Delhi: The Eternal City and the Mountains Beyond
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Delhi - Islamic Tourism magazine, May/June 2004
Delhi, the capital of India, is a rich canvas with enchanting pictures. It is a city where fortresses dominate the skyline, and numerous shrines together with ancient remains and modern high buildings welcome visitors. The streets are wide in New Delhi, the modern city, which leads the visitor into old, crowded alleyways. The blend of old and new creates diverse ways of life.
Tourist attractions in Delhi include:
Purana Quila an old fort where a light display tells the history of India.
New Delhi’s Disneyland well known for its entertainment and games, beautiful gardens and good food.
Connaught Place: a street full of hotels and restaurants – ideal for shopping.
The Craft Museum: with the finest works of art from the best Indian artists.
Lodhi Gardens: displaying the best heritage from Islamic and Hindu civilizations.
Safdarjung Tomb: built in a Mongul style and surrounded by gardens and a mosque.
Qutub Minar: built in 1199 as a victory arch is part of the neighboring mosque. To the left is Nizamuddin Shrine.
Other places include: Bahai Temple, Chanakyapuri, Jantor Mantor and Feroz Shah Kotta.
Delhi: the living history
You can visit the Red Fort where a display of light and sound tell the story of the fort. Opposite the fort, is Chandni Chowk, the beating heart of Old Delhi. It is a centre for jewelry and crafts. A mile away is Jama Masjid, the biggest mosque in India famous for its beautiful architecture.
There are many museums in Delhi. The most important is Nehru Museum (named after the first Prime Minister) and the International Dolls Museum with dolls from all over India and the world.
There are several festivals in Delhi, such as: the Kite Flying Festival, the Zoological Gardens Festival, International Mango Festival and Book Festival.
Art and craft shops (some government-owned) are the main attraction in Connaught Place.
You can also enjoy sports, such as: climbing, water sport, polo, cricket and horse riding.
Agra: The city of Kings
After my visit to the marvelous “Taj Mahal” in Agra, near Delhi, I can assure you that the charm of the place is still with me. I would encourage anyone interested in art to visit this landmark. The Taj Mahal is was the setting of the love story of the king and his wife.
You may also want to visit the Grand Mosque and the Fort of Agra along with the local craft, leather, metal work, and jewelry shops.
Mountaineering in the North
Up North, the Himalayan ranges are the most intimidating, enthralling and beautiful mountains in the world - a perennial challenge for any mountaineer.
The climbing season is normally between April and November but the winter seasons, though colder have clearer days.
There is some thing new to see during every season and in every region: the gentle slopes of the Garhwal and Kumaon ranges, the sharp ragged gorges of Kulu and Lahaul in Himachal Pradesh, the pristine untouched beauty of Sikkim, the almost unexplored Arunachal Predesh, the fantastic moonscapes of the Zanskar range in Jammu and Kashmir.
The high altitude peaks of Nun-Kun Massif in Ladakh, Nanda Devi in Garhwal, and Dunagiri in Kumaon offer challenging peaks for climbers. In Kumaon, the popular areas include the Kalabaland glacier system, the Panch Chulhi, the Rajrambha, and Chaudhara peaks of the Nandakot basin.
Most mountain routes are graded, according to levels of difficulty and accessibility. A moderate degree would require very basic mountaineering skills which can be learned at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering at Uttarkashi and the Western Himalayan Institute of Mountaineering at Manali.
The Garhwal Mandai Vikas Nigam has a fully-fledged mountaineering and trekking division based at Muni-ki-Reti, Rishikesh. Here equipment can be also hired from clubs and specialized agencies.
Prior to the expedition, all equipment must be tested, and members must familiarize themselves with it. Kerosene must be carried as cutting of wood is not encouraged in the mountain environment.
A visit to the eternal city of Delhi can be followed with a excursion to the magical mountains beyond. India’s diversity ensures no tourist will be disappointed.
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