Delhi

Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its right bank, Delhi shares borders with the state of Uttar Pradesh in the east and with the state of Haryana in the remaining directions. Delhi became a union territory on 1 November 1956 and the NCT in 1995. The NCT covers an area of 1,484 square kilometres (573 sq mi). According to the 2011 census, Delhi’s city proper population was over 11 million, while the NCT’s population was about 16.8 million.

I lived here for many years during my childhood with my parents. During my later years, when I lived in Gurgaon, I visited almost every week. I have fond memories associated with this city, even though it is a polluted hellscape most of the year.

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Connaught Place

Connaught Place is undoubtedly my favourite place in Delhi. Also known as Rajiv Chowk or CP, it is one of the main financial, commercial and business centres in New Delhi, Delhi, India. It houses the headquarters of several noted Indian firms and is a major shopping, nightlife, and tourist destination in New Delhi. As of July 2018, Connaught Place ranked as the ninth most expensive office location in the world, with an annual rent of $1,650 per square metre ($153 per sq ft).

A good place to see CP is from Parikrama, the revolving restaurant.

Parikrama also offers great panoramic views of other places in central Delhi.

Agrasen ki Baoli

Another less known gem near Connaught Place is Agrasen ki Baoli. It is a 60-meter long and 15-meter wide historical stepwell. Located on Hailey Road, near Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar, it was designated a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958.

Jantar Mantar

Jantar Mantar in New Delhi is an observatory, designed to be used with the naked eye. It is one of five Jantar Mantar in India. “Jantar Mantar” means “instruments for measuring the harmony of the heavens”. It consists of 13 architectural astronomy instruments. It is also a popular site for anti-government protests.

India Gate

The India Gate (formerly known as All India War Memorial) is a war memorial located near the Rajpath  on the eastern edge of the “ceremonial axis” of New Delhi. It stands as a memorial to 74,187 soldiers of the Indian Army who died between 1914 and 1921 in the First World War. 13,300 servicemen’s names, including some soldiers and officers from the United Kingdom, are inscribed on the gate. Designed by Edwin Lutyens, the gate evokes the architectural style of the ancient Roman triumphal arches, such as the Arch of Constantine in Rome, and later memorial arches; it is often compared to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and the Gateway of India in Mumbai. The lawns surrounding it are a popular picnic spot.

The Tombs

Delhi is home to many beautiful Mughal Tombs. Humayun’s Tomb is the more popular one.

However, I find the lesser visited Safdarjung’s Tomb to be more beautiful, especially around sunset.

Other Places in Delhi

Some pictures from other places.

We used to go to this restaurant called Diggin, Anand Lok which had beautiful decoratives.

Select City Walk Mall was a favourite hang out.

Hauz Khas has many chic restaurants and bars, along with a nice deer park.

Gole Market is a market within a traffic roundabout.

Below photos are from a stay at Taj Mahal Hotel.

The Qutb Minar, also spelled Qutub Minar and Qutab Minar, is a minaret and victory tower, built during the Delhi sultanate, and comprising the Qutb complex, a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site in Mehrauli. It was mostly built between 1199 and 1220, contains 399 steps, and is one of the most-frequented heritage spots in the city.

Bangla Sahib Gurudwara is located a stone’s throw from Connaught Place.

We went to India Habitat Centre quite often to eat at the All American Diner.

Street Dogs of Delhi

No post on Delhi is complete without photos of Delhi’s street dogs. They can be found on every nook and corner, but Connaught Place is the best place to spot some of them.