Your morning exploration of Old Delhi begins with a visit to the Red Fort, a symbol of Shah Jehan's Mughal power and elegance, also known as the greatest wonder of all the cities of Delhi.
India's history has been closely linked with this fort. It was from here that the British deposed the last Mughal ruler - Bhadur Shah Zafar, marking the end of a three - century long Mughal rule. It was also from its ramparts that the first prime. Minister of India, Pandit Jawharlal Nehru, announced to the nation that India was free from colonial rule. Your tour continues with a visit to India's largest mosque Jama Masjid, originally known as 'Masjid-I-Jahan-Numa', meaning 'The mosque with a commanding view of the world'. This mosque was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan and was completed in 1656.
Continue onto Raj Ghat, a simple square platform of black marble found on the banks of the Yamuna, at the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated following his assassination on 31st January 1948. The memorial has the epitaph He Ram, (literally translated as 'O' Ram', but also translated to 'O God'), believed to be the last words uttered by Mahatma Gandhi.
This afternoon you will explore 'Lutyens' Delhi or New Delhi. Drive through the city viewing the government buildings, President's House and Parliament House. Also Visit India Gate and drive past the government buildings. Built as an imperial capital by the British, all the main buildings, designed in the 1920's by the British architects Lutyens and Baker, remain today.
At one end of the avenue known as the Rajpath (literally the 'King's Way') is the War Memorial Arch, better known as India Gate, a memorial to the 90,000 Indians who gave their lives in World War I. As you drive along the majestic Rajpath - the broadest avenue of Delhi - our first views encompass the enormous Secretariat buildings with their 1,000 rooms and miles of corridors, and the Parliament House, a huge circular building in red and grey sandstone with an open colonnade extending around its circumference. At the other end stands the Rashtrapati Bhavan, one of the largest and most grandiose of the Raj constructions, built originally for the British Viceroy and now the official residence of the President of India.
Continue to Humayun's Tomb. Emperor Humayun, the father of Emperor Akbar, lies buried in this magnificent monument built in red sandstone. Haji Begum, Humayun's first wife and mother of Emperor Akbar designed and supervised the entire construction. Her design was way ahead of the times and is the basis for the design of the famous Taj Mahal, built almost a hundred years later!
Your tour ends with a visit to Qutab Minar, India's tallest stone tower. At a height of 234 feet, the 'Tower of Victory' is considered by some to be the world's most perfect specimen of tower architecture. A mathematical marvel, this building has remained standing for eight centuries. Another important monument within the complex is the Quwwat ul-Islam Mosque, literally translated as 'The Might of Islam'. Though today the mosque is in ruins, it is believed that twenty-seven Jain temples were destroyed and their materials reused to construct the monuments of the complex.
The Taj Mahal Hotel is a five-star deluxe hotel located in the very heart of New Delhi. It stands as tribute to timeless hospitality and service, complementing the broad leafy boulevards of Delhi's chief architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens. Its proximity to the seat of government, the city's diplomatic corps, and entertainment, heritage and business districts has furthered the hotel's reputation as the epicentre of the capital. Prominent landmarks - India Gate, the Presidential Palace and the National Museum - are a short 10-minute drive away
