiny.

The mosque faces west. Its three sides are covered with open arched porsch, each having a lofty tower-like gateway in the centre. The mosque is about 261 feet long and 90 feet wide, and its roof is covered with three domes with alternate stripes of black and white marble, with its topmost parts covered with gold. Two lofty Minarets, 130 feet high, and containing 130 steps, longitudinally striped with white marble and red sandstone, flank the domes on either side. The minarets are divided by three projecting galleries and are surmounted by open twelve-sided domed pavilions. On the back of the mosque, there are four small minarets crowned like those in the front.

Under the domes of the mosque, is a hall with seven arched entrances facing the west and the walls of the mosque, up to the height of the waist, are covered with marble. Beyond this is the prayer hall, measuring 61m by 27.5m. The mosque has a magnificent display of eleven arches, the central one being higher than the others and serving as the entrance. Over these arched entrances there are tablets of white marble, four feet long and 2.5 feet wide, inlaid with inscriptions in black marble. These inscriptions give the history of the building of the mosque, and glorify the dynasty and virtues of Shah Jahan. The slab over the centre arch contains simply the words “The Guide”. It is crowned by three magnificent domes, which are richly ornamented and have black and white marble stripes much like the Nizamuddin Dargah.

Devotees, who offer namaz, especially during Muslim Festival, clutter Jama Masjid. For those who don`t belong to non – Muslim community, a specified time is mentioned to enter the mosque. The mosque stands on a platform of about five feet (1.5 m) from the pavement of the terrace, and three flight of steps lead to the interior of the mosque from the east, north, and the south. The floor of the mosque is covered with white and black marble ornamented to imitate the Muslim prayer mat; a thin black marble border is marked for the worshippers, which is three feet long and 1 ½ feet wide. In total there are 899 such spaces marked in the floor of the mosque. The back of the mosque is cased over to the height of the rock on which the mosque stands with large hewn stones.

It is said that the walls of the mosque were tilted at a certain angle so that at the time of an earthquake, the walls do not collapse in the courtyard but outwards. The Jama Masjid combines the best of the Hindu and Islamic styles of architecture. The emperors used the main entrance on the eastern side. The eastern gateway is supposed to remain open on Friday. Jama Masjid was the last architectural extravaganza of the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan. Jama Masjid is the replica of the Moti Masjid at Red Fort in Agra. The Masjid also comprises of a great treasure that has been kept in the northeast corner of the white shrine. The treasure comprises of a hair of the beard of Hazrat Muhammad, his used chappal (foot wear), a chapter of Koran taken from its original holy book, the canopy of his tombstone and the footprint of Muhammad on the stone.

Wide staircases and arched gateways are the hallmark of this popular mosque. Its courtyard has a capacity to hold nearly 25,000 worshippers. The area surrounding Jama Masjid is like another World. Located in the center of the old city, the Mosque sits on top of a large hill, projecting high into the Old-Delhi skyline. One can climb the tower of Jama Masjid and get a great view over the city as well as you can hear the sounds of Indian street-life. The tomb houses the graves of three great rulers of Gujarat – Ahmed Shah I, his son, Mohammed Shah and his grandson, Qutubuddin Ahmed Shah II.

Delhi India is a land with a history and culture that goes back over 5000 years. Innumerable historical sites, cities and monuments across the length and breadth of the country are a testimony to this rich cultural past. India`s museums offer visitors a rare opportunity to observe over five millennium of concentrated culture under a single roof. The National Museum is one of India`s most prominent institutions. The Indus Valley gallery displays many antiquities discovered from Mohenjodaro and Harappa, like terracotta toys, images and pots, jewellery, seals, bronze and copper implements and sculptures.

As this museum is situated in the historic Red Fort, it displays objects of the Mughal period such as manuscripts and firmans, which exhibit the ine art of calligraphy, paintings, textiles and costumes. There is also a section, which concentrates on relics of the 1857 war (First War of Independence) like maps and weapons. The National Museum is located on Janpath, south of Rajpath, covering an excellent collection of bronzes, terracotta sculptures, paintings and costumes, which give a complete insight into Indian history and way of life. The collection consists of rare coins and pottery dating back to the Mauryan period 2nd-3rd century BC, exhibits from the Vijayanagar period in south India, miniature and wall paintings, and costumes of the various tribal people.

It also has the largest collection of artifacts dating to the Indus Valley Civilization. The museum is absolutely worth visiting. The museum has a rich variety of all facts of ancient Indian history and also of central Asia. The museum takes through a fascinating trip of what ancient India was all about, pottery, rare coins, and numerous such things including art and architecture, costumes. It`s something every tourist should find time to visit even if the schedule is tight.

The most outstanding object here is the lyrical bronze Dancing Girl. The Bronze Gallery has some superb pieces from the Chola and Pallava period. Among these the Nataraja figure of Shiva and the Kaliya Mardan Krishna are all time greats. There are a number of rare manuscripts and miniature paintings, textiles, coins and tribal art. However, the museum`s most significant gallery is the one of Central Asian exhibits. Silk banners from Dunhuang, wall paintings, sculpture and other objects collected by Sir Aurel Stein capture the lifestyle and culture prevalent along the ancient Silk Route that stretched between Europe and China. The color paintings of Moghul, Rajput, and Deccan are praiseworthy. Besides, there are the holy Git Gobinda, the holy Mahabharata, the holy Bhagvat Gita in golden alphabet, Octogonal mini Quran, Babamama in Babar`s handwriting, Jahangir`s diary, musical instruments of more than 300 types, varieties of tribal dresses enriched the museum. The antique collections of Sir Aurel Stein have added to the attraction of the museum.

The blue print for establishing the National Museum in Delhi had been prepared by the Gwyer Committee set up by the Government of India in 1946. When an Exhibition of Indian Art consisting of chosen artifacts from various museums of India, sponsored by the Royal Academy (London) with the co-operation of the Government of India and Britain, was on exhibit in the galleries of Burlington House, London during the winter months of 1947-48, it was decided to display the same collection under a single roof in Delhi before the return of exhibits to their respective museums. Accordingly, the exibition was held in the staterooms of the Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi in 1949, and it turned out to be a great success. In turn, the event proved responsible for the creation of National Museum. On the auspicious day of the 15th August, 1949, the National Museum was formally inaugurated by the Governor General of India, Shri R.C. Rajagopalachari, and it was announced that till a permanent building for housing the National Musuem was constructed, the Museum would continue to function in the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

The Government also felt to keep the exhibits on show to form the assets of the National Museum and the plan was sent to all the participants of London exhibition. It continued to be looked after well by the Director General of Archaeology until the Ministry of National Museum, DelhiEducation, the Government of India declared it a separate institution to grow in its collections that were sought carefully. It received several gifts but artefacts were collected mainly through its Art Purchase Committee. In the meanwhile, the foundation of the present building was laid by Pt. J.L. Nehru, Prime Minister of India, in the 12th May, 1955 and the new building where works of art were displayed elegantly on scientific lines, was handed over to Museum authorities in June, 1960.

The Museum was formally thrown open to the public on December 18, 1960. And it is now within the administrative control and fully financed by the Department of Culture, Ministry of Human Resource Development, and Government of India. The Museum has in its custody approximately 2,00,000 works of beautiful art of diverse nature, both Indian and foreign and its assets cover a time span of more than five thousand years of our cultural tradition. While the marvelous chronological show of selected art objects in the various galleries, screening of educational films related to art and culture, guided tours, gallery talks by the experts, special lectures and training programmes, facilities for photography and access to the reserve collection and library for the study, and advice on identification of art objects have brought huge success to the Museum.

Collections
The Archaeological Survey of India and the National Museum jointly set up the Harappan gallery. It has a rich collection of a large number of artifacts from the sites of Harappan Civilisation. The collection includes pottery, seals, tablets, weights and measures, jewellery, terracotta figurines, toys, etc. It also has copper tools from Harappan sites like axes, chisels, knives, etc. About 3,800 objects have been displayed in the modernised Harappan Gallery from the National Museum collection. This Gallery also has 1,025 excavated artifacts belonging to the Indian Harappan site of the Archaeological Survey of India collection.

Archaeology
A prestigious collection of approximately 800 sculptures have been displayed in theArchaeological Galleries on the ground floor, the rotundas on the ground, first and National Museum – Paintingsecond floors and around the museum building. The sculptures displayed are mostly in stone, bronze and terracotta, dating from the 3rd century B.C., through the 19th century A.D. representing all major regions, periods and schools of art. National Museum, New Delhi, today, has in its ownership over 2,00,000 works of fine art, both of Indian and Foreign origin covering more than 5,000 years of our cultural heritage. Its rich wealth of various creative traditions and disciplines, which represents a unity in diversity, a matchless blend of the past with the present and strong point of view for the future, brings history to life. Apart from the collections of Pre-historic Archaeology, Archaeology, Jewellery, Paintings, Decorative arts, Manuscripts, Central Asian Antiquities, Arms and Armour, etc the Museum today has a separate branches of publication, Hindi, Public Relations, Education, Library, Exhibition cell, Display, Modelling, Photography, Security and Administration.

Arts Collections
The Archaeological Survey of India and the National Museum mutually set up the National Museum, DelhiNational Museum of Delhi. It has a rich collection of a large number of artifacts from the sites of Harappan Civilisation. The collection includes pottery, seals, tablets, weights and measures, jewellery, terracotta figurines, toys, etc. It also has copper tools from Harappan sites like axes, chisels, knives, etc. About 3,800 objects have been displayed in the modernised Harappan Gallery from the National Museum collection. This Gallery also has 1,025 excavated artifacts belonging to the Indian Harappan site of the Archaeological Survey of India collection. The gallery brings to light for the first time 232 special decorative artifacts, which are dated from 18th-20th century. All these useful and decorative objects are made with different material, like ivory, jade, glass, wood, marble, metal and ceramic. In the gallery, 26 large sized well-lit glass transparencies are on show displaying the amazing story of the development of various Indian scripts from Brahmi and coins. The National Museum has a wide Reference Library, which is equipped with variety of books, Periodicals, Journals etc.

Qutub Minar is the tallest brick Minaret in the world, and an important example of Indo-Islamic Architecture. The tower is in the Qutb complex in South Delhi, India. The Qutub Minar and its monuments are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Qutub Minar is 72.5 metres high and requires 399 steps to get to the top, although it has not been possible for visitors to ascend the tower for some years, due to safety reasons. The diameter of the base is 14.3 metres wide while the top floor measures 2.75 metres in diameter. Qutub-Minar in red and buff stand stone is the highest tower in India.

Site & Architecture
Qutubuddin Aibak laid the foundation of Qutub Minar in AD 1199 for the use of Muazzin (crier) to give calls for prayer and raised the first storey, to which were added three more storeys by his successor and son-in-law, Shamsud-Din IItutmish (AD 1211-36). All the storeys are surrounded by a projected balcony encircling the Minar and supported by stone brackets, which are decorated with honeycomb design, more conspicuously in the first storey.

Numerous inscriptions in Arabic and Nagari characters in different places of the Minar reveal the history of Qutub. According to the inscriptions on its surface it was repaired by Firoz Shah Tughlaq (AD 1351-88) and Sikandar Lodi (AD 1489-1517). Major R. Smith also repaired and restored the Qutub Minar in 1829. The minaret is made of fluted red Sandstone covered with intricate carvings and verses from the Qur`an. The Qutub Minar is itself built on the ruins of Lal Kot, the Red Citadel in the city of Dhillika, the capital of the Jat Tomars and the Chauhans, the last Hindu rulers of Delhi.

Qutub Minar is still the highest stone tower as well as one of the finest Islamic structures ever raised in India. The main mosque comprises an inner and outer courtyard, of which the inner one is surrounded by an exquisite collonade, the pillars of which are made of richly decorated shafts. With in the mosque complex is the Iron Pillar, which dates back to 4th century AD.

The pillar bears an inscription, which states that it was erected as a flagstaff in honor of the Hindu god, Vishnu, and in the memory of the Gupta King Chandragupta II (375-413 B.C). The pillar also highlights ancient India`s achievements in metallurgy. The pillar is made of 98 per cent wrought iron and has stood 1,600 years without rusting or decomposing.

Ala-ud-Din Khalji constructed Alai Darwaza, the southern gateway of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque in AD 1311. The gateway is the example of the use of horseshoe arch and true dome for the first time. This is the first building, which employed Islamic principles of construction and ornamentation. Ala-ud-Din Khalji built a madrasa towards the southwest of Qutub Minar to impart religious education to the children. He also commenced the construction of the Alai Minar with the intention of making it twice the size of earlier minar. It is to the north of Qutub Minar. He could complete only the first storey, which now has an extant height of 25 m. The other remains in the Qutub complex comprise Madrasa, graves, tombs, mosque and architectural members.

The Qutub Complex is a fine example of the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. The artists employed by Aibak and Iltutmish was Hindus and the raw material was also obtained from existing Hindu and Jain temples. The figures carved on the pillars were disfigured by them because its depiction of human and animal figures is not allowed in Islam. By the time Alaudin Khilji came to power Muslim rule was established in the country and there were many artists who have come from the Central Asia. Thus the difference in the buildings of the period of Qutub-ud-Din Aibak, Iltutmish and Ala-ud-Din Khalji is prominent.

Qutubuddin Aibak built quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, to the northeast of Minar in AD 1198. It is the earliest extant-mosque built by the Delhi Sultans. It consists of a rectangular courtyard enclosed by cloisters, erected with the carved columns and architectural members of 27 Hindu and Jain temples, which were demolished by Qutubudin Aibak as recorded in his inscription on the main eastern entrance.

A lofty arched screen was erected and later a, mosque was enlarged, by Shamsudin IItutmish (AD 1210-35) and Alau`d-Din Khalji. The Iron Pillar in the courtyard bears an inscription in Sanskrit in Brahmi script of 4th century AD, according to which the pillar was set up as a Vishnudhvaja on the hill known as Vishnupada in memory of a mighty king named Chandra. A deep socket on the top of the ornate capital indicates that probably an image of Garuda was fixed into it.

The Tomb of IItutmish (AD 1211-36) was built in AD 1235. It is a plain square chamber of red sandstone, profusely carved with inscriptions, geometrical and arabesque patterns in Saracenic tradition on the entrances and the whole of interior. Some of the motifs viz., the wheel, tassel, etc., are reminiscent of Hindu designs. Alai- Darwaza, the southern gateway of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque was constructed by Alau`d-Din Khalji in AD 1311 as recorded in the inscriptions engraved on it. This is the first building employing Islamic principles of construction and ornamentation.

Other reasons ascribed to its construction are as a tower of victory, a monument signifying the might of Islam, or a watch tower for defence. Controversy also surrounds the origins for the name of the tower. Many historians believe that the Qutub Minar was named after the first Turkish sultan, Qutb-ud-din Aibak but others contend that it was named in honour of Khwaja Qutb-ud-din Bakhtiar Kaki of Ush, a saint from Baghdad who came to live in India was greatly venerated by Iltutmish.

One of the most spectacular pieces of Mughal Architecture is the Lal Quila or the Red Fort. Built by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan between 1638 and 1648, the Red Fort has walls extending up to 2 kms in length with the height varying from 18 metres. on the riverside to 33 metres on the city side.

The entry to this splendid fort is from the Lahori Gate or the Chatta Chowk. Lal Quila is now a busy market place called the `Meena Bazaar`. This bazaar has an excellent collection of antiques, miniature paintings and skillfully crafted fake ivory jewellery. The Fort sports all the obvious trappings befitting a vital center of Mughal governance halls of public and private audiences, domed and arched marble palaces, luxurious private apartments, a mosque, and elaborately designed gardens. Even today, the Fort remains an impressive testimony to Mughal magnificence, despite being attacked by the Persian Emperor Nadir Shah in 1739, and by the British soldiers, during the war of independence in 1857.

History

The Fort houses the Diwan-I-Aam or the Hall of Public Audiences, where the Emperor would sit on a marbled paneled alcove, studded with gems, and hears complaints of the common people. The Diwan-I-Khas is the hall of Private Audiences, where the Emperor held private meetings. This hall is made of marble, and its centerpiece used to be the Peacock Throne, which was studded with rubies and gems and was carried away to Iran by Nadir Shah in 1739. Today, although the Diwan-I-Khas is only a pale shadow of its original glory, yet the verse of Amir Khusro ” If there is Paradise on the face of earth, it is here, it is here, it is here” reminds us of its former glory.

The Rang Mahal or the `Palace of Colors` as it is known, holds a spectacular Lotus shaped fountain, made out of a single piece of marble, and housed the Emperor`s wives and mistresses. The palace was decorated with excellent paintings, gold bordered projections, and mosaics of mirrors and the ceiling were made with gold and silver, which wonderfully reflected in a central pool in the marble floor. The other attractions enclosed within this monument are the hammams or the Royal Baths, the Shahi Burj, which used to be Shahjahan`s private working area, and the Moti Masjid or the Pearl Mosque, built by Aurangzeb for his personal use.

Even today, the Lal Quila is an eloquent reminder of the glory of the Mughal era, and its magnificence simply leaves one awestruck. It is still a calm haven of peace, which helps one to break away, from noisy and busy life outside the walls of the Fort, and transports the visitor to another realm of existence.

Site & Architecture

The Red Fort was the palace for Shah Jahan`s new capital, Shahjahanabad, the seventh Muslim city in the Delhi site. He moved his capital from Agra in a move designed to bring prestige to his reign, and to provide ample opportunity to apply his ambitious building schemes and interests. The Red Fort stands at the eastern edge of Shahjahanabad, and gets its name from the massive wall of red sandstone that defines its eight sides. The wall is 1.5miles long, and varies in height from 60ft on the riverside to 110ft towards the city. Measurements have shown that the plan was generated using a square grid of 82m. The fort lies along what was once the course of the Jamuna river (it has since changed its course) that supplies the moats that surround most of the wall. The wall at its northeastern corner is adjoining to an older fort, the Salimgarh, a defense built by Islam Shah Sur in 1546.

The Red Fort was conceived as a whole, and subsequent modifications have not taken away from the overall unity of the scheme. In the 18th century, however, occupiers and looters damaged some sections of the palace. After the Sepoy mutiny of 1857, when the Fort was used as a headquarters, the British army occupied and destroyed many of its pavilions and gardens. A program for restoring the surviving parts of the fort began in 1903. The walls of the fort are smoothly dressed, articulated by heavy stringcourses along the upper section. They open at two major gates, the Delhi and the Lahore gates. The Lahore Gate is the main entrance; it leads to a long covered bazaar street, the Chatta Chowk, whose walls are lined with stalls for shops.

The Chatta Chowk leads to a large open space where it crosses the large north-south street that was originally the division between the fort`s military functions, to its west, and the palaces, to its east. The southern end of this street is the Delhi Gate. On axis with the Lahore gate and the Chatta Chowk, on the eastern side of the open space, is the Naqqar Khana (“drum house”), the main gate for the palace, named for the musicians` gallery above it. Beyond this gate is another, larger open space, which originally served as the courtyard of the Diwan-i-Am, the large pavilion for public imperial audiences. An ornate throne-balcony for the emperor stands at the center of the eastern wall of the Diwan, conceived as a copy of the throne of Solomon.

The imperial private apartments lie behind the throne. The apartments consist of a row of pavilions that sits on a raised platform along the eastern edge of the fort, looking out onto the river Jamna. The pavilions are connected by a continuous water channel, known as the Nahr-i-Behisht, or the Stream of Paradise, that runs through the center of each pavilion. The water is drawn from the river Jumna, from a tower, the Shah Burj, at the northeastern corner of the fort. The planning of the palace is based on Islamic prototypes, but each pavilion reveals in its architectural elements the Hindu influences typical of Mughal building. The palace complex of the Red Fort is counted among the best examples of the Mughal style at its Shah Jahani peak.

The two southernmost pavilions of the palace are zenanas, or women`s quarters the Mumtaz Mahal (now a museum), and the larger, lavish Rang Mahal, which has been remarked for its paint gold, decorated ceiling and marble pool, fed by the Nahr-i-Behisht. The third pavilion from the south, the Khas Mahal, contains the imperial chambers. These include a suite of bedrooms, prayer rooms, a veranda, and the Mussaman Burj, a tower built against the fortress walls, from which the emperor would show himself to the people in a daily ceremony. The next pavilion is the Diwan-I-Khas, which was the finest of the pavilions is ornamented with floral pietra dura patterns on the columns, with precious stones and gilding. A painted wooden ceiling has replaced the original one, of silver inlaid with gold.

The next pavilion contains the hammam, or baths, in the Turkish style, with Mughal ornamentation in marble and colored stones. To the west of the hammam is the Moti Masjid, the Pearl Mosque. This was a later addition, built in 1659 as a private mosque for Aurangzeb, Shah Jahan`s successor. It is a small, three-domed mosque in carved white marble, with a three-arched screen which steps down to the courtyard. To its north lies a large formal garden, the Hayat Bakhsh Bagh, or `Life-Bestowing Garden`, which is cut through by two bisecting channels of water. A pavilion stands at either end of the north-south channel, and a third, built in 1842 by the last emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, stands at the center of the pool where the two channels meet.

The Red Fort is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Delhi, attracting millions of visitors every year. The fort is also the site from which the Prime Minister of India addresses the nation on August 15, the day India achieved independence from the United Kingdom. At one point of time, more than 3000 people lived within the premises of the Delhi Fort complex. But after the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, the fort was captured by Britain and was made the headquarters of the British Indian Army. After India achieved independence in 1947, the Indian Army took control over the fort. In December 2003 the Indian Army handed the fort over to the Indian tourist authorities.