Friday, 23 December 2011

DELHI TOURIST PLACES

ISKCON TEMPLE

ISKCON TEMPLE

ISKCON TEMPLE

ISKCON TEMPLE

Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi Mandir
Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi Mandir or generally called as ISKCON Delhi temple is a famous Vaishnav temple of Lord Krishna and Radharani in the form of Radha Parthasarathi, Opened in 1998, it is located at Hare Krishna Hills, in the East of Kailash area of New Delhi, India. In Vaishnavism Lord Krishna is considered the 'most merciful' incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.                

  • Twenty four brahmanically trained pujaris worship the Deities according to strict spiritual regulations, it also includes complete purity and auspiciousness of pujaris, mentioned by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada.
  • six aratis are offered to the Deities everyday, which are as
  1. Mangala Aarti                                                                                   
  2. Tulsi Aarti
  3. Dhoop Aarti
  4. Raj-Bhoga Aarti
  5. Pushpa Aarti
  6. Sandhya Aasrti
  • Six bhoga offerings, corresponding to these six aratis, are made to the Deities.
  • The outfits of the Deities are changed twice every day, morning and evening.

  • Address : Hare Krishna Hill, Sant Nagar Main Road  New Delhi, Delhi 110065, India Phone No.- 011 26235133



    CHATTARPUR MANDIR 

CHATTARPUR MANDIR 
CHATTARPUR MANDIR                                                                      


The Chattarpur Mandir was founded by the legendary Saint Shree Durga Charanuragi Baba Sant Nagpal Ji, A humble servant of God and an ardent worshiper of Goddess Durga. He was born in 1925 in Karnataka on an auspicious full moon day which also happended to be the day when Holi Festival was celebrated during that year. Baba ji spent many years in Kashmir and then moved to Delhiafter guidance from goddess Durga through his dreams and paryers. In Delhi Baba Ji stayed in Arjun Nagar where he consturcted  a small and beautiful Temple dedicated to Goddess Durga Maa. He then moved near Chatterpur Village in Delhi and stayed in the Durga Ashram which is now a part of the main Chattarpur Mandir complex wing that lies about a kilometer away from the temple.

ADDRESS :  Chhatarpur  New Delhi, Delhi, India Phone No.-  011 26802360




        
  SWAMINARAYAN AKSHARDHAM TEMPLE ( NEW DELHI )


  SWAMINARAYAN AKSHARDHAM TEMPLE ( NEW DELHI )


                                            
                   SWAMINARAYAN AKSHARDHAM TEMPLE ( NEW DELHI )



Akshardham Temple



Location: On NH 24, Mayur Vihar,
Ph: 22016688, 22026688
Nearest Metro Station:
Akshardham
Timings: 11am to 8pm
Entry Fee: Free (For
exhibition halls and theatres,
adults & kids: 125, senior
Citizens: 75)
Days Closed: Mondays
Photography: Not allowed


Swaminarayan Akshardham reflects the essence and magnitude of India's ancient architecture, traditions and timeless spirituality.


The main monument, depicting ancient Indian "vastu shastra" and architecture, is a marvel in pink sandstone and white marble that is 141 feet high, 316 feet wide and 370 feet long with 234 ornate pillars, over 20,000 sculptures and statues of deities, eleven 72-foot-high huge domes (mandapams) and decorative arches. And like a necklace, a double-storied parikrama of red sandstone encircles the monuments with over 155 small domes and 1,160 pillars. The whole monument rises on the shoulders of 148 huge elephants with 11-feet tall panchdhatu statue of Swaminarayan presiding over the structure.


The other attractions of the complex are three exhibition halls spaced around two huge ponds, where one is a venue for light-and-sound show. The three halls are "Sahajanand Darshan", "Neelkanth Darsdhan" and "Sanskruti Vihar". "Sahajanand Darshan" is where life of Swaminarayan is displayed through robotic shows, while "Neelkanth Darsdhan" has a huge I-Max theatre screening movie based on the life of the Lord. Another amazing presentation is "Sanskruti Vihar" with 12-minute boat ride experience of India's glorious heritage.


The sprawling Swaminarayan Akshardham complex spread over 30 acres on the banks of the Yamuna near Noida Mor in East Delhi.


For visitors, entry to the complex is free. However, those who want to visit exhibition halls and theatres, Rs.125 is to be paid and for children and senior citizens the charges are Rs.75. "Over 6,000 visitors could easily witness the shows and enjoy boat-rides everyday, while over 25,000 people can visit the temple. We have deployed almost 140 guides who will facilitate visitors during their visit. It requires at least four hours to visit the entire complex thoroughly and see all the shows," said a temple management committee member, adding that the opening ceremony would be telecast live on Aastha channel. Elaborate security arrangements have also been made for the entire complex. Besides installing close circuit television cameras it has also deployed hundreds of its own security personnel.


The Rs.400-crore cultural complex, inspired by Pramukh Swami Maharaj of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), will be popularised by its builders as "a place for cultural education and entertainment". The temple complex has drawn inspiration for its architecture from the historic temples of Badrinath (Uttaranchal), Somnath (Gujarat) and Konark (Orissa). It is the second Akshardham complex in the country after the one at Gandhinagar in Gujarat.


Even as last-minute preparations are now on for the inauguration, curious visitors have started coming in for a look or for offering "puja" and "abhishek".


At the heart of the complex is a palace-like monument built of at least 12,000 tons of pink sandstone and white marble brought in from Rajasthan. Topped with a series of domes, it stands 129 feet high, 275 feet wide and 315 feet long. Almost every square inch of the exterior has been exquisitely carved with statues and motifs of Hindu deities and Indian flora and fauna.


Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the 83-year-old spiritual leader of the Swaminarayan sect that has over 10 lakh followers across the globe, has closely monitored every detail of the complex. It took over 7,000 builders, masons and polishers to build the complex in record time. The place is built to withstand major quakes "and to last at least a thousand years".


The complex has two huge exhibition halls; one will take visitors on a visual journey through India's cultural heritage, while the other "will depict Indian moral values through a light-and-sound show". The complex also boasts of an Imax cinema, a canteen big enough to accommodate 5,000 people at one sitting, a research centre for "social harmony" and meditation gardens dotted with fountains and bronze sculptures.

Azad Hind Gram



Location: Tikri Kalan, NH 10,
Rohtak Road, Near Delhi
Haryana border
Ph: 28353102
Nearest Metro Station: Mundka
Timings: 10am to 6pm
Days Closed: National Holidays
Entry: Free
Photography: Permission
Required


Azad Hind Gram Tourist Complex at Tikri Kalan is a project developed by Delhi Tourism to honour Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and to create quality leisure space and wayside amenities for the citizens.Located within two kilometers of the Delhi Haryana border on NH-10, the architecture of the project is inspired by North Indian achitectural style and the traditions of Indian craftsmanship.

The elaborate mosaic domes surrounding the museum and the memorial are the focus of the complex which offers the facilities of extensive plazas, an amphitheatretourist information centresouvenir andgarden shopfood kiosks, a restaurantpublic toiletsdrinking water,

public telephone andconvention facilities.

 

 

 

For further details, Please contact Tel. : 28353102











BAHIA TEMPLE ( LOTUS TEMPLE )
BAHIA TEMPLE ( LOTUS TEMPLE )

Bahai Temple




Location: Near Kalkaji Temple,
East of Nehru Place
Nearest Metro Station: Kalkaji
Mandir
Open: Tue-Sun;
Mondays closed
Timings: 9am to 7pm
Entry: Free
Photography: Permission
required


East of Nehru place, this temple is built in the shape of a lotus flower and is the last of seven Major Bahai's temples built around the world. Completed in1986 it is set among the lush green landscaped gardens.


The structure is made up of pure white marble The architect Furiburz Sabha chose the lotus as the symbol common to Hinduism, Buddhism,
Bhai Temple
Jainism and Islam. Adherents of any faith are free to visit the temple and pray or meditate.


Around the blooming petals there are nine pools of water, which light up, in natural light. It looks spectacular at dusk when it is flood lit.



LAXMI NARAYAN TEMPLE ( BIRLA MANDIR ), NEW DELHI

LAXMI NARAYAN TEMPLE ( BIRLA MANDIR ), NEW DELHI



Birla Mandir



Location: Near Gole Market,
Mandir Marg, Connaught Place
Nearest Metro Station: RK
Ashram Marg
Timings: 6am to 10pm (best to
visit during morning and evening
aarti)
Entry: Free
Days Closed: None
Photography: Not allowed in
prayer hall


Laxmi Narayan Temple, also known as Birla Mandir, is one of Delhi's major temples and a major tourist attraction. Built by the industrialst G.D. Birla in 1938, this beautiful temple is located in the west of Connaught Place.


The temple is dedicated to Laxmi (the goddess of prosperity) and Narayana (The preserver). The temple was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi on the condition that people of all castes will be allowed to enter the temple.




DILLI HAAT PICS


                                                 DILLI HAAT PICS
                                                                    DILLI HAAT PICS


 





Location: Opp. INA Market,
Ph: 26119055
Nearest Metro: INA
Near TV Tower, Pitampura
Ph: 27317663
Nearest Metro: Pitampura
Open: INA from 01-12-2010
to 15-02-2011 would be open
from 10.30 am to 09.00 pm.
Entry: 20 (Adult),
10 (Children)


The craftsmen who are registered with D.C.Handicrafts are the ones who are eligible to find a place here. The 62 stalls selling handicrafts are allotted on a rotational basis to craftsmen who come from all corners of the vast & varied land of India at a payment of mere INR 100 per day for a maximum period of 15 Days. This ensures that visitors get to buy authentic wares at prices that have not been inflated by high maintenance costs.

You can also savour the inimitable flavors of the delightful local foods from the various regions of India be it the momos from Sikkim or theBamboos hot chicken from NagalandKahwa & Kebabs from Jammu,Pooranpoli from Maharastra or the Gujrati Dhokla. As many as 25 food stalls offer you variety of foods served in an Eco friendly manner.

DILLI HAAT transports you to the magical world of Indian art and heritage presented through a fascinating panorama of craft, cuisine and cultural activities.







GARDEN OF FIVE SENSES



Location: Said-ul-Ajaib,

Mehrauli-Badarpur Road,
Ph: 29536401, 65651083
Metro Station: Saket
Open: Daily
Timings:
April to September: 9 AM to 7 PM
October to March: 9 AM to 6 PM
Entry Fee: Adult: 20/-
Child(upto 12 yrs):  10/-
Sr. Citizen:  10/-
Handicapped: Nil
Photography Charges: Nil

The Garden of Five Senses is not just a park, it is a space with a variety of activities, inviting public interaction and exploration. The project, developed by Delhi Tourism Transportation Development Corporation, was conceptualized to answer to the city's need for leisure space for the public, for people to socialize and unwind. Such spaces add atmosphere and life to a city and cater to all sections of the society.


The twenty-acre site, located at Said-Ul-Azaib village, close to the Mehrauli heritage area in New Delhi, is spectacular. The Garden was inaugurated in February 2003. Majestic rocks stand silhouetted against the sky, others lie strewn upon the ground in a casual yet alluring display of nature's sculptural genius. It was the ideal ground on which to realize the concept of a public leisure space that would awaken a sensory response and thereby a sensitivity to the environment.


Soaring stainless-steel birds mounted on slate-clad pillars welcome you into the park. An expansive plaza, set on the natural slope of the site, invites you up the spiral walkway. Across, a troop of elephants, cut in stone, regaling in a water bath, tempts exploration.
The garden itself is divided into distinct areas. On one side of the spiral walkway is the Khas Bagh, a formal garden patterned on the lines of the Mughal Garden. Slow-moving water cascades in channels along its length, while flowering and fragrant shrubs and trees line its paths. The Central axis leads to a series of fountains, some of which are lit up by fibreoptic lighting systems. Encapsulating the expression here is the sculpture of 'A Fountain Tree".





                                                            HUMAYUN TOMB


                                                                    HUMAYUN TOMB

Humayun's Tomb




Location: Opp. Dargah
Nizamuddin,
Mathura Road
Metro Station: JLN Stadium
Open: Daily
Timings: Sunrise to sunset
Entry Fee: 10 (Indians),
250 (foreigners)
Photography Charges: Nil
(`25 for video filming)


Located near the crossing of Mathura road and Lodhi road, this magnificent garden tomb is the first substantial example of Mughal architecture in India.
Humayun Tomb
It was built in 1565 A.D. nine years after the death of Humayun, by his senior widow Bega Begam. Inside the walled enclosure the most notable features are the garden squares (chaharbagh) with pathways water channels, centrally located well proportional mausoleum topped by double dome.
There are several graves of Mughal rulers located inside the walled enclosure and from here in 1857 A.D; Lieutenant Hudson had captured the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah II.



                                                                 INDIA GATE 



                                 INDIA GATE 
                                                            
                               INDIA GATE 
                                                              



Location: Near Rajpath


Metro Station: Pragati Maidan


Timings: Morning to Night


Entry: Free


Days Closed: None


Photography Charges: Nil


At the centre of New Delhi stands the 42 m high India Gate, an "Arc-de-Triomphe" like archway in the middle of a crossroad. Almost similar to its French counterpart, it commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during the World War I. The memorial bears the names of more than 13,516 British and Indian soldiers killed in the Northwestern Frontier in the Afghan war of 1919.


The foundation stone of India Gate was laid by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught in 1921 and it was designed by Edwin Lutyens. The monument was dedicated to the nation 10 years later by the then Viceroy, Lord Irwin. Another memorial, Amar Jawan Jyoti was added much later, after India got its independence. The eternal flame burns day and night under the arch to remind the nation of soldiers who laid down their lives in the Indo-Pakistan War of December 1971.


The entire arch stands on a low base of red Bharatpur stone and rises in stages to a huge moulding. The cornice is inscribed with the Imperial suns while both sides of the arch have INDIA, flanked by the dates MCMXIV (1914 left) and MCMXIX (1919 right). The shallow domed bowl at the top was intended to be filled with burning oil on anniversaries but this is rarely done.


During nightfall, India Gate is dramatically floodlit while the fountains nearby make a lovely display with coloured lights. India Gate stands at one end of Rajpath, and the area surrounding it is generally referred to as 'India Gate'.




                                                     JAMA MASJID



Location: Off Netaji Subhash
Marg, west of Red Fort
Metro Station: Chawri Bazaar
Open: All days of the week
Timings: 7am to Noon,
1.30pm to 6.30pm.
Tourists not allowed during
prayer hours
Entry Fee: Free
Photography: 200


This great mosque of Old Delhi is the largest in India, with a courtyard capable of holding 25,000 devotees. It was begun in 1644 and ended up being the final architectural extravagance of Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor who built the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort.


The highly decorative mosque has three great gates, four towers and two 40 m-high minarets constructed of strips of red sandstone and
white marble. Travellers can hire robes at the northern gate. This may be the only time you get to dress like a local without feeling like an outsider so make the most of it.





                                                           JANTAR MANTAR

                                                JANTAR MANTAR










Location: Parliament Street,
Connaught Place
Metro Station: Patel Chowk
Open: All days
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset
Entry Fee: 5 (Indians), 100
(foreigners)
Photography Charges: Nil (`25
for video filming)



Jantar Mantar (Yantra - instruments, mantra - formulae) was constrcted in 1724. Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur who built this observatory went on to build other observatories in Ujjain , Varanasi and Mathura. Jai Singh had found the existing astronomical instruments too small to take correct measurements and so he built these larger and more accurate instruments.


The instruments at Jantar Mantar are fascinating for their ingenuity, but
accurate observations can no longer be made from here because of the tall buildings around.






Lodi Tomb




LODHI TOMB

LODHI TOMB









Location: Main Lodi Road,
Beside India
International Centre
Metro Station: JLN Stadium
Open: Daily
Timings: Morning to Evening
Entry: Free
Photography Charges: Nil




The old Lady Willington Park, now known as Lodhi Garden, is dotted with monuments of Sayyid and Lodhi Periods, which include tombs mosques, and bridges .

The tombs of Muhammad Shah and Sikandar Lodhi are the good examples of octagonal tombs. Shish and Bara Gumbad are square tombs with imposing dome, turrets on corners and facades giving false impression of being double storeyed.
It is a favourite point for early morning walkers from the posh south Delhi colonies.









                                                             

                                                      PARLIAMENT HOUSE


                        PARLIAMENT HOUSE
                                                     
The Parliament house is a cirular colonnaded building . It also houses ministerial offices,numerous committee rooms and an excellent library as well. Conceived in the Imperial Style, the Parliament House consists of an open verandah with 144 columns.

The domed circular central hall with oak paneled walls and the three semi circular buildings are used for the Rajya Shabha and Lok Shabha meetings.


Purana 


PURANA QUILA
                                                       
PURANA QUILA


Location: Near Delhi Zoo,
Mathura Road
Nearest Metro Station:
Pragati Maidan
Open: All days
Entry Fee: 5 (Indians), 100
(foreigners)
Days Closed: None
Photography Charges: Free
(still camera); 25 (video
camera)


One does not have to go far to see the old fort or Purana Quila standing stoically amidst wild greenery.Built on the site of the most ancient of the numerous cities of Delhi, Indraprastha, Purana Quila is roughly rectangular in shape having a circuit of nearly two kilometers.

The thick ramparts crowned by merlons have three gateways provided with bastions on either side. It was surrounded by a wide moat, connected to river Yamuna, which used to flow on the east of the fort. The northern gate way, called the Talaqui darwaza or the forbidden gateway, combines the typically Islamic pointed arch with Hindu Chhatris and brackets; whereas the southern gateway called the
Purana Quila
Humayun Darwaza also had a similar plan.

The massive gateway and walls of Purana Quila were built by Humayun and the foundation laid for the new capital, Dinpanah.
The work was carried forward by Sher Shah Suri,who displaced Humayun, Purana Quila is the venue for the spectacular sound and light show held every evening.

Timings of Sound & Light Shows at PuranaQila, New Delhi
EVERY EVENING TWO SHOWS*

MonthHindiEnglish
FEBRUARY-APRIL7.00PM TO 8.00 PM8.30 PM TO 9.30 PM
MAY-AUGUST7.30 PM TO 8.30 PM9.00 PM TO 10.00 PM
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER7.00 PM TO 8.00 PM8.30 PM TO 9.30 PM
NOVEMBER-JANUARY6.00 PM TO 7.00PM7.30 PM TO 8.30 PM
TICKETS: Rs. 80/- for adults and Rs.` 40/- for children (3 to 12 years)/ Students/
Physically Challenged/ Senior Citizens (60 years and above).
Tickets are available one hour before the show starts at the PuranaQila ticket booth
For further information, please contact Tel. 23274580, 23281802.

QUTAB MINAR

QUTAB MINAR



Location: Mehrauli
Nearest Metro Station:
Qutab Minar
Open: All days
Entry Fee: 10 (Indians), 250
(foreigners)
Days Closed: None
Photography Charges:---




Qutab Minar is a soaring, 73 m-high tower of victory, built in 1193 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak immediately after the defeat of Delhi's last Hindu kingdom. The tower has five distinct storeys, each marked by a projecting balcony and tapers from a 15 m diameter at the base to just 2.5 m at the top. The first three storeys are made of red sandstone; the fourth and fifth storeys are of marble and sandstone. At the foot of the tower is the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, the first mosque to be built in India. An inscription over its eastern gate provocatively informs that it was built with material obtained from demolishing '27 Hindu temples'. A 7 m-high iron pillar stands in the courtyard of the mosque. It is said that if you can encircle it with your hands while standing with your back to it your wish will be fulfilled.

The origins of Qutab Minar are shrouded in controversy. Some believe it was erected as a tower of victory to signify the beginning of the Muslim rule in India. Others say it served as a minaret to the muezzins to call the faithful to prayer.

No one can, however, dispute that the tower is not only one of the finest monuments in India, but also in the world. Qutab-ud-din Aibak, the first Muslim ruler of Delhi, commenced the construction of the Qutab Minar in 1200 AD, but could only finish the basement. His successorIltutmush, added three more storeys, and in 1368,Firoz Shah Tughlak constructed the fifth and the last storey.

The development of architectural styles from Aibak to Tughlak is quite evident in the minar. The relief work and even the materials used for construction differ. The 238 feet Qutab Minar is 47 feet at the base and tapers to nine feet at the apex. The tower is ornamented by bands of inscriptions and by four projecting balconies supported by elaborately decorated brackets. Even though in ruins, the Quwwat Ui Islam (Light of Islam) Mosque in the Qutab complex is one of the most magnificent structures in the world. Qutab-ud-din Aibak started its construction in 1193 and the mosque was completed in 1197.

Iltutmush in 1230 and Alla-ud-din Khilji in 1315 made additions to the building. The main mosque comprises of an inner and outer courtyard,decorated with shafts and surrounded by piller. Most of these shafts are from the 27 Hindu temples, which were plundered to construct the mosque. It is, therefore, not surprising that the Muslim mosque has typical Hindu ornamentation. Close to the mosque is one of Delhi's most curious antiques, the Iron Pillar.
Tickets are also available at Ashok Travels and Tours counters at The Samrat and Janpath Hotels between 11 am and 5 pm.


SAFDARJUNG TOMB
SAFDARJUNG TOMB




Location: Intersection of
Safdarjung Road and
Aurobindo Marg
Metro Station: Jor Bagh
Open: Daily
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset
Entry Fee: 5 (Indians),
100 (foreigners)
Photography Charges: Free (still
camera), 25 (video camera)


Safdarjung's Tomb is the last enclosed garden tomb in Delhi in the tradition of Humayun's Tomb, though it if far less grand in scale. It was built in 1753- 54 as mausoleum of Safdarjung, the viceroy of Awadh under the Mughal EmperorMohammed Shah.

It has several smaller pavilions with evocative names like Jangli Mahal, (Palace in the woods), Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace) and Badshah Pasand(King's favourite).

The complex also has a madarsa. The archaeological Survey of India maintains a library over the main gateway.







Red Fort

RED FORT

RED FORT


Location: Netaji Subhash Marg
Metro Station: Chandni Chowk
Open: Tue-Sun; Mondays closed
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset
Entry Fee:  10 (Indians),  250
(foreigners)
Photography: Nil (25 for video
filming)
Sound & Light Shows: 6pm
onwards in English and Hindi
Ticket: 80 (adults),
30 (children)


The Red sandstone walls of the massive Red Fort (Lal Qila) rise 33-m above the clamour of Old Delhi as a reminder of the magnificent power and pomp of the Mughal emperors. The walls, built in 1638, were designed to keep out invaders, now they mainly keep out the noise and confusion of the city.

The main gate, Lahore Gate, is one of the emotional and symbolic focal points of the modern Indian nation and attracts a major crowd on eachIndependence Day.
The vaulted arcade of Chatta Chowk, a bazaar selling tourist trinkets, leads into the huge fort compound. Inside is a veritable treasure trove of buildings, including the Drum House, the Hall of Public Audiences, thewhite marble Hall of Private Audiences, the Pearl Mosque, Royal Baths and Palace of Color.

An evening sound and light show re-creates events in India's history connected with the fort.













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