Stay In Budget Hotels In Delhi
Delhi has many beautiful churches, where you can walk in, sit in the pew, and enjoy your moment of communion with God. St. Peters church, on Bhai Veer Singh Marg, is known for its cruciform shape and the dome. If you are headed towards Old Delhi, do not miss St. James Church, near Kashmiri Gate, the oldest church in Delhi. Very close to Bangla Sahib is the Sacred Heart Cathedral, with a stunning read-and-white façade, and a beautiful altar made of carrara marble.
If it is spiritual bliss you seek, head first to Akshardham, a memorial to Swaminarayan, spread over 100 acres. It is a famous landmark in Delhi, popular for its grand architecture. The lotus shaped Bahai Temple resembles the Sydney Opera House, and for those who have seen the marvel in Sydney created by Danish architect Jorn Utzo, the Temple with its 27 white, unfolding petals is certainly a sight. You cannot miss Birla Mandir, also known as the Laxminarayan Temple. Once there, go into Geeta Bhavan, a hall decorated with beautiful paintings from Hindu mythology. In fact, the entire complex is decorated with paintings made by artists from Jaipur. Jama Masjid, which houses relics such as a beard-hair of the Prophet, his footprints, his sandals and Koran written on deerskin, is a must see for all tourists. It is the largest mosque in India, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1658.
Early mornings can be picturesque in Delhi, as there's no mad rush of office goers and the sky is still not hazed with smog. Rise before sunrise, slip on your trekking shoes, and jog to Rajpath, perhaps the most beautiful sight in the city. The wide, macadamized streets are squeaky clean with Rashtrapati Bhavan on one side and India Gate on the other. A large part of the Presidents residence is out of bounds for visitors, but if you want to walk the corridors of the highest office in land, you would need special permission. If it is Saturday, be sure to watch the change of guard between 10:35 AM and 11.00 AM (winter) and 8.30 AM and 9.15 AM (summer). It is a memorable and moving sight. Beyond the red sandstone of Rashtrapati Bhavan is the Mughal Garden, open to public for a few weeks during spring. Gaze at the glossy kumquats, the picture perfect green manicured lawns, the colossal dahlias and the 250 varieties of roses nurtured in 16 square beds. The Spiritual Garden and Herbal garden are simply balm for your weary soul.
Delhi has many beautiful churches, where you can walk in, sit in the pew, and enjoy your moment of communion with God. St. Peters church, on Bhai Veer Singh Marg, is known for its cruciform shape and the dome. If you are headed towards Old Delhi, do not miss St. James Church, near Kashmiri Gate, the oldest church in Delhi. Very close to Bangla Sahib is the Sacred Heart Cathedral, with a stunning read-and-white façade, and a beautiful altar made of carrara marble.
Early mornings can be picturesque in Delhi, as there's no mad rush of office goers and the sky is still not hazed with smog. Rise before sunrise, slip on your trekking shoes, and jog to Rajpath, perhaps the most beautiful sight in the city. The wide, macadamized streets are squeaky clean with Rashtrapati Bhavan on one side and India Gate on the other. A large part of the Presidents residence is out of bounds for visitors, but if you want to walk the corridors of the highest office in land, you would need special permission. If it is Saturday, be sure to watch the change of guard between 10:35 AM and 11.00 AM (winter) and 8.30 AM and 9.15 AM (summer). It is a memorable and moving sight. Beyond the red sandstone of Rashtrapati Bhavan is the Mughal Garden, open to public for a few weeks during spring. Gaze at the glossy kumquats, the picture perfect green manicured lawns, the colossal dahlias and the 250 varieties of roses nurtured in 16 square beds. The Spiritual Garden and Herbal garden are simply balm for your weary soul.
There is something special about the chaos in Chandni Chowk that you would not see in any other city in India. The area is redolent with perfumes and aroma of irresistible food wafting from tiny restaurants celebrated by foodies. There are jostling crowds, rickshaws scampering by, music and the occasional cow in the middle of a narrow lane. Yet once you mingle into the atmosphere, the fun will begin. Within that anarchy, resides poetry. If you ask for Gali Qasim Jaan in Ballimaran, you will see the house where Mirza Ghalib penned some of the most beautiful ghazals. The museum showcases letters written by Ghalib, last photograph of the poet, his life history, some of his couplets, books, and some personal belongings, a statue of the poet in a realistic setting with a hookah in his hand.
If it is spiritual bliss you seek, head first to Akshardham, a memorial to Swaminarayan, spread over 100 acres. It is a famous landmark in Delhi, popular for its grand architecture. The lotus shaped Bahai Temple resembles the Sydney Opera House, and for those who have seen the marvel in Sydney created by Danish architect Jorn Utzo, the Temple with its 27 white, unfolding petals is certainly a sight. You cannot miss Birla Mandir, also known as the Laxminarayan Temple. Once there, go into Geeta Bhavan, a hall decorated with beautiful paintings from Hindu mythology. In fact, the entire complex is decorated with paintings made by artists from Jaipur. Jama Masjid, which houses relics such as a beard-hair of the Prophet, his footprints, his sandals and Koran written on deerskin, is a must see for all tourists. It is the largest mosque in India, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1658.
