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16th October 2007, 03:36 AM
| #11 (permalink) |
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  |  Re: Delhi Darshan Gurdwara Nanak Piao  Gurdwara Nanak Piao is dedicated to the first Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Nanak Dev. It is built at the site of the garden where he camped when he visited Delhi in 1505, during the reign of Sultan Sikander Shah Lodhi. The Gurdwara is situated on Rana Pratap Road, in the capital city of India, New Delhi. It is said that people flocked to the revered prophet and offered him, and his bard, Mardana with precious gifts and offerings. Guru Nanak used to distribute all these offerings to the poor and needy. Besides these, he used to offer food and water to the hungry and thirsty. This gave Nanak Piao Gurudwara its name. One can still see the well from which Guru Nanak served water in the shrine. According to an interesting legend, during Guru Nanak's visit to Delhi, Sikander Lodhi came to know that he had revived a dead elephant and won the admiration of both Hindu and Muslim devotees. Thus, he sent a call to him to revive one of his dead royal elephants, but the Guru refused to do so. The haughty ruler imprisoned him. While in prison, Guru Nanak's kindness and virtuosity won the hearts of the prison officials. During the same time, a great earthquake shook the capital on July 3, 1505 and people thought that it was due to the curse of Nanak, who was imprisoned. Thus, Nanak was released. |
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16th October 2007, 03:38 AM
| #12 (permalink) |
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| Re: Delhi Darshan Gurdwara Rakab Ganj  Gurdwara Rakab Ganj was built in 1732 by Lakhi Banjara, the devotee who performed the last rites of the martyred Guru Teg Bahadur. It is located on the Pant Road in New Delhi, facing the Parliament House. An interesting legend is attached to Gurdwara Rakab Ganj. It is said that Guruji were executed on the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, for not converting to Islam. After he was beheaded, Lakhi Singh escaped with the body of Guruji to his home & cremated the body and later set fire to the house to remove any evidences. When the fire extinguished, he put the holy ashes in an urn and buried it on that site itself. Gurdwara Rakab Ganj was built there to commemorate the event. It is said that at that time, the area was a market for stirrups - the 'stirrup' is known as 'Rakab' and 'market' is known as 'Ganj'. Thus, the name of the shrine as Rakab Ganj Gurdwara! The Gurdwara, with a white building and the prominent domes, holds an important place in the Sikh community of India. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens on all sides. It has four entrances, depicting that it is open to all without any distinction of caste, creed or religion. The gigantic Gurdwara took 12 years to build, at a cost of 25 lakh. |
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16th October 2007, 03:40 AM
| #13 (permalink) |
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| Re: Delhi Darshan Gurdwara Sis Ganj  Built on the site where the Mughals beheaded Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur in 1675, Gurdwara Sis Ganj commemorates the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur. It is situated in the Chandni Chowk area of Old Delhi. According to the legend, Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded by Mughal emperor, Auranzeb, as he refused to convert to Islam. On his death, no one dared to pick up his body. Suddenly, sky became clouded, followed by a heavy downpour. Then, two of his brave disciples fled with his head and body. The head of the Guru was taken to Chakk Nanaki in Anandpur Sahib, while the body was taken to Rakab Ganj Gurudwara. It was only a century later, that a zealous devotee, named Baba Baghel Singh, found this place and built a Gurdwara here. One can still see the trunk of the tree under which the Guru was martyred as well as the well where he took his daily bath while being imprisoned. In 1705, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib visited this shrine and appointed Bhai Gurbakhsh Das Udasi as its caretaker. It is also claimed that the central pedestal of this shrine is actually the oldest structure of Chakk Nanaki, which received Guruji's head, situated at Anandpur Sahib. This place is also known as Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib. |
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16th October 2007, 03:42 AM
| #14 (permalink) |
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| Re: Delhi Darshan Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah  Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliyaa Dargah is located in New Delhi, across the road from Humayun's tomb. The 'dargah' of revered Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliyaa has its devotees all over the Islamic world. A settlement has sprung up here, known as 'Nizamuddin' for short. This shrine also houses the tomb of Amir Khusrau, a famous poet and the saint's beloved disciple. Encroachments plaque, the shrine, and the area itself, seem to belong to another century. The shrine was built by Muhammad Tughluq & is one of the sacred places of pilgrimage in India. Other tombs situated inside the complex of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliyaa Dargah belong to Begum Jahan Ara, Shah Jahan's favorite daughter, and Mirza Ghalib. Every Thursday, one can hear qawwalis here, around sunset. According to the legend of Nizamuddin, Shaikh Nizamuddin was born at Budaun in 1236. He came to Delhi with his mother and became the disciple of the famous saint Shaikh Farid Shakarganj. The rulers, such as Ala-ud-Din Khilji and Muhammad Tughluq, were devoted to him. It is said that he had already prophesized beforehand that city of Tughluqabad could never prosper and that Ghiyath-ud-Din Tughluq, who was then in Bengal, would never see Delhi again. The prophecy came true and he died in 1325. The original tomb has been renovated many times and the present tomb was built in 1562. The area around the tomb is regarded as sacred. Twice every year, the festival of 'Urs' is celebrated here to commemorate the death anniversaries of Hazrat Nizamu'd-Din Auliya and Amir Khusrau. |
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16th October 2007, 03:44 AM
| #15 (permalink) |
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| Re: Delhi Darshan Jama Masjid  Shah Jahan, as his final architectural extravagance, built one of the largest mosques in India, Jama Masjid. It is situated in Old Delhi area of the capital. Also known as Masjid-i-Jahan Numa, it was the principal mosque of the Emperor. Owing to its huge size, it took six years to be fully complete. Situated on a high platform, the austere, yet beautiful, building was built in red sandstone, with extensive use of white marble. The pulpit of Jama Masjid has been beautifully carved out of a single block of marble. It has three gateways, four soaring towers and two minarets. The 130-ft high slender minarets of the mosque grace its impressive façade. The eastern gate was once reserved for the Emperor. Wide staircases and arched gateways greet the visitors of the mosque. The relics of the Prophet and the Holy Koran are enshrined here and its courtyard can hold up to 25,000 worshippers at one go. Designed by Ustad Khalil, the great sculptor of his time, it was built at an astounding cost. However, the greatest treasure of the Jama Masjid is, undoubtedly, the hair of the beard of Hazrat Mohammed, kept in the northeast corner of the white shrine. It also preserves his used chappal (slippers), a chapter of Koran taken from its original holy book, the canopy of his tombstone and the foot print of Muhammad on the stone. The main Imam in this mosque is the direct descendent of the original and first Imam appointed by Emperor Shah Jahan. One can enter inside the mosque bare-footed only, with the head covered and wearing 'lungi' (a traditional wear of Muslims, worn during offering prayers to the Lord). During his reign, Emperor Shah Jahan built many other important mosques in Agra, Ajmer and Lahore. The grand building of Jama Masjid has stood the test of time and stands undeterred, reminding about the glory of the bygone era. Most of the tourists coming top Delhi make it a point to visit this magnificent edifice. |
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16th October 2007, 03:46 AM
| #16 (permalink) |
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| Re: Delhi Darshan Moth ki Masjid  Moth ki Masjid is situated between Uday Park and the plush South Extension Part 2 area of New Delhi. An interesting legend is attached to the origin of the Moth ki Masjid, or the Lentil Mosque, of India. About 500 years old, it was built by Sikander Lodi. According to the legend, one day Sikandar Lodi gave a grain of moth (a type of lentil) to his loyal minister Miyan Bhuwa as a reward for fun. The witty minister planted the seed carefully years after years until it multiplied so many times that it could finally finance the construction of the mosque. He then went to the sovereign to ask his permission to build the mosque. The king was quite impressed. He then laid the foundation of Moth ki Masjid himself, which was built conforming to the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. The mosque is small and simple and is deprived of any minarets or any profuse calligraphic decorations and embellishments that are part of the traditional mosques. However, it marks the revival of architectural activity during the time of the Lodi dynasty. The square red sandstone structure has a small semicircular dome and latticework screens in its windows. |
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16th October 2007, 03:49 AM
| #17 (permalink) |
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| Re: Delhi Darshan Amusement Parks & Gardens Appu Ghar  The first amusement park of India, Appu Ghar is the favorite of all children because of its exquisite roller coasters and water slides. The mini-Disneyland of Delhi was inaugurated on 19th November, 1984. It has joy rides for people of all ages. The large range of swings and rides here include the popular Roller Coaster, Big Splash, Dodgem Cars, Eerie Tunnel, Giant Wheel and Appu Columbus. Children love the thrill of riding in a Cable Car and the Speeding Cup. Since, there is no snowfall in New Delhi; the ice games at OYSTERS (a water park) are quite popular. Four acres of the water park, blanketed with ice offers sledding, skiing, ice boating and bowling is a craze among Delhiites. The couples love to shake a leg and romance in the Rain Dance or the Ice Dance that are introduced according to the season. This water park is especially preferred by people to beat off the scorching heat of the summers. Today, Appu Ghar has become a brand amongst all the amusement parks in the country. It is located on Gate No. 4 at Pragati Maidan and is proposed to be opened at two more locations in Rohini and Noida. This amusement park was the dream child of Smt. Indira Gandhi. It was realized when, the then Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi inaugurated it on her Birthday in 1984. Appu Ghar is spread over an area of 15.5 acres of land and houses 22 immensely popular rides. There is an interesting story behind the name of the park. Appu, the elephant, was both the cartoon mascot and a live elephant mascot that became the beloved star of the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi. As a result, the amusement park got the name from that Mascot's name. "Appu" is the name of the Elephant and "Ghar" means House. Appu Ghar is the Numero Uno amongst all the amusement parks of Delhi and definitely a trend setter. |
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16th October 2007, 03:51 AM
| #18 (permalink) |
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| Re: Delhi Darshan Fun 'N' Food Village  The amusement park for people of all ages, including a water park and joy rides, Fun 'N' Food Village is situated on Delhi-Gurgaon border. The serene and tranquil atmosphere of the place, the lush greenery and panoramic views that it offers, makes it one of the best retreats. Launched in 1993, it was inaugurated by the former President of India, Giani Zail Singh, and showcases past traditions along with modern and futuristic recreations. This amusement park aims to promote Indian culture and traditional arts and crafts of India. Along with the joy rides, one can also see the performances and creations of artisans and craftsmen at work. The well-maintained green lawns, an open-air theatre and the animal parade are the highlights of the park. The Mono Rail and the Flying Carpet are some of the most popular of, more than 20, amusement rides of the park. The water park here, known as 'Village Club', has the longest water slide in the country, along with a 400 ft long water channel known as 'Lazy River'. The adventurous lot can try the 'twisting and turning' Fun Slide. The wave pool gives you a feeling of swimming in the sea. The high-velocity racing slides of 'Aqua Shoot' and the 'Super Slide', the first of its kind in the whole world that uses aerodynamics, are for the over-enthusiastic people. There is also a health club, a beauty parlor and four Food and Beverage outlets in the park. Fun 'N' Food Village, is open on all the days of the year, except on the festival of Diwali. Apart from being a picnic spot, the park also offers facilities of organizing weddings, birthday parties, exhibitions etc. Facilities provided for the convenience of the visitors include: .Enquiries .Wheelchairs .Credit cards .Rest Rooms are located in all major areas within the park .Public telephones are available .Parents' nursing rooms are available .Lockers .Change Rooms are available for ladies and gents .First aid and ambulance |
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16th October 2007, 03:53 AM
| #19 (permalink) |
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| Re: Delhi Darshan Lodi Garden  Established in the 15th-16th century by the Sayyids and Lodis, the vast grounds of Lodi Garden are famous among the joggers of the Delhi city of India. Carefully kept gardens and the medieval monuments lend a charm to these gardens. In 1968, J.A Stein and Garrett Eckbo re-landscaped these gardens giving them their present beautified form. The several tombs situated in the garden belong to the Lodi and Sayyid Era and include Muhammad Shah's Tomb and Sikander Lodi's tomb. Muhammad Shah (1434 - 44) was the third ruler of Sayyid dynasty. His tomb has been built in a typical octagonal pattern with a central octagonal chamber, verandahs, three arched openings on each side and sloping buttress. Inspired by Mubarak Shah's tomb, this tomb has a more compact plan, high dome, matching chhatris and better proportions. Apart from this, there are other tombs, namely Bara Gumbad and Sheesh Gumbad. Bara Gumbad or the Big Dome is a square tomb with an imposing dome. Its facades appear to be two storied. It has turrets on corners, arches, stuccowork and painting ornamenting the interiors. It is believed that the tomb belongs to an officer of high rank who served Sikandar Lodi. Besides the tomb, there is the Bara-Gumbad mosque, built with ashlar stone. Its rectangular prayer-hall has five arched openings and is a fine example of the early Mughal mosques. The tapering minarets, built in the Tughluq style, colored tiles and Quranic inscriptions ornament this mosque. Built in 1494, this mosque was constructed during the reign of Sikandar Lodi. Shish Gumbad tomb is built in the usual square pattern, with a 'double-storied' appearance, and looks much like Bara Gumbad. Its ceiling has incised plasterwork, with floral patterns and Quranic inscriptions. One can still see the traces of the blue tiles that once adorned it and gave it the name of 'Glazed dome'. There are several graves inside it. Sikandar Lodi's Tomb is built in the octagonal tomb pattern, much like Muhammad Shah's tomb. The chhatris over its roof are no more to be seen. Another interesting construction here is the 'Athpula' Bridge. It was built by Nawab Bahadur in the 16th century, during Akbar's reign. This is bridge is called Athpula (eight bridge), as it rests on eight piers, forming seven arches. Besides these tombs, one can also visit the National Bonsai Park developed here, which has a delightful collection of miniature versions of several trees and plants. They look beautiful at sunset under soft light. Originally known as the Lady Willingdon Park, it was renamed Lodi Garden after Indian Independence in 1947. |
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16th October 2007, 03:55 AM
| #20 (permalink) |
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| Re: Delhi Darshan Mughal Gardens  Sprawled across six hectares of the Rashtrapati Bhavan Complex, the famous Mughal Gardens were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens for Lady Harding. These gardens combine the formal Moghul style with the British garden designs. Delhi Mughal Gardens sport Mughal canals, multi-level terraces and flowering shrubs along with European flowerbeds, lawns and privet hedges. W. R. Mustoe can be credited with planting the appropriate shrubs, plants and trees in the garden. Together, the two masterminds transformed it into an oasis by 1929. The Gardens consist of three parts - the Rectangular Garden immediately behind the main building, the Long Garden and the Circular Garden. A virtual paradise, it has four waterways, with unique fountains at the intersections that consist of 3-tiered huge red sandstone discs resembling lotus leaves. Plots of lawn and chequered flowerbeds lend an enchanting look to this wonderfully landscaped garden. In the Long Garden, there is a splendid Pergola on which bougainvillea creepers are grown. The bed of roses and trimmed hedge of Ingadulets on its sides look like colored knots on a vast carpet. The segmented, tiered flowerbeds around the pool in the Circular Garden are the best place to see butterflies. Thus, it is also known as the Pearl Garden or Butterfly Garden. The variety of flowers found here includes Rose, Viscaria, Teptosyne, Sweet William, Oxalis, Marigold and Bougainvillea and several other Annuals and Perennials. It has more than 250 rose varieties at one place, including the Benkinsian, believed to be the parent of all strains, 60 kinds of Bougainvillea, the best and largest collection of Indian marigold flowers and Dahlias of 13 different colors-some of which even look like peppermint. Besides these, there are special Moulsari trees, chosen by Lutyens because of their Indian origin. The Bonsai collection here is undoubtedly one of the finest in the country. One can only visit these gardens during the months of February to March, except on Mondays |
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