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RED
FORT
 Another
marvel of architecture is the Red Fort and it could perhaps be
singled out as yet another monument, which should not escape the
tourist's eyes. Known as lal qila (lal means red and qila means
fort). It is laid out along the river Yamuna as an irregular
octagon.
It is surrounded by a wall of about 2.4 Kilometers in
circumference and is built of Red Sandstone. The Mughal King Shah
Jahan transferred his capital from Agra to Delhi and the fort was
completed in 1648, nine years after the king shifted to this city.
The fort has two main entrances, the Delhi Gate and the Lahori
Gate, which faces the famed Chandni Chowk market.
Shah Jahan, incidentally was also the king who built the Taj Mahal
of Agra. The fort has the Diwan-e-am, where the king would grant
audience to the public to listen to their problems. The other
feature is the Diwan-e-Khas (khas means special) where the king
would grant audience to important people.
Besides this, is the Rang Mahal, the water-cooled apartment for
the royal ladies. In the basement of the fort is a market where
several traditional Indian goods can be purchased at nominal
rates. Another attraction is the Light and Sound Show held in the
evenings.
OLD
FORT
 It
is 4 km away from Connaught Circus to the S-East of India Gate,
the foundation of this Fort was started by Humayun in 1530 but
remained incomplete as he was defeated by Afghan hero
Sher-Shah-Suri in 1541. It is located in the pre-historical
Indraprastha (as is surveyed and proved in 1955 findings) of the
Mahabharata and completed by Sher Shah as the 6th city or Killa or
the Fort. Later it was named Shergarh.
On the 3 sides by Jamuna. From 3rd BC to pre-Mughal period, there
was fort in Indraprastha. Humayun built a new one.
Old Indraprastha became Dinpanaha. The Fort was encircled with
high walls having 3 main entrances. Entering through the Zoo
Garden or the Talaki Entrance of north, you will see the octogonal
peaks made of sand stones on Sher Manzil. After the death of
Sher-Shah-Suri in 1548, Humayun recaptured Delhi in 1555 defeating
Sher Shah' son Islam Shah. Humayun also destroyed Shergarh.
However, Sher Manjil founded by Sher Shah became Humayun's
library.
QUTUB
MINAR
 13 km to the south
of Connaught Circus at Lalkote of 8th century Tomor Rajputs, the
72.5 m high Victory Pillar stands as a victory stand of a Muslim
King Kutub-ud-din-Aibak in India. At Kila Roy Pithora, on the
dilapidated fort of the last Hindu king Prithwiraj, this victory
stand was made like throne in Gajni. In 1199 Kutub-ud-Din started
its construction and it was completed in 1236 by Iltutmish, the
son-in-law of Kutub. However, there is a 2nd opinion. Some say,
the construction came to an end around 1357-68 during the reign of
Feroz Sah Tughlak.
However, the Kutub which was built in Afghan style underwent
repairing and remaking for more than occasions. Revolving steps of
flights are 367 in number in slightly leaned Kutub. It has some
spl features- at its root the radius is being 14.40 m which
gradually reduced at its top to 2.44 m. In Kupee language it has
been inscribed on Kutub that- The Tower was erected to cast the
shadow of God over both East and West. Aayaat from Quran is also
inscribed. At the foot of the Minar a Mosque was built in 1197.
The 5 storeyed Qutub Minar is a remarkable instance of sculpture
in India. The 1st floor made of sand stone by Kutub, the 2nd &
3rd floors made of sand stone by Iltutmis and the 4th and 5th in
both sand stone and marble by Feroz Shah Tughlok in 1368.
However, the earthquake of 1803 destroyed it , in 1829 British
Major Robert Smith re-built the tomb. Later the tomb was brought
down from the Minar and reset it in the garden beside. In 1981,
some students died of stampade while on their way up the steps of
flights. Since then, ascending 5th floor is forbidden and not more
than a group of 4 at a time is permitted to ascent only upto 1st
floor of Kutub. Recently, Kutub is enshrined with huge lighting.
INDIA
GATE
 Straight
down the road from Rashtrapati Bhavan along a magnificent view and
totally unhampered drive is India Gate, which is primarily a
memorial to the Unknown Soldier. Designed by Lutyens, the 42 metre
high structure is a war memorial in honor of the soldiers who died
during the Second World War. The imposing structure from where
stretch massive lush green lawns has an eternal flame (amar jawan
jyoti) to honor the memory of the unknown soldiers. A popular
picnic spot, one can see hoarders of people moving about the area
and on the lawns on summer evenings.
HUMAYUN'S
TOMB
 This tomb, which
was built by emperor Humayun's wife, took eight years to complete
and is regarded as an example of the early Mughal architecture.
The emperor's wife, Begai Begum, was buried in the tomb and the
structure is the first of its kind built in the centre of a
well-planned garden. The combination of white marble and red
sandstone was a great influence on later Mughal architecture. It
is generally regarded as a prototype of the famed Taj Mahal of
Agra.
SAFDARJUNG
TOMB
 It is 5 km to the
S-West from Connaught Place at Arvind Marg on the way to Kutub.
Between 1753-74, Nawab Suja-ud-Dulla erected Safdarjung on the
graveyard of Nawab of Ayodhya Mirza Mukim Abul Mansur Khan, like
the tomb of Humayun. In the middle of Mughal Garden Charbagh, it
is the last tomb or graveyard of 40 ft high. On the 4 sides, there
are 4 stone made Azan Minar. In the courtyard, there is rose
garden.
Beside it, mini airport, Safdarjung of Delhi Flying Club is
located. In 1980, Sanjay Gandhi died in an air crash in this
airport. Adjacent to the south, there is the battle field, where
Mahammad Shah Tughlak was defeated by Taimur in 12 Dec, 1398.
THE
GRAVEYARD OF MEHMOOD
The oldest graveyard
of India lies at 4.08 km to the west of Kutub on way to Palam. It is
built in 1229 in Hindu-Muslim sculptural combination. Mahmood the
son of Iltutmis is laid here at rest. Very few tourists come here to
visit due to no publicity.
At a little distant, close to the ruin of 4th Delhi city Jahanpana,
there is Khirki Mosque built in 1380 by a Nazir of Feroz Shah
Tughlak. At a little distance at the crossing of Aurobinda Marg and
Panchshil Marg there is Begumpuri Mosque built in 14th century by
Khan-e-Jahan.
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