Delhi, the national capital city, is one of the most historic capitals of this world. The monuments located in this city represent the history of India. The tourists who come to visit Delhi visit its monuments too especially the Red Fort and the Qutab Minar. Some other monuments are Humayun’s Tomb, Old Fort, India Gate and Jantar Mantar. Have a brief look at all the top 6 monuments not to miss in Delhi.
Red Fort
Constructed between 1638 and 1648, the Red Fort is also acknowledged as Lal Qila. It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan after shifting his capital to Delhi from Agra. As a UNESCO World Heritage, the fort is a continuing symbol of political power. You will see the Diwan-e-Khas (Hall of Private Audience), the Diwan-e-Am (Hall of Public Audience), the Rang Mahal (Painted Palace), the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) and the Hammam (bath) inside the premise of the Red Fort. You can know the city’s heritage by attending the hour-long Son et Lumiere (sound and light show) that is held every evening. The sound and light show is in both languages Hindi and English.
Qutab Minar
Constructed in 1193, the Qutab Minar is named after Qutabuddin Aibak, the Delhi Sultan. Qutabuddin Aibak finished only the first of this five-storey monument. Iltutmish, the successor of Qutabuddin Aibak added three more storeys to this. It was Firoz Shah Tughlaq who completed the Minar by adding the final storey in 1368. It is 73 metres in height and now is a UNESCO World Heritage. You will see the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque in the Qutab Minar premise. This is the first mosque constructed in north India.
India Gate
India Gate, the most loved public place in Delhi, is a memorial symbol of the British and Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War. Designed by the British architect Edwin Lutyens, this British-era architecture was constructed between 1921 and 1931. It has inscriptions of more than 13000 British and Indian soldiers killed in the First World War. It is an easy spot for picnic and you, as a visitor, can easily come across ice cream vendors, photographers and other vendors.
Humayun’s Tomb
The finest instance of Mughal architecture earlier to the Taj Mahal, the Humayun’s Tomb was constructed by Bega Begum after the nine years of Humayun’s death in 1565. Constructed using red sandstone and white marble, it offers a remarkable picturesque. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage.
Jantar Mantar
Constructed by Raja Jai Singh (Second) in 1724, the Jantar Mantar houses 13 architectural and astronomical instruments like Samrat Yantra, Ram Yantra, Niyati Chakra, etc. It was used to know the status of stars and other planets. Located in the heart of Delhi (Connaught Place), this is widely used for protests and dharna.
Old Fort
The Old Fort, popularly known as Purana Qila, is the perfect example of Lodhi style architecture. Constructed by Sher Shah Suri in 1541, it is an ideal example of a mixture of Hindu elements with Muslim style architecture because its construction was started by Humayun but completed by Sher Shah Suri. Visiting inside this monument is free and you can enjoy boating in the shimmering lake.