Delhi is the capital city of India. It is the second largest city by population after Mumbai and receives a huge tourist traffic all around the year be it from India or from distant lands abroad. Why is that Delhi is such a popular tourist destination or let us twist the question to say why is that you should visit Delhi once in your lifetime.
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Delhi
1. Architectural Splendour
The history of Delhi names some great kings as its rulers and it is noteworthy that these kings erected grand structures here to signify the glory of their dynasty. Mughal empire and British Empire, both are seen as the ones who have done some brilliant constructions in their times. On one hand, the grandeur of Red Fort is admired by all and on the other, the mightiness of Rashtrapati Bhawan (originally built as the Viceroy’s lodge by the British) leaves the spectator spell bound! Jama Masjid, Qutub Minar (built by the Turk ruler Qutab-Ud-Din-Aibak), India Gate etc are some famous tourist attractions here. It is worth highlighting that the Lotus Temple which is the Baha’i house of worship is a place which is highly recommended to be included in your travel schedule if you want to view an excellent sight of beauty personified in a building as never before.
2. Heaven for Shoppers
Delhi is heaven for shopaholics since people shop here till they drop! Several small markets are present here and there but there are some markets which have been able to fascinate the travellers beyond what words can explain. There is heavy bargaining going on the street and flea markets like Janpath, Sarojini Nagar etc and there are some markets which can offer you the best of branded products like Connaught Place, Khan Market etc. You can do truckloads of shopping in a small budget in most of the markets here. We advise you to keep a watch on your budget while you step out for shopping because every article seems to be the one you would like to buy.
3. Great Place for Knowledge Cravers
Delhi boasts of housing several museums, memorials etc which can help a person to know about India’s history and present. There is the National Science Museum which helps a person explore science the fun way, the National Museum that lets you know about the history of India and many more. In addition to the museums, there are memorials and monuments which highlight the significance of events or persons or dynasties associated with them. For example Qutub Minar was constructed to commemorate the victory of Qutab-Ud-Din-Aibak over the Hindu dynasty, India Gate as the All India War Memorial, Rajghat as the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi etc. A guide can help further in discovering facts about these places.
4. Rich Culture
Delhi is a reservoir of culture and traditions that the past dynasties have left behind them. What we can see at present is the ‘mish-mash’ of several cultures in this city. Some settlements have predominantly Muslim population (majorly in Old Delhi), some have Punjabi people, some are dominated by Bengali population (ex: CR Park popularly known as the Mini Bengal). You can also discover folk art in Delhi and also the ancient art and crafts businesses still flourishing greatly. Art galleries, auditoriums hosting cultural shows are the perfect spots for cultural exploration.
5. Tantalising Food
This is one strong reason why locals also step out to roam around time and again in Delhi. Starting from the ‘paranthas’ (fried and stuffed bread) of Chandni Chowk to the mouth-watering ‘chaats’ of Lajpat Nagar Market, everything is worth giving a try. The Golgappa (crispy Indian bread filled with sour and sweet water) is something you should not miss at any cost when in Delhi! Along with street food, there are several restaurants which offer you the best of fine delicacies from all over India and the world. You can visit the cafes and coffee shops if you just want to chill out and relax yourself.