Monuments and Memorials of Delhi

Humayun’s Tomb: This World Heritage Monument built by Haji Begum, the widow of emperor Humayun and designed by Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, served as a model for the world renowned Taj Mahal. It was completed in 1565, eight years after the death of Humayun and is the first great example of the Mughaltomb in garden complex. Several other members of Mughal royal family lie buried here and many tombstones can be seen on the terrace.


Purana Qila(Old Fort): The Grand old fort, one of the most spectacular monuments of Delhi, is believed to have been built by the Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri(1538 – 1545). As one enters from the Zoo side, one sees at the far end a small octagonal red sandstone tower, the Sher Manzil. Alittle ahead is the Qila-i-Kunha mosque. A Field Museum nearby exhibits artifacts discovered in the area.

Parliament House(Sansad Bhawan): The colonnaded circular building is 171 meters in diameter with 8.3 meters high 144 pillars surrounding it, Magnificent wood paneled halls and one of the finest Parliament libraries in Asia are part of this stately building.

Rastrapati Bhavan: The Spectacular official residence of President of India set on the eminence of the Raisina hill,spawls over an area of 330 acres. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and is one of the largest residential buildings in the world with 340 rooms,37 salons, 74 lobbies and loggias, one km long corridor, 18 stair cases and 37 fountains. In the front is a large court and a Mughal style gardens in the back, which is open for public viewing in February. The Most magnificent room in the Rastrapati Bhavan is the Durbar Hall, which lies directly under the main dome.

Safdarjung’s Tomb: The graceful monument standingon a high terrace amidst an extensive gardenwas built in 1753-54 Nawab Shia-ud-Daulab,son of Safdarjung, the second Nawab of Avadh and Prime Minister to Mughal emporer Muhammed Shah

India Gate: India’s ‘Arc d’ Triomphe’s stands majestically at the eastern end of Rajpath, the great avenue with wide lawns on either side of it, that leadsto rastrapati bhavan. Formarly known as the All India war Memorial, the 42 metre high arch was designed by Lutyens and built in 1931, in the memory of soldiers of the Indian Army who died in world War-1. Names of 13516 soldiers are inscribed on its walls. In 1971 an eternal flame was lit here to honour the ‘Amar Jawan’,the immortal soldier.At night the view of floodlit India gate is spectacular.

Jantar Mantar: This unique observatory was designed and built by Mirza Raja Jai Singh II of jaipur in 1719, it is surrounded by stately palm trees and has a number of masonry instruments which were used to study the movement of constellations and star in the sky. The Samrat Yantra, a huge sun-dial shaped like a right angled triange is the largest instrument here
Qutub Minar: The most famous landmark of Delhi towering above the Lal Kot monuments, is the World Heritage Sites of UNESCO. it is 72.5 meters tall and tapers from a base diameter of 14.4 metersto a peak diameter of 2.4 meters.The five storeyed minar has three storeys built of red sandstone and two of marble and sand stone.Each storey is clearly distinguished from thr outside because of its projecting balconies. Its Foundation was laid by Qutb-ud-din Aibak(1193) and was completed by his son-in-law and successor Shamsuddin iltumish. The Devangiriinscriptions on the minar mentions that it was damaged in 1326 and repaired by Muhammad-bin Tughlak and in 1368, Firoz Shah replaced the upper storey and added two floors,making liberal use of marble stone.

A Unique 7 meter Iron pillar in the couryard of Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque was perhaps a flagpole of a 4th-5th century Vishnu temple. It has remained completely rust free for over 1500 years and is a tribute to the ancient indian metallurgy. Other attractions nearby are- Tombs of Sultan Iltumish(1235), Allauddin, Balban and of Adham Khan.

Red Fort( Lal Qila): It was built in 17th century by Shah Jahan, when the Mughal capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi.Shaped like an irregular octagon, he fort is about 2 kns in circumference. The river Yamuna once flowed besides its battlements. Its handsome gates – Lahore, Delhi and Elephant are masterpieces of builders art. within the ramparts are spledid ornamented buildings, pavilions, gardens, tank, the moti Masjid a marvel in marble and two museams,the archeological and war memorial.The bildings worth visiting are Naubat Khana, Diwan -i-Am, Diwan-i-Khas, Rang Mahal and Khas Mahal. A sound and light show recreates the history of Delhi and this fort.The red fort was the last fort of delhi. It has witnessed the glory and fall of the Mughals, The British rule and then the dawn of Indian Independence.