Chandni Chowk - One of the main
markets of Delhi, Chandni Chowk was once lined with
beautiful fountains. But today the place is very crowded
and congested. Chandni Chowk is located opposite the
Red Fort. The Area has got the Digamber Jain Temple
which houses the Birds hospital. On one end of Chandni
Chowk is the Fatehpuri Mosque which was erected by
the wives of Shah Jahan. Opposite the old police station
or the Kotwali is the Sunheri Masjid from where Nadir
Shah ordered his troops to plunder and massacre Delhi.
Old Delhi - The City of Shahjahanabad
was the capital of Shah Jahan but little remains of
that old city. The Old Delhi or the walled city served
as the capital for many emperors. Today, remains of
the historical city are the gates like - Kashmiri
Gate, Ajmeri Gate, Turkman Gate, Delhi gate. Near
Delhi Gate is Feroz Shah Kotla, close to this is kept
the Ashokan Pillar which was brought from Meerut by
Feroz Shah Tughlaq.
The Ghats - Along the banks of Jamuna
are located the places were the leaders and freedom
fighters of India were cremated. The Raj Ghat is one
of the most visited ghats. A simple square platform
of black marble marks the spot where Mahatma Gandhi
was cremated after his assassination in 1948. To North
of Raj Ghat is the cremation ground of Jawaharlal
Nehru named as Shanti Van. The cremation ground of
Indira Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi are
also in the vicinity. The cremation ground of Lal
Bahadur Shastri is nearby.
Rajpath & India Gate - Flanked
by ornamental ponds and lawns, Rajpath is host to
the Republic Day Parade. The two secretariat buildings
and Rashtrapati Bhawan on the Raisina hills are located
on the two sides of this immensely broad road. Previously
the Boat Club, besides the Rajpath, was host to many
demonstrations and Rallies. India Gate is towards
the eastern end of Rajpath.
India Gate is a 42m high stone arch of triumph. It
bears
the name of the 85,000 Indian Army Soldiers who died
in the campaigns of WW1, the North-West Frontiers
operations and the 1919 Afghan Fiasco. Below the arch
is the memorial to the Unknown Soldier. India Gate
is surrounded by green grass lawns and trees.
The Parliament House- Sansad Bhawan
or the Parliament house is the supreme law making
body in the country. It is the center of power and
politicians decide the fate of the Indian Democracy
here. Visitors are not allowed inside the house but
when the house is in session, visitors may take permission
to go inside and watch the proceedings of the house.
The parliament consists of three halls- Lok Sabha,
Rajya Sabha and the central hall. For the foreign
visitors permits are given only after they obtain
an introductory letter from the respective embassy.
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