Delhi, the capital of India, standing on the west bank of the River Yamuna "conceived with spaciousness and care so that the new creation would be in every way worthy of this ancient and beautiful city". Lutyens and Baker planned a city with wide, tree-lined avenues. Standing on the west bank of the River Yamuna it is hemmed in by the States of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Diverse cultural elements absorbed into the daily life of the city have enriched its character. Exploring the city can be a fascinating and rewarding experience.
The 340-roomed Viceregal Lodge, now the Rashtrapati Bhawan, was raised on Raisina Hill. Nearby is India Gate, a World War I memorial, Parliament House, the prestigious National Museum and the National Gallery of Modern Art. On Republic Day, Rajpath witnesses a display of pageantry.
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The classy commercial centre of Connaught Place was planned as part of New Delhi. Along with stalls on Janpath, and emporia on Baba Kharak Singh Marg, it is a shopper's paradise. Rather characteristically, an 18th century masonry observatory, the Jantar Mantar, lies in the midst of this commercial area.
But there is still more to Delhi... Art galleries and theatres, and a variety of museums, memorials to leaders, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Bahai temples, folk dancers, discotheques, urban villages... even birdwatching along the ridge. One can discover a country through a city. Handicrafts from all over India, silk and cotton weaves, pottery and terracotta, jewellery, brassware, ivory, rosewood and sandalwood carvings, and paintings are available to a shopper.
Connaught Place, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Janpath and the Central Cottage Industries Emporium, Stores near the Red Fort and Qutab Minar, Santushti Shopping Arcad, Hauz Khas, Dariba are some well known shopping areas. As a major entry point for India many major international flights go through New Delhi. It is also extensively connected by air, road and rail with the rest of the country. |
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