Eternal India Encyclopedia

ETERNAL

INDIA

encyclopedia

A GREAT DESTINATION

dates back to three thousand years. During the days of the Pan-

davas of the

Mahabharata

it was known as Indraprastha. It was

the capital city of Prithvi Raj, the Rajput ruler of Ajmer and Delhi.

He was the last Hindu ruler of Delhi. He was defeated by Muham-

med Ghori at the second battle of Tarain in 1192. Delhi passed into

the hands of the Muslim rulers. A number of Sultans from the Khilji

and Tughluq dynasties ruled Delhi. The Mughal emperor Babur

shifted the capital to Agra. Shah-Jahan moved the capital back to

Delhi in 1639. But he was deposed and imprisoned in Agra Fort

before he could completely move the capital.

Red Fort

: Construction of this red sand stone building was

started in 1639 by Shah Jahan and continued up to 1647. The

Diwan-i-Am, the Hall of Public Audience , was where the Em-

peror would sit to hear complaints from his subjects. The alcove in

the wall was set with precious stones many of which were looted

during the 1857 Revolt. This hall was restored by Lord Curzon.

The Diwan-i-Khas, the Hall of Private Audience, was where the

Emperor would hold private meetings. The fabulous Peacock

Throne which stood in the centre of the hall was taken to Iran in

1739 by Nadir Shah. Inscribed on the Walls of the Diwan-i-Khas

is the famous Persian couplet, “If there is a paradise on earth, it

is this, it is this, it is this” - There is a sound-and -light show

every evening at the Red Fort which recreates events from the

past.

Jama Masjid

: Built between 1650 and 1656 by Shah Jahan

opposite the Red Fort. The biggest mosque in India.

Raj Ghat

: The place where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in

1948 is marked by a square platform, of black marble. Shantivan

and Shaktistal, adjacent to Raj Ghat, are the places where

Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi were cremated.

Humayun's tomb

: Built in the mid- 16th century by Haji Begum,

wife of Humayun, the second Mughal emperor. An example of

early Mughal architecture.

Hazraat Nizam-ud-din-Aulia

: The shrine of the Muslim saint

Nizam-ud-Din Chisti, who died in 1325. The tomb of Jahanara,

daughter of Shah Jehan who stayed with him, during his imprison-

ment by Aurangzeb is also here. The tomb of Mirza Ghalib, the

renowned Urdu poet, is also here.

Tughlaqabad Fort

: Built by Giasud-din-Tughlaq in 1321, 8kms

east of the Qutab Minar.

The capital was also shifted here. After Giasud-din's death the

capital was shifted to the Deccan by his son Muhammed -bin-

Tughlaq.

Qutab Minar

: 15kms south of New Delhi. The 234 ft. high victory

monument that was started in 1200 by Qutb-ud-din Aibak,

founder of the Slave Dynasty, to mark his conquest of northern

India. It was completed in 1236. The tower has five storeys.

Quwat-uI-Islaam Mosque

: The first mosque to be built in

India, at the foot of the Qutab Minar, commenced by Qutb-ud-din

in 1193.

Iron pillar

: Seven - metre high pillar stands in the courtyard of the

mosque and was there before the mosque was built. Believed to

date from the Gupta period (4th century A.D.). It has not rusted

after 2000 years. Scientists have not discovered how the iron of

such purity could have been cast with the technology available .

Lakshminarayan Temple

: In New Delhi to the West of

Connaught place. Built in 1939 in the Orissa style, it is also known

as the Birla Temple.

Bahai Prayer House:

A lotus-shaped temple of the Bahai relig-

ion, the youngest religion in the world. It was started in 1980 and

completed in 1986.

Jantar Mantar

:This observatory which consists of structures to

observe the course of the heavenly bodies and predict eclipses

was constructed in 1725 by Maharajah Jai Singh of Jaipur.

National Museum:

Has collections from the past covering more

than 5000 years of history. Priceless collection of Mughal, Rajput

and Deccan paintings.

been converted into a museum with items and documents related

to his life. A sound-and-light show is held here.

Rail Transport Museum:

A number of steam locomotives on

display including one made in 1855 and still working.

Tibet House

: Has a collection of ceremonial items brought from

Tibet by the Dalai Lama when he fled Tibet. A shop sells a wide

range of Tibetan handicrafts.

International Dolls Museum

: Over 6000 dolls from India and

85 other countries.

Crafts Museum

: A collection of Indian handicraft products in

textiles, metal, wood and ceramics.

Rashtrapati Bhavan

: The President's palace (340 rooms on 330

acres) stands at the bottom of Raisina Hill. The famous Mughal

Gardens are open to tourists for one month during January-

February.

LAKSHADWEEP

Of the 27 scattered islands 200-300km off the Kerala coast, 10

are inhabited. They are in descending order of size - Minicoy,

Androth, Kavaratti, Kadmat, Agatti, Amini, Kalpeni, Kiltan, Chetlat

and Bitra. The headquarters of these islands is situated in Kav-

aratti.

These are coral islands. The coral reefs form lagoons. The

water in the lagoon is crystal clear allowing the tourist to see the

bottom of the lagoon and the multi-coloured coral growths. The

island of Bitra is only a quarter of a mile .in area but surrounded by

a 25 square mile lagoon.

The Shipping Corporation of India has two ships operating be-

tween the islands and Calicut on the mainland. A helicopter service

is also in operation. There is an airstrip on Agatti. All tourists have

to apply for permission to visit the islands. Indians can apply to the

Administrator, Lakshadweep, Willingdon Island, Cochin. Foreign

tourists must apply to the Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi.

Package tours are also available. Members of package tours need

not collect permits separately.

Kavaratti

: Ujra mosque with an ornately carved ceiling. Aquarium

with colourful species of fish, glassbottomed boats available.

Kalpeni

: Uninhabited islands surrounded by lagoon of spectacular

beauty Koomel, rich in coral life.

Nehru Museum

: The house where Jawaharlal Nehru lived has