Delhi Has Memories of Past Empires and Future Dreams

Many visitors to India focus their trip on the Golden Triangle of Jaipur, Agra and the sprawling national capital of Delhi. Delhi is by some counts now the third largest city in the world with over 16 million people. Delhi consists of the Old City founded by Shah Jahan in 1638; New Delhi, completed by the British in 1931; and several other ruined capitals that were built by earlier rulers and later abandoned. The metropolitan area of Delhi has been expanding rapidly to the south into places like Gurgaon and Noida, which are striving to become posh suburban towns with high-rise apartments, office buildings for international companies, sports facilities and shopping malls.

Sites of Delhi

Delhi is so full of historic places that it can be difficult to know where to start and what to see. Many people visit the Red Fort in Old Delhi which was built during the reign of Shah Jahan and remains to this day an important symbol of both the Mughal empire and Indian nationalism. The fort also served as one of the focal points for the Indian revolt of 1857 against British rule which gave rise to dreams of independence finally realized in 1947. Nearby are other well known attractions including the huge Jami Masjid, India’s largest mosque, and the streets and shops of Old Delhi along the boulevard known as Chandni Chowk.  Some people find the sights and sounds of the bazaars and traders of these streets to be fascinating and dive right in, while others are overwhelmed by the chaotic nature of the experience. One of the most beautiful buildings in old Delhi is Humayun’s tomb which introduced some of the designs used in the Taj Mahal and features a serene garden.

Farther south of Old Delhi are the various government buildings of the national capital which are located along a wide boulevard known as the Rajpath. This governmental center and the nearby colonial houses of New Delhi were originally designed by renowned architect Edwin Lutyens in 1911 to combine classic western styles with Indian themes.  The city spreads out for miles thereafter and includes the ruins of prior palaces built by Delhi Sultanate, the Mughals and other conquerors, interposed with their tombs, parks and modern developments.

Gurgaon’s Kingdom of Dreams

When we arrived in the Delhi area, we stayed in Gurgaon so that we would have the opportunity to see an Indian shopping mall and visit one of the capital’s newest attractions called the “Kingdom of Dreams.” Billed as kind of an Indian Disneyland, the Kingdom of Dreams has an indoor shopping area featuring many shops and restaurants from various parts of the country. The big attraction is, however, two large theaters that present high-tech musical shows with Bollywood themes. While the Kingdom was entertaining, the show we saw and the shops we visited did not compare to a visit to EPCOT or Broadway.

Gandhi Smriti

Our most interesting stop in the Delhi area was to visit a museum known as Gandhi Smriti, which is dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. After India became an independent nation, Gandhi lived a modest life as a guest of a friend in a colonial bungalow. One day in 1948, while walking to daily prayers in the garden, he was assassinated. Today, visitors to the museum can see many interesting displays that explain Gandhi’s life and the non-violent political revolution that he led seeking Indian independence and equality for all Indians regardless of their class or ethnic caste. In addition to viewing the bedroom in which he slept, you can retrace the footsteps he took on his final walk and see an eternal flame dedicated to his memory. It is a moving experience that provided an appropriately sentimental end to any visit to this enchanting country full of history, culture and opportunity.