The entry point for Northern India, this city of 16 million inhabitants is a complex but necessary introduction to the country and its wonders. Whether you are exploring with an exhilarating rickshaw ride through the narrow, colourful lanes or on foot, stopping to chat with interesting cloth traders or spice merchants as you pass, Old Delhi is a chance to see the India of old. Nearby, the great mosque of Jama Masjid is a truly impressive focal point. It is but one of Delhi’s many enthralling religious monuments from her many different faiths – the Hanuman Tomb, the Sikh temple of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib and the Akshardham temple are amongst the others. Heritage walks of Delhi’s Old Town also provide a terrific insight into what is one of the oldest city settlements in the world and its sights and sounds, including some of the bazaars and markets that provide a sensory thrill.
New Delhi is a place of national museums, gardens, leafy avenues, giant buildings, mausoleums and temples, such as the Tomb of Humayun, a complex of buildings built as the Mughal Emperor Humayun's tomb. Other areas of interest include the Indian parliament building Sansad Bhavan, the President's residence and the War Memorial at India Gate. In New Delhi culture, shopping, arts and entertainment abound in equal measure, particularly around Connaught Place which is a thriving hub.
Delhi is of course at the heart of much of India’s history, both ancient and modern. The imposing Red Fort dates back to the seventeenth century and was occupied by a succession of Mughal emperors. Part of India’s modern history can be found at Gandhi’s memorial, a moving monument to this influential man.