Delhi city, India. Delhi - the capital of modern India Modern Delhi

Delhi

capital of India. Founded in XI V. on site ancient city Indraprastha, who is mentioned as early as ind. epic "Mahabharata". In ancient Greek geographer Claudius Ptolemy (ca. 90-160) the city is referred to as Indrabara. In these names, Indra is the mythical king of the gods, bara - "great". Later, the ruler of the Mauryan dynasty, Raja Dilla, founded his capital here. The name of the city is supposedly associated with the name of this rajah, which sounds like Dilli in Hindi. Included modern The cities are distinguished by Old and New Delhi. Old Delhi was built by Shah Jahan in the 17th century V. and bears his name - Shahjahanabad (abad "city") ; New Delhi (New Delhi) arose after the transfer to 1911 G. to Delhi the capital of India from Kolkata.

Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001.

Delhi

(Delhi), capital India, to the center. parts Indo-Gangetic plain , on the right bank Jamny. 9817 thousand inhabitants (2002). It is believed that the city was founded by the heroes of the Mahabharata in the 12th century. BC e. and was called Indraprastha . Name Dilly appeared in the 1st–2nd centuries, when a raja named Dilli founded his capital here. The city's rapid growth began in the 12th century, shortly after the invasion of Islamic conquerors. The city was first the capital of the Delhi Sultanate, then the Mughal Empire and British India. The capital was moved to other cities only three times: in the 14th century. for 10 years in Dilatabad, in the 16th century. to Agra and Fatehpur Sikri, in the 19th century. to Kolkata. D. almost did not change its position and name. Modern D. unites on its territory 7 capitals that arose after the 11th century. New Delhi became the eighth after being moved here in 1911–12. capital of British India from Calcutta. Despite the endless series of invasions and destruction, the city's central position on the plain between the desert Tar and mountains Aravali And Himalayas led him to constant rebirth. His appearance combines the fabulousness of Hinduism, asceticism and severity of Islam with Persian sophistication and British harmony. To the south outskirts in Mahrauli (the first capital) the Qutb Minar minaret, 72.6 m high (1220), has been preserved; has not rusted for many centuries. 4th century column dedicated to God Vishnu. Nearby development. second and third capitals ( Siri And Jahanpannaha ). To the east is the fourth capital Tughlakabad – a fortified city with high stone walls 6.5 km long. Fifth capital Firozabad - downtown. Sixth Purana Qila (“old fortress”) is located nearby and was built on the site of ancient Indraprastha, on the banks of the Jumna in the 16th century. The walls and towers have been preserved; The ditches are still partially filled with water. The seventh capital is Old D. itself, or Shahjahanabad , – located north of modern. city ​​center. Parts of the walls, the Red Fort (Lal Qila), surrounding the imperial palace have been preserved. The flag of independent India was hoisted in it; museums. To the west of the fort stretches a straight street called Chandni Chowk (“silver”) with shops of jewelers and artisans. Near the Jamna Masjid Fort, or Pyatnitskaya Mosque (1651–56), is one of the outstanding monuments Islamic architecture. Industrial activity is concentrated in Old D. potential of the city: flour, cotton, paper, polygraph. and metalworking pr-tiya, artist crafts. New Delhi was intensively built until 1931 as the capital of a vast empire: government buildings; extensive office space. ceremonies. Rajpath, a spacious park street 358 m wide, leads from Arc de Triomphe to the Presidential Palace. Residential areas are located freely, there is a lot of greenery. Foreign embassies occupy a separate quarter. Modern technology is developing. production: chemical, electronic, production of car parts, etc. In 1977, the ban on the construction of tall buildings within the city was lifted.

Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Ekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of academician. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

Delhi - capital of India (cm. India) since 1947, administratively includes Old and New Delhi (New Delhi), other areas. The official capital is New Delhi. The administrative center of the Union Territory of Delhi. Population - 13 million inhabitants (2000), including New Delhi - 1.8 million people.
Located in the northern part of India, on the high right bank of the Jamna River, a tributary of the Ganges, at the foot of the hilly Aravali ridge (at an altitude of 216 m). The climate is monsoon. Spring and summer are hot (the hottest period is March - June, the average temperature in July is +31 °C), winter is warm (the average temperature in January is +14.2 °C). Precipitation is 660 mm per year (maximum amount during the monsoon period - July-October).
One of the leading industrial centers in India: light, chemical-pharmaceutical, glass, ceramics, food, construction, printing, engineering, metallurgical industries. Artistic crafts and hand weaving remain important. Two airports (Palam - international, Safdarjang - local).
Four universities (including J. Nehru University, Delhi University). Academy of Music and Dance, Lalit Kala Akademi (Academy of Fine Arts). Library and Planetarium named after. Nehru, library named after. Gandhi. "Children's Palace", National Children's Museum and Aquarium, Shankar Children's Library. National Museum (the largest in the country), National Gallery of Modern Art, Museum of Crafts and Village Complex, International Doll Museum, History Museum railway transport, Natural History Museum, Memorial Museums of Mahatma Gandhi, J. Nehru, Indira Gandhi.
Delhi is one of the oldest cities in the world. In ancient times it was known as Indraprastha (approximately 13-12 centuries BC). Some Indian scientists, who do not question the authenticity of the mythical events, believe that the creation of Indraprastha can be dated back to the 30th-25th centuries. BC e.
According to legend, Delhi was founded by Raja Dehlu (Dhilu) on the ruins of Indraprastha. The city then adopted its current name, possibly in memory of the founder. Modern name- Delhi is an anglicized version of the word "Dilli". The city was first mentioned under approximately this name in the 1st-2nd centuries. n. e. Ptolemy, who visited India in the 2nd century. n. e., depicted the place “Daidala” on his map. Its mark almost coincides with the modern coordinates of the city.
In the Middle Ages, the city was moved several times within the territory of modern Delhi. The history of early Delhi before the Muslim conquest (mid-12th century) is so full of legends that it is sometimes difficult to separate events that actually took place from fiction. The documented history of the city begins only in the 11th-12th centuries.
In 1206 it became the capital of the Delhi Sultanate, in 1526 - the Mughal Empire. In 1803 it was captured by the British. It was one of the centers of the Indian Uprising of 1857-1859. In 1911 in Delhi ( Old city) the capital of British India was moved from Calcutta and New Delhi (New Delhi) began to be built. After India gained independence (1947), the importance of its capital as an administrative, economic and cultural center increased greatly.
There is no consensus among scholars of the history of Delhi as to how many settlements existed on the territory of the current Indian capital. J. Nehru wrote that history has recorded seven Delhis, and New Delhi is the eighth city built on this ancient land. Modern historians believe that there were three main centers of settlement, around which up to 16 fortifications and settlements existed in various historical eras:
Indraprastha (Indrapat) - the city of the times of the legendary Pandava brothers; Lalkot (Lal Kot) - the city of King Anangpal in the 12th century; city ​​of Prithviraj Chauhan (Rai Pithora) 12th century; capital of Qutbuddin Aibek 12-13 centuries; Kilokheri - a city from the time of Jalaluddin Khilji in the 13th century; Siri - city of Alauddin Khilji since 1304; Tughlakabad - fortified city of Ghiyasuddin Tughlak 1321-1325; Jahan Panah - the city of Muhammad Shah Tughlaq of the 14th century; Adilabad - the city of Muhammad ibn Tughlaq of the 14th century; Firozabad (Firozshah-Kotla) - a city from the time of Firozshah 1354-1388; Khizarabad - the city of the Sayyid ruler Khizr Shah (Khizr Khan) from 1414; Mubarakabad - the city of the Sayyid ruler Mubarak Shah (1421-1451) - cannot be traced archaeologically; Din Panah - a city from the time of Emperor Humayun from 1533; Salimgarh; Shahjahanabad - capital of the Mughals since 1638; New Delhi - since 1911

Historical and architectural monuments
Delhi was the capital of powerful empires and small sultanates, and witnessed the rise and fall of many dynasties. Tall minarets, palaces, majestic temples, beautiful mausoleums and impregnable forts have always delighted and surprised travelers. Delhi has more than a thousand historical and architectural monuments.

Minaret Qutub Minar
The Qutub Minar is the tallest tower in India, one of the tallest minarets in the world, only the minaret of the Sultan Hassan Mosque in Cairo is taller. The Qutub Minar is called the “seventh miracle of Hindustan”. Height - 72.55 m, diameter at the base - 15.5 m, diameter at the top - 2.44 m. The Qutub Minar is built of red sandstone, with stripes of white marble above its third tier. Noticeably different from traditional Muslim minarets. With its characteristic “corrugated” surface, it vaguely resembles the shikhara tower of a Hindu temple. 24 edges dissect it vertically, some of them rectangular and others round. The balconies are located at a height of 33, 49, 63, 71 m.
The Qutub Minar was built gradually. The first floor of the tower, Vijay Stambh (Victory Column), was erected in 1191. In 1199, the first floor was allegedly remodeled by the Muslim ruler Qutbuddin Aibek, after which it received a new name - Qutub Minar. Aibek's descendants completed the second and third floors in 1210-1236, and the fourth and fifth were added under Emperor Firuzshah Tughlaq in 1370. Previously, the Qutb Minar was crowned with a dome, which collapsed during the earthquake of 1803: the dome remained lying in the garden not far from the tower. As a result of earthquakes and rains, the ancient tower tilted somewhat, but stood “thanks to sayings” from the Koran, carved in Arabic script on its outer surface.

Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque
Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque (Arabic for “the power of Islam”) is the first mosque on Indian soil. Qutb-ud-din Aibek, the famous military leader of Muhammad Ghuri, who conquered Delhi in 1191, turned the temple of the god Vishnu (1143) into a mosque (1192-1198); At the same time, the temple was deprived of Hindu idols, and the stone carvings on the walls were chipped off. Stone from 27 Hindu and Jain temples destroyed by Qutb-ud-din was also used in the construction of the mosque. The mosque was significantly expanded in 1229 and 1310.
Only the front wall and fragments of the prayer hall with stone columns covered with images of people and animals have survived. The facade wall is decorated with ornamental carvings, combining traditional Indian floral patterns with inscriptions in Arabic script. The height of the surviving arches of the mosque is up to 16.5 m, the width of the walls is 7.7 m.
In 1311, Sultan Alauddin Khilji added the majestic Alai-Darwaza, or Gate of Allah, to the mosque. Decorated with fine marble carvings, the arch of this gate (height 18.3 m) is shaped like a curved horseshoe. Opposite Alai Darwaza in 1311, the Sultan began construction of the Alai Minar tower, ordering it to double the height of the Qutb Minar, but after the death of Alauddin in 1315, work stopped and the tower was not completed.

Iron column
In front of the central arch of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque stands the famous Iron Column - one of the most mysterious monuments of Indian culture. The column is an iron pillar 7.2 m high with a diameter at the base of 41.7 cm, at the top - 30.5 cm. The column weighs almost 6 tons, pure iron in it is 99.72%. It is noteworthy that despite temperature fluctuations, high humidity and the time that has passed since its creation, the column does not bear any traces of rust! The ancient secret of such metal processing has not yet been solved.
The origin of the Iron Column is not precisely established. Some historians claim that according to the Sanskrit inscription on the column, it was cast in 895 BC. e. by order of Raja Dhava, who then ruled in Delhi. Muslim chroniclers prove that it was brought from northern Muslim countries. Still others, based on the word “Chandra” found in the inscription on the column, call its creator Emperor Chandragupta II (5th century). There is a version that it was cast during the Mahabharata and transported to the ancient capital of India, Magadha (Bihar), and later to Delhi, where it was installed in the Vishnu temple by the Rajput prince Anangpal, since his name is also carved on the surface of the column.
The Persian Nadir Shah, who tried to remove the column in 1739, was unable to pull it out of the ground. In desperation, he ordered cannonballs to be fired at it, which left only minor scratches on the surface of the column.
There is a belief that if someone manages to clasp a pole with his hands while standing with his back to it, then he is guaranteed happiness for the rest of his life. Therefore, the metal at the bottom of the column is thoroughly polished by tourists.

Mausoleum of Iltutmysh
The mausoleum of Sultan Shams ad-din Iltutmish was built in 1235 by his daughter Razia Begam, who ruled Delhi in 1236-1240. It is considered one of the oldest Muslim tombs in India. The marble carvings, classical ornaments and sayings from the Koran decorating the tomb are well preserved. A dome of impressive size once rose above the white marble tombstone. The mausoleum of Alauddin Khilji, built in 1317, is located directly opposite the tomb of Iltutmish.

Yogmaya Temple
200 meters from Qutub Minar is the temple of Yogmaya, the sister of the god Krishna. According to legend, this brave goddess fought the cruel king Kansa, who cut Krishna’s sister into pieces with a sword and scattered them around the world. In the place where the head of the defeated goddess fell, a temple was built. There is no image of the deity himself in the temple. The rituals are performed near a small depression in the floor, which is supposedly left after the fall of Yogmaya's head. IN modern form The temple has existed since 1827. Bells are hung at the entrance, which with their ringing attract the attention of the goddess.
Not far from the temple on a hill stands the mausoleum of Adham Khan, the foster brother of Emperor Akbar. In a fit of rage, Akbar threw his brother from the wall of the Agra fort, but then ordered the construction of a beautiful tomb for him (1562) from bluish-gray stone. Ruthless time has not preserved either the original color of the tomb’s walls or its fabulously beautiful mosaics. Only a few panels on the interior ceiling have survived. The passages in the walls of the tomb are interestingly designed, which is why it received the name “bhul-bhulaya”, which means “labyrinth”.
2 km southwest of Qutub Minar is the Dargah (tomb) of saint Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, who died in 1235. Some of the Great Mughals are also buried there, including Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last emperor of India from this dynasty.

Jahaz Mahal
In the town of Mehrauli there is an interesting structure made of red sandstone - Jahaz Mahal (“ship palace”). Once upon a time, next to this palace there was a large artificial reservoir, built in 1229-1230. under Iltutmysh. Almost nothing has survived from the elegant pavilions that surrounded the lake or stood directly in the water, but this place is sacred to Muslims, for, as legends say, in a dream the Prophet appeared to Iltutmish on a white horse and indicated the place where the pool should be dug. In the morning, the Sultan discovered a spring in that place! In 1311, a “chhatri” (umbrella) gazebo was erected in the middle of the lake; it was supported by 12 columns.
The Phulwalon-ki-sair Flower Fair is held annually in Mehrauli: Muslims bring flowers to the Yogmaya Temple, and Hindus bring flowers to the Qutbuddin Dargah.

Tughlakabad
Tughlaqabad Fortress (1321-1325) was built to protect against Mongol raids by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq. Tughlaqabad consisted of a citadel, palaces and a city square. The perimeter of the walls was 6.5 km, their height was up to 22 m. The city was connected to the outside world by 13 gates. Behind the fortress wall there were seven water tanks. The largest pool, now dry, was called “elephant lake” because it was used for bathing elephants.
Today, only ruins remain of the city. Ghiyasuddin's palace was supposedly built of gilded bricks and shone brightly in the sun. Within the fortress wall there are a number of underground rooms. It is believed that here, below ground level, Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq lived in beautifully furnished chambers. There was a hole in the ceiling of the rooms for air access; in other rooms there was a garrison of the fortress and shopping arcades.
During his lifetime, Ghiyasuddin built his mausoleum. The tomb was located in the middle of a lake, across which a bridge was thrown from the main gate; the fortress was connected to the mausoleum and an underground passage. The red sandstone tomb itself is topped with a white marble dome and resembles a miniature fort rather than a tomb.
According to legend, during the construction of Tughlaqabad, the Muslim saint Nizamuddin Auliya was working to create a large reservoir, but the construction workers were not enough, which is why the ruler and the saint quarreled. And although both buildings were completed on time, Saint Nizamuddin allegedly cursed the fortress (they say that the city will either be completely empty or will be inhabited only by Gujars (wild tribes)). And indeed, Tughlaqabad was soon abandoned, and at the beginning of the 20th century. archaeologists discovered that its only inhabitants after the Tughlaks were the Gujjar tribes!

Hauz Khas
The Hauz Khas reservoir was built in 1305. During the reign of Firozshah (1354), restoration work was carried out here and steps to the water were built. Although now the reservoir practically does not exist, the steps are perfectly preserved.
Among the structures adjacent to Hauz Khas is the tomb of Firozshah Tughlaq, made in correct proportions, with a slightly pointed dome. It was built during the lifetime of Firozshah. Simple in appearance, the inside amazes with the most interesting color painting of the dome.
The Moth-ki-Masjid mosque (early 16th century) is famous for its unique play of light and shadow, especially at sunrise and sunset. The mosque was allegedly built with money received from the sale of crops obtained over several years from one grain of wheat. The mosque that was built was called “The Mosque of One Grain.” Its interior is well preserved.
Not far from Hauz Khas there is a round tower of Chor Minar (height about 8 m, diameter 3 m at the base). There were 225 holes in the walls of the tower; the severed heads of thieves and criminals were displayed in them. When soldiers of enemy armies were captured, a pyramid of human heads grew next to Chor Minar, because there were not enough holes in the tower...

Red Fort (Lal Qila)
The Red Fort (Lal Qila) holds a special place in Indian history. It was here on August 15, 1947 that the English flag was lowered and J. Nehru raised the flag of independent India for the first time. Built in 1639-1648. Emperor Shah Jahan, the fort served as the residence of rulers from the Mughal dynasty until 1857.
The walls of the fort (height - 11 m, perimeter of the walls - 2 km) were higher, thicker and stronger than the city walls. On all sides (except for those facing the river) the fortress was surrounded by a 9-meter ditch. Mosques, official buildings, and the emperor’s personal chambers were gradually erected inside.
In shape it is an irregular octagon with edges elongated to the west and east. The main gate of the fort is Lahore - to the west, in front of it is a large square area. Lahore Gate is guarded by two stone elephant, on one of them sit sculptures of the raj brothers: these heroes, together with their mother, bravely defended the Chitor fortress from Akbar’s troops and died, but did not submit to the conqueror.
On a low stone platform (24 m x 12 m) stands the Diwan-i-Am (Hall of General Audience) made of red sandstone. Once upon a time, the walls of the hall were decorated with silver panels. Divan-i-Am was surrounded by an elegant gilded fence. Behind the fence are the gardens of Mahatab-bagh (“Life-Giving”), Nehr-i-Bisht (“Heavenly Stream”) flowed between the alleys.
In the center of the Diwan-i-Am stands the white marble structure of the Kursi, or imperial box, next to it stood a multi-colored shamiana (tent), embroidered with pearls, gold threads and decorated with precious stones. In front of Kursi there is a low marble eminence, from where the vizier reported news to the emperor. On the walls there are images of birds, floral patterns and still lifes. During the suppression of the 1857 uprising, most of those who decorated the walls precious stones was plundered by the British.
Next to the Diwan-i-Am stands the Rang Mahal (Palace of Many Colors), so named because of its colorful decorations. The ceiling of the Rang Mahal was silver, painted with beautiful floral designs. There are five carved windows in one of the walls, from where concubines and princesses watched the elephant battles. In the center is a small pool with a white marble lotus, decorated with gems carved in the shape of flowers and leaves.
The white marble pavilion of the Diwan-i-Khasa (Hall of Private Audiences) is surrounded on three sides by open arches. The ceiling, once silver, is supported by 32 columns decorated with exquisite carvings, which were also inlaid with gems. It was here that the Peacock Throne, adorned with the famous Kohinoor diamond, was taken away by the Persian Nadir Shah in 1739.
On the north side of the Diwan-i-Khas there are three interconnected marble pavilions: a prayer hall, a bedroom and a living room. Nearby there are bathhouses - Hammam. The Hamam's carved windows were made of Venetian glass. To the east of the bedroom stands the Samman Burj tower, its dome was golden. Next to the Hamam is the white marble Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque), built in 1662; its gilded domes had to be replaced with marble ones after the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857.

"Silver Street" Chandni Chowk
Chandni Chowk is a 3.5 km long street-bazaar where you can buy almost everything, from a pin to a diamond.
The largest Jain temple, Digambar Jainpri, is located here. The main hall of the temple has many images of Jain saints. The temple contains a “bird hospital” - a unique institution, the only one in North India. There are several “wards” in the “hospital”. At the end of the “course of treatment,” the birds are not returned to their owners, but are released into the wild on Sundays. Crippled birds remain in the hospital for life. On the roof of the temple and the “hospital” you can always see many birds - former patients who do not want to leave such a hospitable shelter! The only animal that, due to its extremely peaceful nature, is granted the privilege of treatment in the “bird hospital” is the rabbit. If a "patient" dies in a "hospital", his ashes are given to the river...
Sikh temple Sis Ganj on Chandni Chowk is considered the main one in Delhi and the second most important in India after the Golden Temple in Amritsar. At this place, the Sikh guru Tegh Bahadur, who refused to convert to Islam, was executed by Emperor Aurangzeb. After the execution, lightning rained down, thunder struck, a strong wind rose and, under the cover of a storm, one of the guru’s disciples carried his head to where the Rakabganj Temple (New Delhi) is now located.
On the other side of the street is the Central Baptist Church, the earliest Christian temple, founded in 1814 and built shortly before the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857. The street ends with the Fatehpuri Mosque (1650), built with donations from one of Shah Jahan's court ladies Begam Fatehpuri. The height of the minarets of this mosque is 32 m. Inside there is a spacious prayer courtyard, decorated with white and black marble. In terms of its significance, this mosque is the second in Delhi after Jama Masjid.

Jama Masjid
A little away from Chandni Chowk stands a majestic and at the same time very elegant structure - the famous Jama Masjid (Friday or Cathedral Mosque), one of the largest in the world. Priceless Muslim relics are kept here: a reddish hair from the beard of the Prophet Muhammad, his shoe, the “imprint” of his foot in stone and one of the chapters of the Koran, according to legend, written under the dictation of the prophet.
The height of the mosque is 61.3 meters, the height of the side minarets is 41 meters. Inside there is a spacious prayer courtyard with an area of ​​400 square meters. m. The mosque can accommodate 25 thousand worshipers. Construction began in 1650 by Emperor Shah Jahan. In 1658, the mosque was inaugurated by Emperor Aurangzeb.
800 m from Jama Masjid at the Turkmen Gate stands the Kalan Masjid mosque (1386), so called because of the black color of its walls - Kali Masjid (“kali” translated from Hindi means “black”), built by the minister Firuzshah Khan Jahan, who converted from Hinduism to Islam. Not far from this mosque is the tomb of Sultana Razia, the daughter of Sultan Iltutmish and the only woman who ruled Delhi in 1236-1240.
The Kashmir Gate is the only gate of Shahjahanabad that has two arches for two-way traffic. In 1857, fierce battles took place here between the rebel Indians and British troops. Bullet marks and gouges from cannonballs can still be seen on the stone walls today. Near the Kashmere Gate is one of the most elegant churches in Delhi - the Anglican Church of St. James (1836). Its founder, James Skinner, was an Anglo-Indian who served in the army of the Maratha Maharaja, and then joined the troops of the English king. Behind the Kashmir Gate are the Qudsia Gardens, founded in the early 18th century. wife of Emperor Muhammad Shah Qudsia Begam.
Not far from the gardens is the Ridge, a wooded hilly area where several famous historical monuments, including one of the pillars (stambha) of Ashoka, brought to Delhi by Sultan Firuzshah, and the building of the former Secretariat from where the British ruled India before the construction of New Delhi. Nowadays the University of Delhi is located here, the main building of which was in the past the residence of the English Viceroy of India.
To the south of the university are the famous Roshanar Gardens, Coronation Park, Shalimar Gardens, and the ruins of the famous Shish Mahal (Palace of Mirrors).
Not far from the Red Fort is the main Tibetan temple of Delhi - a Buddhist vihara built by refugees from Tibet, where thangkas, sacred manuscripts and ancient books on the history of Buddhism in Tibet are kept.

Firozabad
Firozshah Kotla, or Firozabad, was founded in 1354 by Emperor Firozshah (1351-1388). The outer wall of Firozabad has not survived, although chroniclers claim that the city stretched for more than 9 km along the banks of the Jamna.
From ancient city Little remains: the ruins of the reception hall, the baoli pool, the round tower and the ruined Jama Masjid mosque. Europeans who visited Delhi in the 17th century noted that the Jama Masjid mosque in Firozabad was crowned with four domes supported by 260 thin columns. Tamerlane prayed in this mosque; later he ordered the construction of a similar one in Samarkand.
Above palace complex stands the monolithic column of Ashoka, made of a single piece of pale orange sandstone. The column was once crowned with a golden dome, which was later stolen by the Marathas and Jats. The approximate weight of the column is 27 tons, height is about 12.8 m. In general, the construction of Ashoka’s columns dates back to approximately 250 BC. e. Inscriptions carved on the columns date back to the 3rd century. BC e. the ancient Pali language could not be read until the 1830s.

Purana Qila (Old Fortress)
Emperor Humayun started the construction of Purana Qila ( Old fortress) in 1530. During the reign of Sher Shah Suri (1540-1545), the fort was destroyed and rebuilt. Humayun, returning to the throne of Delhi in 1545, fortified the citadel and named it Din Panah.
The fort supposedly stands on the site where the Pandava capital Indraprastha flourished in ancient times. Akbar's chronicle states that by the time of his reign, some sections of the fort wall were already 1176 years old.
The perimeter of the massive walls of Purana Qila is about 4 km, their height is up to 18 m, and their width in some places is up to 15 m. Three majestic arches lead into the courtyard of the fortress. The northern gate depicts a fight between a man and a lion (which is absolutely atypical for Islamic architecture). Perhaps an exception was made for Farid Khan, who killed a lion in direct combat, since after this incident he began to be called Sher Shah (“Shah with a lion’s heart”).
Today, only two buildings remain inside the fort - the Kilai Kukhna mosque, surrounded by an open pavilion, and the two-story Sher Shah Mandal pavilion, which served as the emperor's library and observatory during Humayun's time. On the site of Sher Shah Mandal stood the Sun Temple, built during the existence of Indraprastha. The Kilai-Kuhna Masjid mosque (1545), created by Shershah Suri, is considered the pinnacle of the Indo-Afghan architectural style: the proportions of the building are strictly maintained, the arches are richly decorated with floral patterns.
Opposite the western entrance to the fort is the Kher-ul-Minazel mosque (1561), built in early years Akbar's reign. The ruins adjacent to the eastern wall of the Old Fort are considered to be the remains of the ancient Bhairon Temple and are revered by Hindus as the most ancient architectural monument in Delhi.
Directly adjacent to the Old Fortress is the Delhi Zoo, opened in 1959, one of the largest in the world. From here you can clearly see the building, which was built after India gained its independence. Supreme Court India (dome height 37.6 m).

Mausoleum of Emperor Humayun
One of the most remarkable buildings in Delhi is the mausoleum of Emperor Humayun (1565) of the Mughal dynasty. Humayun chose the place for his tomb himself. For the first time in India, a clearly planned garden was laid out around the tomb, and later such gardens became an indispensable attribute of all monuments of Mughal architecture. The light pink, two-story mausoleum, 43 m high, rests on a massive platform up to 7 m high. The tomb is crowned with a seemingly weightless white marble dome. This structure is called the “tomb of the Timurid House,” because no tomb in India contains such a number of graves of Mughal emperors. At this place in 1857, the last of the Great Mughals, Bahadur Shah, surrendered to the British.
In the southeast corner of the garden is a tomb with a blue mosaic dome, which, as rumor tells us, was built by Babur in honor of his favorite hairdresser. Immediately behind the wall are the Arab sheds, built in the mid-16th century. for Arabian pilgrims.

Dargah of Nizamuddin
On the western side of Humayun's mausoleum there are a number of noteworthy Muslim monuments in Delhi - the dargah (sacred place of worship) of the Muslim saint Nizamuddin Chishti Auliya (1325). There are many other mausoleums around his grave, because, given the extraordinary holiness of this place, in the 14th century. entire generations of Delhi sultans chose to be buried here.
Next to the mausoleum stands the Jamat Khana Mosque (Khizri Mosque), made of red sandstone, built in the early 14th century. - the first building in Delhi that fully complies with the strict canons of Muslim architecture with skillfully executed arabesques and sayings from the Koran.
The tombs located here are striking with their fine marble carvings, among them the most notable are the tombs of Shah Jahan’s beloved daughter Jahanara Begam and Emperor Muhammad Shah (1719-1748). In the center of the courtyard is the tomb of Saint Nizamuddin. There is a marble veranda around his mausoleum. The famous medieval poet Amir Khosrov Dehlavi (1253-1325) is also buried inside the dargah. Every year, during the November “Urs” celebrations, coinciding with the day of the poet’s death, musical and poetic competitions “Qawwali” and “Mushair” are held here.
Not far from the dargah there is a marble pavilion (1869), inside which the great Urdu poet Mirza Asadullah Khan, widely known under the pseudonym Mirza Ghalib (1797-1869), is buried. Next to Ghalib's mausoleum stands the beautiful white marble pavilion of Chousath Khamba - a palace of 64 columns built by Emperor Jahangir.

Okhla and Kalkaji
In Okhla, an industrial suburb of Delhi, there is the Okhla Reservoir - one of the most picturesque places in the city, where thousands of citizens flock on Sundays in search of respite from the sweltering heat.
On the way to Okhla, near the Jamia Millia Muslim University, there is a white marble mausoleum of Zakir Hussain (President of India 1967-1969).
Not far from Okkhla in the village of Kalkadzhi there is a famous temple (1764) of the goddess Kali. According to legend, the temple stands on the site where thousands of years ago there was a battle between the gods and powerful bloodthirsty giants. Goddess Parvati created the goddesses Kushka and Kali, and all the monsters killed by Kushka were swallowed by the goddess Kali, who decided to settle forever at the site of the battle. Since those mythical times, this place has been revered as sacred. Under the foundations of the modern temple supposedly lie the ruins of very ancient building(around 3000 BC), but since the temple is inviolable, historians have never been able to confirm the authenticity of this fact. The entrance to the temple is guarded by two stone lions, with two bells above their heads - when entering and leaving the temple, the visitor must ring the bell, notifying the goddess that he is entering and leaving the temple.

Lodi Gardens
In a spacious garden near the Nizamuddin dargah are the tombs of the last rulers of the Lodi dynasty (1450-1526). The architectural style of these monuments differs from the buildings of the Mughal era primarily by the presence of massive domes. At the entrance to the garden stands the Bara Gumbad (Great Dome), a large square structure with a massive dome. According to the original plans, Bara Gumbad was supposed to serve as the entrance to the adjacent mosque (1494). On the walls of the prayer hall of the mosque, verses from the poem “Gulistan” by the great Persian thinker Saadi (1203-1292) are still preserved in Arabic.
In the corner of the garden is the mausoleum of Sikander Lodi, the famous sultan-commander. Sikander's tomb symbolizes the transition from Lodi to Mughal architectural style. The shady Lodi Road leads to the Safdarjang Mausoleum (1753), symbolizing the decline of Mughal architecture, as can be judged by the rather unfortunate proportions of the structure.

Lotus Temple
The Lotus Temple, or Baha'i House of Prayer (architect Fariborz Sahba, 1980-1986), was built with voluntary donations. The central hall has a diameter of 75 m and seats 1,300. The height of the temple is 35 m, there is not a single straight line in it. It has the shape of a half-opened lotus flower with 27 petals arranged in three rows. The central row forms the vault of the building in the shape of an unopened bud. The petals are made of concrete and lined with white marble. The temple is surrounded by 9 artificial reservoirs, so it visually “rests” on the water surface.

Encyclopedia of tourism Cyril and Methodius. 2008 .

Reading time: 3 minutes. Views 295 Published 11/01/2012

Delhi (New Delhi) is the Indian capital and also one of the largest cities in the world. The capital of India spreads its territories on the western banks of the Jamna River, which is the right tributary of the Ganges. Doab is an inhabited and fertile plain located at the intersection of these rivers. This .

Delhi is a city of originality and uniqueness. Various architectural monuments, ashrams, as well as religious centers form a huge variety of everything that is in this magnificent capital.

City of contrasts

Delhi is a city of real contrasts. Such an amazing combination of incongruous things is created by 2 parts of the city - New Delhi and Old Delhi. The magnificent and unique contrast between the narrow streets that surround Old Delhi throughout its territory, as well as the modern infrastructure, queues at cinemas and many other things that New Delhi has, impress and enchant everyone who comes here.

Capital of modern India

Delhi is a place where night life flows with a stormy spring. All night festivities, as a rule, are concentrated in five-star hotels, which include bars, restaurants with excellent service and quality, as well as clubs that are open until the morning. Tourists can be transported here by both regular transport and.

There are a huge number of restaurants in the central part of the capital of India, and that is why there will never be any problems finding a restaurant where you can have a delicious lunch at a low price.

The capital of India is the city of Delhi. India is officially called the Republic of India. Located in southern Asia. It borders Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. The country ranks second in population - 1.2 billion people

The city of Delhi is located in the north of the country, on the banks of the Jamna River. The population of the capital exceeds 16 million people. The climate is monsoon with hot summers (average temperature +31 degrees) and warm winters, but with cool winds from the Himalayas. (average temperature + 14 degrees). The most comfortable temperature in Delhi is from February to April and from September to November, when the air temperature is between +20 ... + 30 degrees. The capital of India has a rich history and was formerly called Indraprastha

Delhi first became the capital in the 11th century, and the first settlements date back to 2000 BC. Monuments of the past can be found in the city at every step. Delhi has over 60,000 attractions

The capital consists of several cities built in different years and is actually divided into the old city and the new Delhi. New Delhi is officially considered the capital of India. The native language of the inhabitants is Hindi

The city has three metro lines, which provide comfortable and inexpensive travel for citizens. All train stations, metro stations and attractions are connected by city bus routes

The buses are not equipped with air conditioning, so they are hot in the summer. Bus routes are often marked in Hindi, which creates a number of problems for tourists. Along with state transport, commercial transport also runs on the routes. Apart from taxis, there are many autorickshaws in the city. Autorickshaws are small cars or more often a three-wheeled scooter, distinctive feature their yellow-green color.

On the city streets of Delhi, as in other million-plus cities in the world, traffic jams are frequent. IN last years Transport problems are being solved quickly. A new railway station was recently put into operation.

The city of Delhi is known as the center international tourism. Many modern hotels have been built in the city. Along with luxury hotels, you can find inexpensive hotels that have all the amenities

Many monuments are included in the list world heritage UNESCO. One of the main attractions of the capital is the Red Fort, which was built under the Mughal Empire of Shah Jahan

Most high minaret in India - the Qutub Minar, which is called the wonder of the world. The height of the minaret is 72.5 meters. Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque is the first mosque built in India. The iron column is of interest. The column is 7 meters high and weighs about 6 tons and is made of iron. But what is surprising is that for 1600 years the column has not corroded. This riddle has not been solved. There are hypotheses, according to one of them the column is made of meteorite iron.

The Lotus Temple is a building with an original shape, built of white concrete and white marble. This temple, reminiscent of a lotus flower, is one of the modern buildings in the capital. Inside the building, there are no idols, no religious images and generally no symbols indicating religion. The history of this building dates back 450 years ago, when Shah Akbar, the greatest of the Mughal dynasty, dreamed of uniting all peoples under one faith in God. And he dreamed of this building that didn’t look like a church, a mosque or a pagoda. Based on the Shah’s dream, this temple was built in 1986.

Delhi is one of the most economically developed cities in India. A few kilometers from Old Delhi is New Delhi with its business center Connaught Square. Around the square there are banks, offices, restaurants and shops. The city has modern infrastructure. In recent years, the production of consumer goods and the automotive industry has been developing. Science in various fields has developed in the city.

Delhi is a colorful and impressive metropolis that many travelers dream of visiting. Founded 5,000 years ago, this settlement quickly became a center of trade and began to develop rapidly, passing from one ruler to another and receiving an amazing layering of cultures and traditions. People who are interested in ancient architectural monuments come here, there are more than 60 thousand of them in the city, and those who prefer colonial buildings; in this regard, the capital part of New Delhi is considered unsurpassed. In addition, modern Delhi is the scientific and cultural center of the country.

New Delhi is a multinational city, like many capitals. The local population professes everything known to the world religion, so mosques here easily coexist with Hindu temples, and the domes Christian cathedrals They look quite bizarre against the background of a Buddhist wall. The fashionable modern New Delhi with its shopping centers, luxurious mansions, expensive cars and original cuisine restaurants.

How to get to Delhi

Thanks to its convenient location in the center of the country, Delhi confidently holds the status of the main transport hub of India. Several 6-hour flights operate here from Moscow every day. It is also always possible to fly with transfers - sometimes it will be cheaper, although the travel time increases to 10 hours.

Read more about how to get to Delhi in this article.

• How to get from Delhi airport to the main railway station

Search flights to Delhi

Transport

The metro is one of the most convenient, fastest and cheapest ways to travel around Delhi; 6 lines have already been built in the city; you can get to almost anywhere. When buying a ticket, you need to keep in mind that it is only valid for the station where you land - if you buy two at once, you will not be able to return on the second one.

You can buy a tourist card that allows you to ride the metro as much as you like.

You can also get to any part of the city by bus. Tickets for them are cheaper than for the metro, but they are also less comfortable - during rush hours there are terrible traffic jams throughout the city, crowds of people crowd into every bus.

There are two types of buses in Delhi - private and government. The latter are red and green. In summer, the difference between them is simply huge, since the red ones have air conditioning.

At the stops there are no schedules or even signs with the numbers of buses arriving there, so any information can only be obtained by asking people. However, it is rare that you have to wait longer than 15-20 minutes for the desired bus.

Despite traffic jams, the most convenient way to get around the city is by taxi. The trip costs 300 INR; it is not customary to tip the driver. The local alternative is an auto-rickshaw, a little slower, but with a breeze. In addition, two-wheeled transport is very popular in Delhi: bicycles and motorbikes. For cyclists, the conditions are quite extreme - there are paths only in the old part of the city, and cars often travel along them. But if you want, you can go for a ride; there are enough rental stations; hotels often have them. Prices on the page are as of March 2019.

Motorbikes are constantly scurrying around the city, so the temptation to rent such vehicles is very great. For those who drive confidently, the bike will be an excellent, comfortable and maneuverable means of transportation. But it is important to consider that traffic in the city is intense and chaotic.

To drive a moped you need a category A license, although many travelers neglect this rule. You should not break the law, because if your documents are checked or there is an accident, the consequences can be serious.

Maps of Delhi

Delhi Hotels

Delhi is a large city with several thousand hotels, guest houses and apartments. Travelers tend to stay in the center, closer to attractions. Although you can find good options in almost every area.

A place in a hostel costs 500 INR, a cozy authentic room for two in guest house they rent for 1000 INR, and an excellent room in a 3* hotel costs 2500 INR. If you want luxury and royal service, you can stay in five-star chain or local hotels for 6,000 INR per day. Services usually correspond to the chosen category, but many, even the simplest hotels, offer free transfer from the airport, this can be specified when booking.

What to bring

You can buy anything you want in any of Delhi's many markets. But most often tourists choose clothes: bright saris, light bloomers, thin shirts, cashmere pashmina shawls, silk dresses and cut-out silk. Rajasthani cotton, rich in color, with a spectacular pattern, and a mixture of silk and cotton - “himra” - are highly valued. Handmade carpets embroidered with gold and semi-precious stones look luxurious. Needlewomen will appreciate embroidery kits: threads, stones, beads, sparkles, lace.

In Delhi, it is impossible to pass by Ayurvedic preparations and oils, cosmetics and henna, spices and so-called “masalas” (mixtures that enhance the taste of dishes), Indian sweets, tea and coffee.

The interior decoration will be wooden or stone figurines of Indian gods, elephants, etc.

An excellent gift for loved ones is jewelry made from high-quality silver or local bright yellow gold, which, alas, often contains impurities. Products in the Bidri style are very beautiful, as the pattern of silver wire on dark metal is called. This technique is used to make bracelets, earrings, pendants, as well as decorative dishes and figurines.

The old city is famous for its bazaars, the most popular being the Chandi Chowk market. It was another innovation of Shah Jahan, whose daughter loved to shop here. Perhaps the true Indian exoticism can be felt here: the hustle and bustle are intertwined with the aromas of Indian cuisine, the shine of silver and gold. Previously, the market was divided by canals, now it is a labyrinth of narrow streets where everything is sold. There is also the Kinati bazaar, where they sell gold and silver items and wooden souvenirs. The Naya Bazaar is a paradise for spice lovers; you can buy fruits and sweets here at wholesale prices.

One day in Delhi

Delhi cuisine and restaurants

The capital has always been not only a center of attraction for residents of other regions of the country, but also a point of intersection of trade routes, so its cuisine was also influenced by culture different nations India, and foreign habits.

You can eat everywhere in Delhi: at every step there are carts with street food, home cafes and expensive restaurants. The price range is also incredible: from a few rupees in a diner to a couple of thousand in a fashionable place. Dinner at a restaurant per person will cost 500 INR.

The basis of local cuisine is rice, vegetables, legumes, fruits and milk. And, of course, spices. Many Indians are vegetarians, but this does not mean that people in Delhi do not eat meat. Lamb, poultry and goat are often found here. Pork is served very rarely, and beef is not cooked at all, since the cow is a sacred animal for Hindus, and pork is not eaten by Muslims.

It is worth trying the biriyani pilaf, not too spicy, cooked in ghee. This dish is prepared with poultry and served with raitu - finely chopped vegetables. Unleavened paneer cheese is added to almost every dish; it is a kind of meat substitute. Often on the menu is thick thukpa soup, a Nepali dish that has found a strong foothold in Delhi cafes.

An inexpensive and very popular snack is white nan flatbread, which is cooked in a special oven and then filled with various fillings. A more dietary version of “chapati” is made from wholemeal flour.

Entertainment and attractions

When you get to the Old Town or the well-appointed and very beautiful area New Delhi, created in 1920, seems to see only

India is a country with centuries-old traditions, with ancient religion and culture. While in the country, foreign tourists are advised to follow certain rules of conduct so as not to offend the feelings of local residents.

Thus, the traditional greeting in India is “namaste” - the Indian equivalent of “hello” (नमस्ते, “bow to you”, pronounced “namaste”). When pronouncing this greeting, you should fold your hands in a special gesture - slightly bow your head and fold your palms at chest level, as during prayer. If for some reason you cannot fold both hands (for example, one is occupied), when answering a greeting, you can raise only one hand to chest level, but always the right one! The fact is that in India, as in the rest of Asia, the right hand is considered clean: it is used to eat, bless, give and take things, money. The left hand is unclean, Indians consider it so because they use it for hygienic purposes (traditionally there is no toilet paper). In addition, the legs are also an “unclean” part of the body. You cannot sit with your feet pointing at another person or towards the temple; you also cannot point your foot at anything or anyone.

Remember that in India any demonstration of personal relationships, even between spouses, such as walking by the hand, hugging and kissing, is not accepted.

Only men and men can shake hands in the Western style. Women should fold their hands in a namaste gesture.

Consumption of all types of alcohol in India in public places is strictly prohibited and is punishable by a fine of up to 5,000 rupees or imprisonment of up to 3 months. It is not customary to carry bottles of alcohol along the street in your hands.

Sanitary rules for visiting India are not complicated - the country is not among the states that require a set of vaccinations for entry. Medical insurance is not required, but highly recommended. But be sure to take with you a first aid kit, in which, in addition to the medications you personally need, it is advisable to have an antibiotic, a sufficient amount of medications for intestinal infections, antiseptics (green stuff/iodine/peroxide, manganese, bandage, cotton wool). Don’t forget also repellents for mosquitoes (which, by the way, are carriers of malaria, dengue fever, etc.) and other insects (fleas, bedbugs).

To stay healthy, you need to follow a small set of rules: wash your hands often and thoroughly, food should be freshly prepared and thermally processed, drink only bottled water, tea, coffee, factory-made soft drinks (Pepsi/Cola/Fanta, etc.). ). You should not feast on vegetables and fruits that cannot be peeled - grapes, dried fruits.

In the case of an intestinal disorder (symptoms - indigestion, pain, fever, high temperature that does not go away within 3 days), you should not self-medicate - you need to contact one of the local clinics, where medicine is very advanced. high level. After a paid consultation with a doctor (inexpensive, 100-300 rupees) and tests (done within an hour), you will be prescribed a medicine that will put you back on your feet within 3-4 days.